Two New Respirator Videos and the Case of California’s Respirator Recall

You can now watch two new videos on respirators and facemasks on the US Department of Labor’s YouTube site.  Respirator Safety which runs around nine minutes contains general instructions on how to properly put on and take off certain types of respirators.  It advises that specific instructions must be consulted from the manufacturer’s manual.  The video also differentiates a user seal check and a fit test.  It says that a user fit test is done every time one wears a respirator while a fit test is done when one uses a respirator for the first time and at least annually thereafter.  It warns users not to enter a hazardous area and instead consult the supervisor when a proper seal cannot be achieved.

On the other hand, The Difference between Respirators and Surgical Masks, the other video that runs around five and half minutes, makes it clear that a surgical mask is not a respirator.  It says that a respirator reduces exposure to airborne infectious diseases contaminants while facemasks are not designed to prevent the inhalation of airborne contaminants.  They may have differences but both need to be worn correctly and consistently while in use.  Respirators must be NIOSH-certified while facemasks must be FDA-approved.

Both videos show that respirators must be used in the context of a comprehensive respiratory program.

In related news, the California Department of Public Health or CDPH has ordered a recall of 3M 8000, a type of N95 respirator, because of its “low success rate in fit-testing.”  Millions of respirators have been released in October of last year to protect workers of health-care facilities from being exposed to the H1N1 influenza virus.  However, DOSH and CDPH urge employers to use other respirators.  DOSH is not actually preventing the use of these respirators but it “strongly recommends against using this model for prevention of aerosol-transmitted disease.”  It asks employers who still decide to use these respirators to make sure that the respirators fit the workers.

CDPH says it will provide other brands and models of respirators to local health departments upon request.  To protect the supply, DOSH reminds employers to conserve respirators.  Employers are encouraged to limit exposure to disease “by appropriate patient identification and placement, source control measures, and using engineering and work practice controls to minimize respirator use.”

Respiratory protection items such as respirators and facemasks are very important personal protective equipment in the workplace especially in health care units.  The proper use, disposal, cleaning and storage of such equipment must not be taken for granted.  Remember to always check the PPE you are going to use if it is compatible with the specific work you are going to perform and always inspect them first and use them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Safety first!

First Cal/OSHA communicable disease standards, approved!

Five days ago, in a non-contested decision in San Diego, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted two new regulations on communicable disease – the General Industry Safety Orders §§ 5199 and 5199.1 or the aerosol transmissible and zoonotic disease standards.

These are the first-ever standards in the country that protect workers in the health care industry and other workplaces from diseases that are spread by coughing and sneezing as well as by animals.

Whether it’s tuberculosis, novel influenza virus, bird flu, or H1N1 flu, do not panic. Pandemic flu may be widespread but you can fight against it. As the standards are in place, you only need to cooperate and do your part to prevent you and the people you work with from being infected by any pandemic flu.

The initial step is not to get the flu. Yes, you can run away from it. You can prevent it from getting inside you. You can NOT allow it from infecting you. Here are random ways on how you can.

