Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from March 2004

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from March 2004

Now the good news: safety eyewear can prevent 90% of eye injuries.
March 1, 2004... Each year, protecting eye sight on the job is a safety communication priority for about 40 percent of ISHN readers, according to our White Paper subscriber surveys. It's tough keeping employees interested in this kind of perennial safety topic,...

Hazards of loose lips: avoid slipping & tripping over your own words.(Editorial comments)(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... It's prime time for politics, what with Democratic presidential primaries, the national conventions this summer, and the fall race for the White House. Which puts media coaches in high demand--born-again reporters and others who train...

Fewer safety jobs?(Expert Advice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Q Does shifting safety responsibilities to employees mean fewer jobs for safety pros? A No. Every company needs someone to lead the safety program and to mentor new employees. They need a leader of safety. Barry R. Weissman, REM, CSP,...

EPA budget gets Bush-whacked.(rules & Regs)(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... $ The Environmental Protection Agency got whacked in the Bush administration's proposed 2005 budget, losing seven percent of its current budget. Congress allocated $8.4 billion for EPA in the current budget year; the Bush plan calls for $7.76...

Emergency responders protest budget cuts.(rules & Regs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... $ The International Association of Fire Fighters is protesting proposed funding cuts for emergency responders in the fiscal year 2005 federal budget. Funding for the FIRE Act, a grant program that supports fire department purchases of...

Small funding boost proposed for OSHA.(rules & Regs)(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... $ OSHA is set for a mini budget bump in the Bush administration's 2005 fiscal plan. Spending would increase from $457.5 million to $461.6--less than a one-percent boost. $2 million is earmarked to meet OSHA's responsibilities under 14...

Have you posted your 2003 OSHA injury report?(rules & Regs)(United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
March 1, 2004... As of February 1, employers needed to post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year, according to OSHA. Employers are required to post only the Summary (OSHA Form 300A)--not the OSHA 300...

ASSE argues for accountability in egregious workplace deaths.(rules & Regs)(American Society of Safety Engineers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Responding to The New York times' series, "When Workers Die," the American Society of Safety Engineers' President Skipper Kendrick wrote a letter to the newspaper saying it's time for the government to re-evaluate penalties for employers whose...

Court awards $12 million in workers' comp case.(rules & Regs)
March 1, 2004... A former nursing home worker in South Dakota has been awarded more than $12 million in a judgment against three insurance companies that denied her workers' compensation claim, according to the Associated Press. In 1999, Alice Torres, a...

HIV/AIDS policies rare in corporate world.(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The World Economic Forum Global Health initiative (GHI) has released the first global survey of business leaders on their perceptions regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS and their responses to the pandemic. Key findings and recommendations of...

HR directors: workplace safety not a top priority.(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... In a recent Society for Human Resource Management survey, HR pros were asked to prioritize a list of important workplace-related issues: * Healthcare (52.8 percent); * The ability to compete in a global economy (19.9 percent); *...

Execs get safety religion? Survey: lost-time cases, recorded incidents down sharply.(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... From 1999 to 2002, the number of lost-time cases per 100 full-time employees in firms surveyed by The Conference Board declined by an average of more than 40 percent. Recorded incidents declined an average of more than 23 percent. Both trends...

Safety part of new Postal Service performance reviews.(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A new performance-review system makes 70,000 U.S. Postal Service managers accountable for safety improvements, according to an article in the Washington Post. Managers were getting raises of 2.5 percent to 3 percent every year, regardless...

The global vibe: it's a less safe world.(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A survey representing the thoughts of more than one billion people worldwide finds that half those questioned think global security is "poor" and that the next generation will live in a less safe world. Gallup International conducted the...

Can you link EHS to corporate reputation?(news Scan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Corporate reputation is a more important measure of success than stock market performance, profitability and return on investment, according to a survey of some of the world's leading CEOs and organization leaders. This might give more...

Is your safety message getting through?(Study)
March 1, 2004... American workers are increasingly cynical and suspicious of information they receive from their own organizations, a new Towers Perrin study shows. Of the 1,000 U.S. workers polled for the survey, just over half (51 percent) believe their...

