OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard applies to facilities that have a process that involves a chemical at or above the specified threshold quantities listed in Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.119(a)(1). There are 137 chemicals listed in Appendix A, only 11 of which are assigned minimum concentrations. For the remainder, various OSHA interpretations have set the threshold concentration as either the commercial chemical grade or as the maximum concentrations currently available. However, many of these highly hazardous chemicals remain significantly hazardous at lower concentrations. And, in a case where OSHA tried to cite a company for not conforming to the rule following an explosion, the charges were dismissed due to OSHA’s ambiguous interpretations of the threshold.
OSHA recently published a new interpretation that addresses this issue head-on by adopting a 1% test that’s similar to EPA’s Clean Air Act Risk Management Plan rule. In determining whether a process involves a chemical (whether pure or in a mixture) at or above the specified threshold quantities listed in Appendix A, the employer must now calculate:
- The total weight of any chemical in the process at a concentration that meets or exceeds the concentration listed for that chemical in Appendix A, and
- With respect to chemicals for which no concentration is specified in Appendix A, the total weight of the chemical in the process at a concentration of 1% or greater. However, you need not include the weight of chemicals in any portion of the process in which the partial pressure of the chemical in the vapor space under handling or storage conditions is less than 10 mm Hg. You are required to document the partial pressure determination.
The OSHA interpretation indicates that aqueous mixtures of hydrogen bromide (at concentrations below 63%) and mixtures of alkylaluminum (at any concentration) will fall within the partial pressure exemption under all normal handling and storage conditions.
In determining the weight of a chemical present in a mixture, only the weight of the chemical itself, exclusive of any solvent, solution, or carrier is counted.
OSHA’s interpretation notes that where an entry in Appendix A is listed as “anhydrous,” it does not cover aqueous solutions or aqueous mixtures. Anhydrous means “containing no water” or “without water.” Thus, by definition, Appendix A to PSM does not cover aqueous solutions or aqueous mixtures of chemicals specifically listed as “anhydrous.” In addition, although not specifically designated as “anhydrous,” OSHA has interpreted Appendix A to mean that the PSM standard does not cover Hydrogen Chloride (CAS 7647-01-0) and/or Hydrogen Fluoride (CAS 7664-39-3) in aqueous solutions or aqueous mixtures. Therefore, the following entries in Appendix A are only covered in the anhydrous form, they are not covered when in aqueous solutions or aqueous mixtures:
- Ammonia, Anhydrous (CAS 7664-41-7)
- Dimethylamine, Anhydrous (CAS 124-40-3)
- Hydrogen Cyanide, Anhydrous (CAS 74-90-8)
- Methylamine, Anhydrous (CAS 74-89-5)
- Hydrochloric Acid, Anhydrous/ Hydrogen Chloride (CAS 7647-01-0)
- Hydrofluoric Acid, Anhydrous/ Hydrogen Fluoride (CAS 7664-39-3)
New Rules for Safety in Public Transit
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently issued the Public Transportation Safety Program final rule that establishes procedural rules for FTA to administer a comprehensive safety program to improve the safety of federally funded public transportation systems. This final rule is the umbrella rule for all other FTA safety rulemakings and guidance documents, and formally adopts the Safety Management Systems (SMS) approach to safety as the basis of the FTA Safety Program.
“The safety of passengers and employees must be the top priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This final rule puts in place the essential foundation for FTA to help further improve safety for the millions of daily transit users and for those who operate and maintain the systems.”
This final rule sets procedural rules for FTA to issue directives and advisories to the public transportation industry and to promulgate future safety regulations. It also lays out the rules of practice for FTA to inspect, investigate, audit, examine and test transit agencies’ facilities, equipment, rolling stock and operations.
“With today’s action, FTA continues its steady progress in establishing the regulatory framework needed to implement and strengthen our new and existing safety transit oversight and enforcement authorities,” said FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers.
