What are Permissible Exposure Levels?

Permissible Exposure Limits, or PELs, generally refer to the maximum exposure to a potentially harmful substance or physical agent (e.g., loud noise) that a person can safely contact over an eight-hour period. These levels are determined by industrial hygienists, safety organizations or - most commonly - regulators such as OSHA. Sound simple? It's not. 

The published PEL is just a starting point that safety professionals use to consider all aspects of the hazard and how it may affect workers, including identification of hazards, the work environment, mitigation options, employee training and more.

Fortunately, the safety experts at Safety Management Group in Indianapolis have published an article that addresses PELs, explains how they work and gives good advice on how to manage exposures in your workplace.

Resources:

• Read the full PEL article here.
• Visit the OSHA Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances page.
• Check these Tips for Safe Chemical Handling.
• Browse chemical safety, GHS and hazardous material safety signs.

All OSHA State Plan Employers Must Report Injury and Illness Data by July 1

Bilingual OSHA Injury Reporting Sign

Federal OSHA has taken action to fix an error regarding electronic injury reporting. Employers in OSHA state plans must now file injury and illness data through the federal agency’s portal, even if their states have not adopted the Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses regulation. This will affect employers in California, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

All covered establishments must submit the information by July 1, 2018. OSHA determined that Section 18(c)(7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and relevant OSHA regulations pertaining to State Plans, require all affected employers to submit injury and illness data in the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) online portal, even if the employer is covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of their own state rule.

OSHA has informed State Plans that for Calendar Year 2017 all employers covered by State Plans will be expected to comply. An employer covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of a state rule must provide Form 300A data for Calendar Year 2017. There will be no retroactive requirement for employers covered by State Plans that have not adopted a state rule to submit data for Calendar Year 2016.

The rule currently applies to establishments with 250 or more employees and those with 20 to 249 employees in specified industries with historically high injury and illness rates. A notice has been posted on the ITA website and related OSHA webpages informing stakeholders of the corrective action.

Resources:

• Review the Injury Reporting Final Rule here.
• Visit the injury tracking application site.
• Download OSHA injury tracking forms.
• Browse injury reporting signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

MSHA Issues Final Mine Inspection Rule Effective June 2

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has published a final rule effective June 2, Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines, that provides mine operators additional flexibility in managing their safety and health programs. The revised rule requires that:

A competent person examine each working place for conditions that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners. The working place must be examined at least once each shift, before work begins or as miners begin work in that place.

In addition, mine operators must:

• Promptly initiate appropriate corrective action when adverse conditions are found.
• Promptly notify miners in affected areas if adverse conditions are found and not corrected before miners are potentially exposed.
• Withdraw all persons from affected areas when alerted to any conditions that may present an imminent danger, until the danger is abated.
• Create an examination record before the end of each shift that includes:

- The name of the person conducting the examination;
- Date of the examination;
- Location of all areas examined;
- A description of each condition found that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners that is not promptly corrected; and
- The date when the described condition is corrected.

• Make the examination record available to MSHA and miners’ representatives, with a copy provided upon request.

 

Stakeholder Meetings Scheduled in May

Starting in May, MSHA will hold public meetings around the country to inform and educate the mining community on the requirements of the final rule. Scheduled locations include: Bloomington, Ill., Seattle, Birmingham, Ala., Pittsburgh, Reno, Dallas and Denver.

Resources:

• See the full meeting schedule.
• Review the new rule.
• Read an evaluation of the new rule from EHS Today.
• Browse mine safety signs and labels at ComplianceSigns.com.

April 2018 Workplace Safety News & Notes

Here's a collection of safety news from around the web:

NIOSH Releases New Nanotechnology Workplace Design Recommendations

Workers in industries that use or make nanomaterials may inhale nanoparticles on a daily basis, posing a potential respiratory hazard. NIOSH has developed four new documents with helpful recommendations on minimizing exposures during common processes and tasks. They provide tips on the design, use and maintenance of exposure controls for nanomaterial production, post processing and use. Learn more.

