Cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) is the most popular water pipe repair method used in the U.S. for sanitary sewers and storm sewers, and is increasingly being used for drinking water pipe repairs. Today, approximately 50% of all damaged pipes are being repaired using CIPP technology. A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters found that during steam-cured CIPP installations, many different types of materials were created and released into the air. The new study identifies concerns about potential health risks to CIPP workers and underscores a need for additional investigation. An overview of the hazards can be found on the CDC Website.
Los Angeles Hazardous Waste and DOT Training
Register for California Hazardous Waste Management and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Los Angeles, CA, on October 10–12 and save $100. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.
Mobile, Alabama RCRA and DOT Training
Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Mobile, AL, on October 24–26 and save $100. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.
Atlanta RCRA/DOT Update, IATA, and SARA Training
Register for RCRA and DOT Annual Update and Refresher in Atlanta, GA, on October 31 and get the refresher training you need in one day. Learn how to ship dangerous goods by air at IATA: How to Ship Dangerous Goods by Air on November 1, and ensure you understand your reporting obligations at the SARA Title III (EPCRA) Workshop on November 2. To register for these courses, click here or call 800-537-2372.
Container Manufacturer Fined over $500K After 4 Workers Suffer Injuries
A Chicago manufacturer of rigid metal, plastic, and hybrid containers faces $503,380 in proposed penalties after inspectors from OSHA responded to four separate reports of workers suffering injuries at the facility.
As a result of its investigations, OSHA cited BWAY Corporation for five repeated and five serious safety violations of machine safety procedures, and placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. In the past five years, 15 workers suffered amputations at the Chicago plant.
“Lack of machine safety guards and procedures contribute to multiple employee injuries nationwide each year,” said OSHA Area Director Kathy Webb, in Chicago. “Companies must continuously monitor their facilities, and review procedures and training to ensure employees are protected from machine hazards.”
OSHA found one employee suffered two broken bones in his hand after it was crushed by a piece of equipment. Three other employees suffered amputations from unguarded chain and sprocket assemblies.
The agency issued repeated citations for failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures that prevent unintentional machine movement, and inadequate machine guarding on a mechanical power press, belts and pulleys, and chains and sprockets. The five serious citations involve failing to lockout equipment prior to clearing jams and inadequate machine guarding on multiple pieces of equipment.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the company has 27 facilities and about 4,000 employees in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico—with about 500 employees in Chicago.
Vinylidene Chloride to Be Listed as Carcinogen
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) plans to list the chemical vinylidene chloride as known to the state to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). This action is being proposed pursuant to the state Labor Code listing mechanism. OEHHA has determined that vinylidene chloride meets the criteria for listing by this mechanism.
Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a) incorporates California Labor Code section 6382(b)(1) into Proposition 65. The law requires that certain substances identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) be listed as known to cause cancer under Proposition 65. Labor Code section 6382(b)(1) refers to substances identified as human or animal carcinogens by IARC. OEHHA has adopted regulations concerning these listing in Title 27, Cal.Code of Regs., section 25904. As the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 65, OEHHA evaluates whether a chemical’s listing is required by Proposition 65.
Vinylidene chloride meets the requirements for listing as known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65. IARC published on its website a list entitled “Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1 - 119" (IARC, 2017). IARC concludes that vinylidene chloride is classified in Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans), and that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals for vinylidene chloride (Grosse et al., 2017).
OEHHA also proposed to adopt a Proposition 65 No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) of 0.88 micrograms per day for vinylidene chloride, by amending Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25705(b).
OEHHA has provided an opportunity to comment as to whether the chemical identified above meets the requirements for listing as causing cancer specified in Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a), Labor Code section 6382(b)(1) and Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25904(b). Because this is a ministerial listing, the agency has asked that comments be limited to whether IARC has identified the specific chemical or substance as a known or potential human or animal carcinogen. Under this listing mechanism, OEHHA cannot consider scientific arguments concerning the weight or quality of the evidence considered by IARC when it identified this chemical and will not respond to such comments if they are submitted (Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25904(c)).
Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2017 to be considered. We encourage you to submit comments in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Comments may be submitted electronically to P65Public.Comments@oehha.ca.gov. Please include “Vinylidene Chloride NOIL” in the subject line. Comments submitted in paper form can be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the address below. Hard-copy comments may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the address below.