• Plan and prepare. Know what pandemic flu is and how to face it. Encourage your workplace to conduct seminars about the flu.
• Always be alert. Know what’s happening around you.
• Be well-informed. You’re not a hermit, are you? Be a discerning news watcher.
• Stay healthy, whether there is or there is no pandemic flu. If you want to be prepared for anything, strengthen your body’s defenses. Eat a balanced diet. Drink lots of water and fluids. Exercise regularly. Get enough rest.
• Observe cleanliness. Always wash your hands especially before eating and drinking. Wash your hands too after using the bathroom, working with chemicals and sneezing or coughing. Use a sanitizer or hand gel if water and soap are not readily available. Take a bath once or twice daily. Keep your environment clean too. Sanitize the things that you use regularly.
• Practice good hygiene. Don’t sneeze in front of people or food. Use tissue to cover your nose and mouth. Throw used tissues in the trash bag. If you do not have immediate access to tissue, use the upper sleeve of your top.
• Avoid touching or kissing your co-workers especially if you have cough and colds. Keep some distance. Better yet, stay at home and get some rest.
• Don’t share or borrow personal things like toothbrush, handkerchief and spoon and fork.
• Get the necessary vaccine shots. These will not exempt you from having the flu but this will prepare your immune system to fight it in case it gets inside you.
• Wear a good mask or respirator to protect yourself especially if you are in a highly populated area. If you can, avoid these areas. If you need to cancel large events or projects, do so.
• Be observant of your own self. Go and see a doctor immediately if you’re having fevers, coughs and colds, and muscle aches.
• If you’re sick, stay at home. Don’t force yourself to go to work. Be concerned of yourself, your co-workers and your clients as well.
• If you have an assignment in a different country, do your research first. Consult the travel advisor. If you do travel, monitor your health for the first weeks after you’ve returned. If you feel that something is wrong, inform your doctor and your workplace’s health officer about the details of your travel.
• Wherever you are, check the food that you eat. If you prepare your own food, buy raw products from trusted and approved sellers. You may also opt to avoid poultry and other animal products. If not, remember to thoroughly cook all your food.
• When you’re being down and feel that the flu is eating you away, do not lose hope. Pray and have faith. They can do wonders. They can even wipe out the worldwide pandemic flu.

Pandemic flu must neither be taken for granted nor be a cause for panic. Having the proper information, following the authority’s standards and doing your own preventive measures will all help you and your workplace from being infected. Always be conscious and discerning of your actions. Remember to stay safe at all times!

Safety amidst Falling or Flying Objects in Construction Sites

Falls are among the most common hazard in construction sites. Every year, hundreds of workers get injured or killed after falling from scaffolds, windows, roofs and ladders.

But even with the right kind of fall protection system, workers are under threat by another kind of fall: falling or flying objects. By wearing hard hats or helmets and following these work practices, construction workers can be saved from this fatal risk:

• Wear a hard hat or helmet appropriate to the kind of hazards present at the workplace.

• Never work too near or beneath scaffolds, cranes and other equipment, structures and tools that could likely fall on you.

• Don appropriate safety goggles or glasses, face shields, etc. in areas where tools or machines may cause particles or debris to fly.

• Stack materials to prevent falling, sliding or collapse.

• Install toeboards, debris nets, guardrails, screens, canopies or catch platforms to catch or deflect flying objects.

• Prior to use, inspect all tools like lathes and saws to ensure that their protective guards are securely in place.

• Check all cranes and hoists to ensure that their hooks, chains and other components are in good condition.

• Never move under loads that are being transported or moved.

• Never exceed the load ratings of equipment like cranes and hoists.

• Place barricades on hazard areas and post warning signs.

Related Links:

5 Distractions that Cause Workplace  Hazards

PPE and How It Can Save Your Life – Part 1

Top 10 OSHA Fines for Small Companies

Chemical Safety: Proper PPE for Painting Jobs

Skin irritations, respiratory problems, and fire are among the most common hazards posed by painting operations. Besides adequate administrative and engineering controls, proper PPE (personal protective equipment) should be provided to workers to protect them from these hazards. Employers should seek the assistance of a Shipyard Competent Person (SCP), a Certified Marine Chemist (CMC), or a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in selecting the appropriate PPE for painting operations. Here are guidelines in the selection and use of proper painting PPE.

• Different kind of PPE might be required for various spray applications and hand applications in painting operations.

• Basic PPE used for painting consists of chemical protective suit with hood, respiratory protection, rubber gloves and chemical-resistant boots.

• PPE selected must protect employees from all forms of chemicals (solids, vapors, liquids, and mists).

• PPE must protect the skin from spills, splashes and sprays.

• When workers are at the risk of neck and head exposure, their suits must have attached hoods.

• When workers use respirators, hoods must be tightened over the respirator to prevent interference with the face seal.

• The following kinds of respirators must be provided to employees for the specific kind of work environment present.

* Airline respirator – spray painting in confined spaces

* Air-purifying respirator – spray painting in confined spaces where ventilation is enough to reduce atmospheric concentration

* Air-line respirator – spray painting in a compartment

* Air-purifying respirator – spray painting in a compartment for a short period

* Air-purifying respirator – brush painting in confined spaces without adequate ventilation

• Employees must don non-static discharge producing PPE when they have to work with flammable solvents. Their safety boots must also come with shoe covers.

