OSHA to focus on forklift hazards in four states

Today's post comes from G.Neil's HR News Weekly:

Under a new regional inspection program, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hopes to reduce fatalities and serious injuries caused by forklifts and powered industrial trucks. The program will focus primarily on employer compliance in warehouses and service companies in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. (If a company is the subject of a complaint inspection or site-specific targeting inspection, however, it will be checked for forklift violations, too).

Inspections will cover:

•    Operator training – Employees should be trained for the specific vehicle they’re operating (and each vehicle they operate), and re-evaluated every three years, per OSHA standards. OSHA investigators will observe actual forklift operations and interview employees to determine compliance with operating, traveling and loading requirements.

•    Maintenance and repair – Forklifts and powered industrial trucks should have the appropriate load plates and fully operational safety equipment. Investigators will review the shift pre-operation inspection checklist, as well as the company’s procedures for correcting equipment defects and problems.

•    Clear pathways – Just as important as proper training and the condition of the vehicles themselves are the pathways the forklifts travel. Investigators will look for clearly visible pathways, which are necessary to reduce “struck by” hazards.

Check out our Forklift Training Compliance Bundle for all the tools you need to ensure compliance – a 2-disc forklift safety training program, a forklift safety poster, a forklift operator’s daily checklist and a forklift operator evaluation form.

OSHA to focus on forklift hazards in four states

Employee safety during winter's "big chill"

When the winds are howling, the snow drifting and the temperatures plummeting, your employees have more to worry about than “Jack Frost nipping at their nose.”

If forecasts hold true, this could continue to be an especially rough winter season for much of the country. Now is the time to step up your cold-weather safety training to ensure your employees work safely outdoors and are prepared for any winter-related emergencies.

For your employees at the greatest risk …

If your business involves construction, commercial fishing, maritime or agriculture, much of your workforce is directly exposed to the dangers of extreme cold. Meet your obligation under OSHA to provide a safe working environment by educating outdoor employees on cold-weather risks and guiding them on proper winter wear.

The two biggest health threats for your outdoor employees are frostbite and hypothermia. Alert them to the early signs of cold stress, and what they should do if they (or a coworker) show symptoms of either condition.

Frostbite occurs when body tissues freeze, most often affecting the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks and ears. It can permanently damage tissue and cause loss of movement in the areas affected. Early symptoms include numbness, tingling or stinging, aching, and bluish or pale skin.

Recommended first aid: Move the victim to a warm room or shelter; discourage the victim from walking on frostbitten feet or rubbing the frostbitten area, which can cause damage; and immerse the affected area in warm water.

Hypothermia occurs when body temperatures drop to dangerously low levels due to exposure to cold (as well as other factors, such as high winds, exhaustion and wet clothes.) Early symptoms include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination and disorientation. In later stages, hypothermia can lead to bluish skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse and even unconsciousness and death, if left untreated.

Recommended first aid: Move the victim to a warm room or shelter; remove wet clothing; warm the chest, neck, head and groin with an electric blanket, if possible; provide warm beverages; and keep the victim dry and wrapped in a warm blanket.

Keep in mind that these risks increase significantly in relation to the windchill factor. On blustery, cold days, the wind eliminates the thin layer of air that acts as an insulator between the skin and the outside air, which can cause a loss of as much as 80 percent of a person’s total body heat.

Even when conditions aren’t severe enough to cause frostbite or hypothermia, they may lead to other safety hazards for your employees. For example, a worker that loses feeling and dexterity in his hands may have difficulty handling tools, equipment and other materials, increasing the chance of an accident.

What they wear matters

The right clothing is a vital defense against the cold weather. While OSHA does not require you, in most cases, to provide cold-weather personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees at no cost to them, it’s certainly a good idea to inform them on what type of gear will safeguard them from the elements.

To prevent heat loss, employees should wear several layers of loose clothing and a durable winter coat that provides adequate insulation, sheds snow and wetness, and allows the escape of moisture from within. Thermal underwear is also recommended, along with wool socks, quilted or lined pants, waterproof, insulated footwear, wool knit caps or hat liners, and gloves or mittens.

Employee safety during winter's "big chill"

How could the swine flu outbreak affect U.S. workplaces?

Yesterday, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano held a press conference on swine flu and touched on how the outbreak may affect the American workplace.

Repeating President Obama’s message, Napolitano reminded the audience that “swine flu is a cause for concern, but not a cause for alarm. We are simply in preparation mode. We do not yet know how widespread this flu will be within the United States. So we continue to move aggressively to prepare.”

Napolitano asked that private employers assist the federal and state governments in protecting their workers.

“We are reaching out to the private sector to make sure that they are preparing and to inform them of the latest actions we are taking. It's important that they be thinking ahead about what they would do should this erupt into a full-fledged pandemic, which it has not yet, by the way,” she said.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the federal government are stressing that people use common sense right now to reduce the impact that any flu, including swine flu, may have on the U.S. public.

