Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from October 2004

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from October 2004

Protect workers from electrical hazards with NFPA's clothing guide.
October 1, 2004... If you think the recently updated NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2004 Edition, applies only to fire service personnel, think again. The standard is much more encompassing than that, applying to all employees who work...

A case of arrested development: pros move on while the profession stagnates.(Editorial comments)
October 1, 2004... Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing--the familiar stages of committee development from B.W. Tuckman--came to mind in looking over results of our reader survey on safety committees (see page 14). Most committees used by our readers are well...

Signs.(Expert Advice)
October 1, 2004... Q Our employees continually ignore safety signs and posters that we have all over the facility. What can I do to get them to pay attention? A It's human nature to become desensitized to things that become familiar. Signs have to be changed...

OSHA's Henshaw: VPP is the future.(rules & regs)(Voluntary Protection Program)(Occupational safety and health association)
October 1, 2004... OSHA chief John Henshaw has seen the future, and he calls it voluntary compliance. "VPP is where the future is," said Henshaw, referring to the agency's Voluntary Protection Program, in a speech at the annual meeting of the Voluntary Protection...

New coalition aimed at electrical safety.(rules & regs)(Occupational safety and health association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... OSHA has signed an unprecedented strategic safety partnership with five of the nation's largest electrical construction contractors, two key industry trade associations and a union that represents more than 750,000 members nationwide. The new...

Compromise on stiffer penalties for worst offenders?(rules & Regs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Congress is inching closer to giving prosecutors new ammo to go after execs for willful negligence of workplace safety standards resulting in death on the job, the Associated Press reports. A Senate proposal by Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike...

Critique ANSI's proposed safety and health standard.(rules & regs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The deadline for public comment on the "American National Standard-Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems" (ANSI Z10), the closest the U.S. may ever get to a workplace safety program rule (although voluntary) and a possible precursor...

OSHA proposes: VPP for construction firms.(rules & Regs)(Occupational safety and health association)(Voluntary Protection Program)
October 1, 2004... OSHA's new "VPP for Construction" (VPPC) allows more construction companies to enter the Voluntary Protection Program. Until now, many construction firms were not able to participate, mainly due to eligibility requirements based on the culture...

OSHA issues new fit-testing exercises.(Rules & Regs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... OSHA has added approved fit-testing protocol in its respiratory protection standard. Revisions add a new quantitative fit-testing procedure to assist workers and employers in the proper fit and selection of respirators. The new fit-testing...

Wellness programs lack payback research.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... About 95 percent of large employers (with 200+ employees) and about a third of smaller ones offer programs to improve the health of workers, reports The Washington Post. But many programs are small and limited because evidence of a...

Safety committees: most are loose, mature & expanding.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Safety committees are nothing new at many work sites, according to a new, exclusive ISHN survey of readers. Committees have been in place an average of ten years or more, according to readers who report using them. And the average...

Risk factors you can manage: the cause of most heart attacks.(Research)
October 1, 2004... Heart researchers say nine risk factors account for nine out of ten heart attacks. Based on a study of 30,000 people worldwide, researchers say that the cause of almost all heart attacks can be pinpointed to one or more of the following:...

Women more susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A new study published in The Journal Times finds that women suffer from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) at almost twice the rate of men. These disorders include problems affecting the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. While carpal...

Rising fatalities perplex: steel industry.(News Scan)
October 1, 2004... The steel industry is at a loss to explain why twice as many union members have died this year than in all of last year, according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Six members of the United Steelworkers of America have died so...

Airport screeners can't squeeze in training time.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Security directors at the nation's five largest airports have told congressional investigators that they don't comply with training requirements, according to The Seattle Times. Sending so many screeners to training leaves checkpoints...

Florida: highest on-the-job death rate.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... An analysis of death records by The Palm Beach Post shows Florida workers are more likely to die on the job than in any other state. A total of 354 work-related deaths in 2002 made Florida the third-deadliest state, behind California and...

