tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45723820802897678082024-03-08T03:34:14.474-08:00OSHA Compliance ManualA straightforward resource explaining OSHA's workplace guidelines for safety, inspection, training and more.
Used in conjunction with the OSHA regulations, this manual should serve as an effective guide to implementing safety and health requirements in your workplace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-82193838509645376652019-09-02T06:35:00.000-07:002019-09-02T06:35:04.166-07:00Economical Training<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There are many
companies that provide training programs, seminars and videos. However, this
book was designed for small companies. Large companies that provide training
for large corporations charge a lot of money because their training is for
large staffs. It is not unusual to pay over $1500 for a single training
program. As you will learn, one video is not enough. It is likely that you will
pay thousands to train your staff if you plan to acquire all the videos. Here
are some ideas on how to cut these costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">CAE Consultants Inc.
specializes in written programs. Some of our plans have simple PC
slide shows that can be used for training or refreshers. Call
(914)963-3695 to see if we have a written plan for your industry and if it
has a PC slide show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Insurance company is
often a little-known source of FREE training and most
businesses don't even know it. Even if you have a small policy with a
company like AETNA for example, they will train you free of charge!
Courses they provide are very comprehensive. The only requirement is
that you send personnel to their site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Community colleges
and state programs may provide additional low cost sources of
training. Check all available resources in your community, including
the fire department, the police, your sewage treatment and water system
plants. Find out where they train and what it would cost you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Local business
libraries, society libraries, or trade libraries or non-profit groups in
your area may allow you to borrow materials for a period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Government
training materials are generally less expensive, but not much more. For
example, OSHA courses require you to travel to their site and they
still run several hundred dollars. You can rent videos from certain
companies, like ITS, Their videos are expensive but rentals are quite
reasonable. The library of congress may allow borrowing and some
State libraries may have materials they can mail to you. Check it out. Local
consultants may not be as expensive as you think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">They
may have materials ready and their fees to offer several courses could be
reasonable, particularly if you combine this with other businesses.
Work with your local technical society or chamber of commerce to see if
you can do joint training with another group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You don't really
have to go overboard either. You can use a training video, but in most
cases, merely setting down with the employee and conveying the more
important concepts of your program is sufficient. You can administer
your own test. Just be sure that you record everything and make them
sign their training completion forms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Where
states require training, you are stuck having to take their courses and
pay their license fees. In New York, for example, obtaining all of
the licenses required to handle asbestos runs over $2,000. It is a
way to lock people into a particular training program for which someone
has contracted. It leaves some trainers out of the business. If you
are a small minority business, see if you can get a grant to train your
staff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Some
states put a lot of taxpayer money in developing programs for their
government and federal employees. They may have a program to allow
local small businesses to share the cost. Call and check it out. Sometimes
you can work a special deal with the program director. If they
have empty seats in the classroom why let them go to waste? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-73083674654707779312019-08-29T06:30:00.000-07:002019-08-29T06:30:00.741-07:00Protecting New Workers <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-sc-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New at the job </span></i><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are new at your job, your risk of injury is much
greater than for your more experienced coworkers-. In fact, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that 40% of workers injured had
been on the job less than one year. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-sc-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why are new workers more likely to be hurt? </span></i><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BLS studies show that employees injured at work often lack
one vital tool to protect themselves: information. Look at the
following data gathered by BLS in various surveys: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Of
724 workers hurt while using scaffolds, 27% said they received no
information on safety requirements for installing the kind
of scaffold on which they were injured. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Of
868 workers who suffered head injuries, 71% said they had no instruction
concerning hard hats. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Of 554
workers hurt while servicing equipment, 61% said they were not informed about
lockout procedures. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In nearly every type of injury, BLS researchers have
studied; the same story is repeated repeatedly. Workers often do not
receive the safety information they need - even on jobs
involving dangerous equipment where training is clearly essential. In
one BLS study of workers injured while operating power saws, nearly one of
every five said no safety training on the equipment had been
provided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This problem deserves immediate attention from both the
federal and private sectors. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) want to work with workers, employers, and
vocational schools to increase protections for new employees. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-84684585832053564372019-08-26T06:29:00.000-07:002019-08-26T06:29:09.126-07:00Employees Can't Be Penalized For Reporting A Hazard <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Under
the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it is against the law for your
employer to punish you for reporting a safety or health hazard. You cannot
be discriminated against, fired, demoted, or otherwise penalized for
complaining to your employer about a hazard, requesting an
OSHA inspection, participating in union safety and health activities,
or otherwise exercising your rights under the OSHA Act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you
believe you have been illegally punished, you must file your complaint
with OSHA within 30 days for it to be timely. OSHA can take action,
including going to court if necessary, to force your employer to restore
your job, earnings, and benefits. You will not have to pay any legal
fees. Recent court cases awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in
back pay to employees who charged employers with firing after
blowing the whistle. OSHA is very serious about this rule. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-sc-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-sc-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Health
Hazards Can Cause Imminent Danger </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
people think that only safety hazards, which could cause accidents, can be considered imminent dangers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "scala-sans-offc-pro--",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is
important to remember that health hazards can cause imminent dangers.
