The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is strengthening the Outreach Training Program—a curriculum on educating employers and workers about workplace hazards—after reports of the presence of fraudulent trainers circulated. Since this Program is a voluntary initiative, independent trainers—both eligible and ineligible—have emerged for the construction and general industries.

However, despite OSHA regulation through the handing out of 10-hour course completion cards (which serve as “certifications”), some trainers have still been found to provide training that is not in accordance with the program. To solve this and to identify program violators, OSHA is working on how to improve trainer authorization procedures as well as how to ensure that trainers are in compliance with the agency’s program guidelines. According to OSHA’s Jordan Barab, though independent trainers have significantly helped in the expansion of the training program, fraudulent activities and unscrupulous trainers will not be tolerated by the agency as it is the health and lives of the workers that are threatened. In strengthening the program to address this issue, the following procedures are done:

• Trainers are given authorization to teach and to do outreach training only after completion of a one-week course in an OSHA Training Institute Education Center.
• Only after going through the course at OSHA’s Training Center do trainers become eligible to teach the 10-hour and/or 30-hour programs. The 10-hour program covers basic information about workplace hazards and an introduction to OSHA standards and regulations, while the 30-hour program includes courses in construction, maritime and general industry safety and health hazards.
• Completion of the Outreach Training Program from an authorized trainer/training center will entitle the student/trainee to an OSHA 10-hour card. Some states and cities require their workers to undergo this training as well as to earn an OSHA card as a condition of employment.
• OSHA is increasing unannounced or surprise monitoring visits at independent training centers to check if trainers are in compliance with program requirements.
• The agency has also developed a process for investigating and arbitrating complaints. From this, OSHA will create and post on its Web site a “watch list” containing details of outreach trainers who have received disciplinary action.
• OSHA requires trainers to certify their classes as well as to have documentation of their training. These requirements should first be met as well as submitted before OSHA will release the course completion cards to the trainers.
• The Outreach Training Program courses have also been revised as well as the exams made more challenging so that the authorization of new trainers is made more competitive.
• Though still undergoing development, OSHA will be adding an ethics module to all trainer courses.
• OSHA will continue to refer fraudulent activity to the Labor Department’s Office of the Inspector General and trainers caught falsifying information will be subject to criminal prosecution.

Barab concluded by emphasizing that these efforts to strengthen OSHA’s Outreach Training Program are still for the workers to receive quality training, to help them gain employment, and to keep them safe in their workplace, wherever it may be.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a whey processing plant located in Wausau, Wisconsin a total of 1.14 million USD in penalties for their workplace safety violations. The amount is the second highest for this year that OSHA has sought against violators, according to Brad Mitchell of the US Department of Labor.

Milk Specialties Global of Whitehall will have to answer to OSHA’s citations against them that their plant has unaddressed safety hazards. The company was allegedly allowing untrained workers to do maintenance work around tanks and power equipment without protection. In the past couple of years, five fatalities have also been recorded at the plant. The accidents were reportedly due to confined space entry issues—all of which could have been prevented from happening. OSHA has stated that the proposed penalties involved 17 willful violations that were committed with “plain indifference or intentional disregard” for employee safety and health. Citations for 4 repeat violations and 17 serious violations—including unchecked fire extinguishers, lack of lighting and signs for exits, and improper guarding of wall and floor openings—were also laid down. Mitchell added that Milk Specialties had been given 15 days to respond and to attend to OSHA’s citations.

Trevor Tomkins, Chief Executive of Milk Specialties, expressed in behalf of the company their surprise and dismay over the alleged violations that led OSHA to cite and penalize the processing plant. According to Tomkins, the allegations were unfair as they employed only eight workers and that their recorded workplace injury had only been one. Tomkins, however, stressed that they were willing to work hand in hand with OSHA to resolve the matter as they were committed to employee safety.

And what can be learned from this recent OSHA citation? Compliance to safety rules and regulations is still the key. Plants as worksites are hazardous by nature and workers have to be looked out for by the management to ensure safety. Here are some safety points to remember:

• Identify and address safety hazards as early as they arise. Do not neglect attending to such worksite issues—and neither should anyone wait for any mishap or accident to occur before safety measures are taken.
• Train your employees and get them educated on safety. OSHA requires a 10/30 Hour Training Program for General Industry that will equip your workers on the basics of workplace safety. Make sure that you don’t get left behind!
• Have your employees wear and use all the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while on the job—especially in tasks involving equipment and other risky setups.
• OSHA has safety regulations for confined space. Get a hold of the guidelines, inform your employees, and implement the rules in your worksite.
• Plants are fire hazards, so always give importance to taking fire safety measures in your own plant. Update your fire extinguishers, properly maintain your fire exits, and utilize a fire safety plan.
• Put up all the necessary guards, whether on any equipment or on every working and walking surface in your plant.

