My Safety and Health

FAA Wants OSHA to Enforce Some Occupational Safety and Health Standards

2013-01-03T18:20:00.001+08:00

File Photo

In the past, worker safety sometimes has taken a back seat on the plane to aviation safety in general. Soon, however, the skies might become friendlier for flight attendants and other crew members. While the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aviation safety regulations continue to take precedence, the agency is proposing that OSHA be able to enforce certain occupational safety and health standards currently not covered by FAA oversight.

“Safety is our highest priority and that certainly extends to those who work in the transportation industry,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Under this proposal, flight attendants would, for the first time, be able to report workplace injury and illness complaints to OSHA for response and investigation.”

“The policy with the FAA will not only enhance the health and safety of flight attendants by connecting them directly with OSHA but will, by extension, improve the flying experience of millions of airline passengers,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Flight attendant workplace issues could include things such as exposure to noise and bloodborne pathogens, and access to information on hazardous chemicals. The FAA and OSHA will continue to work to identify any additional conditions where OSHA requirements could apply. They also will develop procedures to ensure that OSHA does not apply any requirements that could affect aviation safety.

“Flight attendants contribute to the safe operation of every flight each day,” said acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “This proposed policy is an important step toward establishing procedures for resolving flight attendant workplace health and safety concerns.”

“We look forward to working with the FAA and the airlines to assure the protection of flight attendants,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.

Through the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Congress required the FAA to develop a policy statement to outline the circumstances in which OSHA requirements could apply to crew members while they are working on aircraft.

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Source : EHStoday.com

Check on theme parks regularly

2012-12-29T06:39:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Theme park operators must be able to ensure the safety of its visitors or bear the responsibility should accidents occur.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the responsibility of guaranteeing visitors at theme parks are safe was in the hands of the management.

"They must have adequate warning signs for the public. It is also necessary to ensure that all safety instructions are visible to visitors."

Lee said park employees must also ensure visitors are aware of and adhere to safety rules on rides, and supervise all dangerous rides.

"They cannot take it for granted."

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selva Raj said all theme parks should be regularly inspected by authorities.

"The operators might not realise their equipment is damaged and continue to operate, posing a danger to visitors."

He said theme parks in the country were not up to international standards.

Lee and Selva Raj were responding to the recent case involving a 14-year-old boy who fell off a water slide at a theme park in Malacca.

He suffered cracks to the skull and received more than 30 stitches on the head and chin.

An Occupational Safety and Health Department spokesman said they had initiated investigations into the case and would be sending a team to inspect the theme park.

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Source : New Straits Times

Western Metals Earns SHARP Recognition

2012-11-20T18:39:00.000+08:00

Western Metals Recycling’s Salt Lake City, Utah, scrap recycling facility has received the SHARP (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program) designation from the Utah Department of Labor. SHARP is an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) award given to businesses that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to workplace safety and health.

Jim Ramsey, Western Metals Recycling’s (WMR) Salt Lake general manager, and Dennis Schofield, WMR Salt Lake plant manager, accepted the award on behalf of WMR.

“We could not have achieved SHARP status without the effort and commitment to safety that each of you displays every day. Safety is our core value at Western Metals and the entire team is firmly united behind our goal of zero accidents,” says Schofield.

John Ferriola, Nucor Corp.’s president and COO, says, “Thank you for what you do every day for Western Metals Recycling, and most importantly thank you for doing it safely. Achieving this award is truly an honor. WMR Salt Lake City teammates should be proud to be the first of DJJ’s recycling facilities to earn this prestigious award . . . but they will not be the last. Nothing is more important than safety. Absolutely nothing.”

Source : RecyclingToday

Tanzania: Occupation Safety Not Taken Seriously

2012-11-04T23:42:00.000+08:00

OCCUPATION Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Akwilina Kayumba has reiterated a need for employers to adhere to occupational safety regulations to improve employees performance at the workplace.

Dr Kayumba was speaking in her opening remarks for the four day training for industries from the Lake Zone. The CEO said that experience had shown that some employers were not enforcing the 2003 Health and Safety Act that requires them to enforce the stipulated regulations.

"It seems that some employers are not taking the Act very seriously, and this explains why most of them end up dealing with cases of those employees who were already affected when performing their duties," she said. She emphasised on the need for the employers and employees to take precautionary measures rather than grappling with effects caused by work related incidents.

Dr Kayumba said that the industrial sector is hazardous, and is facing many challenges that include, frequent work related accidents, low public awareness on health and safety regulations.

"We all understand that working in industries pose physical and other related health risks, and therefore both parties have a responsibility to ensure the employees are protected from being trapped into life threatening incidents while working," she remarked.

Source : AllAfrica.com

OSHA, Government Insiders Discuss Workplace Safety and Health Challenges

2012-09-18T17:30:00.000+08:00

Two former OSHA administrators and the director of NIOSH discuss key occupational safety and health challenges during a panel discussion at the America’s Safest Companies Conference in Chicago.

At a Sept. 12 government insiders panel discussion at the America’s Safest Companies Conference in Chicago, former OSHA administrators Ed Foulke and John Henshaw and NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard discussed employee engagement, the cost benefits of safety, the business implications of worker health and additional occupational safety and health challenges.

Moderated by EHS Today Editor-in-Chief Sandy Smith and presented to hundreds of ASC Conference attendees, the panel discussion covered topics including the changing health and wellness landscape for U.S. employees, worker engagement, the cost benefit of safety and the importance of approaching occupational safety and health holistically.

“Safety is a series of destinations, but we’re on a continual path to improve safety. You never get to an end goal,” said Ed Foulke, partner with Fisher & Phillips LLP, who served as the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA from 2006-2008.

Occupational Health Outlook

Foulke launched into a discussion about occupational health during the panel session by highlighting one of the nation’s most prevalent health concerns: obesity. As more teenagers and young people are impacted by obesity, their poor health will subsequently alter the American work force in the future, he suggested.

