National Emphasis Program on Amputations Features Major Changes

 Changes include identification of industries and establishments associated with amputations; lists of typical machinery and equipment associated with amputations; incorporation of a comparison chart for the Standard Industrial Classification codes and the North American Industry Classification System codes;

OSHA Cites VTCU Corp. in Idaho for Alleged Safety Violations

OSHA has issued citations against VTCU Corp., a manufacturer and renovator of electrical transformers, for alleged safety violations found during inspections at the company's Pocatello, Idaho, facility. The repeat, serious, other-than-serious, and failure to abate citations carry proposed penalties totaling $211,200.

OSHA initiated the inspections in response to complaints and as a follow-up to its 2005 inspection, which found numerous violations that resulted in citations being issued against the company.

The repeat citations allege violations regarding deficiencies in information and training on hazardous materials, walkways, combustible waste, personal protective equipment, cranes, slings, and electrical hazards.

The serious citations were issued for inadequate lockout/tagout procedures to render machinery inoperable during maintenance and repair, insufficient emergency preparedness, fire prevention, housekeeping, hazards associated with flammable liquids, confined space entry, personal protective equipment, cranes, hoisting units, electrical, slings, machine guarding, and welding.

The other-than-serious citation alleges violations of standards for fire extinguishers and sanitation. The failure to abate citation alleges that inadequate load testing of cranes, for which the corporation was originally cited in 2005, had not been corrected.

OSHA Cites Trenching Company for Alleged Safety Hazards at Georgia Work Site

OSHA has cited Hall's Trenching and proposed penalties totaling $40,100 for allegedly exposing workers to trenching hazards at a Covington, Ga., work site where water lines were being installed.

"Fortunately, this work site was inspected and hazards abated before a tragedy occurred," said Gei-Thae Breezley, OSHA's Atlanta-East area director. "Too often, employers focus on finishing a job quickly instead of finishing a job safely. Employers must protect employees working in this hazardous industry."

OSHA issued one willful citation to the company, with a proposed penalty of $35,000, for allowing employees to work in a trench more than seven feet deep without a cave-in protection system. OSHA issues a willful citation when an employer has shown an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The May 31 inspection also resulted in four serious citations, with proposed penalties totaling $5,100, for failing to provide workers with a safe means of entering and exiting the trench, allowing excavated material to accumulate at the edge of the trench wall, and lacking a safety and health program and employee training. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

OSHA has an alliance with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia businesses across the state to promote trench safety through training and education efforts. The agency also has a separate special emphasis program to reduce trenching hazards through strong enforcement. Cave-ins are a leading cause of worker death and injury in the state.

Guidance for Protecting Employees against Avian Flu

OSHA recently published new safety and health guidance that alerts employees and employers about the hazards of occupational exposure to avian influenza, or "avian flu," from infected birds. The guidance provides practical recommendations on ways to avoid infection.

"We encourage employers and employees who are most likely to be exposed to avian flu to take the appropriate precautions," said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke. "This guidance offers them practical tips, such as hand washing and the use of proper protective equipment, for preventing illness."

Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are natural hosts of avian flu viruses and often show no symptoms; however, some of the viruses can cause high mortality in poultry, including the H5N1 virus. Some strains of avian flu viruses carried by these wild birds can infect domestic fowl and in turn infect humans, causing fever, cough, sore throat, eye infections, and muscle pain. Avian flu can also lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and other severe and life-threatening complications. The most common route of transmission to humans is by contact with contaminated poultry.

The new document updates guidance on avian flu issued by OSHA in 2004. The update provides separate recommendations for poultry employees and those who handle other animals, as well as for laboratory employees, healthcare personnel, food handlers, travelers, and U.S. employees stationed abroad. The primary focus is on good hygiene, including the use of gloves and hand washing, as well as respiratory protection for those who work with infected animals or individuals.

The guidance also includes links to websites with additional information and a list of technical articles and resources, including a history on flu pandemics, symptoms and outcomes of various strains of the avian flu, a summary of the bird importation regulations, and details on the transmission of the virus.

