Workplaces With High Injury and Illness Rates in OSHA Sights
     OSHA has notified approximately 15,000 employers that injury and illness rates at their worksites are considerably higher than the national average. In a letter sent to those employers, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels explained that the notification is an active step to encourage employers to act now to improve safety and health conditions in their workplaces. To view letter and list of worksites, visit OSHA's Freedom of Information Act Web page.

Green Jobs Safety is Focus of OSHA Forum
     OSHA will host a "Green Jobs" forum to help workers and small business employers understand the hazards posed by green jobs in construction, energy, and waste management and recycling. The event, scheduled for April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST at the Labor Department in Washington, D.C., is part of a series that fosters collaboration between the small business community and federal government on safety and health management issues. "Employers who race into this green economy without paying attention to worker safety will blunder into preventable injuries and deaths," said Assistant Secretary Michaels in his remarks at a NIOSH conference on developing ways to integrate worker safety and health principles into the emerging "green jobs" industries. To register, contact Mandi Garner at 202-693-2234 or Garner.Mandi@dol.gov . Visit OSHA's Web site for more information on how OSHA assists small business employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace for their workers.
 

OSHA Proposes Change to Injury/Illness Data Collection
     OSHA is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs. It would require employers to place a check mark in a column for all MSDs they have recorded. "Restoring the MSD column will improve the ability of workers and employers to identify and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders by providing simple and easily accessible information," said Assistant Secretary Michaels. "It will also improve the accuracy and completeness of national work-related injury and illness data." 
     The deadline for submitting written comments is March 15, 2010.

For more information.
 

From the NIOSH Science Blog: The Effectiveness of Workplace Training
     Training is an important part of efforts to reduce workplace injury, illness, and death. In the United States, the total cost of workplace training is over $100 billion per year.1 In light of the costs and time involved with safety and health training, businesses want to know whether training can meet the goals of decreasing workplace injuries and illness, and whether the cost of training programs can be justified.
     To better understand if occupational health and safety training and education programs have a beneficial effect on workers and businesses, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in collaboration with the Institute for Work and Health (IWH), Ontario, Canada, conducted a review of some of the recent research in this area.
     This report shows that investment in training results in positive changes in worker knowledge and skills, attitudes, and behavior. These results are encouraging given that a primary purpose for workplace training is to impart new skills/behaviors that are transferred into the workplace. However, this research revealed that training as a lone intervention has not been demonstrated to have an impact on reducing injuries or symptoms. The fact that the study did not show an effect of training on health outcomes was, in part, an indication that training alone is not sufficient to result in reduced morbidity, mortality, or injury. For training to be effective in preventing occupational injuries and illness, it also requires management commitment and investment and worker involvement in a comprehensive hazard identification and risk management program.

For more information.

Download the full report.

OSHA Releases Workplace Injury and Illness Information to the Public
     Every year since 1996 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has collected work-related injury and illness data from more than 80,000 employers. For the first time, the Agency has made the data from 1996 to 2007 available in a searchable online database, allowing the public to look at establishment or industry-specific injury and illness data. The workplace injury and illness data is available to the public.
     OSHA uses the data to calculate injury and illness incidence rates to guide its strategic management plan and to focus its Site Specific Targeting (SST) Program, which the agency uses to target its inspections.
     Information available at the Data.gov and www.osha.gov Websites includes an establishment's name, address, industry, associated Total Case Rate (TCR), Days Away, Restricted, Transfer (DART) case rate, and the Days Away From Work (DAFWII) case rate. The data is specific to the establishments that provided OSHA with valid data through the 2008 data collection (collection of CY 2007 data). This database does not contain rates calculated by OSHA for establishments that submitted suspect or unreliable data.

Click here for the search page.

Click here for the government data.gov open government datasets.

NIOSH Focus on Eye Safety
     Each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days of lost work. The majority of these injuries result from small particles or objects striking or abrading the eye. Examples include metal slivers, wood chips, dust, and cement chips that are ejected by tools, wind blown, or fall from above a worker. Some of these objects, such as nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal penetrate the eyeball and result in a permanent loss of vision. Large objects may also strike the eye/face, or a worker may run into an object causing blunt force trauma to the eyeball or eye socket. Chemical burns to one or both eyes from splashes of industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common. Thermal burns to the eye occur as well. Among welders, their assistants, and nearby workers, UV radiation burns (welder’s flash) routinely damage workers’ eyes and surrounding tissue.
     Engineering controls should be used to reduce eye injuries and to protect against ocular infection exposures. Personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full face respirators must also be used when an eye hazard exists. The eye protection chosen for specific work situations depends upon the nature and extent of the hazard, the circumstances of exposure, other protective equipment used, and personal vision needs. Eye protection should be fit to an individual or adjustable to provide appropriate coverage. It should be comfortable and allow for sufficient peripheral vision. Selection of protective eyewear appropriate for a given task should be made based on a hazard assessment of each activity, including regulatory requirements when applicable.

For more information and links to more resources.
 

Posters are ideal for:

• Training
• Communication/Announcements
• Procedures
• Campaigns and Promotions
• Boosting Employee Morale

Large size (24 x 18 inches) - made with durable double laminate and designed specifically for tough industrial-type environments, yet made to work nicely in a variety of locations from the front office to the production floor.

