You walk by a power transmission shaft and notice that it is protruding out and seems to be missing its guard/cap. You look all around for it, as we usually can find them sitting on the floor nearby!!!, but no luck. So you report the “hazard” and issue a work-order to install a guard/cap over…...
Measurement of unguarded, rotating, shaft ends (1910.219(c)(4)(i) Read More »
I have to first point out that OR-OSHA is a “state plan” ( and my personal favorite!) and is specific to employers in the state of Oregon (OR), but their 2020 LOI on maintaining SDSs electronically points out something that many (including me) have not considered. I have been telling all my clients for decades…...
OR-OSHA points out how we can go 100% electronic with our SDSs Read More »
OSHA has updated their COVID Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with the addition of three (3) new Q and A’s regarding COVID vaccinations and recordability related to adverse reactions to the vaccine:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
OSHA updates their COVID FAQs as it relates to “employer required vacinations” Read More »
OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees who performed hydrostatic testing were exposed to struck-by hazards due to the lack of specific testing procedures…...
Hazards of hydrostatic testing Read More »
The federal OSHA standard(s) are not very helpful when it comes to guidance on guarding hot surfaces and this causes many debates during audits, HAZ assessments, and Pre-Start Up Safety Reviews (PSSR). We probably are all aware of the seven (7) feet rule for guarding “fan blades”… 1910.212(a)(5) Exposure of blades. When the periphery of…...
How close can we get to hot piping/equipment before it requires guarding? (ASTM C1055) Read More »
Most safety professionals attribute “safe work permitting” to process safety, Line Breaks/Process Openings, LOTO, Hotwork, and PRCS. But my first exposure to work permits was because of OSHA’s Hazardous Communications standard… 1910.1200(e)(1)(ii) The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks (for example, the cleaning of reactor vessels), and…...
My first exposure to Safe Work Permits was because of OSHA’s HAZ COMM standard – not PSM Read More »
Before you go off saying their standards are different than ours, these EXCEL Spreadsheets can be modified using OSHA numbers/factors. These are just EXCELLENT TOOLS for those of you trying to establish if workers are exceeding the Action Level or PEL for noise exposures AND these tools will perform the “Hearing Protection Attenuation” evaluation for…...
EXCELLENT Noise Management Tools from across the pond (HSE) Read More »
Recently we witnessed an electrical work perform a lockout on a piece of equipment that was not starting during the start-up phase of the process. This piece of equipment was absolutely critical for the process to run safely so this worker and the facility personnel witnessing this as well failed to recognize a CRITICAL mistake…...
Validating your electrical meter BEFORE testing on the isolated circuit Read More »
March 12, 2021 MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS STATE PLAN DESIGNEES THROUGH AMANDA EDENS Deputy Assistant Secretary FROM: PATRICK J. KAPUST, Acting Director Directorate of Enforcement Programs SUBJECT: Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) This Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides new instructions and guidance to…...
OSHA’s Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Read More »
A 32-year-old male employee was crushed by/caught in a rotating machine roller while attempting to package a mattress. The victim was in the process of operating the machine, rolling, and wrapping a twin-sized mattress with cellophane to prepare it for packaging and shipping when he was caught by the roller. Two machines function together to…...
Worker (32) was crushed in mattress packaging machine Read More »
2020 Overall 1910 MFC Top 10: Take note: Six (6) of the top ten are from HAZCOM, Machine Guarding, and Respirator standards. And sadly, the HAZCOM issues are NOT related to the new GHS changes, but the same old issues: No written…...
Most Frequently Cited Serious Violations – General Industry FY2020 Read More »
An account administrator at a securities firm was working overtime in a section of a vault. At 7:10 p.m., security personnel closed and locked the vault. The employee was working in a section of the vault accessible only with a swipe card. The security guard did not have a swipe card and did not access…...
Hazards of CO2 Extinguishing Systems (OSHA Bulletin) Read More »