New WHMIS Resources for Employers, Distributors

The WHMIS 2015 deadline is getting closer. To help with your WHMIS 2015 transition, Health Canada has developed two new fact sheets for employers and distributors. The printable fact sheets share key points to know and good practices to consider in preparing for the transition to WHMIS, including key deadlines for new labeling. See WHMIS resource sheets here.

OSHA Launches Regional Construction Safety Campaign

Regional OSHA Offices have launched a campaign to raise awareness about the four leading safety hazards in the construction industry. The “Focus Four Hazards” campaign will serve employers and employees in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. From March through June, the campaign will educate employers to recognize, evaluate and control electrical, struck-by, fall, and caught-in/between hazards. Each month, OSHA representatives will participate in “toolbox talk” discussions focused on one of the four hazards. Visit the OSHA Construction page.

New ISO Worker Safety Standard Available

ISO has developed a new standard, ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements, that provides a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world. It takes into account other International Standards in this area such as OHSA 18001 and the International Labour Organization's ILO-OSH Guidelines, various national standards and the ILO's international labour standards and conventions. Get details here.

Upcoming Safety Webinars Presented by OH&S

• April 19- Holistic Risk Management for Better Risk Assessment
• April 25 - Disaster Preparedness: Murphy's Law and Lessons Learned
• May 3 - Understanding NFPA 2112 and ASTM F1506 and Why FR PPE Certification Matters
• May 10 - The New ISEA 121 Dropped Objects Standard Explained
• On Demand - Confined Space Rescue - Knowing You're Ready
• Learn more or sign up.

Plan Ahead to Prevent Workplace Violence

Weapons Prohibited Sign

Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year. It can strike anywhere, although some workers and occupations are at increased risk. In recent years, OSHA has advised companies to include steps for dealing with violence in their safety plans.

Many people assume workplace violence usually involves a worker seeking revenge for being disciplined or fired, but many cases involve something in a worker’s personal life spilling over into the workplace. Your company has nothing to do with causing the situation, but you’re right in the middle of the result. Under OSHA's General Duty Clause, employers who do not take reasonable steps to prevent or abate a recognized violence hazard in the workplace can be cited.

If your company’s emergency action plan doesn’t already address workplace violence, you should begin to develop policies and procedures on the issue. Just as employees and supervisors need to know what to do when a fire breaks out, they should know what to do in a workplace violence situation.

The workplace safety experts at Safety Management Group in Indianapolis recently posted an article that shares sensible steps to prevent workplace violence. It's well worth a read.

Learn more:

• Read the full article here.
• Visit the OSHA workplace violence page for more information.
• Browse weapon restrictions safety signs for your school or business.

California Adopts New Injury Protection Regulation for Hotel Housekeepers

Bilingual Safe Lifting Sign

California has adopted a new workplace safety and health regulation to prevent and reduce work-related injuries to housekeepers in the hotel and hospitality industry. This is the first ergonomic standard in the nation written specifically to protect hotel housekeepers. The new standard, which will be enforced by Cal/OSHA, was approved March 9 by the Office of Administrative Law and will become effective July 1, 2018.

“Hotel housekeepers have higher rates of acute and cumulative injuries compared to workers in other industries, and data shows those injuries have steadily increased,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “This regulation requires employers to identify, evaluate and correct housekeeping-related hazards with the involvement of housekeepers and their union representative.”

The new regulation requires hotel and lodging industry employers to establish, implement and maintain an effective Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP). Hotel housekeepers frequently suffer musculoskeletal injuries from lifting mattresses, pulling linens,  pushing heavy carts and slipping, tripping or falling while cleaning bathrooms. 

2018 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls May 7-11

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 370 of the 991 construction fatalities recorded in 2016 (BLS data). To help reduce construction falls, employers and workers are invited to participate in the fifth annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction, to be held May 7-11. The week-long outreach event encourages employers and workers to pause during the work day to talk about fall hazards and prevention.