The CDC is advising the public to take these everyday actions to stay healthy:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of the tissue immediately after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to avoid spreading germs.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you feel ill, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid spreading the flu.
  

The CDC and HHS have also put together a business pandemic influenza planning checklist that companies can use to prepare for a potential flu outbreak and other emergencies.

These simple measures can “materially improve” the chances of swine flu becoming a full-fledged pandemic, said Napolitano.

“I mean, the normal tendency is, you know, we have a lot of Type A personalities and people want to go, keep working, and—we're saying don't do that if you believe realistically that you have the flu. If you don't know but you show some of the symptoms, contact your doctor. ”

“Everybody has a role to play here. It's our function to make sure that what the government is doing is coordinated, that we are thinking in advance of the problem,” she said. “But, again, government cannot do this alone. We all have an important part to play.”

Currently, there are 64 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S., including 45 in New York City, according to the CDC. The swine flu outbreak in Mexico is suspected in 152 deaths and more than 1,600 illnesses, according to the Mexican health minister.

As doctors try to understand and bring the swine flu outbreak under control, many people are nervous that the virus will continue to spread. It also leaves some important questions up for discussion:

• What are the implications for business and HR policies?
• Is preventing/identifying swine flu a workplace training need yet with so few cases in the U.S. and all mild?
• Will it affect hiring/business expansion plans if the spreading swine flu could further hurt the U.S. economy?

What do you think? Is it time for businesses to start taking action? Leave a comment and let us know.

Fight the flu at work by raising awareness of sanitary procedures with these helpful flu prevention solutions.

Download "Flu in the Workplace," a free white paper on how to keep employees safe and get a better understanding of your rights as an employer.

How could the swine flu outbreak affect U.S. workplaces?

Company faces serious OSHA violations and fines, third year in a row

Neglectful businesses that take safety shortcuts and fail to protect employees can bet that they will soon find themselves subject to strict Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) investigations and owing steep penalty fines.

At most cases, one negative OSHA inspection is all it takes to turn a company’s poor safety standards around. For some, like 4 Brothers Stucco Co., the third time’s a charm.

OSHA has proposed $118,650 in fines against the Cleveland, Tenn.-based 4 Brothers for 15 alleged repeat violations of safety standards, making this citation the third in three consecutive years for the stucco contractor.

The latest inspection discovered employees exposed to falls of up to 22 feet when working on scaffolding, in an aerial lift and on the roof of a worksite. OSHA also identified electrical, overhead and chemical hazard communication (HAZCOM) weaknesses at the worksite.

"These sizable fines reflect both the seriousness and recurring nature of several of the conditions cited here," said C. William Freeman III, OSHA's area director in Hartford, Conn. "Keep in mind that falls are the number one killer in construction work and can occur in an instant. Be it a scaffold, an aerial lift, or a roof, proper and effective fall protection must be in place and in use at all times."

The latest inspection resulted in six repeat citations for violations ranging from no fall protection for employees in an aerial lift, to workers not wearing helmets and employees not trained to recognize scaffold hazards. Similar violations were also found in 2007 and 2008.

OSHA issues serious violations in instances where death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known about the danger.

It’s most important to note that out of the latest set of nine serious citations 4 Brothers received included “lack of a hazard communication program, training, material safety data sheets, and protective gloves for employees working with cement and hazardous chemicals.”

There’s an alarming trend emerging as the economy suffers that has more businesses including necessary OSHA safety training in their budget cuts. It may seem like cutting safety training could help some companies save money, but it will only put more workers at risk for serious injury and death, leading to increased OSHA fines, workers’ compensation claims and wrongful injury lawsuits.

With the total cost of work-related injuries in the U.S. is more than $50 billion annually, it should be a clear sign that cutting workplace safety corners, especially employee safety training, puts the success of your business in serious danger.

As our country continues to work through this recession, the demand for cost-effective safety training has never been higher. G.Neil is answering that call with affordable safety training products that take the guesswork out of OSHA compliance and help keep your employees safe from workplace hazards.

Company faces serious OSHA violations and fines, third year in a row

Obesity linked to more expensive workers’ comp claims

Data released earlier this month indicates that obesity is having an increasingly larger impact on workers’ compensation claims and workplace safety efforts.

Workers’ comp medical claims involving obese claimants open for one year can be up to three times as costly than those involving healthier employees, according to preliminary findings released by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).

Claims that remain open for five years can be five times as expensive and the extra treatments related to obesity involved in some “smaller claims” can exceed almost 30 times the cost of treating a non-obese individual, according to NCCI.

Studies have shown that along with obesity, the heath care costs associated with employees who smoke and with conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be significantly higher than healthy employees.

In addition to mounting health care costs, the cost of work-related injuries in the U.S. totals more than $50 billion a year. Though the costs are high, a growing number of business have been taking their chances with employee safety by cutting vital OSHA safety training out of the budget in the wake of the recession.

