The state of Minnesota is implementing a new set of standards to reduce on job risk for window washers.

The standard requires employers whose workers are suspended more than 14-feet above grade to have a comprehensive written safety plan and provide employee training for window-washing and building-maintenance activities. It also addresses and outlines worker safety requirements in the areas of:

• Anchors and anchor points;
• Appropriate recordkeeping regarding employee training and retraining;
• Fall protection;
• Proper care, use and inspection of equipment;
• Rope descent systems; and
• Visual inspections of building exteriors before work begins.

“This new standard ensures a plan is in place to reduce risks to workers and that systems are in place to identify and control workplace hazards,” said Commissioner Ken Peterson, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). “The goal is to prevent accidents.”

The new set of rules come on the heels of three window washing deaths in the past three years that MNOSHA said all could have been prevented through the proper use of safety equipment and procedures.

Since MNOSHA began a local emphasis inspection program for the window-washing and building-maintenance industry in October 2010 the organization has inspected 34 window washing companies.

During these inspections, MNOSHA investigators found worksites lacking proper safety equipment for employees and improper usage of suspension scaffolds and lifelines.

The new safety standard for window-washers takes effect March 1, 2012.

For help complying with this new standard call 877-201-8923.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2012 employers who are required to keep the OSHA Form 300 Injury and Illness log must post a summary of the log.

All industries in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, utilities and wholesale trade sectors are covered. In the retail and service sec­tors, some industries are partially exempt

Also employers with fewer than 10 employees are exempt. The size exemption is based on the company’s peak employment during the last calendar year.

If, at any time last year, the company reached 11 or more workers, the company is not size exempt. However, the company, or some of its individual establish­ments, may still be exempt because of industry classification.

Employers must post OSHA’s Form 300A from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2012 in a common area wherever notices to workers are usually posted.

The summary must list the total numbers of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2011. All establishment summaries must be certified by a company executive.

Copies of the OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 are available for download on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page.

To help your company track injuries all year we offer a variety of record keeping products. For more info call 877-201-8923.

We hear a ton of safety myths everyday that have no basis on research or facts. These consist of things that sound great that people say to get our attention. In many instance the people spewing these fantasies may even believe them themselves. However, as safety professionals we can’t live in a fantasy world, we must use cold hard data to back our claims.

To help you from falling victim to fake claim here are 10 quick Tweetable workplace safety facts. To share these facts simply click on the link you wish to share and it will post on your Twitter account.

10. Average OSHA fine is $1,000

In 2010 the average OSHA fine was $1,028 and the average company received more than two fines per inspection.

9. Overexertion accounts for 25 percent of all workplace injuries

According to Liberty Mutual Safety Index overexertion, or injuries caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, holding and carrying, costs businesses $12.75 billion in direct annual expenses and accounts for more than 25% of the national burden. Furthermore “Fall on same level” ranks as the No. 2 cause of disabling injury that drives direct costs of $7.94 billion, or 15.8% of the total injury burden.

8. Scaffolding, Fall Protection violations number 1 OSHA citations

According to OSHA the most violated standard the past year was a dead heat between fall protection and scaffolding requirements.

7. Nearly 75 percent of illicit Drug users employed

According to OSHA of the 7.2 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were employed either full or part time. Furthermore, research indicates that between 10 and 20 percent of the nation’s workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs.

6. Hazardous Substances cause 10 percent of skin cancers
According to the International Labour Organization Hazardous substances kill about 438,000 workers annually, and 10% of all skin cancers are estimated to be attributable to workplace exposure to hazardous substances.

 5. Workplace safety programs decrease injuries by 50 percent

According the American Society of Safety Engineers a comprehensive workplace safety program can decrease the likely hood of a workplace injury by up to 50 percent.

 4. 6,000 people die a day of workplace injury

According to the International Labour Organization each day, an average of 6,000 people die as a result of work-related accidents or diseases, totaling more than 2.2 million work-related deaths a year. Of these, about 350,000 deaths are from workplace accidents and more than 1.7 million are from work related diseases. In addition, commuting accidents increase the burden with another 158,000 fatal accidents.

 3. code> Workplaces see $3 to $1 return on workplace safety

Ninety-five percent of business executives report that workplace safety has a positive impact on a company’s financial performance, according to the findings of The Executive Survey of Workplace Safety by the Liberty Mutual Group, the nation’s leading provider of workers compensation insurance. Of these executives, 61 percent believe their companies receive a return on investment of $3 or more for each $1 they invest in improving workplace safety.

The survey also reveals executives realize the benefits of workplace safety go beyond the company’s bottom line, with 70 percent reporting that protecting employees is a leading benefit of workplace safety.