What is a Safety Stand-Down?

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. It's an opportunity for employers to have a conversation with employees about hazards, protective methods, and

Free Resources for Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2018

Distracted Driving Sticker for Company Vehicles

The National Safety Council and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) invite employers to participate in Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Both groups are offering free employer resources, including posters, fact sheets, infographics, social media posts and more. Sharing this key information with your employers will help protect your workforce - and your business.

Safe driving requires drivers to frequently scan the area around them and react quickly to changing situations. Distracted driving affects their ability to perform these tasks.

In 2015, 3,477 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers and 14% of these crashes were reported to have involved cell phone use as a distraction. However, since police reports mainly depend on information provided by drivers at the scene, crashes attributed to all types of distracted driving are thought to be well underreported.

The National Safety Council estimated that 27% of all traffic crashes in 2013 involved the use of hand-held or hands-free cell phones.

7 Steps to Fight Distraction

OSHA Will Enforce Beryllium Standard May 11

OSHA has announced that it will start enforcement of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general, construction, and shipyard industries on May 11, 2018. The start of enforcement had previously been set for March 12, 2018.

In January 2017, OSHA issued new comprehensive health standards addressing exposure to beryllium in all industries. In response to feedback from stakeholders, the agency is considering technical updates to the January 2017 general industry standard, which will clarify and simplify compliance with requirements. OSHA will also begin enforcing on May 11, 2018, the new lower 8-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) and short-term (15-minute) exposure limit (STEL) for construction and shipyard industries.  In the interim, if an employer fails to meet the new PEL or STEL, OSHA will inform the employer of the exposure levels and offer assistance to assure understanding and compliance.

Safe Conveyor Operation Strategies

Conveyors commonly are used in manufacturing, grain-handling, logistics operations, and many other workplaces where items are repeatedly transferred from point A to point B. These labor-saving devices provide a variety of benefits to workers and employers - but they present very real hazards, as well. With moving belts, gears, chains and motors, conveyor systems present many opportunities for pinching, shearing - and especially amputation.

The safety experts at Safety Management Group in Indianapolis have prepared an article that outlines strategies for safe conveyor operation, including safeguards for common conveyor types, including: belts, screws, chains and rollovers. They also share general safety practices such as regular inspections and the importance of restricting loose clothing, jewelry and long hair in conveyor areas. Check the full conveyor article here, or browse conveyor safety signs here.

March is National Ladder Safety Month

Falls from ladders are preventable, yet they account for 300 deaths and some 20,000 injuries each year. The American Ladder Institute (ALI) has announced March as  National Ladder Safety Month, designed to raise awareness of ladder safety and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.

ALI believes ladder accidents are preventable, but without better safety planning and training and continuous innovation in product design, we will continue to see far too many fatalities. 

National Ladder Safety Month goals include:

• Increase the number of ladder safety training certificates issued by ALI
• Lower the rankings of ladder-related safety citations on OSHA’s yearly “Top 10 Citations List”
• Decrease ladder-related injuries and fatalities
• Increase the number of competent ladder inspector training sessions
• Increase the number of companies and individuals that inspect and properly dispose of old, damaged or obsolete ladders

Workplace Safety News & Notes - February 2018

Here's a collection of safety news from around the web:

List of Active OSHA Emphasis Programs

OSHA currently has nine active National and Special Emphasis Programs under enforcement. They include: Compustible dust, Hazardous machinery, Hexavalent chromium, Lead, Process safety management, Trenching & excavation and others. See the full index and get details on each program here.

Updated ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management - Guidelines Now Available

The revised ISO 31000:2018 standard includes changes to nearly every section. It provides a common approach to managing risk and is not industry- or sector-specific. It can be used throughout the life of an organization and applied to any activity, including all levels of decision-making. Learn more.

