The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Atomic Skis GmbH, of Austri, have announced a voluntary recall of the Alpine Ski Bindings.
As we move closer as a nation to having a cell phone for every citizen, or at least every household, our constantly connected way of life is changing the American landscape. The tallest of the communication towers making our wireless evolution possible stretch up to 2,000 feet, a distance limited by the Federal Aviation Administration,which has determined that anything taller is a hazard to navigation.
The International Window Cleaning Association's annual convention will include a safety panel discussing high-rise issues, an IWCA safety certification review, and a full-day training session on Feb. 21.
Tower climbing has been called "the most dangerous profession." But Don Doty, chairman of the National Association of Tower Erectors, says the industry is much safer today than when NATE was formed. He discussed the turnaround and the state of safety in the industry in an Oct. 24, 2008, conversation and follow-up e-mail with Occupational Health & Safety's managing editor.
Wind towers reap the power of wind to generate electricity. How ironic, then, that wind towers can take the wind out of those who must repair, maintain, or inspect equipment there. According to one published account, three wind tower technicians were installing bolts in a turbine in a wind tower in Minnesota when their work ignited a fire. The tower quickly became engulfed in flames. One worker fell more than 200 feet and died; the other two escaped with injuries.
ASSE's Z359 Fall Protection Code Package contains each section of the ANSI/ASSE 2007 fall protection consensus standard.
Committee members discussed a possible technical report to accompany the proposed Z359.6-200X and Z359.7-200X Standards and decided to address comments and then re-circulate the proposed Z359.13-200X Standard on energy-absorbing lanyards and personal energy absorbers.
The world is watching as more wind turbines are popping up to generate enough power to sustain a city, a state, or maybe even a country. Information and predictions about the wind energy market change every day. Every time someone estimates the market to be on a certain growth path, it turns out to be even bigger.
The Health and Safety Executive said 455 agricultural workers have died in the past decade, and the annual death toll has remained high.
OSHA recently announced a final rule on improving the safety of longshoring employees who work with vertical tandem lifts (VTLs). The final rule will reduce hazards related to lifting two containers at a time using cranes by ensuring that safe work practices are followed. The rule was published in the December 10 Federal Register.
"These employees were just one misstep or tumble away from a fatal or disabling plunge," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, N.Y.
The holiday season is here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to keep safety in mind as they decorate for the holidays. Flickering candles, blinking holiday lights, and fragrant evergreens are beautiful staples of the holiday season, but when used improperly, these holiday decorating "must haves" can pose deadly dangers.
The presentation, which includes slides, focuses on hot work and arc flash hazards and how to protect oneself against shock and arc flashes or blasts.
A study examined factors contributing to occupational deaths in East Attica, Greece, in the five years preceding the 2004 Olympics. A 2002 increase to 19 deaths was linked with construction of large-scale public works projects, the investigators concluded.
The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech won the grand prize at the 2008 International Capstone Design Fair with a trio of pole-climbing serpentine robots designed to take the place of construction workers tasked with dangerous jobs such as inspecting high-rises or underwater bridge piers.
ACCSH advises the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health on the formulation of standards affecting the construction industry and on policy matters arising in the administration of the safety and health provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and the OSH Act of 1970.
Meanwhile, fall protection in construction accrued the highest total penalty amounts of all the categories in FY 2008.
"Working without fall protection is like walking a tightrope blindfolded in that one slip or misstep can swiftly result in death or disabling injuries," said C. William Freeman III, director of OSHA's Hartford Area Office.
A post-collapse inspection by the agency revealed 46 alleged safety and health violations, including struck-by, fall, electrical, and noise hazards, as well as failure to prevent explosive dust from accumulating on machinery and the shop floor.
Aircraft parachutes carried for emergency use now must have been packed no more than 120 days previously, but after Dec. 19, 180 days will be permissible.