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MSHA – Mine Fatality #11

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by MSHA

MINE FATALITY – On March 9, 2023, a truck driver died when the tractor’s rear wheels ran over him.  A front-end loader struck the tractor-trailer from behind, causing the tractor to move forward.

Accident scene where a truck driver died when the tractor’s rear wheels ran over him.  A front-end loader struck the tractor-trailer from behind, causing the tractor to move forward.
Photo property of MSHA

Best Practices

  • Do not leave mobile equipment unattended unless the transmission is in the park position, and parking brakes of all units in a combination vehicle are set.
  • Chock or turn wheels of mobile equipment into a bank when parked on a grade.
  • Never position yourself in hazardous areas around mobile equipment.

Additional Information

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2023, and the second 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 QuickTakes: Indifference to Safety

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by OSHA

Department of Labor finds LaFayette insulation manufacturer ignoredsafety standards after investigation of worker’s serious head injury

Bonded Logic Inc. exposed workers to hazardous energy, lack of machine guarding

LAFAYETTE, GA – A 21-year-old line operator at a LaFayette, Georgia, insulation manufacturer suffered severe head trauma after being caught in a machine’s roller. A U.S. Department of Labor investigation determined that the employer willfully ignored federal workplace safety standards.

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to Bonded Logic Inc. for two willful, two repeat and 10 serious violations after its investigation of the Aug. 24, 2022, incident. OSHA inspectors found the employer willfully failed to develop and use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent machines from sudden starts or movements during maintenance, and did not control the release of stored energy while machines were serviced.

OSHA has proposed $423,432 in penalties.

Additionally, OSHA identified repeat violations for not installing safety guards on machines and failing to certify forklift operators. The agency also cited the company for failing to:

  • Conduct an evaluation to identify permit-required confined spaces and develop and implement a permit-required confined space program.
  • Train employees on the hazards associated with permit-required confined spaces and complete entry permits prior to entering those spaces.
  • Ensure energy control devices were applied to all energy sources during maintenance or servicing.
  • Maintain proper guarding of chains and sprockets on machinery.

“Bonded Logic put profits before safety and now a young worker must cope with the aftermath of a horrible and preventable injury,” said OSHA Area Office Director Jeffery Stawowy in Atlanta-West. “The employer’s failure to develop and ensure the use of lockout procedures for employees who work near and perform maintenance on dangerous machinery is hard to comprehend.”

OSHA inspected Bonded Logic in 2018 and 2021, issuing three serious and five other-than-serious violations for hazards associated with eye protection, machine guarding, housekeeping, powered industrial trucks and confined space.

Bonded Logic Inc. markets and manufactures several thermal and acoustical insulation products for multiple industries.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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.

NACOSH Heat Injury and Illness Workgroup Meeting

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by OSHA

OSHA to hold online meeting of the National Advisory Committeeon Occupational Safety and Health Heat Work Group on April 27

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold an online meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Heat Work Group on April 27, 2023, from 2 to 4 p.m. ET.

The tentative meeting agenda includes proposed recommendations on potential elements of the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rulemaking and the work group’s presentation at an upcoming NACOSH meeting.

The meeting is open to the public, but participation will be in listen-only mode. OSHA is not accepting comments or requests to speak at this meeting. Register to attend using the registration link on the NACOSH webpage. Once completed, a Webex link will be sent for remote access to the meeting.

NACOSH advises, consults, and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. NACOSH is a continuing advisory committee of indefinite duration.

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.

Miners and lung disease: Which states have the worst death rates?

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Chicago — Coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia may be more than eight times more likely than the general public to die from black lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

That’s according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago and NIOSH. The researchers reviewed cause-of-death data from the National Death Index on nearly 236,000 coal miners who died between 1979 and 2017 and had participated in either the NIOSH Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program or the Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program.

A NIOSH blog post states that although all coal miners have “significantly increased odds of death” from black lung – also known as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis – as well as COPD and lung cancer, another recent study of regulatory dust monitoring data shows that respirable dust containing silica “was significantly higher” in central Appalachia than the rest of the country.

The researchers note that coal miners also face potential exposure to known carcinogens including diesel exhaust, silica, asbestos and radon. Further, the researchers found that progressive massive fibrosis – the most severe form of black lung disease and which is caused by dust inhalation – is more common among younger miners.

“These findings underscore the importance of preventing chronic lower respiratory diseases like COPD caused by respirable coal mine dust and other factors in coal miners,” NIOSH says.

Issued in January, the Department of Labor’s Fall 2022 regulatory agenda includes a long-awaited Mine Safety and Health Administration proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica. The agenda lists April as a target date for publication of the proposed rule.

Responding to the study findings in a press release, United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts urges MSHA to swiftly respond once the proposed rule is introduced.

“Time is of the essence here,” Roberts said. “Every day that goes by without action is another day our nation’s coal miners are exposed to deadly silica dust.”

