Month: May 2021

FMCSA extends ‘regulatory relief’ for transporters of pandemic-related goods

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration once again is extending temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other “regulatory relief” for commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting items intended to assist with COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts.

Announced May 26, the extension of Emergency Declaration 2020-002, initially issued March 13, 2020, and expanded and modified multiple times, is scheduled to remain in effect through Aug. 31.

Regulatory relief is extended to drivers who are transporting:

  • COVID-19 vaccines; constituent products; and medical supplies and equipment, including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines
  • Medical supplies and equipment for the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
  • Supplies and equipment to help curb the spread of COVID-19, including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
  • Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of stores or distribution centers
  • Livestock and livestock feed

Drivers making routine commercial deliveries, “including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration,” are not covered under the exemption.

“To be eligible for the exemption, the transportation must be both (i) of qualifying commodities and (ii) incident to the immediate restoration of those essential supplies,” FMCSA says in a notice.

The regulatory relief doesn’t extend to safety regulations concerning speed limits, fatigue, texting/phone use while driving, crash documentation and out-of-service rules, among others.

FMCSA says it plans to review the emergency declaration on or around July 1, and may modify or terminate it “if conditions warrant.”

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, DOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

MSHA – Mine Fatality #12

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA.

MINE FATALITY – On May 18, 2021, a telehandler was towing a trailer with a diesel pump onboard up an inclined underground roadway when the tow hitch suddenly broke. The trailer rolled down the roadway, striking and fatally injuring a contract laborer.

Accident scene where the trailer rolled down the roadway, striking and fatally injuring a contract laborer.
Best Practices:
  • Use towing hardware (hitches, tow bars, receivers, couplers, pins, pintles, safety chains/cables, etc.) which is properly designed and rated. Before each use, examine towing hardware for wear, cracks and other damage.
  • Never exceed the recommended maximum towing capacity of a tow vehicle or trailer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and only use equipment designed for towing.
  • Always use properly sized safety chains in conjunction with hitches. Safety chains keep the trailer connected to the tow vehicle in case the other tow hardware fails.
  • Never position yourself directly behind equipment being towed uphill.
  • Establish procedures for safe and proper towing. Train miners to follow these procedures and identify hazards associated with towing.
Additional Information:

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Machinery.”

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

National Forklift Safety Day 2021

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication.

Washington — A panel of safety experts and industry and government representatives will talk about training, proper forklift operation and maintenance June 8 as part of a free, virtual National Forklift Safety Day program organized by the Industrial Truck Association and DC Velocity.

In 2019, incidents involving forklifts accounted for 79 fatal on-the-job injuries and 8,140 nonfatal injuries requiring days away from work, according to Injury Facts – a National Safety Council database.

In fiscal year 2020, OSHA’s standard on powered industrial trucks (1910.178) was the seventh most cited standard, with two of the top three sections cited within the standard pertaining to operator training.

“We understand there is a critical need for effective forklift operator training,” ITA President Brian Feehan said in a press release, “and ITA’s National Forklift Safety Day is meant to keep that discussion at the forefront year after year.”

Feehan is among a scheduled group of speakers that includes Joseph “Chip” Hughes, OSHA’s deputy assistant secretary for pandemic and emergency response, and Mike Field, chair of the NFSD task force.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

MSHA – Mine Fatality #11

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA.

MINE FATALITY – On May 14, 2021, a continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured when a piece of rock fell from the roof and struck him. The victim was working under unsupported roof in the Number 1 entry.

Accident map showing where an operator was fatally injured when a piece of rock fell from the roof and struck him.
Photo property of MSHA.gov
Best Practices:
  • Never work or travel under unsupported roof.  
  • Thoroughly examine the roof, face and ribs where people will be working and traveling, including sound and vibration testing.
  • Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location. Prevent access to unsupported and hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
  • Follow the approved roof control plan and provide additional support when cracks or other abnormalities are detected. Never exceed the maximum cut depth specified in the approved roof control plan.
  • Mark the second to last row of bolts with reflective material and train miners not to travel inby this location.
  • Train miners to identify hazards from the roof, face and ribs.
Additional Information:

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

MSHA – Mine Fatality #10

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA.

