Month: December 2022

Create a safety committee

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Does your workplace have a safety committee? If not, the new year is the perfect time to get one started. Here’s how CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training outlines setting up a committee.

First, determine who the members will be. Will it be volunteer-based, or will workers be elected by their co-workers? Will company leaders have a spot at the table?

Next, plan to meet once a month to “discuss hazards and the ways of preventing those hazards.” Safety regulations and training are two other topics for your meeting agenda.

Examples from CPWR of questions to ask:

  • Are workers protected against falls by guardrails or fall arrest systems?
  • Are workers wearing safety glasses to protect against flying objects?
  • Are all workers trained to respond appropriately if there’s a risk of contamination from hazardous chemicals?

The center also suggests committees meet every three months to complete a “workplace inspection to identify hazardous conditions.”

Part of this discussion should include a strategy for how you’ll get workers to cooperate and help the committee identify hazards.

During all meetings and inspections, make sure someone is taking notes. Afterward, give copies to your employer and committee members, and post the notes in a spot where all workers can see and read them.

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.

Mine Blasting Safety and Application Seminar

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by MSHA
Location

National Mine Health and Safety Academy, 1301 Airport Rd.
Beaver, WV 25813-9426
United States

February 22, 2023 07:30 am – February 23, 2023 05:15 pm

National Mine Health and Safety Academy

This tuition-free seminar is for mining company managers, blasting engineers, blasters, and others involved with the planning, design, and use of explo­sives in the mining industry.

The most recent innovations in drilling and blast­ing design technology will be addressed, along with specific blasting applications, up-to-date blasting regulations, and blasting related information from recognized experts. Presenters are drawn from manu­facturers of explosives and accessories, blasting con­sultants, design experts, and government agencies. Examples of topics include:

  • Safety in storage, transportation, and use of explosives, and how to recognize and prevent malfunctions.
  • Blasting design technology.
  • Safe blasting practices.
  • Drilling design.
  • The use of seismology in blasting applications.
  • Electronic initiation systems.
  • Flyrock.
  • Construction blasting.
  • Vibration control.

Contact Jared Adkins at 304-256-3472 or Adkins.Jared@dol.gov for more information.

NOTE: The States of West Virginia, Alabama, Ken­tucky, Ohio, Colorado, Wyoming, New York, and Pennsylvania will accept this seminar as part of the blasting recertification Continuing Education Hours requirement. The Commonwealth of Virginia will accept it for recertification of construction blasters only.

Location

The seminar will be held at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy, Beaver, West Virginia, starting at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, and ending at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Opening remarks will begin promptly at 7:35 a.m. in the auditorium so that classes can begin at 8:00 a.m. in the C Wing of the Academy.

Registration/ Accommodations

To register, fill out, and return the registration form, or fax it to 304-256-3251. You may also fill it out, scan, and email to Spencer.Kimberly@dol.gov or Cordle.Natasha@dol.gov. Room and board are available at the Academy for participants. The lodging fee is $46 per person per day and is payable by credit card (Visa/MasterCard) or check to MSHA Finance. Please note that (1) cash cannot be accepted, and (2) post-billing is possible for participants on request by letter to the Academy Student Services Branch.

Persons staying at the Academy may have their spouse and immedi­ate family as guests provided all appropriate fees are paid on arrival. Advance reservations are required. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times. If you have special needs, please contact Student Services before your arrival at 304-256-3252.

Participants may pay for meals in the cafeteria by cash, credit card, or check made payable to RC Tech, Inc.  Times for the meals are as follows:

Breakfast       (  6:15 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.)
Lunch             (11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

All persons under a program supported through an MSHA State Grant will be provided room and board at no charge. If you are applying for a room/board waiver through a State Grant, you must submit your request no later than 30 days prior to the event in order to allow time for processing. If lodging is pre­ferred outside of the Academy, there are a number of local motels.

Lodging at the Mine Academy for this conference is limited. Click on this link for a list of local motels.

All students, including those pre-registered, will be required to sign in for the seminar. You may sign in on Tuesday, February 21, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., near the Student Registration area, or Wednesday and Thursday, February 22-23, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., adjacent to the Auditorium.

