Tag: #workplaceexposures

Stay warm when working in the cold

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
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Photo: SeventyFour/iStockphoto

Working outdoors already involves many hazards. Add cold temperatures during the winter months, and the number of risks grows.

Cold stress injuries and illnesses can occur when a person’s skin temperature (and, eventually, their internal body temperature) falls and their body can no longer maintain a normal temperature. This can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, disorientation, lack of consciousness, and even coma or death for workers who spend time outdoors.

OSHA says to follow these best practices to stay safe in cold weather:

  • Know the symptoms of cold stress: reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness and blisters.
  • Wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing as well as insulated gloves and boots, and cover your head.
  • Be aware of your physical condition as you work, and that of your co-workers.
  • Stay dry.
  • Pack extra clothes, as moisture can increase heat loss from the body.
  • Take breaks in warm, dry areas.
  • Drink warm liquids.

OSHA’s Winter Weather webpage – osha.gov/winter-weather – has more safety tips.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Journal spotlights NIOSH’s work on occupational hearing loss prevention

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
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Photo: YasnaTen/iStockphoto

Washington — A special issue of the journal Seminars in Hearing “shines a light” on NIOSH’s efforts to prevent on-the-job hearing loss.

“This special issue recognizes the dedication of NIOSH researchers to prevent a debilitating work-related illness that impacts millions of workers,” NIOSH Director John Howard said in a press release. “It is our hope it will inspire others to join efforts to protect workers’ hearing.”

The agency estimates that 22 million workers face exposure to hazardous noise each year, and around 10 million are exposed to solvents that contribute to hearing loss.

Inside the issue:

Each of the seven articles is free to download.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Train workers to avoid take-home lead

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
New NIOSH publication outlines steps to minimize risks

Common jobs with lead exposure include painting, battery manufacturing, building renovation, and shooting range work. For workers in these industries and others, it’s possible to accidentally carry lead home from work via skin, hair, clothing, shoes, and personal items. Take-home lead can contaminate a worker’s car and home, posing an exposure risk to others. A new NIOSH publication notes the hazards of lead and outlines steps to minimize the risk of bringing it home.

Workers can minimize take-home lead by:

  • Limiting the number of personal items brought to work;
  • Using disposable containers for food/drink;
  • Changing into work clothes that remain at work;
  • Storing clean clothes and other personal items in a dedicated area;
  • Practicing proper handwashing;
  • Eating and drinking in approved areas away from dust;
  • Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE);
  • Using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums or wet methods to clean areas that have lead;
  • Following manufacturer’s instructions for PPE removal;
  • Storing work clothes in a closed plastic bag away from other clothes;
  • Washing and drying work clothes away from other items;
  • Removing work shoes before entering their home;
  • Showering soon after arriving home;
  • Cleaning their home and car often; and
  • Using appropriate cleaning supplies to clean up lead.

Workers should also have their blood checked for the presence of lead by a medical provider.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

New OSHA resource: Heat exposure and personal risk factors

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
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Photo: HadelProductions/iStockphoto

Washington — Certain personal risk factors increase workers’ risk for heat-related injury and illness, OSHA cautions.

“Although you may be exposed to similar levels of heat and engaged in the same type of work as your co-workers, personal risk factors” such as health conditions, medications, and physical and behavioral characteristics “may cause you to be at greater risk,” the agency says in a recently published document.

Conditions or medications that can cause a worker to be less likely to sense heat conditions or retain water include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Obesity
  • Mental health conditions
  • Respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Sedatives

Additionally, some physical or behavioral characteristics may cause a worker to dehydrate more quickly. These include:

  • Age (60 and older)
  • Lower level of physical fitness
  • Pregnancy
  • Acclimatization status
  • Lower intake of water
  • Alcohol use within 24 hours of shift
  • Use of illicit drugs, such as opioids, methamphetamine and cocaine

“Ultimately,” OSHA says, “it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the workplace is safe and healthful for workers; however, a heat injury and illness prevention plan needs the meaningful participation of workers and their representatives to be effective.”