• Every employee must don slip-resistant soled boots when working on slippery surfaces.

• Workers must wear gloves under the sleeves of their protective clothing. They may also seal them with a tape for better protection from liquids.

• Make sure the legs of your protective clothing are worn over the boots.

• Safety boots or shoes that are not liquid proof must be worn with protective impermeable covers over them.

• Slip-resistant soled boots should be worn when working on slippery surfaces.

Related Links:

OSHA Update: Proposed Rule to Revise Respirator Fit Testing Published

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

Safety Tipbits: Compilation of Tips and Safety Measures in February

1.   MSHA Update: Fire Prevention in Mining Sites with Better Conveyor Belts

Better selection of conveyor belts may just save a life. As a matter of fact, they can save hundreds of lives in a mining site by preventing fire hazards. That is, if they have an improved flame-resistant quality.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently published a final rule implementing the use of belt air. This is based on a recommendation given by…(read more)

2.  Safety for Maintenance Workers: PPE for Gardeners

Among  various jobs in the maintenance industry, gardening is probably the most fun.  Not only can you work outdoors, you also get the chance to be in touch with nature. If you think about it, gardening can be one relaxing job.

But you can barely relax when you’re faced with hazards like heat stress, blindness, amputation and falls.  That’s right.  Apparently, the most fun maintenance job can be…(read more)

3.  Manufacturing Safety: Safe Operation of Robots or Robotics Systems

Forget dogs. Robots are humans’ best friends. They may not be fond of fetching twigs or licking your feet, but you can rely on them when it comes to accomplishing tasks half the time. This is the very reason why they are ideal helpers in factories and other manufacturing facilities. Not only can an industrial robot be designed to finish jobs assigned to ten people, it can be very useful in…(read more)

4.  Ergonomics in Grocery Warehouses: Safe Handling of Products and Packages

Grocery shopping can be a worthwhile activity. It can even be fun and therapeutic, especially when you don’t have to shove your way past other customers just to get your chosen brand of cereal or laundry detergent.

What we don’t know, though, is that it takes a lot of work to make the products we need presentable on shelves and counters in grocery stores. In fact, just in handling and carrying these…(read more)

5.  Equipment Safety: OSHA Standards in the Safe Use of Laser

The construction industry benefits from the many wonders of laser technology. In construction sites, laser is used in leveling and elevatio

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set general requirements for the use of laser. These requirements are…(read more)

6.  Equipment Safety: Guidelines in Working in a Machine Shop

Cuts, burns, blindness, electrocution, amputation, name it. Almost every kind of hazard can be found in a machine shop. There’s no telling what could befall any machinist, technician or apprentice as they go through their day-to-day job. That is, unless they learn to control all hazards that may cause them their health, or worse, their life.

If you happen to be working in a machine shop…(read more)

7.  Chemical Safety: Guidelines in Charging Batteries

Imagine a world where batteries don’t exist. Vehicles won’t run as fast as they do. Heavy machinery would take time to operate. Different industries in the whole world won’t be able to finish tasks with best results at the least amount of time.

But despite their indispensability, batteries can be a big threat to any worker’s health. Their chemicals have the potential to burn the skin, poison the lungs and irritate the digest system. That’s why special safety precautions must be applied when…(read more)

8.  Mining Safety: Tips on Working Safely with Methane

A day in the mine is always a day of adventure. Working underground or near excavations presents many hazards, most of which can lead to fatalities. One among these hazards is overexposure to methane.

Methane has the ability to kill in two ways. One, it can easily cause an explosion when ignited with a spark or a flame. Two, in high concentrated levels, it can…(read more)

OSHA Update: Proposed Rule to Revise Respirator Fit Testing Published

Changes are underway for the standards in respirator fit testing procedures.  Just recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed two revised fit test procedures for determining the effectiveness of facemasks.  Check out the TEST Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Jan. 21 Federal Register.