“This is your incoming work force, the people who are going to be working for you. They’re going to be bringing pre-existing illnesses [related to obesity], which will impact your health care costs,” Foulke said. “Because of their physical characteristics, they’re going to get injured quicker, more frequently, and recovery time will be longer.”

Employees’ sedentary lifestyles and lack of physical fitness will impact more than their own health – it may also compromise a company’s viability and ability to succeed. Foulke warned that the health problems of the younger generation will “dramatically impact” companies’ workers’ compensation costs, and he warned that no company will be exempt.

“Unless companies have a comprehensive safety and health managements system, which includes a wellness program, you’ll be out of business,” Foulke said. “There’s no middle ground on this issue.”

“Health care costs drive employers in the United States. It’s just the way it is,” added Howard. “How the health care stuff works out is going to be a very big deal to companies.”

Total Worker Health

Howard pointed out that while much focus is given to EHS components such as hazard identification and risk assessment, workers themselves – and the American work force in general – need more attention on a holistic level. He explained that variety of factors, both work-related and personal, impact worker productivity: employee assistance programs, workers’ compensation, HR, the psychological aspect of the workplace, personal and occupational stress, health issues and more.

“Often, we separate out the occupational and non-occupational,” Howard said. “Whether the employee is home because of work-related injury or personal health issue, it doesn’t matter, the worker is not productive. To me, the biggest challenge for the 21st century is to bring all that together with the same responsible entity in the organization, which is the people who do [occupational] safety and health.”

NIOSH, Howard said, is working to address issues impacting the American work force with its Total Worker Health program, which aims to integrate occupational health and safety protection with health promotion.

“This is a large, overarching issue that we at NIOSH find important,” Howard said.

Employee Engagement

Henshaw, who served as the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA 2001-2004, repeatedly stressed the importance of the cost benefits of occupational safety – calling himself, at one point, “a realist.”

“How do we factor all those issues [absenteeism, presenteeism, productivity and employee engagement] in the value equation so we can offset the cost? If we can’t do that, we’ll have a rough road to hoe. I don’t know if we can rely on OSHA to tell us to do it despite the cost since OSHA’s ability to write standards [has been compromised],” Henshaw explained. “We need to articulate the total value of that employee and the benefit of the employee being present and involved in the workplace, and that includes being safe.”

The biggest challenges, Henshaw continued, include engaging the work force and getting company CFOs involved in safety meetings. Above all, EHS professionals must demonstrate the value of safety programs, both to company leadership and to help engage the workers themselves.

“If there’s no value in it, why do we want to do it?” Henshaw asked. “ We have to take the time to engage every individual and show that we value their input, their understanding, their appreciation of their job ... We have to make sure every individual in the workplace is engaged.”

The goal, Henshaw said, is to encourage workers to truly own their safety and health instead of just following rules.

“There are no magic bullets,” he added. “You can’t set a management program up without engagement. It has to be internally grown.”

Source : EHS Today

ASSE, OSHA, and NIOSH Join Forces On Fall Prevention

2012-09-17T15:22:00.000+08:00

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has joined with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to support a new “Fall Prevention Campaign” aimed at raising awareness about how to prevent falls in construction.

The campaign is also supported by state governments, private industries, trade associations, academia, and professional and labor organizations. It focuses on providing prevention information and training materials on three major types of falls: from roofs, from ladders, and from scaffolds. More than 10,000 construction workers were injured as a result of falling while working from heights in the U.S. and another 225 were killed in 2010.

Ron Sokol, ASSE member, who also represents ASSE on the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector that developed the campaign and is President and CEO of the Safety Council-Texas City, noted that more is needed to be done to prevent falls, such as this new initiative. “This effort took some time to develop as we ‘proof tested’ all of the information in this campaign with workers and employers – in English and Spanish, but was completed on a very aggressive schedule for a campaign of this magnitude,” Sokol said. “We want to reach as many people as possible to prevent construction workers and others from falling while at work.”

Some of the risks involve working on sloping roofs, from heights, at the edge of buildings, possible slipping, carrying equipment and more. To help construction workers stay safe, safety, health, and environmental professionals also use “consensus standards” such as Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall Arrest & Rescue Systems, Scaffolding Safety Requirements, and Emergency Procedures for Construction and Demolition Sites.

OSHA’s new fall prevention web page has detailed information in English and Spanish. In addition, Sokol said the fall prevention literature will be translated into seven additional languages by OSHA for broader distribution. Also, the campaign information and resources will continually be updated.

“Planning ahead, identifying risks, providing training along with the right equipment will help prevent construction worker falls,” Sokol said. “The information from the new Fall Prevention Campaign will be invaluable. We urge everyone to share it with their company, friends, co-workers, community, schools and more. We are all part of the solution to help prevent falls.”

Source : Todays Facility Manager

How West Michigan company in 'high-hazard industry' earned elite safety honor

2012-09-05T16:34:00.003+08:00

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Commercial Tool & Die Inc. has joined an elite group of businesses by earning one of the state's top safety awards.

The Comstock Park company, which is in a high-hazard industry, recently received the prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award for an exemplary safety and health management system.

Commercial Tool manufactures plastic injection and die cast molds for the automotive, appliance, hardware and toy producing industries.

The 60-year-old company, located at 5351 Rusche Drive NW, employs 139 workers.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) established the Michigan SHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers.

The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

“We are very pleased to welcome Commercial Tool & Die into this elite group of companies who provide outstanding workplace safety and health protection,” said Rob Nederhood, LARA deputy director.

The Michigan SHARP Program targets small, high-hazard employers – to help them develop, implement and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system.

SHARP provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, rather than simply reacting to them.