Compliance to safety rules and regulations will not only keep you in good reputation with OSHA, it will also—and most importantly—ensure safety and health in your workplace and for your workers. Keep healthy and safe.

A crane operator became another casualty to a workplace accident when the crane he was operating fell over last June 15 in Home Port Marina, Tarpon Springs. Ivan Hubbert, 71, died after falling off his crane and suffering severe head injuries. As of press time, OSHA is still looking into the incident.

In another issue on construction and workplace safety, a New York Committee for Occupational Health and Safety (NYCOSH) report drew attention to the alarming rates of workplace fatalities in the area. Though the numbers have decreased in recent years, records show that the numbers for occupational injuries and on-the-job fatalities are still relatively high, especially in the construction industry. Immigrant, minority, and non-union workers were also identified to be the most predisposed in these numbers.

The report has cited the following causes for New York’s workplace safety issues:

• Low number of OSHA state inspectors in proportion to workers. It has been distinguished that the ratio of inspectors to workers is smaller now than in the past years. This has become insufficient in meeting worker needs as well as in providing for their protection and guidance. New York was reported to have a lower ratio than that of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) standard which is 1:10,000.
• OSHA’s penalty structure is insufficient. The NYCOSH report showed that this is evidence of a lack of enforcement—not enough to compel industries to comply with regulations. The low fines and meager penalties have not been effective in deterring or curbing the occurrence of workplace accidents. (Workplace fatalities in New York are only fined a little over $5,000; reports also show that no employer cited for a hazard leading to a fatality was brought to court for prosecution.)
• Construction worker fatalities still rate as highest among all the occupational sectors. Injuries and deaths in construction sites are still higher than in most workplaces. In New York, fatality rates in the construction industry are also higher than in most areas.

Other issues and concerns that surfaced in the report were:

• The need to focus on the construction sector due to the high activity of construction (particularly of residential buildings) in New York.
• Employers failing to prioritize the safety of their workers—particularly that of addressing hazards and dangers in the worksites.
• The need for a stricter enforcement and more severe penalties—effective enough to deter further workplace accidents.
• The issue on OSHA moving to propagate new crane regulations. (Concerns arose in the localities because some found this as a pre-emption to stricter regulations they can otherwise implement. Local authorities felt that this would only inhibit them from enforcing stronger rules on their constituents.)
• The need to amend the OSH Act so that OSHA’s enforcement budget will be increased. (The budget increase was identified due to the need to coordinate local authorities, agencies, and unions so that all will work together towards worker and workplace safety. Behind the need for a budget increase is still the goal to encourage cooperation among various sectors and concerned entities so as to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities.)
• The need for OSHA to give particular and immediate attention to protecting non-union and immigrant workers. (Non-union and immigrant workers rate as the highest in the worker fatality numbers yearly.)

The NYCOSH report concluded with an emphasis on the need for a restructuring as well as a budget shift for OSHA. They identified these two as the main keys that might contribute to the ultimate goal of reducing the fatality rates and, eventually, preventing death and injury in the workplace.

Another worksite accident occurred last June 10, 2009, this time, three construction workers fell to their deaths from a scaffolding that collapsed in West Campus. The incident happened in the construction site of a luxury, high-rise residential condominium neighboring the University of Texas. The reasons for the collapse of the supposed-to-be secure scaffold as well as its fall height or plunge distance are still unknown. The names of the victims, four in all with one attaining only minor injuries, are yet to be released.

The scaffoldings erected in the said construction site were reported to be unstable and not secure for working, but official reports of what and how things happened exactly that Wednesday are yet to be stated. As of press time, the scaffolding contractor, the project’s developer, and the building owner, have all refused to comment. OSHA and local police are now looking into the incident, with the deaths being investigated as an industrial accident.

The opening of the new condominium was set this summer, but with the recent accident and the investigations still to be done, its opening might be delayed. A consultant to the building owner, MacArthur Management LLC, has however stated that they are now looking after the victims’ families.

Another factor which will be looked into on this incident is the reported lack of worker training, as Texas’ construction workers are not required to have training before working on a scaffold. The same does not apply in most states. This, of course, is evidence of a slack in implementation, on top of the already weak state regulations. The state of Texas has been known for such construction site accidents.