Related Links:

OSHA Announces Top 10 Most Cited Violations

Proper Management of Hazardous Chemicals: Plan and Training for Workers

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

PPE and How It Can Save Your Life – Part 1

Safety Tips on Working with Hot or Molten Plastic

Safety Measures in Working with Concrete

]]> http://www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog/osha-update-proposed-rule-to-revise-respirator-fit-testing-published/feed 0 http://www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog/equipment-safety-osha-standards-in-the-safe-use-of-laser http://www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog/equipment-safety-osha-standards-in-the-safe-use-of-laser#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:20:00 +0000 debbiedebbie http://www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog/?p=907

Equipment Safety: OSHA Standards in the Safe Use of Laser

This article was written by Safety Consultants with Safety Services Company, we provide Construction, Manufacturing, and General Industry Safety Programs to over 100,000 clients across the United States and Canada. For more information on a custom safety program for your company, please contact us by clicking here.

Equipment Safety: OSHA Standards in the Safe Use of Laser

The construction industry benefits from the many wonders of laser technology. In construction sites, laser is used in leveling and elevations alignment applications, as well as in precision cutting and grading.

General Safety Measures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set general requirements for the use of laser. These requirements are under the Nonionizing Radiation standard.

Below are some of the general requirements and safety precautions for laser use.

• Warning signs or placards must be posted in areas where lasers are used.

• All laser equipment must bear a label that indicates its maximum output.

• Laser units used in operation should be set above the heads of employees.

• When laser transmission is not required, the laser should be turned off or the beam shutters or caps should be utilized.

• The laser must be turned off before leaving it unattended.

• The laser beam must never be directed at workers.

• Only electronic or mechanical means should be used as detectors for guiding the alignment of the laser.

• Workers must be provided with anti-laser eye protection when there is potential exposure to direct or reflected laser light greater than five milliwatts.

• Laser operations should be prohibited when it rains or snows or when there is fog or dust in the air.

Harmful Laser Exposures

Workers must never be exposed to non-ionizing radiation light intensities above the following standard values:

• Direct Staring – one micro-watt per square centimeter (applies when workers are required to or are likely to look directly into the beam to perform their work)

• Incidental Observing – one milliwatt per square centimeter (applies when workers are not required to look directly into the laser or are unlikely to do so)

• Diffused Reflected Light – two and one half watts per square centimeter

• Microwave Power Densities – ten milliwatts per square centimeter

Related Links:

PPE and How It Can Save Your Life – Part 1

OSHA Announces Top 10 Most Cited Violations

Proper Welding PPE and Safety Measures for Better Fire Protection

PPE and How It Can Save Your Life – Part 2

Top 10 OSHA Fines for Small Companies

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Safety for Maintenance Workers: PPE for Gardeners

Among  various jobs in the maintenance industry, gardening is probably the most fun.  Not only can you work outdoors, you also get the chance to be in touch with nature. If you think about it, gardening can be one relaxing job.

But you can barely relax when you’re faced with hazards like heat stress, blindness, amputation and falls.  That’s right.  Apparently, the most fun maintenance job can be the most threatening too  That is, unless you learn to protect yourself from the hazards you’re exposed to.

One basic way to do this is to wear proper gardening PPE (personal protective equipment). Whether you’re clipping hedges, manicuring lawns or trimming trees,  you might want to wear the following protective clothing/equipment for they can actually save your life:  

1.  Face shields or safety goggles/safety glasses

• indispensable when using high-powered tools and equipment like chain saws and lawn mowers to protect you from flying debris

Bonus gardening tip: Face shields also act as additional protection against the harsh rays of the sun.

2.  Long-sleeved clothing

• useful as protection against UV rays and flying debris

Bonus gardening tip: Long-sleeved shirt and pants should always be snug to prevent entanglement with hedges, bushes and power equipment

3.  Safety gloves

• must be worn when operating a walk-behind mower, hedge clippers and other garden tools or equipment that expose you to finger or hand injuries like scratches, blisters and cuts.