 2. Workplace injury and illness more costly than all cancers combined

In a study funded by the National Institute of Safety and Health, public health sciences professor J. Paul Leigh of the University of California, Davis, pegs the cost of work-related injury and illness in 2007 at about $250 billion. That puts the price to of workplace health and safety problems above the economic burden posed by all cancers combined.

1. Workplace fatalities down 62% and injuries down 42 %

Since OSHA was created in 1971, the workplace fatality rate among employees has decreased by 62%⁽¹⁾ and occupational injury and illness rates have declined by 42%⁽²⁾. At the same time, US employment in the private sector and the number of workplaces has doubled, increasing from 56 million workers at 3.5 million establishments to 114 million workers at 7 million establishments.⁽³⁾

In a study funded by the National Institute of Safety and Health, public health sciences professor J. Paul Leigh of the University of California, Davis, pegs the cost of work-related injury and illness in 2007 at about $250 billion. That puts the price to of workplace health and safety problems above the economic burden posed by all cancers combined.

Workplace injuries alone accounted for an economic burden of around $192 billion in 2007 according to the study. Earlier estimates using the same methods put the cost of cancer that same year at around $219 billion.

The study, released in the December 2011 issue of the Milbank Quarterly, drew estimates based on data from dozens of sources including government agencies and insurance companies to find “the contributions of job-related injuries and illnesses to the overall cost of medical care and ill health are greater than generally assumed.”

Of the approximately 8.5 million occupational injuries, 5,657 resulted in death. Among the 516,149 reported incidents of workplace illness, 53,445 resulted in death.

In an interview with EHS Today, Leigh says his study suggests that workplace illness and injury prevention, despite improvement over the four decades since the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Mine Safety and Health Act were signed.

“The costs are enormous and continue to grow. And the potential for health risks are high, given that most people between the ages 22 to 65 spend 40 percent of their waking hours at work,” the professor is quoted.

The study comes on the heels of a released OSHA whitepaper supporting a requirement that all employers maintain an Injury Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) to decrease the same types of occupational injuries and illnesses cited in Leigh’s study.

This study points to an even steeper price for not investing in safety and health than most would assume — for businesses, workers and the broader economy. Safety Services Company can help owners and safety professionals close the gaps in their injury and illness prevention program or build one from scratch.

Call 877-201-8923 for more info.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are looking into an explosion at an Edmond, Okla., piping company that injured four on Thursday.

The morning explosion sent three of the injured workers to two nearby hospitals. One victim suffered third-degree burns and was sent to an intensive care unit. The other three, one of whom was sent home without hospitalization, suffered first-degree burns. No significant property damage was reported.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigates any workplace incident that results in the hospitalization of two or more workers or that results in fatality. They have six months to complete their investigation. NOV Tuboscope’s parent company, National Oilwell Varco, says they will cooperate with the investigation.

Edmond Fire Maj. Kelly Lewis told the  Edmond Sun that no secondary fire resulted from the explosion at the facility. A kerosene space heater  ignited a cloud of  polymer dust that was released while workers were working on machinery resulting in the explosion.

OSHA regulations demand temporary space heaters in the workplace be approved for commercial use by a recognized safety testing laboratory. Further, they should be placed away from combustible materials, and have a tip-over switch to ensure it will turn off automatically if knocked over.

As the year begins, it is a good time to review the safety precautions and procedures of your business. A thorough risk assessment of a work site involves the identification of hazards like space heaters around flammable material or where flammable material may. Safety Services Company manuals walk thorough hazard identification and risk assessment to help ensure any work site is safer than the standards.

Ever since man picked up a rock more than 2 million years ago and used it break apart wood, bone and other objects the hammer was destined to become an integral tool in the construction of human society.

Yet despite more than 2 million years of experience using hammering devices, mankind still suffers from hammer related injuries at a rate as high as any other hand tool.

Why?

Improper use, selection and maintenance

However, by following the advice in this article you and your employees can help prevent hammer related injuries in the workplace.

Hammer Selection

There is no such thing as a “universal” hammer. Each hammer is designed for a specific job and using the improper hammer can increase the probability of an injury.

The following is a look at a few of the more popular hammers and their intended usage.

Ball Pein Hammer-For riveting, center punching and bending or shaping soft metal. Choose a size to match the task.

Hand Drilling Hammer-The only hammer to use with star drills, masonry nails, steel chisels and nail pullers. Easy to handle; packs plenty of punch.

Rawhide Mallet-For use in furniture assembly, shaping soft sheet metals or any task that requires non-marring blows.

Brick Hammer-Designed for cutting and setting bricks or blocks, and for chipping mortar.