In addition, the final rule details FTA enforcement actions against transit agencies for noncompliance with Federal transit safety law, including: requiring more frequent oversight or reporting requirements; mandating that Federal funds be spent to correct safety deficiencies before funds are spent on other projects; withholding up to 25% of a grantee’s funding under the Urbanized Area Formula Program; and imposing restrictions or prohibitions on a transit agency’s operations if FTA determines that an unsafe practice or condition creates a substantial risk of death or personal injury.
The adoption of SMS further supports FTA by taking a risk-based approach to the development and implementation of its Safety Program and in the exercise of its enforcement authorities. SMS builds on existing transit safety practices by using data to proactively identify, avoid, and mitigate risks to safety.
The Public Transportation Safety Program final rule will become effective 30 days from the official Federal Register publication date and is one of several components of a comprehensive safety program Congress required FTA to establish in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act in 2012 and reauthorized in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015 for federally-funded public transportation systems.
This rule marks the capstone on a concerted effort to make American transit systems even safer. FTA’s State Safety Oversight Program final rule became effective in April 2016 and significantly strengthens state safety oversight agencies and their enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems. Interim provisions for the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program have been in effect since May 2015 and FTA is now reviewing comments received on the proposed rule which would make the interim provisions permanent.
New Safety Campaign to Raise Awareness about Sharing the Road with Large Trucks and Buses
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced the launch of its new safety-focused campaign, “Our Roads, Our Responsibility,” to raise public awareness about how to operate safely around large trucks and buses, or commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
“Trucks and buses move people and goods around the country, contributing to our economic wellbeing and our way of life,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These commercial vehicles also carry additional safety risks, so it’s critical that all road users understand how to safely share the road.”
Nearly 12 million CMVs are registered to operate in the United States, and in 2014, drivers logged around 300 billion miles on the nation’s roads. Large trucks and buses have significant size and weight differences, large blind spots, longer stopping distances, and limited maneuverability, which present serious safety challenges for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers of passenger vehicles.
“Our Roads, Our Responsibility supports our agency’s core mission of reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles on our roadways,” said FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling. “Roadway safety is a shared responsibility, and this initiative encourages everyone who uses our roads to be champions for safety. We look forward to working with all our partners to raise awareness around this issue.”
Under the Our Roads, Our Responsibility campaign, FMCSA suggests the following tips while sharing the road with CMVs:
- Stay out of the “no zones” or blind spots around the front, back and sides of the vehicle
- Pass safely and make sure you can see the driver in the mirror before passing
- Don’t cut it close while merging in front of a CMV
- Anticipate wide turns and consider larger vehicles may require extra turning room
- Stay focused on the road around you and avoid distraction
- Be patient driving around large trucks and buses
Visit ShareTheRoadSafely.gov for additional information, including safety tips, statistics, infographics, and more.
More than 200,000 Crashes Are Caused by Road Debris
More than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roadways during the past four years, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The accidents resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths between 2011 and 2014. AAA is calling for drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent dangerous debris.
AAA researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and found that:
- Nearly 37% of all deaths in road debris crashes resulted from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object. Overcorrecting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver’s risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.
- More than one in three crashes involving debris occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:59 p.m., a time when many people are on the road hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment.
- Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.
“This new report shows that road debris can be extremely dangerous but all of these crashes are preventable,” said Jurek Grabowski, research director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.”
About two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance and unsecured loads. The most common types of vehicle debris are:
- Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.) and falling onto the roadway
- Unsecured cargo like furniture, appliances, and other items falling onto the roadway
- Tow trailers becoming separated and hitting another vehicle or landing on the roadway
You can decrease your chances of being involved in a road debris crash by:
- Maintain Your Vehicle: Have your vehicles checked regularly by trained mechanics. Badly worn or underinflated tires often suffer blowouts that can leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach to the vehicle can also rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.
- Secure Vehicle Loads: When moving or towing bulky items, it is important to make sure that everything is secured. To properly secure a load, you should:
- Tie down the load with rope, netting, or straps
- Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
- Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
- Don’t overload the vehicle
- Always double check load to make sure a load is secure
“Drivers have a much bigger responsibility when it comes to preventing debris on the roads than most realize,” said Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA. “It’s important for drivers to know that many states have hefty fines and penalties for drivers who drop items from their vehicle onto the roadway, and in some cases states impose jail time.”
