The United Nations issued its 8th Revision to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) late last year and in this 8th revision we have some very good guidance on Combustible Dust (COM DUST). For the record, OSHA is considering adopting the 7th Revision; we currently are using the 3rd revision…...
The Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) is publishing this interim final rule to update the regulatory requirements used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)to test and approve air-purifying particulate respirators for use in the ongoing public health emergency. With this rulemaking, parallel…...
I have written several articles lately explaining the limitations of storing flammables and toxics. A couple of these articles referenced the International Fire Code (IFC) which is my favorite safety code for hazardous materials. OSHA’s 1910.106 is from the 1969 NFPA 30 and has not been sustainably updated since; whereas the IFC gets updated every…...
These two terms are often discussed on OSHA outreach training courses, but I hardly ever mention them as they are more “legal” terms than safety terms. But this month, MI-OSHA issued guidance to their CSHO’s which I thought did a really nice job explaining what these terms mean and how they are used in issuing…...
In this one, we get a 2-for-1 special!!!! First, the egress path height… 1910.36(g)(1) The ceiling of an exit route must be at least seven feet six inches (2.3 m) high. Any projection from the ceiling must not reach a point less than six feet eight inches (2.0 m) from the floor. and then the…...
From my friend Bill Geddings… In an effort to help EHS professionals who are missing conferences, local professional development meetings and other training opportunities that will allow us all to maintain certifications and our competencies please share known online learning opportunities. These can be environmental, occupational health, safety, leadership, emergency response, etc. I will share…...
Although the idea of this article originated from a PSSR debacle on a new process construction project, the information will apply to ALL building construction and so I have put this in the OSHA Compliance Category rather than the Chemical Process Safety category. Late last year we were finishing up a longterm project with a…...
This is the new mantra being spewed by the none believers now that the infection rate has destroyed their earlier argument that the virus is not a problem in the USA. Here is the full story as to why our mortality rate is trending so low right now… EARLY in the spread, relatively few need…...
NOTE: Under our Pandemic, my bet OSHA is not going to enforce a lot of this, but I thought it would be a timely reminder as I have received numerous questions about working from home. The OSH Act applies to work performed by an employee in any workplace within the United States, including a workplace…...
At 8:30 a.m. on June 15, 2019, a worker employed by a painting contractor was setting up equipment to abrasive blast electrode holders. He connected the abrasive blasting hood to a line that was supplying nitrogen rather than one supplying compressed air. He inhaled nitrogen instead of breathable air and was asphyxiated…. Membership Required You...
On March 2, 2012 Employee #1 of a food processing company was standing-by while a contractor was pressure testing a newly installed compressed air unit. The pipe exploded when the contractor tried to tighten a joint on a leaking pipe and employee #1 was struck in the head by a two-inch steel pipe…. Membership Required...
We have discussed “pressure testing” and the hazards associated with these required tests many times. This is an example of what can go wrong when doing these tests with a compressed gas vs. hydrostatically! A mechanical contractor was increasing the pressure into the 4-inch compressed air line from approximately 125psi to the TEST PRESSURE of…...