Commercial Tool has developed a safety and health system that provides outstanding protection for their workers, said Doug Bouwman, owner and CEO of Commercial Tool.
“All employees are entitled to a safe and healthy workplace,” said Bouwman. “A positive environment with open communication, employee involvement and participation, and a respect for one another has helped us achieve high levels of safety performance.”

Commercial Tool's injury and missed worked days rate were more than half that of the national average.

But wasn't always the case.

The company decided to partner with MIOSHA to improve its safety record after its injury rates spiked one year.

"We said 'This is enough, we have to reduce this and we had to put in some safety rules and enforce them,'" Don Brecken, Commercial Tool's director of quality and safety.

The work at the company involves the milling of steel which can create potential hazards from flying chips, sharp edges and heavy materials.

Workers were required to wear cut-resistant gloves when handling cut steel and restricted from lifting any weights over 25 pounds without the use of hoist, sling, magnets or Hi-low. As a result, injuries involving lacerations and back injuries dropped dramatically.

Employees who are injured because they didn't follow a safety rule are penalized. First violation is verbal warning. A second results in a written reprimand in their file, and the third is three days off work without pay. Employees who commit a fourth violation are fired.

"Putting in place some rules and enforcing them really drove it (down)," said Brecken, adding the company has only had to issue written warnings. "They understand you are serious."

Enforcing the news has resulted in recordable injury rates - which require medical treatment - dropping by 65 percent, Brecken said.

As part of its partnership with MIOSHA to improve its safety record, the state sent consultants to walk through the shop, pointing out hazards and help develop a safety plan. This was separate from the state's formal inspections.

The improved safety record and state award is expected to generate some additional benefits including reduced insurance rates and recruiting the best machinists and die makers.

"We see this as good PR," Brecken said.

Brecken says Commercial Tool is looking to hire mold makers and machinists.

The rebounding automotive industry is generating more orders. When that business dropped during the Great Recession, the company stayed busy by diversifying into aerospace.

"We are always looking for good talent," said Brecken. "It's tough because the downturn took out a lot of good talent. People are doing other things or have moved out of the area."

Source : mLIVE

iPad app promotes safety and health at work

2012-08-31T16:35:00.000+08:00

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) released its first iPad application to support work safety and to promote health at the workplace.

The new app is part of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2012–13 “Working together for risk prevention” and its main aim is to help managers and employees address the risks they face at work and to ease the communication between them in improving safety and health. The app provides the users with access to a number of practical guides, case studies, animated infographics, as well as an interactive self-assessment tool.

There are two examples of infographics included in the newly released application. The first one represents data on work-related accidents in Europe and warns that every 3.5 minutes a person dies in the European Union as a result of work-related accident of an occupational disease.

The second infographic deals with work-related deaths and stresses that according to the available data, 6.9 million people, or a number equalling the combined population of Brussels, Frankfurt and Rome, suffered accidents at work in 2007.

These figures represent a huge cost in terms of human suffering and impact considerably on businesses and productivity. The two infographics and the iPad application itself strive to raise awareness about the importance of risk prevention at the workplace.

Source : New Europe

ECR International receives SHARP certification

2012-08-30T19:21:00.001+08:00

Recently ECR's Dunkirk facility was awarded a Safety and Health recognition Program (SHARP) Certification from the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL). SHARP, a program under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), recognizes employers and their employees that exceed OSHA's standards and implement exemplary safety and health management systems. The certification process in Dunkirk involved a plant-wide audit of the facility, an evaluation of safety programs and required record keeping, observed work practices, personal interviews with our employees, and an industrial hygienist audit.

With this SHARP certification, Dunkirk becomes only the 72nd facility in New York State, and only the sixth facility in Chautauqua County to have earned this achievement.

"This certification would not have been possible without our Dunkirk employees' sustained commitment toward a safe and healthy work environment. Credit also goes to all employees who have aggressively worked to make ECR's overall environmental health and safety program what it is today," Pat Morocco, VP of Operations said.

Source : Observer Today

The DANGERS of HEAT STRESS

2012-08-29T17:55:00.000+08:00

What are the categories of Heat related stress?
What are the symptoms?
Steps to overcome heat stress.

Safety equipment is a vital investment

2012-08-29T16:42:00.002+08:00

During the difficult financial times businesses should make sure they do not cut back on safety equipment as this will end up being a false economy.

This is the message being put out by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which says that unreliable health and safety equipment just stores up problems.

Phil Bates, senior policy and technical adviser at IOSH, said: "No matter whether a company is looking to save money or not, they should always ensure they provide equipment that is suitable for their employees to carry out the tasks at hand."

Health and safety must be a top priority for employers at all times, whether business is good or economic pressures are making the everyday expenses hard.

As well as preventing costly fines or even payouts to anybody that is injured, the safety of employees should always be a top priority for firms.

Staff trust those they work for to put measures in place to protect them, follow the right procedures and have someone in charge of making sure health and safety is properly supervised.

Mr Bates said: "Sometimes it may be tempting to buy a product just because of its price, but this isn't always the answer. Employers need to ensure they are considering the quality, durability and features of any product they offer their workforce."

Cheaper equipment may not last as long as the more expensive well-built alternative, meaning that it has to be bought again.

Mr Bates said: "Investing in good quality safety equipment and maintaining it well can save costs - reducing down time and stoppages by cutting accidents that may be caused by faulty equipment."

Companies must do right by their employees, prevent fines and potential accidents as well as unnecessary complications by investing in the best health and safety equipment.

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Source : Aviva

Tips : Smartphone Ergonomics

2012-08-17T02:00:00.000+08:00

With more and more workers upgrading to smartphones, and as smartphone capabilities continue to improve, even the government is considering innovative ways to harness this advancing technology. Human factors/ergonomics researchers have evaluated the potential benefits of using smartphones to enable online work.