Bonus gardening tip: Safety gloves help you get a firmer grip of tools and equipment

4.  Hat or cap

• helps protect you from direct sunlight

5.  Helmet or hard hat

• required when using a ride-on mower, trimming branches of trees or going to great heights

6.  Steel-toed boots and shin guards

• necessary when operating a push mower, chain saw and other power equipment that may injure your toes or feet

Bonus gardening tip: Whatever gardening tasks you have, always wear non-slip boots/shoes with no lace to prevent entanglement with equipment, bushes and hedges.

7.  Hearing protection like earmuffs and earplugs

• necessary when operating high-powered tools and equipment

8.  Chainsaw jackets

• may only be worn after assessing the risk of developing heat stress

9.  Fall protection

• required when you have to work aloft in a tree or other high areas

• usually consists of safety belt, safety strap, saddle belt and rope saddle

Related Links:

Safety Measures for Changing Weather

5 Distractions that Cause Workplace  Hazards

Heat Stress 101 – Part 1

Heat Stress 101 – Part 2

Heat Stress 101 – Part 3

Better Safety with Machine Guards: Basics and Proper Use

Lockout Tagout Basics : Machinery Tags (When Absence Means Trouble)

Top 10 OSHA Fines for Small Companies

January Safety Tipbits: Compilation of Tips and Safety Measures in the Month of January

1.  Vehicle Safety During Winter:  Safe Use of Snow Chains

The holidays have come and gone yet we’re still left with the torturing cold of winter. For many of us, going on the road does not just mean shoveling up snow and getting rid of ice. It also means driving with double caution.

Driving slowly is not enough, though. Some states actually require the use of snow chains to…(read the whole article)

2.  Winter Safety at the Workplace:  What to Do Before a Blizzard and Other Winter Storms

If I were to become one of the X-Men, Storm would definitely be my choice. Who else has the power to control all weather conditions in the whole universe? Okay, it might also be because of her gorgeous body, flawless skin, elegant tresses and her unrivaled ability to pick locks. But hey, even without those traits, she’s one of the most powerful mutants in their weird bunch. When I was a little girl, she was the only X-men mutant who never ceased to scare me whenever her white eyes and raging storms flashed on the TV screen. …(read the whole article)

3.  Winter Storm Survival Measures Part 2: What to Do during a Winter Storm

After raving about Storm yesterday, I’m back with a sequel to blizzard or winter storm preparations. Today, I’ll be serving you with a list of safety measures when facing a winter storm while on the job. No mutants in outlandish costumes this time, but just some things to remember and apply in case you get stuck at work while…(read the whole article)

4.  Outdoor Safety at the Workplace:  9 Winter Safety Tips You Didn’t Know

Working during winter feels more like survival of the fittest than an everyday challenge. The risks are even tenfold for employees who have to work and drive outdoors. Here are nine tips that should keep you safe during this…(read the whole article)

5.  General Maintenance and Winter Safety: Repairing Damaged or Downed Power Lines and Trees

Among employees most at risk during winter are electrical utility workers. Not only do they have to brave the bitter cold outdoors, they are also in charge of servicing damaged or downed power lines, as well as clearing fallen trees. Such tasks are already highly dangerous so you can just imagine the risks involved when workers have to…(read the whole article)

6.  Mining Safety:  Rising Hazards in Mining Sites during Winter

Every year, mining fatalities rise during the winter season. The risk of getting ill, injured or killed is doubled, if not tripled, with the combination of low humidity, low barometric pressures and seasonal drying of some areas in coal mines.

During winter, coal dust is suspended in the atmosphere what with the air being dryer than usual. This increases the hazard of explosion. Winter also brings about low…(read the whole article)

7.  Winter Safety:  7 Tips for Winter Slip and Fall Prevention

If only winter fairy godmothers existed in real life, we could ask for this protective bubble around every worker so that they’d forever be spared the doom of slipping on slippery surfaces. Okay, maybe not forever but only in winter when walkways and steps are more slippery and…(read the whole article)

8.  Winter Safety:  9 Tips on Driving on Icy Slopes or Hills

Driving in snow means facing a multitude of tests. First, there is the test in humility. No matter how good a driver you are, winter driving requires you to slow down. Second is the test in patience. You want so bad to get to where you have to go. But you have no choice but to keep a longer following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Third is the test in colors. If you don’t know the color of …(read the whole article)