Employee files put under lock and key.(News Scan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... What are companies doing to protect employees against identity theft? Fifty-four percent of human resource professionals surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) said they have a written privacy policy safeguarding employee...

"What have you done for me lately?" How entitlement thinking damages safety programs.(Psychology of safety)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Last month my ISHN column discussed perceptions of wage workers in America, spurred by the book, "Nickel and Dimed." The bottom line: Workers who are treated as untrustworthy, through heavy doses of rules and regulations, are going to be more...

Risk assessment auditing 101: uncover potential liabilities before they bite.(Managing Best practices)
October 1, 2004... An industrial hygiene audit can be defined as "the unbiased collection, evaluation and report of workplace information." IH audits help employers meet objectives that reduce compliance penalties, improve their safety and health management...

What's wrong with wellness? Healthcare costs are soaring. But not health promotion programs.
October 1, 2004... Each Labor Day, a group of physicians--the American College of Occupational and Environmental Health--issues recommendations to improve worker safety and health. This year the "occ docs" targeted obesity in the workplace. "Millions of...

FR coverall.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 262 Nomex[R] IIIA Coveralls from Lakeland are made to be durable while providing maximum comfort and protection. The coveralls include such details as reinforced stitching, covered snaps and a heavy-duty, two-way quick release brass...

FR Twill Shirt.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 258 Part of Carhartt's Flame-Resistant protective clothing line, the FR Twill Shirt features 7-oz. INDURA[R] UltraSoft[R], a blend of 88% cotton and 12% high-tenacity nylon. The material pro vides superior abrasion resistance while...

Work Coverall.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 259 Flame resistant garments from Workrite include the Work Coverall. Available in a wide range of colors, sizes and fabric weights, the 130, 131 and 133 Series coveralls feature such fabrics as Nomex[R] IIIA, INDURA[R]...

All-weather FR fabric.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 263 Westex's INDURA[R] Ultra Soft[R] with EPIC[TM] is a "soft shell" flame-resistant fabric for use in virtually all weather conditions. The 88% cotton, 12% high-tenacity nylon fabric is water-resistant, breathable and washable....

Cotton coverall.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 261 The CCD2 is Bulwark's new "value" FR cotton coverall. Featuring a 7.7 ATPV, elastic waist inserts and a concealed Nomex[R] taped breakaway zipper, the durable coverall is avail able in four colors and has an ammonia cure finish....

Vest/jacket liner.(protective clothing)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 260 Cintas provides managed programs for flame-resistant clothing, offering all fabrics and options including rental, lease and direct purchase. The Nomex[R] IIIA Vest/Jacket Liner--80309 gives users an added layer of warmth and...

Focused on eye safety: hazards strike quickly; insist your workers wear eye protection.
October 1, 2004... I didn't see anything coming. I just heard something blow. And just that fast, the hose end hit me right in the face, then kept thrashing back and forth. So I ran out from under the tank, headed straight for the generator, and shut it off. ...

Sleek design.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 255 Odyssey[TM] Protective Eyewear from Gateway Safety offers patented comfort features and a patent pending sleek, lightweight design. The SoftFlex[TM] nosepiece has extra-soft polymer "fingertips" and pivots on a hinge to offer...

Prescription insert.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 250 Offering a single solution in protective eyewear, the new Uvex XC offers an easily adapted, optional Rx insert for prescription lens wearers, accommodating bifocals, trifocals and progressive lenses. Product features include...

Wrap-around eyewear.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 251 The Veratti[R] 2000 safety eyewear from Encon features wrap-around comfort, a sleek weightless design and new temples to provide the maximum in fit and function. Offering advanced optics, the protective glasses are made of...

Anti-reflective treatment.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 257 Crizal[R] Alize[TM] anti-reflective treatment for spectacle lenses virtually eliminates glare and reflections from such sources as harsh lighting, computer screens, night driving and more. Offering clearer, less fatigued vision,...