Ergonomic and Safe use of mobile or smart phones devices for recreation or work can bring you great benefits if you adopt healthy habits by using them as while Driving, Traveling or on the Move. Awareness of local laws, correct posture, regular breaks and a proper adjustment of equipment can help prevent or relive occupational work stresses or disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Back / Neck Pain or vision care when using Smartphones.

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News : Petroleum terminal deaths - Lack of safety measures cited

2012-08-16T18:44:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has cited a lack of safety measures for the two accidental deaths at petroleum jetty terminals between January and June this year.

Its assistant director of major hazards, Izani Mohd Zain, said the deaths occurred in Pengerang, Johor.
The first death occurred in January when an engineer died during a dive to carry out installation of a cathodic protection on a jetty structure, he said, adding that CPR was administered but the engineer failed to respond.

Izani said the second, on June 16, was due to the failure of the employer to monitor employees, resulting in one of them falling overboard and drowning.

“Each petroleum company and terminal operator has its own safety procedure, but all of them have a standard practice of stopping work during bad weather and thunderstorms, especially when working with hazardous and highly flammable materials,” Izani told Bernama.

Summit Petroleum Sdn Bhd safety manager Chong Kian Fook told Bernama there was no common standard procedure at petroleum terminals.

“Every company has its own safety policy and procedure, but they all follow the basic guidelines provided by DOSH,” he said. Summit Petroleum runs an oil and gas facility in Port Klang.

Chong said the standard procedure depended on the company’s financial ability and manpower.

“If they have the financial means and enough manpower to execute more safety measures, they would but most companies follow the basic standards of safety,” he said.

Chong also said that one of the safety practices at petroleum terminals was to stop all discharge or loading works during heavy rain with low visibility and thunderstorms.

Izani of DOSH said that though the department was not in charge of safety procedures on tankers, it was looking at options on how it could assist in the investigation into the incident in Labuan last week.

A Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC) tanker, Bunga Alpina, caught fire, triggering an explosion, at the Petronas Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd terminal, resulting in the deaths of five crew.

Media reports earlier stated that the tanker could have been struck by lightning during a thunderstorm.
While the real cause of the incident had yet to be established as the investigation is ongoing, the meteorological department confirmed that during the 2 am incident, Labuan was experiencing a thunderstorm. — Bernama

Source : The Borneo Post

Tips : 7 ways to build a safety culture

2012-08-14T01:03:00.000+08:00

What is a safety culture?

A program has a start and end date. A culture is an environment that has a philosophy that permeates the daily activities of the organization. Safety and health do not exist in a vacuum. Other aspects of the organization, including people and financial management, impact safety. Therefore, a safety culture must be a part of the overall corporate culture to be understood and accepted as a high priority.

Why is having a safety culture important?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s January 2012 white paper, “Injury and Illness Prevention Programs,” cites some interesting statistics.

Every day, more than 12 workers die on the job — that’s more than 4,500 per year.
Every year, more than 4.1 million suffer serious job-related injury or illness.

You can learn more about disability-related costs in one of Jason Denis blog posts, “The dollars of disability.”

Admittedly, such national numbers may not seem relevant to you. Perhaps you work for a small or medium-sized company. But if you are in risk, safety or HR, think of how much time and how many resources you and your organization spend on workers’ compensation claims. Just think how stressful it is on you and your team when a colleague is suddenly away from work for an undetermined period of time.

What a safety culture is not

A safety culture is not merely a collection of policies and programs. Things like an Accident Prevention Program (APP), Injury and Illness Prevention programs, Personal Protective Equipment programs (PPE) and ergonomic programs can be components of a safety culture and may even be a regulatory necessity. Such tools can help reduce risk and ensure regulatory compliance. These tools can be vital in building and sustaining a safety culture. But tools alone do not make a safety culture.

Elements of a safety culture

The following are commonly recognized elements required to create and nurture a safety culture:

Commitment (buy-in) at all levels
Treatment as an investment, not a cost
Integration into continuous process improvement
Training and information for all
System for hazard prevention and control
Blame-free work environment
Celebrating successes

A stay-at-work program can be yet another strategy or tool to help build a safety culture and prevent injury and/or illness. A specially trained consultant on your team can help offer ergonomic intervention for those employees deemed “high risk.” Examples may include those actively treating for a medical condition or those with an active workers’ compensation claim that doesn’t (yet) prevent them from working. As always, reach out to your workers’ compensation and disability carriers to see what resources are available for your company.

Source : Jason Denis.

Workers with paid sick days healthier, more productive

2012-08-13T17:05:00.001+08:00

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) - Employees with paid sick leave are healthier than other workers who do not have this benefit, new study findings suggest.

According to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workers with paid sick leave are 28 percent less likely to suffer nonfatal work-related injuries.

In addition, the researchers noted that those with jobs in high-risk industries, such as construction, manufacturing and health care, who often suffer from pain, sprains, fractures and chronic injuries, gain the most from this benefit.

"This study highlights how our work lives and our personal health are intertwined," the institute's director, Dr. John Howard, said in a CDC news release. "This concept of total worker health, which involves creating an environment of well-being both at home and at work, is an important aspect of the American economy, as we depend on able and productive workers."

In conducting the study, the researchers examined national survey data collected between 2005 and 2008 on 38,000 workers in the private sector. The investigators found that health care workers and technicians who did not have paid sick leave were 18 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal work-related injury than their peers with similar jobs who did have access to paid sick leave.

The study also found that construction workers without paid sick leave were 21 percent more likely to sustain a nonfatal work-related injury than construction workers who did have this benefit.

If sick or stressed workers are not able to take time off from work, they may be at greater risk for injuries, the study authors warned. Previous studies have reported that sleep deprivation, fatigue and certain medications may contribute to nonfatal workplace injuries, they added.

"Many workers may feel pressured to work while they are sick, out of fear of losing their income," the study's lead researcher, Abay Asfaw, said in the news release. "If fewer people work while they are sick, this could lead to safer operations and fewer injuries in the workplace."