The agency has tips to help keep workers safe in the heat:

  • Discuss with your medical provider how to best prepare to work in hot conditions.
  • Drink 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes, even if you aren’t thirsty.
  • Notify your supervisor if you feel ill and move to a cool space.
  • Take rest breaks in air-conditioned spaces or cool or shaded areas.
  • Check on co-workers regularly; report signs of heat illness to a supervisor, and provide water or ice while remaining with them until help arrives.
  • Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing comprised of breathable fabric, like cotton.
  • Know your employer’s emergency response plan; when in doubt, call 911.
  • Gradually acclimatize to the heat when returning to work after time away.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Work safely around wood dust

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
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Photo: Dmytro Petryna/iStockphoto

When wood is cut or sanded, it releases dust that workers can inhale.

This dust can contain “harmful substances, including chemicals used to treat or finish the wood, as well as fine particles of wood,” the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation says.

Carpentry, furniture making, lumber milling and cabinet making are some of the dust-producing jobs in which workers are at risk of:
Respiratory issues, such as allergic reactions, chronic bronchitis and even cancer.
Skin problems, including dermatitis – “a condition in which the skin can become red, itchy or dry, and blisters may develop.”
Eye injuries, which can result from workers unintentionally rubbing wood dust into their eyes. This “can irritate the eyes, causing dryness, tearing or conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye.”
Fires and explosions from wood dust accumulating on the woodworking machinery. “It acts as an insulator, trapping in the heat. If enough heat is formed, the wood dust will ignite. If dust is concentrated and floating in the air, the fire can cause an explosion.”
Slips and trips, from slippery floors covered in wood dust.

Reduce worker exposure to wood dust with these tips from TDI:

  • Evaluate and monitor your workplace dust control measures to ensure they’re effective.
  • Regularly clean and maintain ventilation systems.
  • Vacuum wood dust to prevent buildup in the work area.
  • Wear dust masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment, including a respirator, safety glasses and a faceshield.
  • Lubricate bearings to prevent overheating, which can cause dust fires or explosions.
  • Educate employees about the hazards associated with wood dust and how to safely handle it.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

OSHA extends regional emphasis programs in Southeast

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
OSHA extends regional emphasis programs in Southeast
Photo: OSHA

Atlanta — OSHA Region 4 on Oct. 1 renewed a series of Regional Emphasis Programs.

According to notices published on federal OSHA’s website, the emphasis programs cover:

The sanitation and cleanup operations REP covers North American Industry Classification System codes 311 (Food Manufacturing) and 3121 (Beverage Manufacturing). The landscaping and horticultural services REP covers NAICS codes 561730 (Landscaping and Horticultural Services), 541320 (Landscape Architectural Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services).

OSHA Region 4 – which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee – also issued updated guidance for expedited informal settlement agreements. Among the significant changes is the addition of the Mobile, AL, area office to the scope of the agreement.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

‘Nearly always preventable’: Help workers avoid hearing loss

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Help workers avoid hearing loss

Photo: Gabrijelagal/iStockphoto

From the blare of a forklift-collision warning to the wail of an ambulance siren, noise can make us aware of hazards our eyes haven’t yet seen. But not all noise is helpful.

“At certain levels it can become hazardous,” NIOSH cautions. Repeated workplace exposure to noise that’s 85 dBA or louder can permanently damage workers’ hearing – and even contribute to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

The good news? “Noise-induced hearing loss is nearly always preventable,” NIOSH says. “Reducing workplace noise below 85 dBA is the best way to prevent occupational hearing loss and other effects from hazardous noise.”

Employers can help by:
Buying quiet. “Buy Quiet is a prevention initiative that encourages companies to purchase or rent quieter machinery and tools to reduce worker noise exposure,” NIOSH says.
Monitoring workers’ hearing. NIOSH recommends annual audiometric testing (a hearing test that measures the lowest level of sound someone can hear) for workers who are regularly exposed to noisy environments. “Testing should be performed by a professional certified by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation or equivalent certification,” the agency adds.
Creating a noise map. Use a sound level meter to measure areas in the workplace that are loud, and then map out those locations for workers. No access to an SLM? You can use a sound measurement app. NIOSH has one – go to cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/app.html to find it.
Communicating with workers about noise exposure. Use plain language to explain the risks to your workers. NIOSH recommends sharing your noise maps and posting signs in noisy areas.

