Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from June 2006

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from June 2006

In search of benchmarks: how do your safety practices stack up against other work sites?
June 1, 2006... What is the appropriate ratio of EHS professionals to an employee workforce? What EHS services are most typically outsourced? What metrics define superior EHS performance for a business? These questions beg consensus answers. And the lack...

Between the angels and the GPS: there are things about safety you just can't control.(EDITORIAL: comments)(Global Positioning System)(Editorial)
June 1, 2006... This is all about safety," I declared to wife as the mission unfolded. Whenever your 18-year-old daughter is traveling back roads far from home you better be talking safety. I've railed against rules-heavy safety lectures for years, but when it...

OSHA & ITA alliance keeps on truckin.(rules & REGS)
June 1, 2006... OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) have renewed their two-year-old alliance to focus on the safe operation industrial trucks. The two-year renewal will enable both organizations to continue the development of new electronic...

McWane, four excess convicted of safety & enviro crimes.(case of Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A McWane-owned company and four of its managers were convicted in late April in New Jersey on criminal counts ranging from polluting the Delaware River to intimidating workers and covering up details of a workplace fatality. A federal jury...

BP fined $2.4 million for safety violations at Ohio plant.(rules & REGS)
June 1, 2006... In one of the largest penalties ever issued nationally by safety regulators, OSHA in April fined BP Products North America, Inc. more than $2.4 million for unsafe operations at the company's Oregon, Ohio, refinery. An agency inspection...

Put on notice: OSHA identifies work sites with high injury/illness rates.(rules & REGS)
June 1, 2006... About 14,000 employers have been notified by OSHA that injury and illness rates at their work sites are higher than average and that assistance is available to help them fix safety and health hazards. Establishments with the nation's...

Safety measures proposed for sanitation workers.(rules & REGS)
June 1, 2006... Sanitation workers throughout New York State would be required to wear helmets when tiding garbage trucks under a law being proposed in the wake of a workplace fatality last summer, according to The Journal News (N. Y.). The legislation,...

OSHA scores poorly on federal workplace inspections.(rules & REGS)
June 1, 2006... According to a recently released congressional report, OSHA does not perform many safety inspections at federal work places and has not conducted any agency-wide evaluations of federal safety programs in the last six years, the Washington Post...

Wipe out FEMA? Abolish & rebuild the beleaguered agency, senate panel suggests.(United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--the nation's beleaguered disaster response agency--should be abolished and rebuilt from scratch to avoid a repeat of multiple government failures exposed by Hurricane Katrina, a Senate inquiry has...

Hotel housekeepers report alarming job injury rate.(news SCAN)
June 1, 2006... As competition among upscale hotels across the country soars, so has the degree of difficulty of housekeepers' jobs. Heavier mattresses, linens and pillows, increased amenities and faster times required to clean each room have contributed to...

Nanotechnology report: better effort needed to protect workers.(news SCAN)
June 1, 2006... The U.S. government is providing insufficient funding and other resources to understand and manage risks that nanomaterials pose to the health of workers in the rapidly growing nanotechnology industry, according to participants in a workshop...

Lose the unsafe attitude.(news SCAN)
June 1, 2006... Self-improvement professionals--from weight-loss experts to exercise gurus to motivational speakers--say that attitude is everything. A poor attitude toward safe workplace practices can have just as much influence on a person's behavior, in a...

Workplace deaths increase for first time in a decade.(news SCAN)
June 1, 2006... For the first time in a decade the rate of fatal workplace injuries increased, according to a new AFL-CIO job safety report, "Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect--A National and State-by-State Profile of Worker Safety and Health in the United...

How EHS pros use the internet--2006.(NEWS SCAN)
June 1, 2006... ISHN recently completed a study of 320 subscribers to learn how they use the internet in all its permutations here in 2006. It's a chance to benchmark your own use of the 'Net against a random sampling of several hundred pros. Here's what...

The power of safety communication: five types of conversations to improve performance.(PSYCHOLOGY of safety)
June 1, 2006... What part do conversations play in your safety improvement process? I bet most. if not all, of your attempts to improve workplace safety include interpersonal communication. Indeed, conversation is a key component of behavior-based observation...