Currently every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10–$5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders. AAA encourages drivers to educate themselves about specific road debris laws in their state. You should also practice defensive driving techniques while on the road to prevent debris related crashes from occurring.
“Continually searching the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead can help drivers be prepared in the case of debris,” said William Van Tassel, Manager of Driver Training Programs for AAA. “Always try to maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to steer around an object. If you see you are unable to avoid debris on the roadway, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact.”
AAA also recommends that you avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road. Additional tips on defensive driving and how to report road debris to the proper authorities are available online at http://www.AAA.com/PreventRoadDebris.
Albion Mill Fined $195,460 for Repeatedly Ignoring Severe Dangers
OSHA issued citations to Albion Mill for five willful, nine repeat, and 12 serious safety and health violations, and one other-than-serious violation.
OSHA’s inspection on February 10, 2016, was a follow up to previous inspections conducted in 2013. Inspectors identified willful violations when the company:
- Allowed employees without proper safety equipment to enter a grain-handling bin
- Allowed machines to be operated with unguarded belts, pulleys, and shafts
- Failed to develop or implement a housekeeping program to prevent worker exposure to combustible dust hazards caused by accumulated grain and feed products
- Did not maintain inspection certification records when servicing equipment
Inspectors also found repeat violations that included:
- A lack of annual employee training on use of portable fire extinguishers
- An unguarded, 28-inch deep pit
- Electrical hazards
- A lack of worker chemical hazard training
- No written and implemented hazard communication program
- An absence of lockout/tagout procedures, which prevent accidental machine start-up or movement
The serious violations included:
- Deficiencies in lockout/tagout procedures and training
- Unguarded machine parts
- Use of damaged equipment
- Employee exposure to fall hazards
- Improper storage of propane cylinders
- Workers permitted to enter grain handling facility bin without a permit
- Lack of employee training on engulfment hazards
An unguarded pit resulted in the other-than-serious violations.
“Our follow-up inspection at Albion Mill found employees continue to be exposed to severe combustible dust issues. In some areas, 6 inches or more of dust had accumulated, creating a dangerous risk of explosion,” said Theresa A. Naim, director of OSHA’s Erie Area Office. “This company had ample opportunity, time and guidance to correct the hazardous conditions but chose business as usual by disregarding the safety of its employees.”
Proposed penalties total $195,460.
US Steel Fined $170,000 for Repeatedly Exposing Workers to Asbestos Hazards
Twice in about a month, United States Steel Corp., gave seven employees tasks that exposed them to asbestos, a widely recognized hazard associated with serious and fatal health risks including lung cancer, OSHA has found.
During the first week of February 2016, at the company’s coke production facility in Pittsburgh, five workers removed and replaced packing material containing asbestos at the direction of the company. In March 2016, OSHA found two other employees had burned and removed a rotted section of expansion pipe at the company’s direction. The pipe later tested positive for asbestos.
This is the second time since 2011, that OSHA has cited U.S. Steel Corp. for exposing employees to asbestos hazards.
Responding to an employee complaint, OSHA opened an inspection on March 16, 2016, and identified 10 violations for which U.S. Steel Corp. faces $170,000 in penalties.
Inspectors found the company failed, as it did in 2011, to establish a regulated area and inform employees of the presence of asbestos-containing material, conduct initial employee monitoring and ensure a negative exposure assessment, implement specific engineering controls and designate a qualified person to oversee the work and issued repeat citations. In addition, the employer used compressed air improperly in maintenance and repair operations, did not provide employee training or utilize appropriate containment and disposal methods.
“Once again, we have found U.S. Steel Corp., failed to protect its employees from the serious risks of asbestos exposure. Breathing airborne asbestos fibers can cause lung damage that often progresses to disability and possible death,” said Christopher Robinson, director of OSHA’s Pittsburgh Area Office. “Given the potential danger to the health of its workers, the company must take immediate steps needed to avoid its employees’ prolonged exposure to asbestos.”