OSHA Now Accepting 2017 Form 300A Data Submissions

Employers can now to electronically report their Calendar Year 2017 Form 300A data to OSHA. All covered establishments must submit the information by July 1, 2018. OSHA provides a secure website with three options for data submission: Manually entering data into a web form; Upload a CSV file to process single or multiple establishments at the same time; or users of automated recordkeeping systems will have the ability to transmit data electronically via an API (application programming interface). Learn more.

Top OSHA Fines Reach $1.77 Million in First 6 Weeks of 2018

OSHA has released information on nine significant fines (over $100,000) so far this year, with five fines at or over $200,000. Common violations include fall, confined space and machine guard violations. Here are details on the top fines to date. Many are still pending final decisions.

$281,583 after fatal wall collapse at a New Jersey construction company
A New Jersey construction management and development company faces $281,583 in fines for exposing employees to crushing hazards after a concrete block retaining wall collapsed at a Poughkeepsie worksite. The retaining wall was not designed or approved by a registered engineer, and its collapse led to an employee death and injuries to another employee. The company was also cited for failing to train employees to keep a safe distance from the wall and soil pile, and failing to provide proper fall protection. See details here.

$256,088 for fall and confined space violations at a Georgia manufacturer
Following inspection of a facility in Dalton, OSHA issued willful citations for failing to install a fall protection system, and develop and implement a written permit-required confined-space program. The company was also cited for several other violations, including failing to develop safety procedures when performing equipment maintenance and servicing; failing to train and evaluate forklift operators; failing to ensure employees have proper personal protective equipment; and failing to install machine guards on equipment. See details.

$212,396 for crush hazards at Massachusetts foundation company
A foundation company was cited for failing to protect employees against crushing hazards while they installed permanent foundation supports beneath a public library. This resulted in an employee death when a 2,600-pound rock dislodged from the building’s foundation and struck the worker. The contractor was also cited for failing to instruct employees to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions while working beneath the foundation. OSHA cited the company for similar hazards in 2015 when an employee was pinned by a granite block that came loose. The company faces $212,396 in proposed penalties. See details.

Why and How You Need to Take Care of Your Company Cars

As a business owner who has invested in a company-owned cars, maintaining the safety of these vehicles is ultimately your responsibility. And it's pretty important, too. Case in point: More than 44,000 vehicle accidents each year are attributed to issues with brakes, tires, steering and engine components, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Indeed, many of these accidents could have been prevented with proper vehicle maintenance and routine inspections. With that in mind, here are a few key considerations to help keep your vehicle fleet in top condition:

It's Good for Company Morale

Heed the advice of Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson: If you want your employees to take good care of your business, then you must take care of them. The same can be said for maintaining your company vehicles. The way you manage your fleet of vehicles is another opportunity to illustrate your appreciation for your team.

After consulting your team's schedules, make sure to schedule regular maintenance to make these services convenient for everyone. You might also look into having a mobile car wash service visit your company regularly to keep your fleet looking great. And consider a no-smoking policy to keep them smelling clean. Vehicle no-smoking labels will help protect your investment and keep employees happy.

Not only will this keep your vehicles in top condition, but it will also show your team you value their comfort and safety.

Maintenance is Your Responsibility

Whether you do it yourself or rely on the professionals, vehicle maintenance is your responsibility as the company owner. Don't leave this task to your employees; instead, you can designate a fleet specialist to keep everything running in top form.

Workplace Foot Injuries: Causes, Costs and Prevention

Foot injuries are among the most common workers' compensation injuries, including breaks, fractures and heel injuries. A study of over 250,000 worker's comp claims found the average final settlement for a foot injury is more than $17,000. The human foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments, so it's no wonder injuries to the foot can be especially painful - and slow to heal. Clearly, prevention of workplace foot injuries makes good sense for workers and employers. But safety shoes and foot PPE reminder signs aren't enough. This article will explain the causes, costs and prevention steps you can take to reduce foot injuries in your workplace.