China now requires safe production licenses.(News Scan)
March 1, 2004... China is now requiring all mines, construction firms and producers of hazardous chemicals, fireworks and civilian explosives to obtain a "safe production license," according to the Associated Press. The new law went into effect in January....

Security fears prompt: tighter employee screening.(News Scan)
March 1, 2004... The Society for Human Resource Management reports that more than half (57 percent) of HR professionals are somewhat or very concerned about workplace violence, according to the SHRM Workplace Violence Survey. Compared to a similar survey...

Put a positive spin on safety: make the transition from traditional programs.(Psychology of safety)(Column)
March 1, 2004... In my ISHN article last month, I defined four personality states that influence motivation and behavior. These were described as states rather than traits, meaning they are situation-specific and malleable. It's possible to change an...

Trends to track in '04: where are you placing your bets?(Managing Best practices)(trends in health and safety)
March 1, 2004... Strategic planning helps us determine if we are doing the right thing, not just doing things right. This was drilled into me while working in a large corporation, and the concept is even more important now that I'm self-employed. Strategic...

Searching for results: management systems work, don't they?(Issues & trends: forecast)
March 1, 2004... Do management systems like ISO 14001 really work? Do they improve environmental or health and safety performance? Is an independent certification by a registrar equivalent to improved performance? Conventional wisdom would answer "yes"...

Questions & answers: sudden cardiac arrest.
March 1, 2004... Q Why should industrial workplaces invest in automated external defibrillators (AED) equipment, training and procedures? In many heavy industry workplaces, machinery, chemicals and lifting hazards are considered greater risks than sudden...

Eyewash-to-go: portable stations make relief safe & easily accessible.(Eyewash Stations)
March 1, 2004... When safety directors select an emergency eyewash station for military, industrial or commercial use, accessibility and maintenance costs are two of the top considerations made before making a purchase. Master Sergeant Chad Lingerfelt, a...

1 Soft Brown spectacle.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... H.L. Bouton's new 6800 Soft Brow safety spectacle features a cushioned brow for added comfort, a padded mastoid temple for secure fit, an anti slip adjustable nose piece and integrated side shields. The Soft Brow is available with matte black...

2 Prescription eyewear.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... New to Titmus' Baseline Collection of prescription protective eyewear, the BC115 frame features stress-absorbing spring-hinge temples, soft adjustable nose pads and a slender single bridge. Eye sizes 48 (20)-140mm and 51 (20)-145turn will...

3 Trend-setting eyewear.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... Crews offers protective eyewear with a super-lightweight, trend-setting design and three temple options: CheckMate[R] combines a universal nose bridge and flexible bayonet temples; new CheckLite[R] features traditional spatula temples; and...

Safety spectacles.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... Envision[TM] spectacles from American Allsafe offer a sporty wrap-around look with an 8-base lens curve and an adjustable ratchet temple lot custom fit. Envision features a single lens design, side shields, molded nose piece and brow protection...

Anti-Fog Revitalizer.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... New Uvex[R] Anti-Fog Revitalizer[TM] enhances and revives anti-fog properties of protective eyewear. The spray product works with anti-fog coated polycarbonate lenses. Uvex AFR contains no abrasive ingredients or silicone and comes in...

Polarized sunglasses.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... GLAREX protective eyewear from AOSafety is a new polarized safety sunglass that employs vertically oriented polarizers to block harmful reflective light. Offering a lightweight black frame and wrap-around styling, GLAREX features gray...

Comfortable eyewear.(eye protection)
March 1, 2004... Meeting the new ANSI Z87.1-2003 eye protection standard, MSA's new Sedona eyewear features a stylish contoured lens available in several shades and temples that adjust both vertically and horizontally to fit most users. The co-injected soft,...

The power of a confined space conversation: an employee gets caught, then coached.(Confined Space Accidents)
March 1, 2004... Coach first, so you don't eulogize later. Hey, Willie you can't in that hole like that -go you know better;, you've been working here longer than me! Willie shot back, "I'm not goin' all the way down and I gotta get this job done and...