Dierzen Sales Exposes Workers to Machine, Welding Hazards, Fined $153,791
For the second time in two years, federal safety inspectors found workers risking amputations and other serious injuries as they fed parts by hand into an unguarded mechanical press brake at an Illinois trailer manufacturing plant. They also found the company failed to protect welders and other employees from harmful ray emissions during welding operations.
On August 5, 2016, OSHA issued one willful, one repeated, and five serious violations to the Newark-based Dierzen Sales LTD. Inspectors found the violations in a follow-up inspection in March 2016. The company faces $153,791 in proposed fines.
“Dierzen Sales continues to maintain an environment where employees are exposed routinely to machinery hazards likely to cause amputation,” said Jake Scott, area director of OSHA’s North Aurora office. “The company needs to re-evaluate its safety and health programs to ensure workers are provided with the equipment and the training they need to prevent injury on the job.”
OSHA’s inspection found the employer failed to:
- Evaluate powered industrial vehicle operators every three years as required. The company also altered powered industrial vehicles.
- Promptly remove scrap metal from floors, causing trip and fall hazards
- Cover electrical boxes and openings
Roof Kings Fined $124,960 for Exposing Workers to Life-Threatening Falls
Dorchester, Massachusetts-based contractor Roof Kings, LLC, exposed employees to life-threatening falls—more than 45 feet off the ground—over a three-day period as they worked at a Haverhill church, federal workplace safety and health inspectors found.
In response to a complaint, the Andover Area Office of OSHA began its inspection on February 17, 2016. Inspectors found Roof Kings’ employees working without fall protection atop the steep-pitched roof at 232 Main St. Workers also lacked fall protection as they worked on a lower, sloped roof and on ladders that did not extend at least three feet above landings for required stability.
OSHA officials brought the violations—and the need to correct them—to the attention of the company’s site supervisor. On February 18 and 19, they returned to continue the inspection and found the fall hazards ignored and Roof Kings workers still at risk of deadly or disabling falls.
“Employees should never have to risk their lives for a paycheck. Roof Kings has no excuse for knowingly and repeatedly failing to provide and ensure required fall protection safeguards,” said Anthony Covello, OSHA’s area director for Essex and Middlesex counties.
OSHA found Roof King employees exposed to additional fall hazards stemming from:
- Using a materials hoist improperly as a ladder
- Inadequate fall protection training
- An unsecured fall protection anchor
- A fall protection lanyard that would allow an employee to fall more than 6 feet
- An improperly angled extension ladder
- Ascent and descent on a ladder while carrying an object that could cause a worker to lose balance
- Lack of training on how to use ladders safely
“Preventable falls account for nearly 40 percent of all deaths in the construction industry, yet this hazard can be readily eliminated with the proper planning, training and equipment,” said Covello. “Roof Kings must take ongoing corrective action to effectively prevent fall hazards before one of its employees is needlessly killed or injured.”
The agency also identified the following hazards which put Roof Kings’ employees at risk of:
- Eye and face injuries while using pneumatic nail guns without proper eye protection
- Being struck by roofing materials dropped more than 20 feet from the building
- Electric shock and burns from ungrounded power tools, an ungrounded electrical outlet and frayed and misused power cords
- Exposure to lead contaminants and inadequate training about lead hazards
As a result of its findings, OSHA has cited Roof Kings for three willful, one repeat, and nine serious violations of workplace safety standards. Proposed fines for these violations total $124,960.
Established in 2011, Roof Kings, LLC, is located at 512 Gallivan Boulevard, Dorchester. Roof Kings LLC.
OSHA offers a Stop Falls online resource with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. The page provides fact sheets, posters, and videos that illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.
Liberty Master Inc. Exposed Employees to Fatal Falls
On July 29, 2016, OSHA issued citations to Liberty Master, Inc., a construction contractor in Scranton, Pennsylvania, for one serious and two willful safety violations.