Stylish eyewear.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 254 The Flame[TM] from Olympic Optical offers a futuristic sculpted frame with sure grip rubber temple inserts, an ergonomic nose pad and flared temple tips for superb comfort and style. The ANSI Z87.1-2003 high-velocity compliant...

Prescription safety frames.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 253 Titmus has added the EXT10 to its Titanium line of prescription protective frames. The lightweight, rugged eyewear features a classic yet modern shape with a hint of "Euro" influence in the wire contour. Available in dark brown...

Eyewear Rx insert.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 252 North's N-Vision 5600 Series spectacle enables prescription lenses to be inserted on the nosepiece. The protective eyewear is designed with a choice of universal comfort bridge or the new Flexi-fit nosepiece. The Rx insert...

UV protection.(eye protection)
October 1, 2004... CIRCLE 256 Available from Direct Safety, Fuel[TM] safety glasses by AOSafety can be worn anywhere from the job site to the open road for driving. Available with an indoor/outdoor lens or a red or blue mirror lens, the stylish eyewear...

What's your safety story? Influential leaders have a convincing message--and an audience ready to hear it.
October 1, 2004... Did you ever consider how the stories you tell as a safety and health professional affect your ability to influence management and the workforce? "Influence is our primary route for results," says longtime safety veteran Tom Lawrence. ...

EHS training: it's growing, but don't throw away those videos--yet.(Online)
October 1, 2004... As technology changes, so does the environmental, health and safety training industry. In fact, EHS training has experienced more change during the past two years than in the previous two decades since the first training videos were produced....

Handling hazardous waste? Use HAZWOPER training to cover your hazmat safety bases.(Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response)
October 1, 2004... If you're involved in safety and environmental issues then you probably know the term HAZWOPER. It stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, but it involves many other areas of safety besides the cleaning up of hazardous...

Safety software.(Questions & Answers)
October 1, 2004... Q My boss wants to know how software programs can help lower our injury rates. He does not understand the connection. How can I explain this to him? A What if you were to use your spread-sheet or database programs to look at the average...

Not all gloves are created equal: how to recognize a quality protective glove.
October 1, 2004... What happens to a glove as it goes through the manufacturing process can make a big difference in the quality and performance you get from it. Particularly in an industrial environment, whether the application is food processing,...

Safety awareness programs.(product News)(ActionSafety[R])(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ActionSafety[R] has launched a unique interactive Web site to enable front line workers to spearhead worksite-specific safety and health programs with minimal time and cost. Users can create their own program with a digital camera, an email...

Cut-resistant gloves.(product News)(Barium Brand)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Knit with MaxPly[TM] Dyneema[R], Terminator(R) cut-resistant gloves offer superb comfort, dexterity, durability and cost-effectiveness in sheet-metal assembly operations. Special palm coating provides a good grip on oily, wet or dry surfaces....

EH&S software suite.(product News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... EHS Enterprise from ImageWave is a software suite that provides MSDS management, environmental reporting (including SARA 313 & TIER II), MSDS authoring, chemical inventory tracking, container labeling, MSDS database building service, and more....

Safety information system.(product News)(Herwin, Inc)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Displayguard[R] safety information system from Herwin merges protective steel guardrail with a highly visible computer-directed electronic display. Utilizing Windows-based software, Displayguard[R] gives plant management, security or turn...

Ergo footwear.(product News)(Safety Seven Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Safety Seven Manufacturing's ErgoMates (patent pending) provide companies and workers with a lightweight, washable, reusable and cost-effective ergonomic footwear solution. ErgoMates strap on to workers' existing shoes and boots, serving as a...

Guard rail.(product News)
October 1, 2004... Stand Guard from "Save"ty Yellow Products is a ribbed safety guard rail product line that features a complete lift-out rail system to eliminate expensive installation costs. No brackets are bolted to the posts. The system employs a welded...