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.

Bipartisan bill intended to increase truckers’ access to restrooms

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Safety+Health

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Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House would require businesses to give restroom access to truckers who are loading or delivering cargo at their warehouses, manufacturers, distribution centers, retailers and ports.

Reps. Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced the Trucker Bathroom Access Act (H.R. 9592) on Dec. 15. Although the bill doesn’t mandate businesses to construct new restrooms, it does stipulate that establishments with restrooms “intended for use by customers or employees” would have to provide truckers the same access.

Facilities not covered in the bill include rail facilities, filling and service stations, and restaurants 800-square feet or smaller whose restrooms are intended for employee use only.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and Women in Trucking support the bill.

“The men and women of America’s trucking industry keep our supply chain moving, and it’s only reasonable that their most basic of needs be accommodated while they are on the job,” OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer said in a press release. “We’ve heard from countless drivers who have been forced to ‘hold it’ because they were not allowed to access the bathroom when they were picking up or delivering freight.”

WIT President and CEO Ellen Voie added: “As more women enter the trucking industry, the need for restroom access increases while access to facilities has decreased. We applaud Reps. Nehls and Houlahan’s support.”

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT 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.

Statement by Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety, Health on 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by OSHA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker issued a statement regarding today’s release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of its 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

“Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of a one-year increase of nearly 9 percent in fatal work injuries serves as call to action for OSHA, employers and other stakeholders to redouble our collective efforts to make our nation’s workplaces safer.

“In 2021, 5,190 workers suffered fatal work injuries, equating to one worker death in the U.S. every 101 minutes, including 653 Black workers, whose fatality rate hit an all-time high. Black and Latino workers also had fatality rates disproportionately higher than their co-workers in 2021. These are deeply troubling facts.

“Each of these deaths cruelly impacts these workers’ families, friends, co-workers and communities. They are clear reminders of the important work that must be done. OSHA and its thousands of professionals across the nation are determined to enforce the law while working with employers, workers, labor unions, trade associations and other stakeholders to ensure that every worker in the U.S. ends their workday safely.”

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.

DOT Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by USDOT

The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance is issuing a Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) that is effective January 1, 2023.  The document authorizes SAPs to conduct remote assessments and evaluations for employees with drug and alcohol violations.

You can view the guidance document at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/statement_of_enforcement_discretion_SAPs

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT 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.

National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction set for May 1-5

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Safety+Health

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Washington — The 10th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is slated for May 1-5.

The voluntary event is intended to prevent fall-related deaths and injuries by raising awareness of hazards. Falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death in the industry, accounting for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

OSHA encourages all workplaces to participate by hosting an event, which can include a toolbox talk or a safety activity such as developing rescue plans, conducting safety equipment inspections or discussing job-specific hazards. Workers can take the opportunity to share fall or other job hazards with management. On its website, the agency shares highlights of past events from around the country.

OSHA invites employers to share their stand-down stories by emailing oshastanddown@dol.gov or using the hashtag #StandDown4Safety on social media.

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.

Annual DOL OIG report points to challenges for OSHA and MSHA

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

           Photo: USDOL

Washington — OSHA “continues to be hampered” by the lack of a permanent standard on infectious diseases aimed at protecting workers in high-risk industries and needs to start working on a rule, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General says in its annual report for 2022.

Without a permanent standard on infectious diseases, “OSHA will not be in a position to effectively protect the safety and health of workers operating in high-risk industries during future pandemics or endemics” the report states. DOL OIG advises the agency to use the American Rescue Plan Act funding of at least $100 million for COVID-19-related activities, including enforcement at high-risk workplaces such as health care facilities and meat/poultry processing plants.

Other recommendations:

  • Complete initiatives to improve employer reporting of severe injuries and illnesses.
  • Enhance staff training on hazard abatement verification, especially of smaller and transient construction employers.
  • Look at ways to enhance interagency collaboration to “take advantage of inspections being conducted by OSHA’s counterparts in the federal government.”