Ms. Michelle Ramirez
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
P.O. Box 4010, MS-12B
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
Fax: 916-323-2265
Comments received during the public comment period will be posted on the OEHHA web site after the close of the comment period. Please do not include your address or phone number in your comments if you do not wish for that information to become publically available.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Michelle Ramirez at Michelle.Ramirez@oehha.ca.gov or at 916-445-6900.
Update on Ongoing Investigation into Midland Resource Recovery
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board recently released a “Factual Investigative Update” into two fatal explosions that occurred at the Midland Resource Recovery facility in Philippi, West Virginia.
The CSB’s update maps out several details regarding two explosions that occurred in 2017 killing a total of three workers. The document includes information on the facility’s operation, the details surrounding the incident as well as the agency’s investigative path forward.
The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations examine all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure or inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Please visit our website, http://monet.vela@oehha.ca.gov.
For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at public@csb.gov or by phone at 202.446.8094
Indianapolis Cintas Field Support Center Certified STAR in State’s VPP
Cintas Corporation First Aid and Safety (FAS) Field Support Services Center Location 68F in Indianapolis, achieved certification in Indiana’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as a STAR worksite for outstanding occupational safety and health programs. This Cintas site joins the company’s elite across the United States who have also achieved a VPP title and continue to be a role model for employee participation, management commitment and proactive approach to preventing injuries and incidents.
“The Cintas Corporation has cultivated its own thriving culture of workplace safety and health, and maintains impressive safety records,” said Indiana Department of Labor Commissioner Rick J. Ruble. “Location 68F has an excellent relationship with our IOSHA staff. They put the well- being of their people first.”
Location 68F is a facility housing 62 employees who provide front line support for a wide variety of Cintas employees in the FAS business line of Cintas throughout the United States and Canada. Services include product support and sourcing, route optimization and national account management.
The facility has not had a recordable case since 2014, and carries an impressive Total Case Incidence Rate (TCIR) that is 76% below the national average. Additionally, Location 68F has not had a Lost Work Day Case reported in the past four years.
Eaton Aerospace Receives MIOSHA's Highest Recognition Award for Workplace Safety and Health
Eaton Aerospace, LLC, in Grand Rapids was awarded the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP) Star Award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).
“It is a pleasure to recognize Eaton Aerospace for creating a company culture that promotes excellence in workplace safety and health,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. “Implementing best practices for increased worker safety can have a significant positive impact on a company’s bottom line and exemplifies a true commitment among management and staff at this facility.”
MIOSHA established the MVPP program in 1996 to recognize employers with exemplary safety and health systems and is open to all Michigan employers. To be eligible for the MVPP Star program, an applicant must demonstrate that the injury and illness incidence rates for each of the last three complete calendar years are below the rates published for their respective North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. The incidence rates for Eaton Aerospace continues to be well below the industry average for their NAICS code 336413 – Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing.
The MVPP assists employers and employees by providing a mechanism and a set of criteria designed to evaluate and recognize outstanding safety and health management systems. The program is designed to establish a cooperative relationship between management, labor, and MIOSHA. MVPP participants implement safety and health management systems that provide protections beyond what is required by MIOSHA standards.
There are two levels of recognition in the MVPP – Rising Star and Star. The Michigan Star program is designed for workplaces that have an exemplary safety and health management system with injury and illness incidence rates below the industry average for the last three years. Current Star sites are available to mentor other companies that have an interest and desire to improve their safety and health management system. The Rising Star program provides the "stepping stone" for those establishments that have the desire and potential to achieve Star Status within one to three years.
As the most prestigious safety and health award given in Michigan, Eaton Aerospace becomes one of only 25 companies in the State of Michigan with MVPP Star status.
“Earning MVPP Star status is a great validation of being a learning organization,” said LaTour. “Understanding risks and taking action for mitigation are fundamentally part of our culture. I am extremely proud of our team in this fantastic success on our journey to become a world-class manufacturing site.”
Eaton’s Grand Rapids facility has 215 employees. The plant designs, assembles, tests and operates a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) repair station for specialized controllers, smart actuators, actuation systems and flight controls for commercial and military customers. As a power management company, Eaton serves commercial and military aerospace, marine, and defense markets in more than 175 countries, with 2016 sales of $19.7 billion.
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