At your wits end (part 2): just what is idiopathic environmental intolerance?(MANAGING BEST practices)(part 2)
June 1, 2006... What if nothing can be found in the workplace that would make someone sick, but one or more of your employees nonetheless feels your workplace is causing them ill health? In last month's column, we briefly explored how our thoughts may...

Where to find "the right stuff": placing the right people on your bus.(POSITIVE SAFETY cultures)
June 1, 2006... A well-known organizational theorist at Harvard is reported to have once said, "Give me the very best people to work with, and watch what a great manager I become." But how do we know we are getting "the right stuff" when we hire or...

Safety 2006 conference & expo.(PRODUCT UPDATE: ASSE preview)
June 1, 2006... Seattle * June 11-14 Visit ISHN at Booth 621 1 SELF-RETRACTING LIFELINE CIRCLE 267 Lightweight and serviceable, North's new Duralite III self-retracting lifeline features an impact-resistant nylon housing that weighs only 1.1 kg (2.4...

Sifting through your options: emergency eyewash stations.
June 1, 2006... Selecting the right emergency eyewash station for your facility requires careful simple criteria: 1 ANSI and OSHA requirements for emergency eyewash 2 Eyewash station types (plumbed vs. portable) 3 Flushing solution choices 4...

Get creative: stimulate employee interest with interactive strategies.(PPE TRAINING)
June 1, 2006... A requirement to train employees on the proper use of PPE seems comical to many safety trainers. How hard could it possibly be for someone to put on a pair of safety goggles? Yet OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR...

1 Heavyweight glove.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 258 Heavyweight nitrile palm-coated glove from Wells Lamont offers excellent resistance to punctures, cuts and abrasions, even at low temperatures. Superb dexterity and soft jersey lining provide increased comfort without...

2 Chemical resistance.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 250 Nitri-Dex[TM] from Best is an ideal "hybrid" glove for applications that require chemical resistance along with the fit, feel and comfort provided by the low modulus, patented Best[R] N-DEX[R] gloves. This unique 9-mil, 12-inch...

3 Coated grip glove.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 255 The Atlas Grip from Showa offers an ergonomic design that features a tough black palm coating for excellent grip, a seamless string knit liner that provides a snug fit, and an open back for perspiration-free wear. Ideal for a...

4 Cut-resistant gloves.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 254 Knit with MaxPly[TM] Dyneema[R], Terminator[R] gloves from Banom offer excellent comfort and dexterity along with abrasive cut resistance. Ideal for sheet metal assembly, Terminator features a palm coating for good grip in oily,...

5 Occupational health gloves.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 253 Sempermed has introduced new next-generation packaging for its Occupational Health division. The SemperGuard line of hand protection has new imagery consistent with the markets it serves. For ease and convenience, the packaging...

6 Full coverage protection.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 257 HexArmor's new 2020-Full Coverage Protective Gloves provide cut and puncture resistance for the entire palm and back of hand. Extended gauntlet cuff protects the wrist. Featuring Level 5 ASTM cut protection, the glove's thin...

7 Work gloves.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 256 UltraTech[TM] work gloves from MCR Safety feature excellent tactile sensitivity, fit, grip and dexterity. Offering cut and abrasion resistance with comfort, UltraTech gloves are available in nitrile, latex, PU[TM] and Air...

8 Chemical protection.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 252 PIP's Assurance[TM] Style 50-N2420GY offers resistance to many chemical hazards including solvents and oil-based chemicals. Two coatings of nitrile over a layer of latex provide enhanced chemical protection with flexibility and...

High-performance gloves.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Hand Protection)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 251 Kimberly-Clark's KLEENGUARD* G40 Latex Coated Gloves have a high tear rating of 4 out of 4 (EN388) and are manufactured to reduce latex proteins, while new KLEENGUARD* G60 Purple Nitrile* Cut Resistant Gloves feature Dyneema[R]...

Rooftop safety: understand OSHA's fall protection recommendations.(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
June 1, 2006... You need to send an employee to your plant rooftop to check an air conditioning unit component. The employee will not be near the edge of the roof and the job should only take a few minutes. Should you provide fall protection for your employee?...

