PPE


California Dairy Gives County a Gas Detection System, Settling Case

As part of a settlement, an alleged violator may voluntarily agree to undertake an environmentally beneficial project related to the violation in exchange for mitigation of the penalty to be paid. This company chose to donate a RAE Systems gas monitoring system and 42 radiation pagers.

Tips to Protecting Hearing from Holiday Electronics

Parents and children giving or receiving an electronic device with music this holiday season should give their ears a gift as well by pre-setting the maximum decibel level to somewhere between one-half and two-thirds maximum volume.

Ministers' Council Endorses Australia's Work Health and Safety Act

The endorsement establishes it as the model law for harmonizing OSH regulations nationwide. Subject to a four-month comment period late next year, the act will go into force on Jan. 1, 2012.

The Health and Safety Executive "Make the Promise" campaign urges British farmers to do everything possible to prevent themselves from being hurt at work.

UK Agricultural Safety Campaign Wins Gold Award

"Make the Promise" has persuaded 15,000 farmers thus far to promise to work safely for the sake of their families.

Falls Kill Three High-Rise Workers; Contractors Cited

"If scaffolding parts had been inspected and replaced or repaired as needed, it is possible that this tragic accident and loss of life could have been avoided," said Eric Harbin, OSHA's area director in Austin.

Health Workers Near 50 Percent Vaccination Rate

Dr. William Schaffner, president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, expressed optimism Wednesday that the seasonal flu vaccination rate for U.S. health workers will be higher than in 2008. The peak months for seasonal flu are right around the corner.

This is the type of NRR label currently used on hearing protectors.

NHCA Agrees More Time Needed to Retest Hearing Protectors

The National Hearing Conservation Association's comments on the EPA proposal recommend simpler labels, 42 months to retest and relabel protectors, and requiring a statement on the labels saying individual quantitative fit testing is the only way to estimate a user's attenuation.

Painting Firm Penalized for Lead-Contaminated Eating Areas, PPA, More

"Few Americans are aware of lead's deadly effects or the fact that lead taken home on clothing and work tools can infect an entire family," said OSHA Area Director Richard Gilgrist in Cincinnati.



Utility Contractor Zapped with Penalty for Potential Electrocution

The Connecticut-based company received citations for working around energized transmission lines that were not grounded and working within the minimum approach distance in a bucket truck that was improperly rated for the work being conducted, OSHA said.

An image of emergency medical personnel.

OSHA Issues Guidance for Safeguarding Emergency Medical Responders

Titled "Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases," the new guidance document addresses adequate training and personal protective equipment for emergency medical services responders who assist victims of hazardous substance release incidents.

Asbestos Contractor Fined $484K for Putting Workers in Harm's Way

According to OSHA, workers at the site lacked proper respirators and protective clothing and had not been informed of the presence of asbestos at the site, and the employer failed to determine the asbestos exposure level and establish a regulated work area for asbestos removal and handling.

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Move Big Loads Safely

You're in the market for a material handling product, something that can help your employees move those loads quickly and safely. You surf the Web and flip through catalogs, but how do you start to narrow your choices? The same way best-in-class manufacturers create innovative products: research, testing, and knowledge.

firefighting

FEMA Awards $1 Million to Take Firefighting Technology to New Level

The new system will display the risk of extreme heat stress and time to flashover (the point when all combustible materials in a room simultaneously erupt in flames) on the incident commander's screen, along with the firefighters' locations and vital signs.

Faster Detection Aids Safety

OSHA and other federal agencies track electrical accidents of all kinds, but not arc flash incidents specifically. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are working to change that through a collaborative research project to conduct extensive testing on arc flash. At present, only data on all electrical accidents are available.

Electrical Contractor Achieves 2 Million Hours, No Lost Time

Safety Director Ted Sommer said the company "strives every day to meet our goal of zero incidents through preplanning, training, and open coordination among the trades."

ASTM Starts Certification Programs

"The board agreed that the ability for the society to offer certification programs . . . is important in remaining relevant in the changing global marketplace," ASTM International President James A. Thomas said.

This poster advertises the 2010 Safety Products Student Design Challenge.

7th Safety Products Student Design Challenge Under Way

Post-secondary students compete in this annual event, which is sponsored by the Safety and Protective Products Division and the Narrow Fabrics Institute of IFAI. A University of Wisconsin Stout design team placed first in the 2009 contest.

Colorado Grain Fatality Brings $1.6 Million in Fines

OSHA issued $1,592,500 of the $1.6 million in fines against Tempel Grain Elevators LLP of Wiley, Colo., in connection with the May 29 engulfment death of a 17-year-old worker.

OSHA Issues H1N1 Enforcement Procedures Directive

States are required to notify OSHA whether they intend to adopt policies and procedures identical to today’s Instruction or adopt or maintain different policies and instructions for conducting inspections to minimize high to very high risk occupational exposures to the virus identified as 2009 H1N1 influenza.

Worker's Arc Flash Burning on SUNY Campus Leads to $88K Fine

"This is a clear example of the grave consequences that can result when basic electrical safeguards are not provided and used," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo.

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