The federal government is providing funding, advice, support, and up-to-date information to help Americans prepare for and prevent the spread of avian flu in this country. The world's public health community is concerned that a new avian flu subtype may become capable of human-to-human transmission and become an agent for the next flu pandemic. 

Don’t Let Walking and Working Surfaces Become Slipping and Falling Surfaces

We often take it for granted—walking from point A to point B while on the job. But a routine situation can change quickly and dramatically because of slips, trips, and falls—the culprit in the majority of general industry accidents. OSHA is aware of that fact and has an assortment of information—from standards and rules to training programs—to help reduce the hazards that cause these accidents. The tips below may seem obvious, but they're often overlooked or, worse, ignored.

• Keep walkways and stairs clear of scrap and debris.
• Coil extension cords, lines, and hoses when not in use.
• Wipe up spills immediately; wear appropriate waterproof, nonslip footwear.
• Ensure that all wet surfaces are covered with nonslip materials.
• Cover floor openings.
• When working in icy conditions, wear lug soles; clear parking lots, stairs, and walkways; and use salt/sand as needed.

Visit OSHA's website for more resources on reducing and preventing accidents involving slips, trips, and falls. 

Foulke Announces Drop in Workplace Injury Rate

 The report, from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), revealed another decline in the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry that required recuperation away from work.

"Once again, we are pleased to see a substantial reduction in the rate of injuries and illnesses that caused employees to recover away from work. 

"The decrease in both the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses, and the rate for those instances where employees need to convalesce before returning to work, continues to validate many of our initiatives that are aimed solely at helping keep American men and women safe at work.

"We remain encouraged by this news while, at the same, ever mindful that much work remains to further reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. From this data, we will be able to gain important insights on how best to continue positioning and enhancing our services to employers and their employees.

Again, the positive news is welcome; but, we will not rest on it alone. Our work continues to ensure the safety and health of all our nation's employees through compliance assistance; partnerships and cooperative programs; and strong, fair, and effective enforcement."

Laundry Fined $83,700 for Safety and Health Hazards

A Watertown, N.Y., laundry's alleged failure to protect workers against exposure to bloodborne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, falls, and other safety and health hazards has resulted in $83,700 in proposed fines from OSHA.

Northern Health Care Linen Services Inc. was cited for a total of 36 alleged serious and other-than-serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act at its 135 Union St. plant following an OSHA inspection begun June 28 in response to an employee complaint.

"Exposure to blood and other infectious materials is a very real danger in this industry, and this employer did not provide employees with adequate protections against these hazards," said Chris Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse.

OSHA's inspection found that the company failed to provide Hepatitis B vaccination to employees who were exposed to bloodborne pathogens, did not provide follow-up care after an employee was stuck by a contaminated needle, and did not furnish puncture-resistant gloves for employees who handled sharp objects contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious bodily fluids. The inspection also found that employees were not adequately trained on bloodborne pathogen hazards and were not provided with soap, towels, and an unobstructed sink to wash their hands after removing contaminated gloves.

Additional hazards identified during the inspection included failing to maintain working conditions at the plant in as clean a condition as possible, lack of fall protection for employees working on the roof, obstructed exit routes, unguarded moving machine parts, and improperly maintained electrical equipment.

OSHA Cites Volks Constructors for Recording Less Than 10% of Recordable Injuries

A Baton Rouge, La., industrial vessel, pipe, and steel fabrication company's alleged failure to maintain accurate injury and illness records and protect employees from occupational hazards has resulted in proposed penalties totaling $47,600 from OSHA.

AKM, LLC, doing business as Volks Constructors, was cited for the alleged violations following an inspection that began May 10 under a national emphasis program by OSHA aimed at preventing work-related amputations. Volks Constructors employs approximately 350 workers.

"Worker injury and illness records are vital for identifying injury trends," said Greg Honaker, OSHA's area director in Baton Rouge. "Recording only 9 of 111 injuries and illnesses on their 2002–2005 logs is a blatant disregard of the record-keeping requirements."