The thing we can learn from this, time and again, is that safety should always be given a premium. This, of course, starts with the proper implementation of safety regulations so that workers can—and will—be protected on the jobsite or in their workplaces. Success will not be one way, however, as workers also need to be vigilant as well as to work hand in hand with various safety agencies to ensure that safety is always upheld in their worksite.

There are a whole lot of things to know about safety on the job, especially if one belongs to the general industry or construction industry. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is very strict in making sure that workers (especially new ones) get the orientation, training, and education they need with regards to safety while on the job.

Thus, the 10 and 30 (also read as 10/30) Hour Training requirement by OSHA for workers under the General Industry and Construction Industry. Read on and learn more about this OSHA-required safety program.

What is the OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Training Program?
The OSHA 10/30 Outreach Training Program is OSHA’s primary way to train workers in the basics of occupational safety and health. The OSHA 10/30 Hour Outreach Training Programs were developed by the OSHA Training Institute with the intent to assist employers in training and introducing employees to the basic practices of identifying, reducing, eliminating, and reporting hazards associated with their work.

Is there a difference between the 10/30 Training for General Industry and Construction?
Yes. There are different courses and topics covered under the General Industry and Construction, respectively. More on them as we move on in this article.

So, what is there to know about the 10-Hour Training Program for General Industry?
The OSHA 10-Hour Training Program for General industry is ideally for supervisors with safety and health responsibilities as well as for employee safety and health awareness. Students will be introduced to OSHA policies, procedures and standards, as well as general industry safety and health principles covered in OSHA Act Part 1910. Special emphasis will be placed on areas most hazardous, as indicated in OSHA standards. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive an OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach DOL course completion card within 4-6 weeks.

How about the 10-Hour Training Program for Construction?
The OSHA 10-Hour Training Program for Construction is designed for construction workers, foremen, job supervisors, and anyone involved in the construction industry. OSHA recommends Outreach Training Program courses as an orientation to occupational safety and health for workers covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Workers must receive additional training, when required by OSHA standards, on the specific hazards of the job. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach DOL course completion card within 4-6 weeks. In a nutshell, this course is designed for construction workers as an ideal orientation to those who are new to the industry and as a reminder to those who have been working in the industry of the hazards associated with their work.

Let’s move on to the 30-Hour Training Program. How is it different from the 10-Hour?
Aside from the extra hours you have to put in, there are also more topics and courses covered in the 30-Hour.

Is it much like the 10-Hour Program, where the General Industry courses differ from the Construction courses?
Yes, of course. The OSHA 30-Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training course is a comprehensive safety program designed for anyone involved in the construction industry or workers covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Specifically devised for safety directors, foremen, and field supervisors; the program provides complete information on OSHA compliance issues. Construction workers must receive additional training, when required by OSHA standards, on specific hazards of the job. On the other hand, the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Outreach Training course is a comprehensive safety program designed for anyone involved in the general industry or workers covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1910. Specifically devised for safety directors, foremen, and field supervisors, this program also provides complete information on OSHA compliance issues. General industry workers must receive additional training, when required by OSHA standards, on specific hazards of the job.

Who can participate in the program or take the courses?
You can take the courses from those who offer special training services as an individual student (not part of a group/company), as a student (part of a group/company or multiple students), or as an administrator (part of a company).

What are the courses available?
As already stated, the courses are mainly categorized in these two: General Industry and Construction. There are a variety of courses (all OSHA mandated and recommended) under the two main categories, both in the 10-Hour and 30-Hour Program. Aside from the mandatory courses, elective courses can also be taken. Mandatory courses are required and recommended by OSHA while elective courses can be taken to suit specific needs.

Do we have to complete the hours of the specific program?
Yes. Know that all OSHA 10- and 30-hour course pages are timed per OSHA guidelines. This ensures that students spend up to 10 and/or 30 hours in the mandatory courses. Six months (or 180 days) are given to complete the training courses.

Do we have to take tests or examinations to pass the training course?
Yes. Most training programs include quizzes and examinations that will test your competency and knowledge of the course you took. Some training programs have more stringent passing requirements (pass every lesson, pass the final exam with a grade of at least 70%, maximum attempts for quizzes/exams only). Failure to meet exam qualifications may also eliminate students from the program as well as from receiving their certification cards.

What happens after completion of the courses?
Upon finishing the mandatory courses, the records (logs of hours put in, results of exams/quizzes, skills training logs) will be processed. If all the requirements are sufficiently met, and when found to be qualified by OSHA, the student will now receive the course completion card or certification.

Where can I take these courses? Where are they available?

