Between May and November 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued limited, temporary Public Health Emergency (PHE) approvals for N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) to address respirator supply shortages during that time. In July 2021, NIOSH published NIOSH CA 2021-1036 to remind PHE approval holders that...

There was some legal advice given today on a social media site regarding documenting our safety training with sign-in sheets, so if OSHA ever asked for records to show an employee was “trained”, the employer would be able to show the sign-in sheet.  The advice even contained the statement: Your safety training in this respect does not need to be long – in theory, it could even...

Today’s MSHA Fatality Report made me wonder how many LOTO programs require the SECONDARY SECUREMENT of large objects, even after the power source that normally moves the equipment has been locked out.  For example, cooling towers and condenser fan blades. I have experienced firsthand a piece of equipment two times involved were very large fan blades, and they caused serious injuries when they...

The heat index is based on the relative humidity.  When this relative humidity is HIGH, it significantly reduces the ability of our sweat to evaporate off our skin.  This sweating and evaporation process is how our bodies are cooled.  Our Heat-Related Illness Prevention Plan’s “action temperature(s)” MUST be based on the HEAT INDEX – not the standard temperature. ...

The Chlorine Institute has updated its A, B, and C Kit manuals with some significant revisions.  Unfortunately, these manuals are no longer free to non-members, but if you utilize these kits in your emergency response program, they are a MUST-have.  Luckily they cost only $40.  Here is a peek at the B-Kit Manual revisions: … HomeRead More »

Today I saw our local Natural Gas service provider discussing installing an Excess Flow Valve with my neighbor.  So naturally, that caught my ear, so I mossed over to learn more.  It seems that most Natural Gas service providers are offering the installation of an Excess Flow Valve on the feed to homes.  Of course, they are NOT offering to install this valve for free.  In fact,...

It has become fashionable to claim that human error is implicated in 80-90 percent of all major accidents. While probably close to the truth, this statement adds very little to our understanding of how and why organizational accidents happen. In the first place, it could hardly be otherwise, given the range of human involvement in hazardous systems. Second, the term ‘human error’ conveys...

I have seen some toxic workplaces. Lessons learned: When things go bad, good people leave, eventually followed by people who thought they could change things but got buried because too many good people left. Those left are toxic people or hostages to their job (usually by their years of service and how much $ they would lose if they left). The good people are your canary.

The last article for my ESRWPs series.  As I have been focused on volt meters and their proper use, this last article will discuss the necessary maintenance on these meters.  Another reason why the meters need to be provided AND maintained by the employer.  Are the meters at your facility in preventive maintenance (PM) program? Using my favorite meter brand, I will share the maintenance...

Did you know that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) based batteries produce Hydrogen (H2) when charging? This is why OSHA requires ventilation (1910.178(g)(2) and “NO SMOKING” signs (1910.178(g)(10) in charging areas. And FYI… H2 is 16X’s lighter than air, so the exhaust needs to be in the roof- not even high up on the wall near the roof – the ROOF. And please use an intrinsically safe fan system rated for...

Earlier today, I shared my thoughts on a critical safety step that is often not part of LOTO periodic inspections involving qualified electrical workers.  That article spurred a conference call with a client this afternoon.  That discussion led to the next layer of the proverbial onion being peeled back… Who should be responsible for managing volt meters being used by qualified electrical...

Scenario: You’re out and about, and you come up on two workers working on a piece of equipment.  You stop and engage the two workers on their energy isolation for their work.  One of the workers operates the machine and has it locked out as part of his end-of-shift cleaning tasks.  The other worker is a maintenance worker and he is replacing the 480V motor on the machine. The Operator...