Sixteen serious citations were issued for potential atmospheric hazards in confined spaces; lack of energy control procedures to protect against electrical and amputation hazards; no eye-wash station available while working with corrosives, no machine guarding to protect against amputation hazards, and lack of guarding for chains, sprockets, belts, and pulleys; A serious citation is issued for violations that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees due to hazards that the employer knew or should have known.

Seventeen other-than-serious citations were issued for failing to complete "OSHA 301 Logs" used for a first report of injury; failing to record 102 injuries and illness on the "OSHA 300 Logs"; company executives certifying OSHA 300 Logs that were neither correct nor complete; and failing to provide the OSHA 300 and 301 Logs upon request. Additional violations included lack of rating capacity for alloy steel chains/synthetic web slings, restricted work space in front of electrical equipment, use of hazardous chemicals from unmarked containers, and lack of material safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals. An other-than-serious violation is a condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm but would have a direct and immediate impact to the safety or health of the employees.

OSHA Aligns With the Tree Care Industry Association

OSHA has joined in an alliance with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) to further safety and health for employees in the tree care industry.

The alliance, signed November 10, will focus on providing TCIA members and others in the industry, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources with a particular focus on preventing exposure to tree removal, electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards.

"Employees in the tree care industry are often exposed to very dangerous hazards," OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke said. "By working with industry leaders, we believe we can make positive strides in ensuring that employees in this important industry are armed with the tools they need to stay safe and at work."

Added Cynthia Mills, TCIA president and chief executive officer: "The Tree Care Industry Association strives to keep safety at the forefront of all our efforts, and our alliance with OSHA reinforces that mission. We are committed to lowering the accident and fatality rate, and TCIA is proud to form this relationship with OSHA."

Through the alliance, OSHA and TCIA will work together to develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and communicate that information throughout the industry. Information will be shared among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TCIA’s best practices or effective approaches, and then publicized through OSHA- or TCIA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures.

The alliance also provides opportunities for OSHA and TCIA professionals to speak, exhibit, or appear at various conferences or other events, including TCI EXPO, Certified Tree Care Safety Professional Workshops, Career Days, and the Winter Management Conference. Both organizations will develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health.

Paper Industry Safety Program a Success

 To date, more than 7,300 individuals have been trained across the country. The ultimate goal is for all Paper Council members to incorporate the OSHA 10+ program into their current safety and health management systems.

Avoid Food Poisoning During the Holidays by Properly Preparing Food

The Colorado Department of Public Health has issued guidance on the importance of properly handling and preparing foods to avoid getting food poisoning this holiday season.

Jeff Lawrence, food safety program manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division, said the most frequent causes of foodborne illnesses are improper cooling of foods, lack of adequate hand washing, preparation of ready-to-eat foods with contaminated utensils, and improper cooking temperatures.

Lawrence said, “By following simple safety precautions, individuals can ensure that holiday parties and meals will be safe and enjoyable for all.”

He provided the following tips for keeping foods safe:

• Cool all leftovers to 41º F or lower within four hours after cooking is complete. Do not leave foods containing meat, milk, eggs, fish, or poultry at room temperature for more than the four-hour limit. This includes pumpkin or other custard pies that are popular during the holidays.
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water before food preparation and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, sneezing, coughing, eating, drinking, or smoking.
• Thoroughly clean and sanitize knives, cutting boards, and other utensils before and after preparing raw foods and foods that do not require further cooking. A sanitizing solution can be prepared using one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, knives, sponges, and countertops.
• Buy a cooking thermometer and use it. Turkey and stuffing should be cooked thoroughly to 165 F and ham to 145 F or above before serving. Recipes requiring eggs must be cooked thoroughly to 135 F or above. If egg dishes do not require cooking, such as homemade eggnog, use pasteurized egg products instead of shelled eggs.
• If you are already ill, do not prepare or handle foods to avoid spreading the illness to others sharing the meal.
• Do not thaw foods at room temperature. Plan enough time to thaw them in the refrigerator.
• The following table was provided for determining the thawing time required based on weight of poultry and meat.

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