Safety Services Company has a 10/30 Training Kit that meets the standards of the OSHA 10/30 Training Program. You can learn more about it by visiting our site and requesting information.

We hope that this article has somehow enlightened you on the basics of OSHA’s 10/30 Training Program. Feel free to contact us if you have further inquiries. We’d be glad to get in touch with you and be of any assistance. Remember that the 10/30 Training Program is required by OSHA. Compliance is for everyone’s good, after all. Get trained and stay safe!

OSHA may be known as the safety watchdog, but the agency also gives credit where credit is due. Whether a company complies or violates, OSHA does its job by making sure that safety is upheld in any industry as well as in every way possible.

A Wal-Mart employee’s death in Long Island last year led the federal OSHA to cite Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for inadequate crowd management. The tragic incident occurred when a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers went out of control and broke down the store’s doors—trapping and crushing 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour. Other people were also said to be injured from the accident. The citation on the world’s largest retailing company can lead to a fine of 7,000 US Dollars, if they fail to respond on the allegations within a period set by the regional OSHA. If only Wal-Mart effectively planned and implemented their safety measures for the post-Thanksgiving Day shopping rush, then such accidents could have been prevented and lives would have been saved.

On the other hand, an air force base in Massachusetts passed OSHA’s site inspection this month with—truly—flying colors. After exceeding OSHA’s safety standards and requirements, Hanscom’s Voluntary Protection Program became qualified to earn a VPP Star certification by the agency. Bob Sands, OSHA’s Region 1 VPP manager, only has the best remarks for Hanscom and its commitment to VPP and to safety. The 66th Air Base Wing’s commander, Colonel Dave Orr, is thankful for this commendation from the regional OSHA, saying that it has also been a learning and a progressive experience for them. Hanscom will be the first Air Force installation to become a VPP Star certified site once OSHA’s Assistant Secretary gives the final approval on the certification.

We hope that we all can learn from these two cases and that we will all endeavor towards a safer workplace for everyone—whether OSHA is on our case or not.

Summer is just around the corner and, along with it, the health effects and illnesses the hot season brings. Heat illness is no joke, and OSHA will be on every company and workplace to see that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that employers and workers are protected from it on the job. To illustrate how serious OSHA is in their endeavor against heat illness, three farm labor contractors in California have already been issued citations and ordered to shut down due to their lack of compliance in heat illness prevention measures.

OSHA conducts heat illness enforcement inspections to ensure that hot working environments are always regulated and monitored. The standards require that workplace temperatures and atmospheres be closely checked, and that worker hours of exposure to heat are controlled. This will ensure that everyone stays safe while working in the heat.

Heat Illnesses: Things You Should Know

Too much heat can hinder the body from cooling itself naturally, thus, resulting in heat-induced illnesses such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and heat stroke (which is more severe and can lead to death). The factors leading to heat stress are the following: high temperature, humidity, direct sun or heat, limited air movement, physical exertion, poor physical condition, some triggering medicines, and inadequate tolerance for hot work places.

You know that the heat has gotten to you when you experience the following: a rise in body temperature, excessive sweating/perspiration, headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. An upset stomach, increased heart rate, muscle cramps, and changes in your mood (e.g., irritability or confusion) can also take place. Once the following has occurred, however, you know that you are already in for a hard case of heat illness: dry, hot skin with no sweating, mental confusion or loss of consciousness, and seizures or convulsions. Always be on the look out for these symptoms.

Safety Tips for Preventing Heat Stress

• Avoid dehydration by regularly drinking water or other liquids that will replenish the lost liquids in your body. Drinking stations must be provided for and made accessible in the work area.
• Move to a cooler place (indoors, out of the sun, or under the shade) at regular intervals if you work outdoors or where you are under the direct heat of the sun or any other source of heat. Nearby shaded areas must be provided for.
• Your workplace should have proper ventilation and sufficient air conditioning. These should be in good working condition so as to alleviate the heat in your work area as you go about your job (especially if heat exposure levels are high in your tasks—e.g. steaming, ironing, etc).
• Lessen workload and adjust work hours. Take quick and regular breaks by leaving the hot environment you are in so that your body can cool down.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting or breathable clothes. Cool and airy clothing should be worn while on the job as much as is possible and safe.
• Wear the right PPE that is suitable for hot working conditions (i.e., breathable fabrics, non-restrictive clothing, specially-designed clothes that can easily be cooled, etc).
• Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeinated drinks, as well as taking heavy meals—these can increase the body’s temperature.
• Get training on how to prevent heat illness as well as how to respond to such emergencies.