The study authors also pointed out that their findings support previous research that found that access to paid sick leave is associated with shorter recovery times and fewer complications from minor health problems. In addition, paid sick leave for workers could reduce the risk of spreading illnesses, particularly in day-care facilities and schools, the researchers noted.

In the United States, employers have the option to provide their workers with paid sick leave, but it's not required. The 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act mandates public- and private-sector companies to provide up to 12 weeks of leave to eligible workers, but it doesn't have to be paid leave, the authors explained in the release. In 2010, only 40 million private-sector employees in the United States had access to paid sick leave.

More research is needed to better understand how paid sick leave could benefit communities and prevent the spread of disease, the study authors concluded.

The study was released online in advance of print publication in the American Journal of Public Health.

Source : WSFA.com

Workplace Safety Issue : Patients Weight

2012-08-05T01:07:00.004+08:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nurses, nursing aides and orderlies have borne the weight of the nation’s obesity epidemic and suffered the consequences.

They have gone home with aching backs and, in worst-case scenarios, ended up in hospitals themselves.

“In the course of an eight-hour day, a nurse will typically lift 1.8 tons, which is pretty astronomical,” said Amy Williamson, a workplace safety coordinator for Baptist Hospital here.

The official guideline from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is that nurses should lift no more than 35 pounds at any given time, but few hospitals and nursing homes follow that rule.

Back injuries to health-care workers cost billions of dollars annually and are a primary reason for nurses choosing to leave the profession. A 2011 health and safety survey from the American Nurses Association showed that disabling injuries from lifting are a top concern among 62 percent of nurses. Eight in 10 nurses said muscle and joint pain is a frequent occurrence.

“You are boosting patients in bed,” said Williamson, whose hospital has received national recognition from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration for its efforts to prevent workplace injuries.

“You are turning them. You are trying to assist them to the restroom. It has really taken a toll on our nurses and our techs.”

A few years ago, a nursing team faced with a heavy patient would have assembled three or four staff members for a group heave. Today, they wheel in a portable lift. Hospitals has invested in portable lift devices that can handle up to 600 pounds and has one on order with a 1,000-pound capacity.

One nurse wound up having to undergo three surgeries for a neck injury, torn rotator cuff and carpal tunnel issue. So, almost three years ago, Hospitals launched a pilot project to prevent these injuries.

The campaign began in the unit where Mary Ann Baylor is nurse manager. It relied on three key components: equipment, training and awareness.

“We have not had any injuries since our pilot,” Baylor said. “It’s really a team project. We buddy up so that whenever we are using the lift, the chance of injury is nil. You can’t afford to have everybody out sick.”

The buddy approach – matching up a new user with someone skilled at using the lift devices – boosted compliance. Baptist wound up reducing its patient handling injuries by more than 74 percent from 2008 to 2011.

Only 10 states – California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington – have adopted laws or regulations that require health-care institutions to have patient-handling requirements to protect nursing staffs, according to the American Nurses Association. Hawaii’s legislature has adopted a resolution in favor of it.

“Manual patient handling is unsafe and directly responsible for musculoskeletal disorders suffered by nurses,” said Jemarion Jones, a spokesman for the national organization. “Patient handling can be performed safely with the use of assistive equipment.”

The portable devices can pick up patients weighing up to 400 pounds while ceiling-mounted lifts can pick up more.

Besides preventing back injuries for hospital staff, the devices lessen the likelihood of patient injuries and give caregivers greater options for moving patients around to prevent bedsores.

To accommodate the increasingly obese patient population, hospitals also have had to invest in braces for toilets, bariatric bedside commodes and chairs designed to bear extra weight.

“You can have someone who is complete total care that is 500 to 600 pounds,” Baylor said.

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Source : Delaware Online

Workplace accidents on the rise

2012-08-04T02:11:00.000+08:00

Hours? Days?

WORKPLACE accidents in Malaysia are on the rise with 59,897 cases reported to Social Security Organisation (Socso) in 2011, 3.77 per cent higher than the 57,639 cases in 2010.

Of the 59,897 cases, 58 per cent were industrial accidents while the rest while commuting.

"Commuting accidents increased in 2011 to 24,089 cases, up 11.16 per cent compared to 2010," said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan.

"Socso found that most of these accidents took place on the way to work in the mornings," she said after officiating the Occupational Safety and Health in School Awareness Programme 2012 at SMK Padang Tembak yesterday.

Compensation to employees injured in workplace accidents rose last year.

In 2010, Socso paid RM1.6 billion. Last year, it increased to RM1.73 billion.

A stiff fine awaits those who neglect to report workplace accidents within a certain time frame, said Maznah.

"The law states any occupational accident must be reported within seven days or the employer could be fined RM10,000, but not many are aware of it," she said.

Worker safety and health is paramount, she said, especially after hearing of cases in other countries where disaster victims do not receive the welfare they should.

Maznah said one of the best ways to combat workplace accidents is by inculcating occupational safety and health from schools.

She said she was impressed by the choral speaking presentation by SMK Padang Tembak students on occupational safety and health.

"I like to record the choral speaking in a studio and spread it to all schools to deliver the message," said Maznah.

The minister handed out safety equipment such as helmets and reflective jackets to school staff.

Source : The Malay Mail

Time to take five or 10 before clocking out

2012-08-01T19:03:00.000+08:00

KUCHING: Employers may have to consider giving their employees a five to 10-minute break to unwind before they call it a day and drive home.

Deputy director-general (policy) of Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) Zabidi Md Adib said such a break was necessary as a preventive measure against the increasing number of commuting accidents among employees.

“Certain employers have started to implement this by giving their employees five to 10 minutes of break before allowing them to drive home.