OSHA initiated an inspection on June 29, 2016 after a compliance officer observed employees exposed to several fall hazards while working up to approximately 25 feet above ground on while building a new residence.
The agency cited Liberty Master, Inc., because it allowed employees to perform residential construction work without fall protection, and allowed employees to use a stepladder improperly.
OSHA has inspected Liberty Master, Inc. five times since January 2016 and issued serious citations for fall hazards.
“Liberty Master Inc. has not provided their employees with the essential tools and safety leadership necessary to prevent serious or even fatal fall injuries,” said Jean G. Kulp, OSHA’s Allentown Area Office director. “Workers’ should never have to put their lives at stake because their employers fail to meet the most basic safety standards.”
Proposed penalties total $57,200.
US Postal Facility Exposed Workers to Asbestos Hazards
OSHA’s Indianapolis Area Office has cited the West Baden Springs’ postal facility for four repeated violations. Acting on a complaint alleging safety concerns there, inspectors began an investigation on June 3, 2016, and found violations of OSHA’s asbestos protection standards.
OSHA found USPS failed to:
- Provide awareness training for employees that worked around broken mastic and tile contained asbestos
- Promptly clean up spills and releases of presumed asbestos containing material
- Ensure the use of dry sweeping to clean up asbestos containing materials
- Label areas with materials identified as containing asbestos
“Until the early 1980s, asbestos—now, a known carcinogen—was used commonly in building materials such as floor tiles. Employers in workplaces with materials known to contain asbestos must train workers to take precautions when a spill or scratched tile creates the potential for a release of asbestos fibers,” said Vanessa Martin, OSHA’s area director in Indianapolis.
Proposed penalties total $49,720.
Henry RAC Holding Corp. Continually Exposed Workers to Hazards, Placed in Severe Violator Program
On July 29, 2016, OSHA issued citations for three repeat, four serious, and one other-than-serious safety violations.
OSHA initiated the inspection on February 23, 2016, as a follow-up to a 2012 inspection which resulted in Henry RAC Holding Corp. being placed in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
Inspectors found the company failed to maintain an effective hearing conservation program for employees exposed to high noise levels during polishing and test-firing operations to prevent permanent hearing loss and failed to provide workers with annual training on noise hazards. OSHA also found the company did not follow up on incidents where employees experienced significant hearing loss.
“Henry RAC Holding Corp.’s owner’s manual states that ear protection should be worn while shooting its rifles. Yet, the company continues to fail to provide its workers with the proper safeguards needed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss,” said Kris Hoffman, director at OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office. “Hearing loss is a serious issue. This employer’s callous attitude toward hearing protection is unconscionable and will not be tolerated.”
Proposed penalties total $45,000.
Colorado Residents Urged to Avoid Unsafe, Uninsured ‘Storm Chasers’
After hailstorms in residential areas, roofing contractors may come knocking—offering to make repairs on damaged roofs. Homeowners anxious to protect their property and their wallets should be aware that some companies put profits before their employees’ safety and well-being, and could wind up costing their customers even more.
OSHA has found these so-called “storm chasers” often lack insurance coverage to protect their employees and to pay for any damage they cause and typically fail to provide fall protection for their employees to prevent serious injuries or worse.
Falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry. In Colorado, lack of fall protection equipment in the most commonly cited violation in the state’s residential construction industry.
A roofing company may leave the homeowner liable if a worker is hurt or killed and it does not carry appropriate insurances, the Colorado Roofing Association cautions. The association also warns that—without general liability insurance in place—a contractor may be unable to pay the homeowner for damage they cause and leave the customer to foot the bill. To fight roofing contractor fraud, the CRA has joined with nonprofit, government and business organizations to create the “No Roof Scams“ public education campaign. The effort reminds consumers to use a properly licensed contractor with required permits to do the work. In some Denver area counties, contractors must have insurance to obtain an operating license.
“The Colorado Roofing Association’s message to homeowners is very clear: ‘Hold your contractors accountable. If you don’t, you may be putting your home at risk’,” David Nelson, OSHA’s Area Director in Englewood, Colorado. “Consumers must ask and get answers to many questions.”
