WHY OIG CONDUCTED THE AUDIT The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for 130 million workers employed at more than 8 million worksites. It does so by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance to employers and employees. The COVID-19 pandemic…...
Last week I wrote about how either distance or a barrier is necessary to CONTROL hazards. OSHA’s made a great case in 2020, explaining how the separation distances in 1910.110 is a PASSIVE MITIGATION measure. (emphasis by me) OSHA concludes that NFPA 58 (2017), Sections 6.28.2 and 6.28.3, do not provide an equivalent level of…...
“Distance” as a passive mitigation measure Read More »
In a recent discussion regarding an accident with a Fuel-Oxy Torch system, I had some discussions about the layers of protection and the Prevent-Protect-Mitigate safety model using the Hierarchy of Controls (Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and PPE). The event did NOT involve a flash-back, but I used the flash-back requirements to demonstrate the…...
Flashback arrestors are PROTECTION devices, not prevention devices Read More »
In this month’s CT-OSHA Safety Newsletter, the agency is pushing the ANSI Z358.1–2014 standard as their baseline EW/SS enforcement standard. The entire newsletter, which you should sign-up for, is dedicated to EW/SS’s and is full of great info. I am not a lawyer, but I do not think they can enforce a consensus standard that…...
CT-OSHA also pushing ANSI Z358.1-2014 Read More »
Nevada OSHA adopted regulation R069-20, which includes the adoption by reference of ANSI Z358.1-2014 for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. By adopting ANSI Z358.1-2014, Nevada OSHA has identified the minimum design and installation criteria necessary to meet the definition of suitable facilities, which is otherwise undefined in federal statute. Additionally, training requirements have been introduced…...
NV-OSHA adopts ANSI Z358.1-2014 Read More »
I have walked by hundreds of these “misters” and never considered this hazard! A 59-year-old male employee contracted legionnaires disease from exposure to water from a cooling mist fan while working in the banbury/mixing area. This company manufactures tires for consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and the agricultural, forestry, and mining industries…....
Legionnaires Disease death from cooling mist fan Read More »
On January 11, 2022, OSHA began an inspection at your facility located at XXXXXXXXXXX, MA. The inspection revealed that employees in Flower Production were exposed to occupational quantities of whole and ground cannabis and were not provided effective information and training on the hazards involved in the cannabis production and grinding process. On January 7,…...
OSHA issues Hazard Letter regarding cannabis production and grinding process Read More »
The City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a performance audit of the City of New Orleans’ (City) Department of Safety andPermits (S&P). The objective of the audit was to determine if S&P inspectors (City inspectors) conducted their inspections in accordance with S&P policies and procedures. The scope of the audit was…...
A manufacturing company that works with dangerous chemicals faces $192,620 in fines for 46 serious and 17 general safety and health violations. The facility formulates products for agricultural fertilizer, airports, pulp and paper, and water treatment. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) inspectors found 13 violations relating to confined space entry rules due…...
I am sharing this because OSHA is in the process of adopting Rev. 7 for their new HAZCOM standard, and if they do it, it will change the PSM application to some Category 1 Flammable Gases. … Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership...
UN’s GHS Rev.7 presentation Read More »
A worker performing maintenance inside a cement mixer at a concrete manufacturing company narrowly escaped fatal injuries when a co-worker turned the machine on. An OSHA investigation determined that the company’s failure to comply with federal workplace safety standards nearly cost the worker their life. OSHA learned management knew that federal law required the company…...
Worker nearly died after co-worker turned on concrete mixer Read More »
The new criteria include violations of all hazards and OSHA standards and will continue to focus on repeat offenders in all industries. Previously, an employer could be in the program for failing to meet a limited number of standards. The changes will broaden the program’s scope with the possibility that additional industries will fall within…...