October is recognized as National Protect Your Hearing Month.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

OSHA announces enforcement, compliance initiative to protect workers from silica exposure in engineered stone fabrication, installation

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

OSHA supplements current efforts to address serious workplace danger

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration today launched a new initiative focused on enhancing enforcement and providing compliance assistance to protect workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries.

“Many workers in the engineering stone industry are experiencing illnesses so severe that they’re unable to breathe – much less work a full shift – because of their exposure to silica dust,” explained Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “Among them is a 27-year-old worker in California who went to an emergency room with shortness of breath in 2022 and whose lung biopsy later revealed he had silicosis. Since then, he has been on an oxygen tank and unable to support his wife and three young children financially.”

Supplementing OSHA’s current National Emphasis Program for Respirable Crystalline Silica, this initiative will focus enforcement efforts on industry employers to make sure they’re following required safety standards and providing workers with the protections required to keep them healthy. It establishes procedures for prioritizing federal OSHA inspections to identify and ensure prompt abatement of hazards in covered industries where workers face exposure to high levels of silica dust.

OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identify silica dust exposure as a health hazard for workers involved in manufacturing, finishing and installing natural and manufactured stone, which includes the man-made, engineered artificial or cultured types.

When inhaled, very small crystalline silica particles expose workers to the risk of silicosis, an incurable, progressively disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease. Unsafe silica dust exposure can also lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or kidney disease.

Industries subject to the prioritized programmed inspections include those engaged in Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing as well as Brick, Stone and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers. Outreach efforts will continue to include additional industries that may work with engineered stone.

A July 2023 study released by the American Medical Association underscores the dangers for workers in these industries. The “Silicosis Among Immigrant Engineered Stone Countertop Fabrication Workers in California” study cited 52 male patients diagnosed with silicosis caused by occupational exposure to respirable silica dust from engineered stone. Of these patients, 20 suffered progressive massive fibrosis, 11 needed lung transplants and 10 died due to their exposures.

As part of the initiative, OSHA is sending affected employers and stakeholders information on the initiative, including fact sheets on dust control methods and safer work practices for engineered stone manufacturing, finishing and installation operations.

Learn more about crystalline silica.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by OSHA

MSHA – Mine Fatality #28

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

MINE FATALITY – On August 21, 2023 a crusher lid that was being moved into place struck a miner when the rigging broke. The miner died from his injuries on August 23, 2023.

Accident scene where a crusher lid that was being moved into place struck a miner when the rigging broke.
Photo property of MSHA
Best Practices
  • Do not work under suspended loads.
  • Use properly rated lifting equipment and ensure that the load is well secured.
  • Attach tag lines to suspended loads to steady or guide the load.
  • Communicate lift plans to all persons working in the lift zone. Follow manufacturer’s recommended work procedures.
Additional Information

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2023, and the twelfth classified as “Machinery.”

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by MSHA

Criminal Charges

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Colorado contractor awaits sentencing on manslaughter charge after failing to protect employees in 2021 trench collapse that killed 23-year-old worker

A4S LLC, owner Peter Dillon failed to use legally required trench protection systems

BRECKENRIDGE, CO – The owner of an Avon construction company whose failure to follow required federal safety standards led to the 2021 trench collapse death of a 23-year-old employee in Breckenridge now awaits a November sentencing date after pleading guilty to manslaughter on Aug. 3, 2023.

The plea follows a criminal referral by the U.S. Department of Labor after Peter Dillon and his now defunct company, A4S LLC refused to require the use of proper safety equipment to protect his workers. The refusal contributed to a trench collapse in which a company employee, Marlon Diaz, suffered fatal injuries as he installed a residential sewer line.

After an investigation of the incident by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, A4S LLC received three willful citations in May 2022 for not ensuring the excavation was inspected by a competent person, failing to instruct employees on the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and not having a trench protective system in place. OSHA also issued the company a serious citation for not having a safe means of exit within 25 lateral feet of employees working in a trench.

Continue reading “Criminal Charges”