“Those who have yet to do this maybe toying with this idea to prevent their employees from rushing home after work. However, the employees are not allowed to leave their office during the break,” he said when officiating at a seminar in conjunction with the Sarawak Occupational Safety and Health Week here yesterday.

Based on the statistics from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), there were 59,897 industrial accidents recorded throughout the country last year, with 24,809 involving commuting accidents.

Zabidi said employers had to look into the welfare of their employees who were an invaluable asset to their organisations.

“They have to make sure that their employees understand the occupational safety and health aspects,” he said.

He added that since the introduction of Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, accidents in the workplace had seen a significant decrease from 10 accidents for every 1,000 employees in 2002 to seven accidents for every 1,000 employees in 2007.

Last year, there were 3.4 accidents recorded for every 1,000 employees.

“There is a need for all the industries to have occupational safety and health policies in the workplace to be managed by a committee.

“The management has to show its commitment towards this and there have been a marked improvement in this as there have been more cases reported and also an increased awareness on the importance of the practice,” he added.

Some 200 participants took part in the one-day seminar which was held to give the industries exposure on the occupational safety and health aspects.

Source : The Star

Video : Safety Awareness

2012-07-31T18:53:00.000+08:00

Check out to BE SAFE, YOU should ASSess your safety culture: A Workplace Safety Culture Assessment Guide from Amazon at special price of $6.99 USD.

Most accidents at work cause by human factor

2012-07-25T19:25:00.000+08:00

Human Factors in Project Management

The majority of workplace accidents are caused by human factors rather than by machine faults, making safety consciousness, training and procedures the key element in promoting safety and health at work.

Eighty-eight percent of accidents that occur in the workplace are attributable to human factors. Only 6% of workplace accidents are caused by machines and their layout.

Environmental factors, such as poor visibility, heat, noise, dust and wet conditions, are responsible for 4% of workplace accidents. The other 2% of accidents are attributed to unavoidable natural events known as acts of God.

Most of the country’s health and safety legislation is designed to prevent unsafe conditions, such as environmental dangers and machinery faults.

Ninety-five percent of accidents due to human factors can be blamed on inadequate supervision or management of safety issues.

However, almost 90% of accidents attributable to human error or human behaviour, there is a growing awareness globally of the importance of worker education and supervision in efforts to reduce the number of accidents at work.

The trend these days in industry, particularly among big international companies, is to employ safety, health and environmental (SHE) professionals to drive safety, health and environmental protection.

The importance of safety and health at workplaces is recognised by these large companies, which pride themselves on their safety and health records. High accident rates at workplaces adversely affect a company’s profitability and reputation.

SHE professionals, who are not engineers, co-ordinate all safety, health and environmental programmes including the general promotion and awareness of safety, health and environmental issues, behaviour-based interventions, hazard and operability studies, due diligence, training and induction of workers, auditing, inspection and implementing corrective and preventative measures.

There are many accidents that can occur through negligence — not wearing safety equipment, for instance. It is important, therefore, not only to have safety and health regulations and procedures in place and for employees to be educated on these procedures and their importance but for managers and supervisors to insist on adherence to the company’s laid down safety and health regulations,
Injuries to hands and fingers account for approximately 25% of work injuries. Most of these are due to their being crushed, punctured, burnt or lacerated. Often the injuries occur because of both employee carelessness and unguarded or improperly guarded machinery.

There are many other ways in which fingers and hands can be injured, including through sharp objects or electricity. Many of these injuries can occur as a result of a failure to take sufficient care or wear protective gloves.

Use of machinery and welding equipment, carrying heavy loads, working from heights, dealing with electricity and many other work activities can all be hazardous and require safety consciousness and adherence to regulations and procedures, which may include the use of safety equipment.

The SHE concept enables companies to come up with their own safety and health policies, regulations and procedures.

When employees are able to see that the company is concerned about safety and health issues they are likely to respond positively.

The concept embraces not only safety, but health issues, including health issues that may not be due to work but have a bearing on employees’ health and consequently performance at work.
Some companies, for instance, run a clinic and include within their SHE programme a programme to tackle HIV.

However, the main focus is on accident and disease prevention at the workplace. Environmental issues are also important.

The SHE department develops and implements safety procedures and policies. This includes promoting safe practices among employees, ensuring safety equipment is provided and that employees understand the importance of wearing safety equipment and adhering to safety procedures.

Whether or not a company has a SHE department, it is important for every company to ensure that a culture of occupational safety and health awareness permeates the company.

Promoting and ensuring safety at work is the joint responsibility of both employers and employees.

Ignoring safety procedures, failing to provide or wear safety equipment and failing to exercise caution when dealing with dangerous equipment is likely to lead to personal injuries where employees are concerned and loss of productivity and reputation where the employer is concerned.

Safety and health at work is everyone’s concern — business owners, management and employees.

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Source : News Day

When Safety Becomes Voluntary: Workplace Self-Policing Program Under Scrutiny

2012-07-25T00:06:00.000+08:00

Simpson Safety Poster

What’s the value of a worker’s life? According to the calculus of corporate efficiency, it’s often still cheaper to put workers at risk than to spend money to protect them. And the federal government generously rewards those who have perfected this cost-containment strategy in industries where workplace hazards are just part of business as usual.

For years, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has granted many companies a pass on government oversight with the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Touting big-name members like Coca Cola and ExxonMobil, the program works like a sort of gold star for employers with good safety records, which OSHA believes are capable of regulating themselves. As In These Times has reported previously, many companies granted this status can basically enjoy years of relief from regular federal evaluation.

To ordinary citizens this may seem like a fox guarding a hen house packed with dynamite, but many employers champion the VPP as a way of "partnering" with government to avoid onerous state oversight. Congress recently reviewed the program at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, which examined the VPP in light of recent reports about horrid workplace accidents, along with criticisms that the initiative undermines both labor standards and the government’s role in protecting the public from industrial exploitation.