MINE FATALITY – On Jan. 22, 2021, a shuttle car operator with 11 years of mining experience was in the operator’s compartment of his shuttle car, traveling through the last open crosscut, when a second shuttle car traveled through a ventilation curtain and struck his shuttle car. The corner of the second shuttle car entered the operator’s deck of the victim’s shuttle car. The operator was injured and passed away from the injuries on Feb. 21, 2021.

Accident scene where the miner was in the operator’s compartment of his shuttle car, traveling through the last open crosscut, when a second shuttle car traveled through a ventilation curtain and struck his shuttle car.
Photo property of MSHA.gov
Best Practices:
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems on mobile section equipment.
  • Communicate your presence and intended movements.  Wait until miners acknowledge your message before moving your equipment.
  • Do not tram equipment through ventilation curtains.  Tram only through fly pads in designated haulage routes.
  • Use clear curtains for fly pads and ventilation controls on working sections.
  • STOP and SOUND an audible warning device before tramming equipment through fly pads.  Ensure directional lights are on when operating mobile equipment.
  • Avoid areas where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Wear personal strobe light devices to increase visibility.
Additional Information:

This is the tenth fatality reported in 2021, and the sixth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

OSHA releases new guidance, resources on beryllium

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication.

Washington — OSHA has published new guidance and resources intended to help employers and workers navigate the agency’s beryllium standards.

One guidance document addresses interim enforcement. In July, OSHA issued a final rule that revised the beryllium standard for general industry (1910.1024). A month later, the agency published another final rule that revised the beryllium standards for construction (1926.1124) and shipyards (1915.1024).<\p>

Additionally, the agency published a small entity compliance guide for beryllium in general industry, as well as guidance on medical surveillance for workers exposed to the strong, lightweight metal that is used in many industries, including electronics and the defense industry.

The new resources include QuickCards on medical surveillance and the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test, or BeLPT, which helps determine if the immune system reacts to beryllium as a foreign substance.

OSHA previously published a series of answers to frequently asked questions about beryllium and associated standards. Overexposure to beryllium can cause serious health risks, including incurable chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Brake Safety Week Set for Aug. 22-28

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by CVSA.

Greenbelt, Maryland (May 19, 2021) – This year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 22-28. During Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors emphasize the importance of brake systems by conducting inspections and removing commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations from our roadways. At the same time, many motor carriers work to educate their drivers and maintenance service providers on the importance of brake system safety.

Throughout the week, inspectors will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on the vehicle’s brake systems and components. In addition, inspectors will compile data on brake hoses/tubing, the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week, to submit to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). CVSA will report its findings later this year.

Jurisdictions devote a week to conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections, identifying brake violations and removing vehicles with out-of-service brake violations because:

  • Brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for more vehicle violations than any other vehicle violation category, accounting for 38.6% of all vehicle out-of-service conditions, during last year’s three-day International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative.
  • “Brake system” was the third most cited vehicle-related factor in fatal commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) latest “Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts” report.
  • Brake-related violations accounted for eight out of the top 20 vehicle violations in 2020, according to FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Management Information System.
  • During last year’s Brake Safety Week, 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations.

The dates for Brake Safety Week are shared in advance to remind motor carriers, drivers and commercial motor vehicle mechanics/technicians to proactively check and service their vehicles to ensure every commercial motor vehicle traveling on our roadways is safe, mechanically fit and compliant. Recent research has shown that announcing enforcement campaigns ahead of time improves overall compliance better than surprise enforcement campaigns and for longer periods after the event.

August, the month of CVSA’s Brake Safety Week, is also Brake Safety Awareness Month. Law enforcement agencies will work to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake maintenance, operation and performance through outreach, education and awareness campaigns.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, DOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

OSHA reviewing new CDC guidance on COVID-19

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication.