Testing confined spaces: guidelines for trained, qualified personnel.
March 1, 2004... What is a confined space? The confined space entry standard was established by OSHA 29CFR 1910.146 in April 1993. The standard was developed to provide a defined work plan for confined space entry. Confined space entries are pall of a...

Clear & present danger: monitoring systems needed to detect the deadly threat of sour gas.
March 1, 2004... On December 23, 2003, a gas-well blowout near the city of Chongqing in central China released a deadly mixture of natural gas and hydrogen sulfide. The toxic cloud of "sour gas" killed 243 people, caused the hospitalization and treatment of...

The new breed of FR clothing: how standards have helped make today's garments more appealing than ever.(Flame Resistant)
March 1, 2004... Flame-resistant protective apparel has changed significantly over the past decade--for the better. Changes in industry standards have driven the development of new technology in fabric comfort and durability as well as garment designs that can...

1 Bomber Jacket.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Resistant to flame, water and wind. Workrite's breathable EPIC[R] Bomber Jacket is ideal for most weather conditions. Its patented technology enables perspiration vapor to escape while preventing wind and water from penetrating. The base fabric...

2 Limited-Use Garments.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Providing cool, comfortable clothing for grimy jobs, Polypropylene[R] Limited Use Garments from Lakeland feature a porous construction for high breathability and come in a range of styles and sizes. These economical, disposable garments are...

3 Arc Flash protection.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Salisbury PRO-WEAR[TM] Flash Jackets & Coats feature excellent breathability and are sewn with Nomex[R] thread. The jackets and coats offer 11 cal/[cm.sup.2] to 100 cal/[cm.sup.2] protection and meet current ASTM F1506 and NFPA 70E standards....

4 Cooling products.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Designed specifically for the workplace, Silver Eagle Outfitters' cooling products are a convenient, affordable means to avoiding heat stress. Tap water-activated in minutes, the products offer hours of evaporative cooling and provide a barrier...

5 Fall Arrest Garments.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Yokee Fall Arrest Garments combine clothing such as jackets, bib overalls, vests, pants and more with a safety harness for fall arrest and confined space applications. A bright fluorescent safety strip is sewn to the leg of the garment to...

6 Chemical protection.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Garments made of DuPont[TM] Tychem[R] F protective fabric offer domestic preparedness protection against chemical warfare agents and a variety of industrial chemicals. Ideal for EMS technicians and first responders, the lightweight, flexible...

7 High-visibility suit.(protective clothing)
March 1, 2004... Where visibility is an issue, River City's 2083SR suit is an ideal safety solution. Made of .38mm PVC/polyester/PVC, this suit is fluorescent green for daytime visibility coupled with 2-inch silver tape lot evening and night-time reflectivity....

Ergo upgrades: are your workers properly trained to adjust to change?
March 1, 2004... Technology increased our expectations. We wanted more information all the time, faster ways of working and the ability to produce more. Like the Sorcerer's Apprentice we wanted more and more and more. And while more information, increased...

North Safety Products.(Moves)(John Greer and Nino Granatiero)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... North Safety Products has named John Greer as vice president of Marketing for the U.S. Industrial Division. A 28-year safety industry veteran, Greet will also continue his position as vice president of Marketing for the Canadian Industrial...

Mine Safety Appliances Co. (MSA).(Moves)(Ronald N. Herring Jr.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Mine Safety Appliances Co. (MSA) has elected Ronald N. Herring Jr. to vice president of the corporation. Herring will maintain his present responsibilities and reporting relationships as general manager of the Safety Products Division, based in...

Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd.(Moves)(Paul Dunn )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Paul Dunn has been appointed as sales and marketing director at gas detector manufacturer Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd. He joins the company from W.R. Grace, the international chemical manufacturer.

Reflexite Americas.(Moves)(Ken Delegan, John Harvey and Lauren Maston)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Reflexite Americas, a manufacturer and marketer of retroreflective products, has announced three new appointments within its sales and marketing organization: Ken Delegan, sales manager; John Harvey, industry manager road, building and...

Events.(Industry Briefs)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... april AOHC 2004, April 30-May 7, Kansas City, MO, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., (770) 455-7757, www.aaohn.org may American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo, May 8-13, Atlanta, GA, American...