Rena Steinzor, a University of Maryland law professor with the think tank Center for Progressive Reform, told ITT, "What the voluntary program does, let's make no mistake about it, is it allows people to self-regulate. Basically, if you have someone who can fill out the paperwork, you're off the hook."

Evidently, not even the death of a worker is enough to persuade the government to revoke a company’s privileged status. According to a 2011 report by the Center for Public Integrity's iWatch News:

Workers at plants billed as the nation’s safest have died in preventable explosions, chemical releases and crane accidents. They have been pulled into machinery or asphyxiated. Investigators, called in because of deaths, have uncovered underlying safety problems — failure to follow recognized safety practices, inadequate inspections and training, lack of proper protective gear, unguarded machinery, improper handling of hazardous chemicals. Yet these companies have rarely faced heavy fines or expulsion from the program. In death cases in which OSHA found at least one violation, VPP companies ultimately paid an average of about $8,000 in fines. And at least 65 percent of sites where a worker has died since 2000 remain in VPP today.

The Reagan-Era program has ballooned in recent years, tripling the number of worksites covered between 2000 and 2008. The ideological foundation of the program reflects a general hostility to safety and environmental regulation under the Bush administration.

Although we’re several generations removed from the workplace atrocities of the early industrial age, workers becoming ill or dying from their jobs remains a routine aspect of working life in the U.S. Even outside of special deals with OSHA like the VPP, a lack of resources for inspections and enforcement means that many companies escape oversight by default.

Keith Wrightson, a Worker Safety and Health Advocate with Public Citizen, told ITT, “VPP takes the OSHA inspector out of the picture.” When protection is “voluntary” on the part of bosses, employees have little reason to volunteer to report a workplace violation if it might get them fired. In general, he said, “OSHA inspections are nil. Why do we want to further dissolve what authority it does have over the workplace?”

From the employer’s standpoint, Wrightson noted, “If there's fewer injuries on the job then the workers’ comp rates don't rise. Your health insurance costs do not rise and your liability insurance does not rise." But in the political debate, he said, "we don't see those facts at the forefront. ... The idea of VPP is a free market, where nobody should regulate, nobody should look, it's laissez faire, and it's not good."

But EHS Today reported that the House committee hearing did at least review new research showing that state workplace monitoring can protect workers and save companies money at the same time:

The study found that within high-hazard industries in California, inspected workplaces reduced their injury claims by 9.4 percent and saved 26 percent on workers' compensation costs in the 4 years following the inspection, compared to a similar set of uninspected workplaces. On average, inspected firms saved an estimated $355,000 in injury claims and compensation for paid lost work over that period. What's more, there was no discernible impact on the companies' profits.

So if profits aren’t hurt by inspections, corporations appear to reject government oversight simply on principle.

Steinzor sees a blatant imbalance in the way the government weighs health and safety needs against the profits of its corporate partners. “I think this is a class issue,” she said. “And it's shameful that the content and implementation of the nation's laws on occupational safety and the environment show systematic neglect of working-class people's lives in heavy industrial jobs, and far more concern for the well-being of yuppies in the exurbs."

In a system that tends to make the law comply with corporations rather than the other way around, “voluntary protection” seems to do exactly what the phrase implies: to make workers’ rights optional.

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Source : In These Times

Reid Supply Offers Eye Protection Tips for Workers

2012-07-24T04:15:00.001+08:00

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment each day. About one third of those injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of those result in one or more days of lost work each day.

Most eye-related injuries result from small particles or objects striking the eye. Metal, wood, and cement are frequently ejected by tools; are blown into eyes; or fall into workers eyes. These are often serious injuries and 10-20 % will cause temporary or permanent vision loss. Nearly one million Americans have lost some degree of their sight due to an eye injury.

The NIOSH has established a checklist to help employers to combat this kind of injury.

Five Point Eye Safety Checklist (NIOSH)

1. Create a safe work environment

Minimize hazards from falling or unstable debris.Make sure that tools work and safety features (machine guards) are in place.
Make sure that workers (particularly volunteers) know how to use tools properly.
Keep bystanders out of the hazard area.

2. Evaluate safety hazards.

Identify the primary hazards at the site.
Identify hazards posed by nearby workers, large machinery, and falling/shifting debris.

3. Wear the proper eye and face protection.

Select the appropriate Z87 eye protection for the hazard.
Make sure the eye protection is in good condition.
Make sure the eye protection fits properly and will stay in place.

4. Use good work practices.

Caution—Brush, shake, or vacuum dust and debris from hardhats, hair, forehead, or the top of the eye protection before removing the protection.
Do not rub eyes with dirty hands or clothing.
Clean eyewear regularly.

5. Prepare for eye injuries and first aid needs.

Have an eye wash or sterile solution on hand.

To assist employers in communicating the importance of diligent eye protection, the NIOSH has created an Eye Safety Tool Box Talk – Instructor’s Guide. The guide helps the instructor by directing the conversation to specific question and answers, such as:

How many work-related eye injuries are there each day?
What are the eye hazards at your site?
How can you reduce those eye hazards?
And many more.

PreventBlindness.org recommends that employers establish a 100% mandatory program for eye protection in all operation areas of the employers worksites. A broad program prevents more injuries and is easier to enforce than one that limits eye protection to certain departments, areas, or jobs. Select protective eyewear that is designed for the specific duty or hazard. Protective eyewear must meet the current standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and later revisions.

Employers can find more information and get helpful workplace links at the Reid Supply Company Health and Workplace Safety section at ReidSupply.com/workplace-safety.aspx.

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Source : PRweb

Is Your Small Business Enterprises Exempt from OSHA?

2012-07-23T01:53:00.003+08:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Act covers most businesses that have employees. It has specific rules and regulations but it also specifies a number of industries that are exempt from the OSH Act.