For the Mine Safety and Health Administration, DOL OIG says the agency needs to direct its attention to any backlog of suspended or reduced enforcement stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. MSHA also should “improve internal controls related to its violation process” and give extra training to inspectors.

Additionally, MSHA needs to promulgate a standard for a lower respirable crystalline silica exposure limit, and increase silica sampling and enforcement at mines.

The agency also should “continue its existing efforts to decrease powered-haulage accidents by completing required inspections, enhancing training and increasing knowledge sharing about available technology.”

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 to employers: Injury and illness reporting period nearing

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: OSHA

Washington — OSHA is reminding employers of the upcoming window to submit 2022 Form 300A data.

Between Jan. 2 and March 2, establishments with 250 or more employees and those with 20-249 employees in certain high-hazard industries must electronically submit Form 300A – a yearly summary of injury and illnesses data. The data can be submitted in three ways via the Injury Tracking Application website:

  • Manually
  • By uploading a CSV (comma-separated values) file to add multiple establishments at the same time
  • Via an application programming interface

Be advised: New login procedures, using Login.gov, went into effect in October. OSHA has a how-to video that explains the account creation process.

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.

Drone use in construction can distract workers and increase risk of falls: CPWR

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: Courtesy of 3D Robotics 

Silver Spring, MD — As the use of drone technology in the construction industry expands, so too do safety concerns related to worker distraction and potential collisions while operating at height.

That’s the conclusion of researchers from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, who in a recent study analyzed the behaviors of 153 participants “with varying construction experience” in a virtual construction site.

Findings show that working with or near drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, “reduces the attention workers devote to the task at hand, which could result in falls when they are at height.” Workers operating while drones were 12 and 25 feet away looked away from job tasks more frequently than when drones were 1.5 and 4 feet away.

Additionally, working with drones at any distance contributes to “significant” psychological or emotional distress. Workers may feel as though they’re constantly being monitored. They also might be fearful of being struck by a drone, as they already operate in high-risk environments at height.

A 2021 survey conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics in partnership with CPWR, among other organizations, found that 37% of construction contractors use drones on worksites, while an additional 6% anticipated future use. Still, the study concluded that construction workers “generally have a negative attitude” toward working with or near drones.

To help ensure safe integration of drones in construction, CPWR advises employers to:

  • Train workers. “There are currently no specific OSHA standards or guidelines regarding UAVs on construction sites, so training workers is even more critical. The training content needs to be developed to not only educate workers about UAVs, but also help familiarize them with working alongside UAVs.” CPWR says virtual reality training carries multiple benefits and may help workers view drones “less negatively.”
  • Design drones to “limit the frequency and severity of risks” they pose to workers and minimize crash impact.
  • Prepare worksites to ensure drones “work efficiently and safely around workers,” accounting for factors that include drone size and shape, flight path, and weather conditions.

CPWR also suggests using the Hierarchy of Controls to assist with hazard prevention. When possible, schedule work so employees aren’t present in areas in which drones are operating. Use drones only for operations that provide “significant benefits” over traditional work methods, and isolate workers from drones when no substitute for drone use exists.

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.

FMCSA proposes adjusting scope of regulatory relief during emergencies

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: FMCSA

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would “narrow the scope” of temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other regulatory relief for truckers during emergency declarations.

As outlined in a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Dec. 8 Federal Register, FMCSA is seeking to:

  • Modify the definition of “emergency” to clarify that emergency regulatory relief doesn’t apply to economic conditions caused by market forces, including material or supply shortages, labor strikes, or driver shortages, “unless such conditions or events cause an immediate threat to human life and result in a declaration of emergency.”
  • Remove the definition of “emergency relief” and amend the definition of “direct assistance” to adopt the vital components of the former definition of “emergency relief.”
  • Exempt drivers and motor carriers for five days – down from 30 – during regional emergency declarations issued by a governor, governor’s representative or FMCSA, and apply exemptions only from certain HOS regulations.

Presidential emergency declarations still would have 30-day exemptions and be applicable to current covered regulations, including those applying to driver qualification requirements and vehicle inspections.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT 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.