What You Can Do When Emergencies Arise

• Call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
• Attend to the victim while waiting for help to arrive. Though you shouldn’t crowd over the victim, you are not to leave the victim alone as well.
• Move the victim to a cooler or shaded area. Take the person away from the source of the heat.
• Loosen or remove the victim’s heavy clothing, as well as other constricting accessories on his/her body.
• Let the victim drink water. You can also fan and mist the victim with water.

Be ready to face the heat when it comes on. Stay safe—and cool.

The accumulation of combustible dust has been a known workplace hazard in industries, but little has been done by the authorities to address the issue. Combustible dusts in the workplace come from the materials used in the production or manufacturing processes. These dusts come in the form of fine particles and metals, wood, grains, foams, plastics, rubber, pharmaceuticals, coal, flour, sugar, and even paper. Whatever the form, these particles are highly volatile and can easily catch fire—which, in turn, can lead to deadly blasts and sudden explosions.

Over the years, combustible dust explosions have claimed lives, injured individuals, and destroyed properties. As a result, this alarming rate has moved policy-makers, safety boards, and worker unions to seek legal ways to reduce the dangers and threats as well as prevent any further occurrence of blasts and combustible dust accidents.

Now, with the change of administration this year, the future is bright for the makeover of dust regulations. Sponsors of the legislation, which will renew and update the regulations on combustible dust in the workplace, are expectant and more active than ever in pushing the bill anew in Congress. These federal regulators are advancing that tougher and stricter rules should be implemented to address the issue of combustible dusts.

With the help of the Obama administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), along with some agencies such as the Chemical Safety Board and the National Fire Protection Association, federal dust standards and regulations will be enhanced to more suitably and effectively prevent these deadly accidents and explosions caused by combustible dust in the workplace. Among the objectives are to have a more stringent monitoring of the presence or concentration of combustible dust and how to remove them from the area. Whatever changes will be made on the regulations, however, the main goals are still to ensure that workers are informed of the danger, are aware of the threats, and are better protected from the hazard so they can go about their jobs in their workplaces more safely.

With these changes and improvements waiting on the wings, it will only be a matter of time before combustible dust explosions and other injuries and accidents resulting from the hazard will be totally prevented and avoided in the workplace. Yes, policies may change over time—but, in the end, they will still exist to protect the very people they serve.

On Saturday, tragedy struck as 12 people were injured after the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility collapsed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administratioon (OSHA) is currently conducting an investigation on the cause of the accident. “We’re trying to determine if there were any violations, or determine the cause,” said Elizabeth Todd, spokeswoman for Region 6 of OSHA. She added that OSHA investigators will be looking for identifiable hazards, as well as interviewing witnesses. The agency has six months to finish its investigation.

During the incident, about 70 people were inside the Cowboys’ facility for a rookie mini-camp practice. This includes players and coaches, as well as staff and media. A line of heavy thunderstorms hit the dome, causing the lights on the dome’s ceiling to swing violently right before the ceiling crashed to the ground. This whole scene was caught on video.

Among those injured in the collapse was Rich Behm, a scouting assistant who suffered from a severed spinal cord and was paralyzed from the waist down because of the accident.

Related Link:

San Diego Scaffolding Collapse Update

Better Fall Protection in Your Workplace:  News and Safety Tips

Creating Emergency Action Plans for Your Workplace

A Guide to Safety for Exits and Exit Routes in the Workplace

5 Distractions that Cause Workplace Hazards

Following OSHA Rules, Protecting Employees:  6 Workplace Safety Tips Often Taken for Granted

OSHA has announced recently that it will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Combustible Dust Hazards. The convention includes stakeholder meetings to assess possible regulatory methods and request data, as well as comments on issues related to combustible dust. These issues include the following:

• Hazard recognition
• Hazard assessment
• Hazard communication
• Defining combustible dust

“Over the years, combustible dust explosions have caused many deaths and devastating injuries that could have been prevented,” said Hilda L. Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor. “OSHA is reinvigorating the regulatory process to ensure workers receive the protection they need while also ensuring that employers have the tools needed to make their workplaces safer.”

OSHA said that more than 130 workers have been lost and more than 780 injured, since 1980, because of combustible dust explosions.

Related Links:

Proper Management of Hazardous Chemicals: Plan and Training for Workers

MSDS in Your Hazard Communication Program: Your Guard against Hazardous Chemicals

All about Material Safety Data Sheets

5 Distractions that Cause Workplace Hazards

New Bill to Protect Workers from Combustible Dust Explosion