Shingling Hatchet- Used  for installing shakes and shingles. Handy gauge pin sets exposed length of shingle. Milled and crowned face sets nails cleanly.

Wallboard Tool-Multi-purpose tool scores wallboard, makes cutouts and sets nails with a perfect dimple.

Curved Claw or Nail Hammer-For use with finishing nails only. Choose 16 or 20 oz. weights for general carpentry; lighter weights for model work or fine cabinetry.

Straight Claw or Rip Hammer-For use with non-hardened, common or finishing nails only. Choose weights from 20 to 32 oz. for framing and ripping.

Remember when selecting a hammer to always use the appropriate weight so that only a natural swing is required. Let the weight of the hammer do the work.

Hammer Safety

Hammers injuries can be caused by trying to strike too heavy a blow with a lightweight hammer, by using a damaged hammer and by using the wrong style of hammer for the task.

These injuries can range from minors cuts and scrapes to possible broken bones of even damaged eyes.

Follow these tips to prevent hammer injuries.

• When using a hammer ensure proper clearance from fellow workers.
• Keep your work area clean and free from debris.
• Use hammers or mallets with insulated handles for work on or around exposed energized parts. The hammer should feel balanced and under control as you grip the handle.
• Wear proper eye protection.
• When pulling nails or prying material apart, make sure the claw of the hammer is in the proper position and the right leverage is applied.
• Never use anything other than a hammer to drive nails into material (i.e.… rock, brick, back of a tool).
• Avoid handles with sharp edges which can cut off circulation to your finger during long periods of use. Handles should be shaped to fit your hand comfortably.
• Use hammers with cushioned handles to  help absorb vibration, impacts, or squeezing pressure.
• Keep floors clean and dry to prevent accidental slips with or around dangerous tools.
• When hammering make sure you can easily reach your work without straining muscles.
• Make sure that you have secure footing and good balance while using a hammer. Use a vise, clamps, or other means to secure the piece you are striking.

Hammer Maintenance

One of the greatest hazards of hammer use is improper maintenance. As an employer it is your responsibility toensure the safe condition of the tools your employees use.

To ensure this safety you should train employees on how to properly maintain their hammers. To further enhance this training you should have employees sign off at least once a week that their equipment is in proper working condition.

Consider the following when crafting a hammer maintenance program.

• Hammers with loose, splintered or cracked handles are susceptible to having the head fly off during use.
• Use tool boxes or tool chests to keep hammers and tools organized.
• Hang larger tools on pegboards and never leave hammers or tools strewn about your work area.
• Replace broken equipment immediately. Make repairs only if you are qualified.
• Make sure you examine each hammer and tool before using.

Workers’ compensation costs per claim for Louisiana grew at a double-digit rate in recent years, the fastest growth among all states in a new study by Cambridge, Mass.-based Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

The 16-state study, CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 12th Edition, reported that costs per claim rose 11 percent per year from 2007 to 2009 with increases involved in all key cost components – medical, indemnity (payments for lost wages), and expenses per claim.

WCRI speculated that this rapid growth may reflect some impact from the recession, although it noted that the recession’s effects appear to have been less severe in Louisiana than in other states in part due to the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery.
The study said that indemnity benefits per claim rose nearly 11 percent per year in Louisiana during the period, a faster growth rate than in other study states during these observable recession years.

The main driver in the growth of indemnity benefits per claim was an increase in the average duration of temporary disability of nearly two weeks.

Medical payments per claim also grew faster in Louisiana during the period than in other study states — 26 percent compared to about 16 percent in the typical study state. These costs were among the highest of the 16 study states, 14 percent higher than typical.

The study noted that state officials and system stakeholders view medical treatment guidelines enacted in 2009 as a step toward possibly improving medical care for workers and reducing costs to employers and insurers.

Another factor in the higher medical payments per claim is that Louisiana has the highest prescription payments per claim.

Among other key findings, benefit delivery expenses per claim in the state were among the highest of the states studied, especially defenses attorney payments. Louisiana also had higher-than-typical average medical cost containment expenses and medical-legal expenses.

Along with its final report on three accidents that left five dead and three injured in a Tennessee metals plant, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board called on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to develop and publish a combustible dust standard that includes coverage for metal dusts.

The Hoeganaes powdered metal plant in Gallatin, Tennessee was the site of one elevator accident and two flash fires during 2011. Following the accidents, regulators undertook a series of investigations into workplace safety at the facility. In the report, the regulatory body cites the explosive quality of fine metal powders as a significant factor in all three accidents.

