Author: Sarah

Safety Leadership – New Series

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The McCraren Compliance Team have worked together to determine what single area of focus will have the greatest impact towards meeting our purpose of creating workplaces (communities) where we all watch out for each other. Through these efforts we identified #SAFETYLEADERSHIP as the underlying set of behaviors needed to positively influence safety culture and therefore safety outcomes.

For the last couple of years we have internally been viewing all of our services through a Safety Leadership lens. We deliberately made this shift as when we sat down and discussed what do we ultimately want each client and each person to walk away with after receiving training or consulting services from McCraren Compliance and it was to use the knowledge to influence the people and the environments where they are each and every day to also focus on #SAFETYLEADERSHIP. In short, we want to create safety influencers, who will contribute to solid safety cultures which inspire safety leaders across all levels of any size organization.

The next step in transitioning our operating activities to align with these objectives is to more overtly share tools, tips and concepts with our greater network and community partners. Each month we will dedicate a blog post and Safety News article to sharing this information with you. This post will serve as both an introduction and the inaugural installation of our #SAFETYLEADERSHIP series.

What to expect in future installments:

  • Industry Sucesses (what’s working for other organizations)
  • Understanding and Influencing Behavior
  • Productive Methods for Assessing and Analyzing Failures
  • Simple (which doesn’t always mean easy) Solutions AKA Safety Hacks
  • New and Exciting Safety Trends
  • Shared Learnings (our own and from other industry partners)
  • Worker Wellbeing
  • Leveraging Safety to Improve Employee Engagement

What else have we put in place to create #SAFETYLEADERSHIP:

  • Our Safety Teams offering which provides all the benefits of a dedicated team of safety experts without the costs and complexity of hiring.
  • Partnering with International Board of Environmental Health and Safety to offer Industry Specific Safety Certifications
  • Expanding our Services to include Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Expertise
  • Aligning our audit/inspection tools and processes to #SAFETYLEADERSHIP inspired practices
  • Assessing how well we are internally living our company values
  • Implementing a formal professional development program to ensure we practice what we preach

We are one community with a common goal of the health and safety of our people. We look forward to your thoughts, input and feedback.

IBOEHS Approved Training Center

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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

Drugs and Sexual Assault: What You Should Know

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Although there are many substances that can cause you to pass out or lose control, certain drugs – like GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine, and Ecstasy – are referred to as “sexual assault” drugs because sexual predators often use them to get control over their victims. Learn more about these drugs.

OSHA issued a temporary enforcement policy for crane operator certifications from Crane Institute Certification.

Posted on by Sarah

WASHINGTON, DC – To avoid industry confusion and potential disruptions of construction crane projects, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an enforcement policy for crane operator certifications issued by Crane Institute Certification (CIC). OSHA requires crane operators engaged in construction activity to be certified by an entity accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. CIC no longer holds such accreditation.

The policy explains that, although CIC-issued certifications are not compliant with OSHA’s operator certification requirement, OSHA does not intend to cite employers for operating equipment that violates that requirement if their operators, in good faith, obtained CIC-issued certifications prior to December 2, 2019, with the belief the certifications met the standard’s requirements. Until further notice, OSHA will not accept CIC certifications – including re-certifications – issued on or after December 2, 2019.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

MSHA Fatality #21

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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – While spotting for a dump truck, a contractor stepped directly into the path of a bulldozer and died at the scene on November 16, 2019.

Fatality on November 16, 2019 scene of the fatality accident
Best Practices: 
  1. Safety first. Before starting work, establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and properly protect workers.
  2. Know where people are. Be aware of body positioning around equipment, traffic patterns, dump sites, and haul roads.
  3. Train miners and contractors on traffic controls, mobile equipment patterns, and other site-specific hazards.
  4. Stay alert. Do not place yourself in harm’s way.
  5. Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  6. Ensure travelways are clear before moving a vehicle or mobile equipment.
  7. Look behind you. Install “rear viewing” cameras or other collision warning systems on mobile equipment. When backing up, look over your shoulder to eliminate blind spots. When using mirrors, use all available mirrors.
  8. Wear reflective material while working around mobile equipment. Use flags, visible to equipment operators, to make miners and smaller vehicles more visible.
Additional Information:

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2019, and the fifth fatality classified as “Machinery.”

Of all professions, construction workers most likely to use opioids and cocaine

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Construction workers are more likely use cocaine and misuse prescription opioids, according to a study  by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at NYU College of Global Public Health. These workers are also the second most likely to use marijuana.

Researchers looked at data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2005 and 2014.

“It makes sense that we see higher rates of construction workers using pain-relieving substances such as opioids and marijuana, given the labor-intensive nature of their work and high rates of injuries,” said Danielle Ompad, the study’s lead author. Read more.

MSHA Fatality #20

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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY – A mobile maintenance mechanic was driving on the pit haulage road when the service truck he was operating left the road, hit a berm, and flipped onto its side, ejecting the miner. The miner died at the scene on November 5, 2019.

Accident scene of ejected miner
Best Practices:
  1. Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  2. Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  3. Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any safety defects before operating mobile equipment.
Additional Information:

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2019, and the seventh fatality classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Transportation matters: Take 5 minutes and tell us what’s important to you!

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Investing in transportation to meet your needs

Give us your input toward the development of a future RTA plan

TAKE THE SURVEY

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is conducting a survey to seek public input on guiding principles drafted by the RTA’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC will consider the guiding principles as they identify projects to develop a future 20-year regional transportation plan.

The committee will be charged with weighing the value of regional benefits of proposed projects vs. the estimated construction costs to meet the budget. After the committee prepares a draft plan, they will continue to seek broad public input during the plan review process – prior to making a final recommendation to the RTA Board.

The current RTA plan and special taxing district’s half-cent sales (excise) tax – both voter-approved in 2006 – will expire in June 2026.

Please complete the survey by Friday, December 13, 2019. Thank you!