OSHA Releases Two Fall Protection Publications

Fall protection was the most frequently cited OSHA standard during fiscal year 2014. With this in mind, the agency has published two publications aimed to help construction workers avoid falls from roofs.

Protecting Roofing Workers is a booklet that provides information about personal fall arrest systems, worker rescues, using fall-restraint and guardrail systems, ladders, scaffolding, lifts and emergency action plans.

Fall Protection in Construction includes information about Subpart M, which has criteria for fall protection in construction work. In addition, it provides examples of fall protection requirements in construction, specifically in the areas of leading edges, low-slope roofs, steep roofs and overhand bricklaying.

Cintas Releases Guide on New Electrical Safety Requirements

May is National Electrical Safety Month. To help organizations understand new safety requirements for OSHA’s electrical safety standards, Cintas Corp. has released a free safety guide. “Navigating the Changes to OSHA's Electrical Safety Standards Specific to Flame Resistant Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment,” highlights changes to OSHA’s Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution (1910.269) and Electrical Protective Equipment (1926 subpart V) standards, important deadlines, flame resistant apparel and PPE options, flame resistant care and maintenance guidance and additional resources for safety professionals.

OSHA expects these changes will help prevent an estimated 20 fatalities and 118 serious injuries per year. Under the new revisions, companies will be responsible for providing workers with flame resistant apparel and PPE, and ensuring proper care and maintenance of the garments worn by their employees. Employers are expected to comply with the updated standards by April 1, 2015, but no citations will be issued until Aug. 31, 2015.

According to Cintas, understanding the new requirements, key deadlines and next steps will help organizations maintain compliance, keep workers safe and avoid fines.

Click here to download the free guide or visit www.cintas.com for more information.

Record Numbers to Hear Prevention Message: 2015 National Fall Safety Stand-Down

OSHA is predicting that a record number of companies and workers around the country will participate in the National Fall Safety Stand-Down over the next 2 weeks. “Last year’s Stand-Down was a big success. More than 5,000 employers talked about fall protection with more than 1 million workers. It was a tremendous commitment to safety on the part of businesses and workers alike. I am confident that we can do even better this year,” says U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. 

During the 2-week Stand-Down, employers and workers will voluntarily stop work to focus on these understanding and preventing fall hazards. According to OSHA, events are on tap in all 50 states. Here are just two example:

1. U.S. Air Force will be hosting fall Stand-Downs at bases worldwide. "Fall protection or prevention is not only for activities related to heights that are encountered every day on the job, but also includes, for example, falls that can happen because of wet floors or obstacles on a walkway," explains Bill Parsons, Air Force Ground Safety chief. "We want everyone to remember that preventable falls are inexcusable and that we must continue to do all we can to protect ourselves and each other."
2. Turner Construction and OSHA are cohosting an event at the U.S. Capitol Dome, which is currently being restored. Check out Turner's video on its 2015 event. Fall protection and scaffold training and demonstrations will be presented during this event, which is free and open to the public.

The National Safety Stand-Down Web page provides details on: how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. For a list of stand-down events free and open to the public near you, visit the Stand-Down calendar of events.

Identify Ergonomic Gaps With Five Key Points

Humantech’s Winnie Ip offers a video summary of her presentation at last year’s ASSE conference, Safety 2014, describing five key points when identifying gaps in your ergonomic program.

1. Target the cause rather than consequences.
2. Establish a common goal and encourage everyone to work toward the same goal.
3. Ensure top-down commitment for achieving long-term sustainable success.
4. Leverage an existing, familiar system in the ergo program.
5. Maintain regular checkpoints to make sure you stay on track throughout the year.

For more ergonomics tips, check out Humantech’s blog, join Ip and her colleagues during their session, “Show Me the Money—Demonstrating the ROI of Your Ergonomics Program” at Safety 2015, or follow the ergonomics track when attending Safety 2015 in Dallas, TX. Learn more on the Safety 2015 website.

NIOSH-Funded Wilberg Mine Fire Documentary in the Works

©iStockphoto.com/Daniel Froese

A new documentary-style training video funded by a grant from NIOSH to the University of Texas at Arlington highlights the Wilberg Mine Fire in Emory County, UT, that killed 27 people on Dec. 19, 1984. The video is an oral history of the mine and the disaster by those who survived and assisted in the rescue efforts. It also features archival footage and news clippings from the time the incident occurred.

You can view the seven-minute trailer here, as well as visiting the film's Facebook group.