The combination of unhealthy employees and more businesses cutting safety training corners has the potential to add even more financial stress to organizations that are already feeling the pressure.

Employers can take a comprehensive approach to combating both rising health care costs and more expensive workers’ comp claims by promoting the importance of employee wellness and workplace safety.

Employer-sponsored wellness programs can help employees take that first step to improving their health. Find a gym to partner with that can give you a good deal on memberships for employees or bring health specialists in-house to train employees on the benefits of wellness.

As the economy continues to challenge businesses, more are searching for inexpensive safety training methods to save money and limit the number of workplace injuries that can lead to costly workers’ compensation claims.

G.Neil is meeting that challenge with new products that make employee safety training and OSHA compliance easier and affordable. With the right tools, it’s possible to keep workers safe and healthy without jeopardizing your budget.

Obesity linked to more expensive workers’ comp claims

Are your MSDS practices OSHA compliant?

Working with chemicals is a dangerous business. Employees have a right to know about the chemicals they work with and the hazardous effects those chemicals may cause.

Wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) can protect your body from a chemical’s potential hazards, but the information your Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) takes that protection one step further. An MSDS may become your lifeline when a disastrous event like an accidental spill, fire or explosion happens in the workplace.

An MSDS is a document that contains detailed information about a potentially hazardous substance including it’s potential hazardous effects, physical and chemical characteristics, and recommendations for protective measures. It is an integral part of every organization’s hazard communication (HAZCOM) program.

MSDSs are reference documents that basically serve as a “one-stop shopping source” for anything you may want or need to know about chemicals in your workplace. Employers must have an MSDS for each hazardous chemical they use.

The documents must be easily accessible to employees whenever they are in their work areas. There must be no barriers to access, such as a locked drawer, office door or having to ask for an MSDS.

While many employers keep their MSDSs in a centrally-located binder, it is acceptable to make the documents available electronically through the use of a computer with a printer, microfiche machine, Internet site, CD-ROM or Fax-on-demand system.

If you choose to use electronic MSDSs, employers must ensure that:

• Electronic devices must be reliable and readily accessible to employees at all times,
• Every employee is trained on how to use the electronic MSDS system,
• A back-up system is in place in the event of an emergency, including power outages or equipment and online access delays,
• And the electronic system is part of your overall HAZCOM program.

Remember, providing employees with MSDSs is just one part to complying with OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). Along with developing your MSDSs, the HCS involves properly labeling hazardous containers and employee training.

Visit G.Neil’s HR Library for more information on hazardous materials safety, OSHA compliance and the tools to help keep employees safe on the job.

Are your MSDS practices OSHA compliant?

More cutting OSHA training, taking chances with employee safety

In the wake of our country’s recent economic challenges, a disturbing trend has emerged that could cause a spike in employee injuries and safety violations. Recent reports show that many companies are taking their chances with employee safety by including vital OSHA safety training in this year’s budget cuts.

Delaying, trimming back or even eliminating employee safety training may result in an oncoming flood of new workplace injuries or even fatalities. Along with the danger to employees, businesses face the additional risk of increased OSHA fines, workers’ compensation claims and wrongful injury lawsuits.

Evidence of this hazardous trend can be seen in states like North Carolina, where the number of workplace deaths increased by 31 percent in 2008 after three years of steady decline, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The sagging economy could exacerbate the trend. Labor department officials worry workers could be in greater danger if companies scrimp on safety to make ends meet.

Department spokeswoman Dolores Quesenberry said Wednesday that company training and other safety initiatives are often among the first to go during hard economic times. “That's one of the first messages we want to get to employers: Make sure your employees are trained. It's not worth a life.”

According to a survey of safety professionals by Kimberly-Clark Professional, U.S. workers are putting themselves at risk by not complying with important safety procedures and failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

Key findings of the survey:

• 89% of safety professionals have witnessed workers not wearing PPE when they should
• 33% cited compliance with safety protocols as the top workplace safety issue in their facilities
• 34% said the economy affected their worker safety training programs or resources
• 63% of those impacted by the economy said it had led to less money for safety education and training
• 33% of those impacted by the economy said business concerns get more attention than safety concerns during tough economic times

With the cost of work-related injuries in the US totaling more than $50 billion a year, businesses can’t afford to cut any corners when it comes to employee safety training and equipment. The financial burden of just one serious injury or fatality could put your company out of business forever.

As the economy falters, the need for more inexpensive safety training has never been more critical. G.Neil is meeting the challenge with new products that make safety training and OSHA compliance easier and affordable. From forklift training videos to safety posters, our wide variety of products can help you complete mandatory OSHA training without jeopardizing your budget or employee safety.


Related information:

Press release: Skipping OSHA safety training could spell death for employees

More cutting OSHA training, taking chances with employee safety