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 Safety Day set for April 29

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Federal Aviation Administration
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Photo: Federal Aviation Administration

FAA invites interested drone operators and stakeholders to register for Drone Safety Day events through the National Center for Autonomous Technology, as the agency aims to build a “central, virtual library” of information.

FAA asks participants to use the hashtag #DroneSafetyDay when posting about the event on social media. Those on Facebook and Twitter can tag the agency using @FAADroneZone.

Drones are the fastest growing segment of aviation in the United States. As of January, there are over 871,000 drones registered with the FAA, and over 307,000 certified Remote Pilots. These numbers are projected to continue to grow and we want everyone who operates drones to have fun and be safe!

Drone Safety Day (DSD) is an annual campaign dedicated to educating the drone community of the importance of flying safely. DSD will highlight the societal, economic, and safety benefits of safe drone operations with in-person, virtual, and hybrid events in focus areas such as Education, Economics, Equity, Environment, and Emergencies.

Download the 2023 Drone Safety Day Playbook  and 2023 Drone Safety Day Flyer  to learn more on how you can participate. These materials will give you an outline of what Drone Safety Day is all about and ideas for how to put together your DSD event. You can also visit our Drone@Home page to find fun ideas to participate at home.

When you’re ready, register your event. And don’t forget to “Fly Right”:

  • Register your drone – DroneZone
  • Interact with others
  • Gain knowledge
  • Have a safety plan
  • TRUST and Train

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.

BSEE issues alert on hydraulic torque wrench operations

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

hydraulic-torque-rench.jpg
Photo: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Washington — In response to the death of a drillship worker who lacked formal training on using a hydraulic torque wrench, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert.

BSEE says the August 2020 incident occurred in part because the worker didn’t recognize the risk potential of the hydraulic torque wrench, which was stuck, when extracting bolts from a telescopic riser joint flange. While assisting with unlatching the lower marine riser package from the blowout preventer to prepare for a ship relocation, the worker was struck by the wrench and lifted into the air.

The worker hit a riser clamp about 6 feet above the elevated work deck and fell to the rig floor. He received first aid but later died after being transported to the drillship hospital.

An agency investigation determined that failure to initiate stop-work authority, along with discrepancies with drill floor observer roles and responsibilities, contributed to the worker’s death.

BSEE recommendations to operators and contractors:

  • Ensure a job safety analysis captures the limitations of the hydraulic torque wrench when in use.
  • Verify all employees understand the JSA and have been formally trained on operating both hydraulic torque wrenches and hydraulic utility wrenches.
  • Emphasize the enactment of stop-work authority if imminent danger is observed.
  • Expand drill floor observer responsibilities to monitor all aspects of jobs occurring on the rig floor.
  • Consider using a hydraulic torque wrench with a compatible design that corresponds with the beveled edge of the telescopic riser joint.
  • Explore options for employing a load indicator, or a similar design mechanism, onto the hydraulic utility wrench package.
  • Ensure pre-job reviews and promote the sharing of feedback from previous experiences.

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.

In new video, workers with hearing loss promote protection

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Safety+Health
NHCA-video.jpg
Photo: National Hearing Conservation Association

Aurora, CO — A new video from the National Hearing Conservation Association aims to raise awareness of on-the-job hearing loss and tinnitus.

During the four-minute video, workers in various industries share testimonials, and NHCA reminds viewers that hearing loss is permanent. The video also encourages workers to:

  • Notice when it’s loud.
  • Move away from the noise.
  • Protect your hearing.

“Don’t take it for granted, because if you lose your hearing, you’re not going to be able to replace it,” Gary, a former tree trimmer, says in the video. “You can maybe help it, but you will never have good ears again.”

Adele, a one-time radio disc jockey who also worked security at music concerts, acknowledges that her hearing loss put her in “denial,” prompting her to turn up the volume on her car radio and TV and think little of it.

“We don’t think about our own health, but it is critical. It really is,” she says. “Look at your hearing protection as just as much a vital part of your PPE as a hard hat or your steel-toed boots. Because if you lose that sense, it is going to impact all areas of your life, from hearing announcements on a plane to hearing somebody whispering sweet nothings in your ear at night, you know. It really can have a profound impact.”

NIOSH notes that all industries carry the risk of hearing loss and estimates that 22 million U.S. workers face exposure to hazardous noise levels at work each year.

“Hearing is a critical, often undervalued part of quality of life,” NHCA says. “Once it is lost or degraded, communication and relationships can be impacted. There can also be a loss of enjoyment of simple activities such as listening to music, enjoying dinner with friends, watching movies and experiencing nature. A loss of hearing can also affect career progression and safety at home and on the job.”

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.

USDOT Announces State and Local Funding to Improve Hazardous Materials and Pipeline Safety Nationwide

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by USDOT

Funding available to train firefighters and other first responders as well as support States and localities for hazardous material safety

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced more than $25 million available in grant funding through its pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. These grants are for projects that will train first responders, strengthen safety programs, improve safety, reduce environmental impacts, and educate the public on local safety initiatives. This includes projects that provide support to state inspectors for hazardous materials shipments and pipelines inspections, important safety training and educational programs for emergency response, and advance¬ innovative safety technologies.