Not everyone has to follow OSH Act regulations and many small businesses are exempt from the requirements.

Most OSH Act requirements are designed to keep employees safe and it's a not a bad idea to consider if they can help you, both for your employee's sake and yours. Keeping employees safe keeps down costs by preventing injuries but not all the OSH Act rules are helpful to small businesses.

So if you're a small business, how do you know if you're exempt from OSHA?

First things first, if you're unsure about your status under the OSH Act, it's a good idea to talk it over with an attorney. That way you won't be surprised down the road about what rules apply to you.

Businesses with 10 employees or fewer are exempt from OSH Act's injury and incident reporting as well as programmed inspections by Occupational Safety and Health Administration employees.

Other small businesses with more than 10 employees may also be exempt from the programmed inspections. This applies to certain "low-hazard industries" identified by OSHA.

Certain employers are expressly not covered by the OSH Act meaning none of the rules apply to these businesses. That includes self-employed people, farms that employ only immediate family members, and people who employ others for domestic services such as cleaning and child care.

Churches and religious church activities, states, and businesses that are governed by federal agencies are also not bound by OSH Act regulations.

The categories look neat when stated by the government, but in reality it can be difficult to figure out where a complex and evolving business falls under OSH Act regulations. If you are still unsure about whether your business falls within an exempt category, ask a legal expert.

Being exempt from the OSH Act can mean greater flexibility for a small business with few employers. Knowing your status can help you avoid penalties while taking advantage of the benefits of being a small business owner.

Source : Reuters

[Research] Surface coal miners at risk for Black Lung

2012-07-22T00:25:00.001+08:00

The concern about black lung isn't just focused on coal miners working underground. A new study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health documents severe cases of the disease among surface coal miners too.

The study, the first of its kind in a decade used chest X-rays and breathing tests gathered by a mobile surveillance van which examined coal miners in 16 states from Pennsylvania to Utah.

Mr Cara Halldin who coordinated the study for the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Contro said that "You expect to see less disease among surface miners because you would think they are out in the open air and probably not breathing in as much dust as if they were in a confined space."

Of the miners tested:

2,257 worked more than a year at a surface coal mine.
46 (2%) were diagnosed with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. All but nine of those miners never worked underground.
A dozen had progressive massive fibrosis the advanced stage of the disease.

The last black lung study of surface coal miners in 2002 involved about 10,500 miners and found an illness rate of fewer than 2%. The rate of advanced disease was only 0.1%. Yet the current study found five times that rate.

Mr Halldin said that "We do see less disease than among underground miners but we see more severe disease among younger miners. The most surprising finding involved those miners who never worked underground. We identified coal workers' pneumoconiosis and severe pneumoconiosis in surface miners who reported no years of underground mining in their tenure."

Most of those with black lung are from the same region in Appalachia where the increase in the disease in underground miners is most pronounced. That suggests that a possible cause may be exposure to silica. Surface mines in the region include coal seams laced with silica laden rock.

The study said that these findings suggest that current federal permissible dust exposure limits might be insufficient to protect against disease or are not being adequately controlled to prevent excess dust exposure. Miners who have worked on the surface describe clouds of dust around mining and drilling machines, around coal trucks and along mine roadways.

Source : Npr.org

[tips] Fatigue in the workplace

2012-07-20T17:57:00.000+08:00

Many life factors can cause fatigue, which can be difficult to recognise. It’s important that individuals and organisations work towards reducing it. Remember, the only cure for fatigue is sleep, but it’s better not to get fatigued in the first place.

What is the impact of fatigue?

Fatigued workers don’t perform as well, are less productive, and are more likely to have accidents and injuries. Fatigue affects the ability to think clearly. As a result, people who are fatigued are not good at recognising their own level of impairment, and can be unaware that they are not functioning at their best.

Shift work is particularly hazardous, as often you are required to drive at night, at a time when your body is programmed to be asleep. Shift workers are six times more likely to be involved in a fatigue-related road crash than any other workers. Make safe driving a priority in your organisation and you will save money and lives.

Causes of fatigue

Many life and work factors can contribute to fatigue. Some of the main causes are:

inadequate sleep (most adults need seven to eight hours)
not enough time to sleep (extended working hours, irregular working hours, shift work, having more than one job)
poor quality sleep (workplace stress, sleep disorders)
extended waking and long work hours
shift work (upsets natural sleep rhythms)
ageing (teenagers tend to sleep later, older workers sleep less).

Recognising signs of fatigue

Common signs and symptoms are:

sleepiness
irritability (more than usual)
less conversational, or less clear in communication
reduced attention span, more easily distracted
slower reactions, clumsiness, poorer hand-eye coordination, reduced manual skills
slower thinking
reduced short-term memory, forgetful
inability to handle large amounts of information under time pressure, losing ‘the big picture’
less creative problem solving
cutting corners to get the job finished
poor judgment of distance, speed or time
increased risk-taking
uncontrolled sleep (microsleeps)

What can I do to reduce fatigue?

Everyone has a role to play in preventing and reducing injuries in the workplace.

Tips for employees

Employees have a responsibility to arrive fit for work and to behave safely in the workplace. This includes arriving at work well rested, and understanding and managing fatigue-related risks in the workplace. To help, you can do the following:

manage your sleep time: have a regular bed time; make sure your bedroom is comfortable; avoid caffeine for five hours before bedtime
manage your home life: make getting enough sleep a priority; avoid cutting back on sleep in order to fit everything in
manage your work life: vary or rotate work tasks so you stay alert; take a break if you’re tired; tell your supervisor or manager you’re feeling fatigued
eat and drink properly: eat light nutritious meals (heavy meals make you drowsy); drink plenty of water; watch your caffeine intake
avoid medications that make you sleepy: antihistamines, travel sickness tablets, sleeping pills, some cold preparations and pain killers
take power naps.

Source: ACC