Posts Tagged ‘compliance’

OSHA Issues Final Rule to Help Prevent Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

by Shannon

OSHA Final Rule

OSHA has issued a final rule that modernizes workplace injury data collection to help more effectively inform workers, employers, the public and OSHA about workplace hazards.

Employers in high-hazard industries will need to now send the injury and illness data that they already collect to OSHA, and that data will be posted on the OSHA website.

OSHA officials feel this public disclosure will motivate employers to focus more on the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses.

This final rule also supports an employee’s right to report injuries and illnesses without worrying about retaliation.

The rule also requires employers with 250 or more employees (in industries that must follow the recordkeeping regulation) to electronically submit injury and illness information from OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 to OSHA. Companies with 20-249 employees must submit information from only OSHA Form 300A.

The new rule goes into effect on Aug. 10, 2016; phased in data submissions begin in 2017.

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Preventing Facility Hazards: Electrical Safety Tips You Need to Know

by Julianne Bass

electrical safety

Three of the top ten OSHA electrical safety violations are electrical in nature; in addition 5% of all on the job fatalities are due to improper interaction with electricity, proving that electrical hazards are a literal force to be reckoned with and require the proper attention from safety managers when assessing facility safety programs.

Here are 10 electrical safety tips to keep in mind when protecting your workers from electrical hazards.

  1. Electrical Safety is important, any workplace and position can be affected by electricity. Before you begin your day make note of any electrical equipment you may come in contact with and ensure that it is properly grounded before use.
  2. Standing in any type of wetness while using an electrical device of any kind is not a good idea. Try to avoid it whenever possible, this includes power tools, tablets, mobile phones, etc.
  3. Assume power lines are always energized whenever your works brings you to an area where you need to be around them. Use non-conductive materials, and tools when near them.
  4. A standard operating procedure in electrical safety to bring any machine being worked on to complete zero, fully de-energized before beginning repair or services.
  5. After bringing a machine to complete zero for servicing, always use proper lock out protocol to prevent co-workers from re-energizing a machine while it is being worked on.
  6. Never wear rings, watches, wristbands, or use metallic pencils or rulers while working with electrical equipment.
  7. Ask can this job be completed with one hand? Only using one hand to work reduces the chances of electricity going through the chest cavity in the event of an accident.
  8. If a spill happens on or near a machine do not try to clean it up. Shut the machine down completely and unplug it.
  9. Never touch electrical equipment unless you are specifically instructed to do so. It is advisable to consider the use of electrical safety signs, and make sure your hands are not wet or sweating and as precaution use the back of your hand if possible.
  10. The NFPA 70E Requirement were just made in 2015, refer to the changes to see what your facility should now be doing differently to ensure maximum workplace electrical safety.

Countdown to Compliance: GHS What You Need to Know

by Julianne Bass

What is it and what’s it got to do with me? These are the questions most people ask themselves when they are being told they have to do something. In the case of the upcoming GHS changes, its relevance is quite simple. The highlights that make GHS important include it being a Globally Harmonized System that establishes agreed hazard classification and communication provisions with explanatory information on how to apply the system.

The significant changes that all facilities should be aware of are the new classification criteria for health, physical, and environmental chemical hazards, the 6 standardized label elements for hazard classes and categories, the appropriate signal words, pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements, and the standardized order of information for the new 16 section Safety Data Sheets.

The importance of the adoption of GHS in the United States and abroad hinges on making information about potentially hazardous chemicals available to all that come in contact with it. This GHS system will make it easier to identify this important information through the standardization of protocol. The changes will increase quality and consistency of information provided to workers across the globe. This will ideally make it possible for any worker to walk into any facility and easily recognize all hazards present that are marked with GHS labeling.

The benefits of this program will be felt throughout your facility with better comprehension for employees. Better understanding of work processes and hazards will lead to fewer workplace illnesses and injuries which in turn will lead to a better workflow and interaction.

Two U.S. deadlines on the horizon in 2015:

  • June 1, 2015
    Chemical manufacturers and distributors must complete hazard reclassification and produce GHS styled labels and safety data sheets. Distributors get an additional 6 months to complete shipments of old inventory.
  • December 1, 2015
    Distributors must comply fully with HCS requirements. (Grace period for shipments of old inventory ends.)

Make sure that your facility is on the right track with full compliance. Feel like you might need some more compliance help around your facility, get some help here.