“We need to make sure our first responders are ready to respond to emergencies involving pipelines and hazardous materials,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These grants will train firefighters and other first responders and help ensure that communities have the resources they need to keep their residents safe.”

This funding announcement comes after the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine upended the lives of the community. Responders nationwide previously received training because of the Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant program, including 2,500+ responders in 137 different locations in Ohio. Several of those trained emergency responders were on the ground during the recent derailment. In addition to this existing funding, Secretary Buttigieg called on Congress to increase funding to expand hazardous materials training for first responders. Additional funding for first responders is part of the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023.

The funding will go towards the following grants:

Pipeline Safety

•    Pipeline Emergency Response Grants
•    Competitive Academic Agreement Program Grants
•    Technical Assistance Grants
•    State Damage Prevention Grants
•    One-Call Grants

Hazardous Materials Safety

•    Hazardous Materials Instructor Training Grants
•    Hazardous Materials State Inspection Grants
•    Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training Grants
•    Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Tribal Grants
•    Supplemental Public Sector Training Grants
•    Community Safety Grants

“Whether it’s dealing with a pipeline rupture or a train derailment—training is essential to the safety of our first responders and the communities they serve,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown. “These grant opportunities will help ensure first responders have what they need to address the unique challenges that exist in communities across the country.”

The Notices of Funding Opportunities provide more details on eligibility and how each grant improves and strengthens pipeline and hazardous materials safety. PHMSA will work to maximize grant awards based on the applications received. Each official notice of funding opportunity is available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html under Department of Transportation-PHMSA on the agency drop-down menu. Applicants can also contact the appropriate agency representative identified in the respective notice of funding opportunity with further questions.

Since 2021, PHMSA has awarded more than $206 million in grants to eligible recipients for projects, research, and development activities that work to enhance the safety of America’s energy pipeline network and hazardous materials transportation. For Fiscal Year 2024, PHMSA requested a $21.5 million increase for its State Pipeline Safety Grants to reimburse states for up to 80% of their inspection costs, an $18.5 million increase in funding for its emergency preparedness grants that train emergency responders and volunteers, and a $3 million increase in Community Safety Grant funding to better prepare underserved communities for the transportation of hazmat and crude oil through communities. Details about prior grant awards and related projects can be found on PHMSA’s grant webpage.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives.  Please visit https://www.phmsa.dot.gov for more information.

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.

Preventing Falls from Height – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by MSHA

PDF Version:

In the last ten years, 22 miners and contractors have been fatally injured and
over 1,000 have been disabled or lost time from work in fall-from-height accidents.

Fall from height accidents result in over 100 fatal and serious injuries every year. Prevent these injuries by providing walkways and platforms with handrails that provide safe access, and by using adequate fall protection.

Fall from height accidents result in over 100 fatal and serious injuries every year. Prevent these injuries by providing walkways and platforms with handrails that provide safe access, and by using adequate fall protection.

Los accidentes por caídas desde altura provocan cada año más de 100 lesiones graves y mortales. Prevenga estas lesiones dotando a las pasarelas y plataformas de barandillas que permitan un acceso seguro, y utilizando una protección contra caídas adecuada.

Best Practices
  • Reduce hazards. Design work areas and develop job tasks to minimize fall hazards.
  • Have a program. Establish an effective fall prevention and protection program. Provide task and site-specific hazard training that prohibits working at unprotected locations.
  • Provide fall protection to each miner who may work at an elevated height, or a location unprotected by handrails. Ensure their use.
  • Provide secure anchor points.
  • Provide mobile or stationary platforms or scaffolding at locations and on work projects where there is a risk of falling.
  • Provide safe truck tarping and bulk truck hatch access facilities.

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.

NIOSH releases software for coal mine rescue assessment

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Safety+Health
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Photo: NIOSH

Washington — A new software training module from NIOSH is intended to assist mine operators, miners and industry stakeholders with emergency decision-making during coal mine rescues.

The module presents seven scenarios based on previous events at underground coal mines. Each includes general information about the mine, as well as maps and background information.

Instructors who guide participants through scenarios can stop during key points to present four potential actions that escaping miners might choose. Participants are asked to assess and rate each option and then compare their responses with feedback from emergency response experts and the factual details of each event.

“Sometimes it is clear what miners should or should not do for safe and effective self-escape,” NIOSH says. “However, there are times when even subject matter experts disagree about specific actions. The emergency decision-making training provides participants a place to practice making decisions when dealing with difficult circumstances.”

Under Title 30 CFR Part 49.50, mine rescue teams must meet these criteria:

  • Be available at all times when miners are underground, staying within one-hour ground travel time from the mine rescue station to the mine
  • Consist of five members and one alternate, except when alternative compliance is permitted
  • Have experience working in underground coal mines
  • Inspect, test and maintain appropriate rescue equipment after receiving it
  • Maintain physical fitness
  • Complete initial training

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.