Causes of Workplace Foot Injuries

There are two major categories of work-related foot injuries. The first includes foot injuries from punctures, crushing, sprains and lacerations. The second includes injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls. Slips and falls do not always result in a foot injury but lack of attention to foot safety plays an important role in their occurrence.

OSHA has identified six common work-related foot injuries and causes:

• Crushed or broken feet, amputation of toes or feet - Falling objects, moving vehicles, feet trapped between objects or caught in a crack, conveyor belts
• Punctures of the sole of the foot - Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects
• Cuts or severed feet or toes - Chain saws, rotary mowers, unguarded machinery
• Burns - Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, contact with fire, flammable or explosive atmospheres
• Electric shocks - Static electricity, contact with sources of electricity
• Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken bones during slips, trips or falls - Slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect footwear, poor lighting

Additional foot injury hazards exist in many outdoor jobs such as logging, hydro linework and fishing.

Workplace Safety News & Notes - January 2018

OSHA Respirator Sign

Here's a collection of workplace safety news from around the web this month:

Court Rejects Appeals to Silica Rule

In 2016, OSHA published a final rule regulating workplace exposure to silica, Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (29 CFR 1910, 1915 and 1926). Industry groups petitioned for review of the rule, but the U.S. Court of Appeals recently rejected all five of their challenges, leaving the rule in effect. Read more.

 

CDC Study Finds High Asthma Deaths in Construction, Healthcare

A new CDC study of asthma mortality shows that up to 700 asthma deaths in 2015 might have resulted from occupational exposures - and could have been prevented. The study found significantly elevated asthma mortality ratios for men in the food, beverage and tobacco products manufacturing industry, and for females in the social assistance industry and community and social services occupations. By industry, the highest number of asthma deaths occurred among men in the construction industry and among women in the healthcare industry. Learn more.

OSHA Penalties Increased This Month

3 Ways to Stay OSHA Compliant at All Times

Keeping your employees safe at work involves much more than posting a few safety signs and cleaning up spills as they happen. For most business owners, it also requires complying with the rules set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

While you want to keep your valued team as safe as possible while on the job, you might be uncertain how to stay OSHA compliant at all times. Fortunately, with a combination of vigilance and being pro-active, it is possible to make sure your company remains fully OSHA compliant. Here's how.

Research which OSHA requirements pertain to you

2018 State / Federal Labor Law Posters Now Available at ComplianceSigns.com

Across the U.S., employers are required to display state and federal labor / employment notices in a conspicuous location to help maintain compliance with state and federal labor posting requirements. Now employers and Human Resources professionals can order U.S.-made labor law posters from the same source they trust for top-quality safety and office signs: ComplianceSigns.com.

These 2018 employment posters combine state and federal notices into one easy-to-hang poster that displays up-to-date mandatory federal and state labor / employment notices for private industry or non-government entities. We've researched and developed posters for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, and all have been reviewed by a licensed attorney. We've done the research so employers can use them with confidence.

New App Helps Employers Understand Cost of Collisions

U.S. traffic crashes cost employers $47.4 billion in direct crash-related expenses (including medical care, liability, lost productivity and property damage), according to data from 2013. A single non-fatal injury crash had an average cost of nearly $65,000. Driver behaviors on and off the job contribute significantly to these costs. Now a new tool is now available to let employers measure the cost of crashes.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has released a free Cost of Collisions Calculator, developed through a cooperative agreement with NHTSA, to assist employers' vehicle safety efforts. You can use it to help improve vehicle safety and reduce costs in your operation.

The crash cost calculator includes three components:

• On-the-Job Crash Costs
• Off-the-Job Crash Costs
• Return on Investment (ROI) Guidance Calculator

The application is intended for employers who want to understand the cost of crashes incurred by their fleets, in addition to the on- and off-the-job costs of crashes for all their employees and their employees’ dependents. Knowing a fleet’s costs can help management develop a business case to supports investments in fleet safety. Knowing the on- and off-the-job crash costs for all employees and their dependents provides employers with justification to invest in employee-wide safe driving programs.