Washington — OSHA is reviewing new COVID-19-related guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for fully vaccinated people and anticipates an update of its own guidance materials in the near future, the agency says on its COVID-19 website.

Until the review is complete, OSHA is referring employers to the CDC guidance “for information on measures appropriate to protect fully vaccinated workers.”

CDC added to its guidance May 16, allowing for fully vaccinated people to forgo a mask or physical distancing unless required by laws, rules or regulations – including restrictions set by workplaces or businesses. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final required shot.

The new recommendations do not apply to health care settings, CDC notes.

In a May 18 statement, the National Employment Law Project criticizes the new guidance for “failing to address” workplace exposure.

“The new guidance neglects to specify the mitigation measures needed to protect workers in workplaces where large numbers of both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals work in enclosed spaces – including meatpacking, grocery stores, warehouses and food processing – where large numbers of workers have been infected and outbreaks continue to occur,” NELP says.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Rate of nonfatal struck-by injuries in construction falls between 2011 and 2019: CPWR report

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication.
work-zone.jpg

Photo: Missouri Department of Transportation Flickr

Silver Spring, MD — The rate of nonfatal construction worker injuries resulting from struck-by incidents decreased 20% over a recent nine-year period, according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Using 2011-2019 data from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, researchers calculated a rate of 23.4 nonfatal struck-by injuries per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2019 – down from 29.3 in 2011. Additionally, in 2019, the private construction industry reported 20,600 nonfatal struck-by injuries, which accounted for 25.8% of total nonfatal injuries reported in construction.

The report was published in the April issue of CPWR’s Data Bulletin.

In other CPWR developments, the organization recently released a series of infographics related to several leading causes of construction injuries and fatalities, as well as resources related to falls, head protection and struck-by hazards.

To prevent struck-by injuries and fatalities, CPWR advises workers to:

  • Never work under a load.
  • Stay outside the swing radius of cranes and backhoes.
  • Tether tools to a work belt when working from height.
  • Wear high-visibility clothing and proper safety gear.
  • Create zones that separate workers and pedestrians from moving vehicles and heavy mobile equipment.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

IBOEHS Approved Training Center

Posted on by Sarah

IBOEHS - McCraren Compliance

McCraren Compliance is excited to announce it is now an International Board of Environmental Health and Safety (IBOEHS) Approved Training Center. Outside accreditation is an important means for both assessing and ensuring the quality and effectiveness of our training programs and instructors. By affiliating with IBOEHS, McCraren Compliance is able to expand our offerings and expertise in order to better serve our clients and keep all of our workplaces safety and health.

McCraren will now be offering, among others, Register Safety Officer, Registered Safety Manager and Registered Safety Professional certifications, including a program with an emphasis in construction.

IBOEHS certifications are an asset to both safety professionals and the organizations they support. This certification process includes comprehensive training on all topics relative to the subject matter and the level experience and expertise appropriate to each designation. Each certification level builds upon the prior, creating a professional development path supporting advancement within the safety profession. And as health hazards are becoming increasing important for safety professionals, all certifications are inclusive of these topics as well.

McCraren Compliance will soon be offering a Registered Mine Safety Professional Certification (save the date for later this summer). As with all IBOEHS courses, this certification will prioritize practice over theory covering comprehensive concepts concentrated on mining such as, mining life cycle, types of mining, mining equipment, hazard recognition and control, safety and health regulations, mining industrial health, industrial psychology safety culture, leadership, inspections, investigations, mining health and safety statistics, and more. This is the ultimate certification for EHS professionals within the mining industry. As an international organization operating under an international accrediting body, the Registered Mine Safety Professional designation is recognized across the globe.

The International Board of Environmental Health and Safety, Inc follows the guidelines set forth by the International Certification Accreditation Board and has been accredited since 2007. Through the IBOEHS,

For more information about IBOEHS certification programs contact Sarah@mccrarencompliance.com