2017 Photo of the Week #19 (Electrical – Not quite an insulating mat!)
2017 Video of the Week #19 (Difference from being TRAINED and having read a procedure!)
Every time I watch this video I think back to my days as a lifeguard and realizing that was my very first form of TRAINING. I was a Boy Scout and was about 14-15 years old and already knew I wanted to be a rescuer and just fell in love with the intensity of my
When contractors enter a host’s PRCSs (1910.146(c)(8)(iii)
What obligations does the host employer have when they hire a contractor to work within one of their Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS)? The answer seems to be all over the map, depending on the industry where the space is located, the size of the company, the company’s written program, etc. This article is intended to
OSHRC upholds citation for employee(s) reaching under interlocked doors/guards
This is a very good case on machine guarding (1910.212) application. Employees routinely reached under a set of doors that were interlocked to clear a jam. One day and employee reached too far and lost his finger tip. OSHA cited 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) and the commission upheld it. The reason why this case is so solid for
Interim Enforcement Procedures for New Recordkeeping Requirements Under 29 CFR 1904.35 (OSHA)
November 10, 2016 MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS STATE DESIGNEES THROUGH: DOROTHY DOUGHERTY
Even the Chemical Safety Board uses UK’s HSE Material
Today the U.S. Chemical Safety Board released their report into a 2015 refinery explosion and in their report they reference one of my favorite documents of all time from the U.K.’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), The safe isolation of plant and equipment. Another EXCELLENT diagram we can incorporate into our energy isolation plans for Line Break/Equipment Opening and
OSHA Clarifies the Employer’s Continuing Obligation To Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness
On December 19, 2016, OSHA issued a final rule titled, “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness.” See 81 FR 91792. The final rule, which became effective on January 18, 2017, resulted in various amendments to OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations clarifying that the duty to make
Construction Companies learning that PRCS Rescue is not a walk in the park (1926.1211)
This week I received this e-mail from a long-time SAFTENG member. Mike is a safety pro in the construction industry and he is trying to comply with OSHA’s new Confined Spaces in Construction, specifically, Mike has learned the hard-way that “rescue plans” can not be the proverbial “911 Rescue Plan”. Here is Mike in his
EPA RMP General Duty citations @ frozen food processing facility (NH3 & $36K – release of 1,559 pounds)
Respondent’s facility is a frozen food processing facility which primarily produces frozen dinners and entrees. As part of this process, Respondent uses ammonia in its plate freezers. On May 2, 2016 at approximately 2:35 p.m., a change in position of the stacking trays or plates located in Plate Freezer 1-6 caused the routine horizontality a1mm to
When they say it can never happen… Worker Dies From ingesting acid while he was on a rest break (OSHA Case #201156049)
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on October 3, 2002, an employee who worked for a company that provided vehicle maintenance such as car washes, detailing, fueling, and lube and oil servicing, inadvertently drank acid from a plastic spray bottle while he was on a rest break. The employee, feeling very ill after ingesting the contents of
Hazards of hydrofluoric acid (HF) – Line Break gone bad
On April 15, 2014, Employee #1, a maintenance technician employed by Solarworld Industries America Inc., and Coworker #1, a tool operator in the plant’s fabrication area, were working at the employer’s solar cell manufacturing facility. Coworker #1 had submitted a work order to repair a leak of liquid hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF is used in
UPDATE on Air-Line Respirators and Argon Fatality @ Refinery (OSHA Case File)
Back in March 2016, the Incident Alerts reported an incident at a refinery where workers were overcome while wearing air-line respirators. The facility, media, and OSHA were silent on details, but now OSHA has posted their accident summary: At approximately 8:45 a.m. on March 2, 2016, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were removing bolts from a