Lanyards: the critical link in fall protection.
June 1, 2006... Much fall protection coverage has been given to harnesses and anchorage points, but the critical connection between these two--the lanyard--merits careful consideration. The lanyard is a connecting device, a flexible line to secure a...

1 Tempered water system.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 262 The Therm-O-Mix[R] Station high-capacity, instant-tempered water supply for emergency showers and eyewash stations uses existing steam and cold water and is easy to install on existing equipment. The all-weather unit provides 3...

2 Portable eyewash station.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 266 H.L. Bouton's Lavoptik Safe Stream 7-gallon eyewash station is a lightweight, portable, self-contained unit that features a 15-minute flow with a one-step activation. Wall-mounted with simple installation, the...

3 Emergency eyewash.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 259 Using self-evacuating, disposable cartridges, the Aquarion[TM] eyewash from Encon offers a two-year shelf-life, is comfortable to use and easily installed on a wall, shelf, cart or vertical support beam by any individual. The...

4 Eye/face wash & shower.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 263 Haws' Model 8356WC barrier-free recessed wall-mounted combination eye/face wash and shower is ideal for laboratories, fabs and research plants where emergency response facilities are specified in confined areas. The fully...

5 Eye/face wash units.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 264 Guardian AutoFlow eye and eye/face wash units are designed to be mounted either next to or behind a sink. AutoFlow is activated by swinging the outlet head assembly horizontally out over the sink or down from the vertical to the...

6 Drench shower/eyewash.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 260 The Barrier-Free Recessed Mounted Drench Shower and Eyewash from Bradley is ideal for areas where maximizing space is a concern, including facilities such as laboratories, hospitals and schools. The barrier-free design is...

7 Safety tank shower.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 265 The 350 Litre Capacity--Tank shower from FSI North America features a stainless steel hollow section frame supporting a 350-litre (92.5 U.S. gal.) capacity stainless steel header tank with pre-insulation, tight-fitting tank lid,...

8 Self-contained eyewash.(PRODUCT UPDATE: Emergency showers/eyewashes)
June 1, 2006... CIRCLE 261 Fend-all's Pure Flow 1000[R] emergency eyewash utilizes sealed fluid cartridges, with no costly plumbing required. The self-contained unit enables facilities to economically comply with emergency eyewash regulations as it...

Personal protection: 4 simple steps to reducing risks.
June 1, 2006... You've undoubtedly heard some horror stories about workers who were injured because they weren't wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) that could have kept them safe. Perhaps you have some stories of your own to tell. Work accident...

Hazcom standardization: as GHS efforts forge ahead, is your MSDS system ready to keep pace?
June 1, 2006... In the 21st Century workplace, hazardous chemicals are a fact of life. About 650,000 hazardous chemicals are used in more than three million facilities across the United States, and more than 95 percent of U.S. employers are serious about...

Dry, cracked hands? Use prevention to combat occupational dermatitis.(SKIN CARE)
June 1, 2006... Occupational skin disease, also known as contact dermatitis, is a common condition found in manufacturing plants where workers hands come in contact with harsh chemicals or are frequently exposed to water, solvents or other skin irritants. Many...

Positive communication: non-profit uses innovative tools to motivate employees & improve bottom line.
June 1, 2006... Two years ago, Virginia Blood Services (VBS), a non-profit blood center, was facing an employee turnover problem and high workers' compensation premiums. Founded 30 years ago to supply blood to central Virginia, the Richmond, Va., organization...

Employee behavior: 9 ways to implement positive change.(training STRATEGIES)
June 1, 2006... Throughout history exhaustive research has been conducted regarding applied behavioral science. Much has been published regarding the "abc's" of behavioral science--Activators (triggers or cues that lead to behavior), Behaviors (what we say and...

How to achieve total incident reporting; 12 tips to obtain statistical significance--not statistical noise.(incentives & RECOGNITION)
June 1, 2006... Whoa! That was close!!! I was inches from sliding right off the dock." OK, how often does it happen to you? A fork truck and driver nearly drop four feet and you, the safety manager, know nothing about it. Near-miss reports are required at...