News You Can Use

A Sobering Look at Substance Abuse in the Workplace
     It's neither new nor surprising that some people use and abuse alcohol and other substances. A study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) showed that about 80% of Canadians currently drink alcohol, and 13.6% of all Canadians are considered to be high risk drinkers. Add the fact that approximately 14% of Canadian adults currently use marijuana and it becomes very likely that substance abuse in the general population will show up in the workplace.
     Everyone can have a bad day however an employee with a substance problem will often display noticeable changes in behaviour over a period of time. The employee may be frequently late or absent from work. They may have reduced productivity and/or poor work quality. Substance abuse can impair reflexes, concentration and alertness on the job, increasing the risk for accidents. It can affect decision making and overall job performance.

Access the full report.

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Share a 5-Minute Safety Talk on Employee Wellness
     We have all had days where we are just dragging. Our energy level is down and we just don’t feel like doing anything. The cause of that decrease in energy could be a result of how we treat our bodies. Taking care of yourself is important. Proper nutrition and regular exercise are vital to a healthy lifestyle. Engaging in just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day and eating healthy snacks and meals, for example, can make a difference.

Access the full document.

Source: National Safety Council

WHITE PAPER : How to Survive a Chemical Management Audit
     Detailed white paper examines how to satisfy regulatory requirements and pass workplace chemical audits.

• Eliminate chemical safety deficiencies
• Dovetail chemical inventory with SOPs
• Deploy a successful chemical safety management program

Download the full white paper.

Source: ChemSW and Industrial Hygiene News 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Your Workplace Prevention Tips
     The incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is higher in office settings than in most other professions. CTS occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged after being aggravated. This alters the ratio of space in the area of the carpal tunnel, which can cause increased pressure on the median nerve. Help prevent CTS by following these guidelines:

• The height of many computer keyboards creates tension in the wrists because you need to bend your wrists to hit all of the keys.
• Stop typing every 30 minutes and stretch your hands and wrists.
• Holding the telephone all day with your wrist extended can cause undue stress.
• When performing repetitive gripping activities, make every effort to keep your wrists straight.

For more information.

Source: American Society of Hand Therapists

How to Develop a Written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
     CalOSHA (California) offers an etool that will help employers develop an IIPP.  The benefits of an effective IIPP include improved workplace safety and health, better morale, increased productivity, and reduced costs of doing business. The etool will produce a written IIPP based on responses to a set of questions, including

• Preventing and Reducing Costly Injuries and Illnesses
• What an IIPP Is and How It Works
• IIPP for Employers with Seasonal or Intermittent Employees
• How to Create Your Written IIPP
• Sample Forms and Checklists
• and more.

Access the CalOSHA etool.
 

Common PPE Mistakes in Electric Arc Flash Training Programs
     After a 15 years of arc flash testing, investigations and replications with electric arcs, a few lessons have emerged as critical in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) programs:

1. PPE has to be worn?
2. Flame Resistant in the label doesn't mean anything.
3. Using FR Rainwear rather than Arc-Rated Rainwear.
4. Using non-FR winter wear over FR and thinking you are protected.
5. No training on undergarments.

Access the full report.

Source: Hugh Hoagland, ArcWear, Ezine Articles

1. BULK BUYING BEGETS BARGAINS -  Disposable earplugs are available in convenient bulk dispensers that can be placed virtually anywhere hearing protection is needed.
2. BREATHING BUDDIES - Ambient air pumps, filtration panels, and air purification systems are available in models that can support up to 8 workers on supplied-air respirators.
3. WHO'S BEHIND THOSE COOL-LOOKING SHADES -- Safety glasses don't have to look like they were designed by nerds and geeks!  Check out the cool looking ZED.  Click here
4. GET YOUR KICKS WITH THIS - Protective footwear is available in a wide variety of materials and slip-resistant outsoles to meet workplace hazards head-on (and steel toe first).
5. CAN IT - Satisfy OSHA, FM, insurance companies, and just plain common sense by using approved safety cans for the transfer and containment of hazardous chemicals.

Want more information on any of this month's Saf-T-Tips?  E-mail us for a prompt reply.

Who should attend this presentation?

• Electrical safety managers

• Electrical worker & supervisors

• Electrical contractors

• EH&S & Human Resources responsible for employee safety programs

• Electrical engineers

• Company executives

What will be covered:

• The major principles of these Electrical Safety Standards to achieve workplace safety

• When you need an Electrical Safety Program

• Why you need to comply with these Standards and

• Who needs to comply

 
We Must Be Crazy - Gatorade in March! And at a 70% Discount!

Our sales department thinks customers will buy Gatorade in the winter if the price is right, so how about 70% off!  We have some Gatorade from last season that we need to clear out now.  According to Gatorade, last season's drink mix is perfectly safe and effective.  "Shelf stable beverages beyond their recommended shelf life are safe to consume but may experience slight changes in flavor or color. However, there is no change to ingredients or efficacy."  We guarantee your satisfaction.  Limited quantities available in a variety of flavors and packing.

Order now for immediate delivery.
 

Julio Bataz is a Dielectric Rubber Goods Lab Technician and has been with Saf-T-Gard's Voltgard Test Lab for 18 years.

• What Julio likes about Saf-T-Gard: "I like the people in customer service and the people that I work with."
• What makes Julio's day: "Well, I like working together as a group."
• Julio's outside interests are: "Staying with my wife and my little daughter."
• Anything else: "I really like watching sports."