9.  Chemical Safety:  Guidelines in Pouring and Molding Plastic

If plastic weren’t invented, we would be stuck with buying wooden furniture, stone figurines, glass mugs and all other heavier and more expensive materials on the market. While being useful and indispensable in many areas of our lives, plastic is one of the most hazardous materials in the manufacturing industry. To prevent illnesses and…(read the whole article)

10.  5 Safety Tips for Construction Workers on Avoiding Stress and Injury

Working as a construction worker is much like being a superhero. Every day, you’re tasked with bearing heavy loads and using ultra cool equipment and tools. Riding in cranes and squatting on scaffolds put you so high in the sky that you almost feel like flying. But the same things that make construction job extraordinary could put…(read the whole article)

11.  Vehicle Safety Tips: All You Need to Know about Night Driving

I remember how as a child I always loved going on joy rides at night. For me, the cool breeze and bright lights at night are unmatched by the sights and sounds offered by day. Being a passenger on night rides came with this magical feeling I couldn’t explain then. When I learned how to drive my own car, I found that all…(read the whole article)

12.  Manufacturing Safety:  OSHA Requests Comments Related to Diacetyl and Other Food Flavoring Compounds

Food flavoring manufacturers, listen up! The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) needs your help in implementing standards related to exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing it and other compounds like acetoin, acetic acid, acetaldehyde and furfural.

This is a response to the petition submitted to OSHA by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The petition stated evidence from NIOSH Hazard Evaluations that some employees who …(read the whole article)

13.  Ergonomics and Vehicle Safety:  Beating the Unhealthy Effects of Frequent Driving

Caution: Driving is dangerous to your health. If you find a car door with a sign saying this, you’d probably laugh and shrug it off. After all, while driving can cause injuries, it seems absurd that it can cause illnesses.

But think about it. Whenever you go for a long drive, do you feel exhausted right after the trip? Does your body feel stiff? Do your neck and shoulders feel sore? Does your back…(read the whole article)

14.  Warehouse Safety:  General Guidelines and OSHA Citations

In the U.S., there are about 7,000 warehouses employing more than 140,000 workers. Unfortunately, hundreds of fatalities also come from…According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), warehousing establishments are usually cited for the following 10 OSHA standards…(read the whole article)

Warehouse Safety: General Guidelines and OSHA Citations

In the U.S., there are about 7,000 warehouses employing more than 140,000 workers. Unfortunately, hundreds of fatalities also come from this industry. Injuries and deaths in warehouses are caused by improper use of forklifts, materials handling, inappropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and more factors that employers fail to address.

OSHA Citations

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), warehousing establishments are usually cited for the following 10 OSHA standards:

1. Forklifts

2. Hazard communication

3. Electrical, wiring methods

4. Electrical, system design

5. Guarding floor & wall openings and holes

6. Exits

7. Mechanical power transmission

8. Respiratory protection

9. Lockout/tagout

10. Portable fire extinguishers

General Guidelines

Besides setting guidelines in complying with the standards above in the warehouse setting, OSHA offered these safety measures for warehouse workers’ general safety:

• The facility must have proper lockout/tagout procedures.

• The warehouse must be well ventilated.

• All floors, aisles and surfaces must be free of clutter, hoses, spills, electrical cords and other materials or factors that could cause slips, trips or falls.

• Proper guards must be provided for exposed or open loading dock doors and other similar areas that could cause employees to fall 4 feet or more.

• Employers must factor in proper work practices when determining the time requirements for each employee in accomplishing every task.

• Workers who have to perform physical work must have enough periodic rest breaks to avoid fatigue.

• All newly-hired employees must receive both general ergonomics training and task-specific training.

• Every employee must be trained on how to avoid heat stress in hot and humid environments.

OSHA has published a pocket guide to warehousing. Click HERE to view it.

Related Links:

Safety with Handrails, Stairway Railings and Standard Railings

ManUal Handling of Loads: SAfety Materials Handling from Ground to Roof

Materials Handling: Top 13 Tips for Greater Sling Safety