Hazards of clandestine drug labs: EHS actions protect police, contractors & property owners.(Employee Health and Safety)
June 1, 2006... Clandestine drug labs--or clan labs--are popping up across the country, posing a threat to human health and the environment. Clan labs are makeshift operations that produce illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine (meth), phencyclidine (PCP),...

Why sweatshops won't go away; Nike's actions are the exception to the rule.
June 1, 2006... Ten years ago, Nike Inc. became the poster child for sweatshop working conditions in its then 500 contract factories around the globe: Nike = Sweatshop. Fast forward to 2006: Nike has gotten religion on the issue--although it continues to...

So how's your safety culture? 9 indicators for sizing up your worksite.
June 1, 2006... Firefighters show up at a burning building and immediately know what to do. They look at the fire and make a judgment from their gut. Well, if you have sufficient years of experience, within the first 20 minutes you too can assess any company's...

Universal safety skills (part 1): workers at all levels need these capabilities.
June 1, 2006... Have you found yourself knocking against a safety performance ceiling--you can't see it but still feel blocked from rising higher? You've cut injuries quite a bit, but people continue to be injured and costs are still being incurred? How...

Entering the murky "ethics zone": unethical behavior by EHS pros is not easy to police.(Employee health and Safety)
June 1, 2006... Today's headlines are chock-full of stories perceived to be issues of ethical misconduct. Some chief executive officers are seen walking into court handcuffed and charged with leading their businesses into financial distress--and even...

Industrial Scientific Corp., a leading manufacturer of portable gas detectors and gas monitoring equipment, has acquired Oldham, S.A. of France from 3i Group PLC.(BUSINESSES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Industrial Scientific Corp., a leading manufacturer of portable gas detectors and gas monitoring equipment, has acquired Oldham, S.A. of France from 3i Group PLC. In addition, Industrial Scientific has announced changes to its corporate...

PureSafety, a provider of online safety training and risk management solutions (www.puresafety.com), and Driver's Alert (www.driversalert.com) have partnered and will begin offering a combination of vehicle monitoring and online driver safety education.(BUSINESSES)
June 1, 2006... PureSafety, a provider of online safety training and risk management solutions (www.puresafety.com), and Driver's Alert (www.driversalert.com) have partnered and will begin offering a combination of vehicle monitoring and online driver safety...

North Safety Products and DuPont[TM] have announced a new distribution agreement for North Safety to carry DuPont[TM] RelyOn[TM] antiseptics and disinfectants and a new Biohazard PPE Kit that includes DuPont[TM] Tyvek[TM] protective clothing.(BUSINESSES)
June 1, 2006... North Safety Products and DuPont[TM] have announced a new distribution agreement for North Safety to carry DuPont[TM] RelyOn[TM] antiseptics and disinfectants and a new Biohazard PPE Kit that includes DuPont[TM] Tyvek[TM] protective clothing....

The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN) has inducted its 2006 board of directors.(ASSOCIATIONS)
June 1, 2006... The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN) has inducted its 2006 board of directors. Continuing their terms as officers are President Susan A. Randolph, President-elect Richard Kowalski and Secretary Kay N. Campbell....

American Industrial Hygiene Association.(REFERENCES)
June 1, 2006... The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) showcased four new publications at AIHce last month: The Role of the Industrial Hygienist in a Pandemic; The IAQ Investigator's Guide (Second Edition); Industrial Hygiene Reference & Study...

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has awarded this year's prestigious national Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) Award to Keith Vidal, P.E., of St. Louis, MO.(AWARDS)
June 1, 2006... The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has awarded this year's prestigious national Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) Award to Keith Vidal, P.E., of St. Louis, MO. As a Standards Development Committee...

Events.(industry BRIEFS)
June 1, 2006... july 3rd Annual Symposium of the American Heart Association Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, July 31-Aug. 3, Keystone, CO, American Heart Association, 1-888-242-2453, www.americanheart.org ASSE Continuing Education--Math...

Safety's bread 'n butter: 20 essentials for any program (part one).(Petersen's page)(part 1)
June 1, 2006... This month and in the July column, we'll study 20 essential elements of a safety system. You can assess the current status and need for improvement in any of these categories by using audits, interviews, perception surveys, or other tools. ...