The agency advises consumers to be aware that—in many cases—the individuals at their door offering roofing services are not employees of the company they represent. The actual work crew will likely be a subcontractor of another subcontractor. Homeowners must be diligent, avoid any pressure to make a quick decision, ask many questions and get answers in writing before agreeing to or signing anything.
Questions should include the following:
- Who will install the roofing material?
- Are these workers insured?
- How will the project be managed, and by whom?
- Who is responsible to complete warranty work if there is a problem?
- What kind of fall protection will workers use?
Fall protection is a critical safety issue in the construction, especially in the roofing industry. Since the start of fiscal 2015, six industry workers have died after on the job falls in Colorado. In the same period, OSHA has conducted 228 roofing inspections and issued 573 citations with proposed penalties totaling more than $1.7 million. Of those citations and penalties, fall protection violations accounted for 228 citations and $911,000 in penalties.
To bolster its fall prevention outreach, OSHA is working with the CRA, the Better Business Bureau and other organizations to keep roofers safe.
Consumers can help protect roofing workers from needless injuries and fatalities by:
- Researching companies thoroughly before you accept a bid to perform work
- Visit http://www.coloradoroofing.orgfor the CRA’s tips on finding quality contractors
- Check for consumer complaints filed against contractors at the BBB’s website at http://www.bbb.org
- Review a contractor’s history of safety violations at http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.html
- Choose a reputable, safety conscious company to do the work
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or for southern Colorado the agency’s Englewood Area Office at 303-843-4500, and for northern Colorado the agency’s Denver Area Office at 303-844-5285.
Eaton Forging Facility Recertified As VPP STAR
Eaton’s Vehicle Group North America, South Bend facility of South Bend, Indiana, achieved recertification in the Indiana Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as a STAR worksite for excellence in workplace safety and health.
Eaton’s South Bend facility employs approximately 100 workers who manufacture about several million forgings annually covering several hundred part numbers. The site designs the forging and related tooling, manufactures the tooling, forges, cleans, packages, and ships parts. The South Bend worksite is one of two iron and steel forging operations certified in the VPP in the United States.
“There’s a reason this facility continues to be recognized as one of the safest employers in the state of Indiana,” said Indiana Department of Labor Commissioner Rick J. Ruble. “Everyone at this facility treats workplace safety and health as a priority, and the benefits really shine through. The Indiana Department of Labor congratulates the management, employees, and staff of Eaton’s Vehicle Group South Bend facility on this significant accomplishment,” Ruble added.
Management and staff at the facility demonstrate a commitment to the VPP by maintaining several preventative and education programs at the worksite, including monthly inspections; participating in regular safety committee meetings; developing a culture of safety reports among staff; promoting easy access to safety and health expert staff; and investing in an onsite ergonomic team to investigate any concerns at the facility. The facility’s average occupational injury and illness rate for the past three years is 2.7 per 100 workers, considerably below the industry average of 7.3.
IP Moulding Recertified as STAR in State Workplace Safety and Health Program
IP Moulding of Middlebury, Indiana, received recertification as a STAR site in the Indiana Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and continues to be a leading Hoosier company in workplace safety and health.
Since the site’s construction in 1955, IP Moulding, a part of Inteplast Group’s Building Products business unit, has grown into an approximately 250,000-square-feet facility housing 82 employees who manufacture expanded polystyrene, rigid, and expanded PVC moldings used in construction and remodeling of commercial and residential structures.
“Not only does this worksite maintain VPP standards,” said Indiana Department of Labor Commissioner Rick J. Ruble. “This Middlebury company has truly earned the ‘STAR’ title, with management and staff going above and beyond those standards to create a culture of injury and illness prevention and worker protection.”
Thanks to the diligent safety and health programs at IP Moulding, no lost work days and only three recordable injuries were reported for the facility in the last three years. The site’s three-year average occupational injury and illness rate is 1.1 per 100 workers, which is 74% below the industry average in the United States.
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