Along with the report, the regulatory body issued a number of safety recommendations including one to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that encouraged OSHA to “Ensure that the forthcoming OSHA Combustible Dust Standard includes coverage for combustible metal dusts including iron and steel powders.”

While no OSHA standard exists that specifically covers the type of dust responsible for the accidents at the plant, CSB points to a number of National Fire Protection Association standards that could have prevented the fires if they were followed. “The three accidents at the Hoeganaes facility were entirely preventable,” CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure Eraso said, pointing out that while plant officials were aware of the hazards posed, “the company did not institute adequate dust control or housekeeping measures.”

Eraso added that while the explosion hazards of combustible dusts are widely known, they are often not included on material safety data sheets. The CSB last month joined OSHA’s support to aligning the existing hazard communication standard with the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Both regulatory agencies support adding an “unclassified hazards” category to the system, which would include hazards like those posed by combustible dust.

Hazard communication standards and material safety data sheets change as hazards are recognized and regulations change, and it is up to businesses to respond promptly to remain in compliance with these changes. Safety Services Company helps businesses of all sizes with their hazard communication documentation and training to support workplace safety and be 100% compliant with all applicable regulations.

For more information call 877-397-9450.

The United States Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) recently released a white paper affirming their belief that requiring all employers to maintain an Injury Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) will lead to both a decrease in occupational injuries and death and a cost savings for employers.

To substantiate these claims the paper pulls from multiple studies to illustrate the cost of workplace injury and effectiveness of I2P2 programs.

Highlighted studies pointing to the cost of injury, death and illness include a study by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute stating the most disabling workplace injuries in 2008 cost employers $53 billion.

A second study by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), estimates the annual workers’ compensation benefits paid for all compensable injuries and illnesses in 2009 at $58 billion (National Academy of Social Insurance, 2011). NASI further reports the total costs paid by employers for workers’ compensation increased from $60 billion in 2000 to $74 billion in 2009.

In terms of savings OSHA both looked at independent studies and examined the injury and illness prevention programs in eight states where the state had either required a program or provided incentives or requirements through its workers’ compensation programs.

In researching state programs OSHA found reductions in injury and illness from 9 to 60 percent by implementing an I2P2.

A few examples of state programs and their effectiveness include:

• Alaska which experienced a 17.4 percent decline injuries after requiring an I2P2
• California which experienced a 19 percent decline in injuries after requiring an I2P2
• Colorado which employers witnessed cumulative annual reduction in accidents of 23 percent and a cumulative reduction in accident costs between 58 and 62 percent.
• Hawaii which witnessed a net reduction in injuries and illnesses of 20.7 percent.

Currently thirty-four states require or encourage employers to implement I2P2 programs.

The basic elements of these programs are management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement.

Each element is important in ensuring the success of the overall program, and the elements are interrelated and interdependent.

OSHA began working on requiring employers to maintain an I2P2 in 2010. However, OSHA Director David Michaels told a house subcommittee in November 2011 that he was unable to provide a timeline for future activity on I2P2. Considering that some of the pushback from Congress has surrounded the I2P2 proposal in particular, the standard’s progress may depend on the as-yet undecided federal FY 2012 budget.

If you would like more information on purchasing an I2P2 program call 877-201-8923.

Read OSHA’s entire white paper below.

 
 
OSHAwhite Paper January 2012 Safety Manual

According a study by American researchers nearly 40 percent of police officers in the U.S. and Canada are robbed of sleep, which could lead to occupational injuries or potential risks to public safety.

Officers “were more likely to report . . . making errors or committing safety violations due to fatigue; having uncontrolled anger toward a citizen or suspect; incurring citizen complaints; having absenteeism; or falling asleep during meetings,” according to the study conducted by  researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

“Untreated sleep disorders can adversely affect the health and safety of law enforcement officers, and could pose a risk to the public,” said Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Of the 4,957 police officers from the U.S. and Canada took part in the study 40 percent were found to have at least one sleep disorder.

“A large proportion of police officers in our sample showed a positive sleep disorder screening result, which was associated with adverse health, safety, and performance outcomes,” the study said.

The study followed up with officers on their job performance during a two year time frame. The researchers found 22 percent of those studied reported a higher risk of expressing uncontrolled anger, 43 per cent admitted to serious administrative errors and 63 per cent reported safety violations. Meanwhile, study participants reported occupational injury (22 per cent), falling asleep at the wheel (51 per cent), absenteeism (23 per cent) and increased citizen complaints (35 per cent).

According to Cameron Mustard, president of the Toronto-based Institute for Work & Health much if the findings can be related to evening shift work after midnight, which  affects normal sleeping patterns leading to a “higher risk of poor performance at work” and work-related injuries.