Exposure to some toxic substances or dangerous fumes, dusts, or gases
can cause irreversible physical harm, shortened life, or reduced physical
or mental performance. OSHA may consider such hazards to be imminent
dangers even if the health effects of exposure to these hazards do not
become immediately apparent. </span><span style="color: #1c263d; font-family: "reader_ff",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-49052824026860973862019-08-22T06:26:00.002-07:002019-08-22T06:26:43.962-07:00Imminent Danger 2.12.1 Employees Can Report Imminent Danger to OSHA <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If a health or safety hazard at your workplace puts you in
imminent danger of death or a serious injury including situations immediately
dangerous to life and health, tell your supervisor immediately. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ask that the condition be corrected and that no workers be
exposed to the danger until it is eliminated or controlled. If your employer
does not take steps to remove the danger, you may contact the nearest office of
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or your state
occupational safety and health authority. OSHA should be listed under "US.
Government, Department of Labor" in your telephone directory. If you live
in one of the 25 states or territories which operate their own OSHA programs,
you will find the listing under a state government heading such as
"Department of Labor" or "Department of Industry." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell OSHA the facts. Be specific. Identify the hazard, which
concerns you. If you request, OSHA will not reveal your name to your employer,
so don't hesitate to give OSHA your name, address, and a telephone number where
you can be contacted. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>OSHA Responds with
Inspection <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The director of the closest OSHA area office will review
your complaint and immediately decide whether OSHA should make an
investigation. If he or she decides that an investigation is necessary, an OSHA
inspector or "compliance officer" will conduct an inspection of your
workplace--usually the same day you report the problem. Reports of imminent
dangers receive the highest priority for OSHA inspections. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If OSHA cannot inspect within one working day after receipt
of the report, the area director will contact the employer immediately to
request that the hazard be corrected and any affected employees removed from
the danger area. An inspection to determine whether the imminent danger has
been eliminated will then be conducted at a later time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Imminent Danger
Warning <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During an inspection, if compliance officers find an
imminent danger, they will ask your employer to correct the hazardous condition
and remove endangered employees from the area. If your employer refuses, OSHA
may post an "Imminent danger" notice and may seek from the nearest
federal district court for an order requiring the employer to remove the
danger. Before the OSHA inspectors leave the workplace, they will inform all
affected employees of the hazard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Refusing Dangerous
Work <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
OSHA can protect you if you are
discharged or otherwise disciplined for refusing to perform a task
that would expose you to imminent danger of death or serious injury,
providing you have sought and been unable to obtain a remedy from
your supervisor and there is insufficient time to have the condition
corrected through filing a complaint with OSHA. You may also be
protected by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) if you
refuse dangerous work in cooperation with or on behalf of other
workers. OSHA and the NLRB cooperate in refusal-to-work cases involving
health or safety hazards. You may contact either agency to discuss your
case if you have been punished for refusing dangerous work. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-23586414131923921762019-08-08T04:00:00.000-07:002019-08-08T04:00:03.274-07:00Where to Apply for Variances from OSHA Standards <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the worksites for which variances are sought
are under federal OSHA's jurisdiction, applications should be
addressed to the Assistant Secretary and sent to OSHA's Office of Variance
Determination, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210
(phone: 202/219-7193). The following states are under federal OSHA's
jurisdiction: Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas,
Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands, Wake Island, West Virginia
and Wisconsin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the worksites are in a state or territory with
its own approved job safety and health program, variance applications
should be made directly to the state OSHA office, usually located in the
state department of labor. The following jurisdictions have their own
OSHA programs, and are called "state plan states." Alaska,
Arizona, California, Connecticut*, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York*, North
Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont,
Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Employers with establishments in more than one state
may seek multi-state variances. Even if one or more of these states has
its own OSHA-approved state safety and health plan, the employer
may consolidate the variance applications, address them to the
Assistant Secretary and mail them to the Office of Variance Determination.
OSHA's variance procedures permit employers with
multi-state establishments to use federal OSHA's variance reciprocity
procedures where such requests involve state plan standards (or portions
thereof), which are identical in substance and requirements to federal standards.
Such applications must include:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(a) A side-by-side comparison of the
federal standard and the state standards (or portions thereof) that
are identical in substance and requirements; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
(b) A certification that the
employer has not filed for such variance on the same material facts for
the same employment or place of employment with any state authority
having jurisdiction under an approved OSHA plan; and, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
(c) A statement, with appropriate
identification and current status, of any citations for violations of
the state standard that have been issued to the employer by any of
the state authorities enforcing the standard under a plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon receipt of a multi-state variance
application meeting all requirements, federal OSHA promptly furnishes
copies to appropriate state plan states and provides opportunity for
comment, including opportunity to participate as a party to
the consideration. As parties to the federal variance proceedings,
state plan states review applications and reach judgments on
establishments in their states in coordination with federal OSHA.
Federal OSHA will ensure that each state plan state involved in a
multi-state variance request has responded in writing, and the response
will be made a part of the variance record. If an individual state concurs
in the variance, the approval is reflected in the federal decision on
all establishments. If a state objects, it negotiates independently with
the employer to resolve any questions. If major differences result,
a state may handle that aspect of the variance request under its
jurisdiction independent of the multi-state application. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once a federal OSHA variance has been granted which
applies to more than one state (including a state operating under a state
plan), the variance becomes the authoritative interpretation of
the employer's compliance obligations. This is true for the federal
standard as well as any identical state standard, except where objections
have been interposed by state authorities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-62237762908729583142019-08-05T01:37:00.000-07:002019-08-05T01:37:04.576-07:00Will OSHA Inspect a Small Business? <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, while in the past OSHA was understaffed and under
funded, it posed only minimum danger to small businesses. Now, with the
Democratic administration, an activist OSHA chief, William Reich and
a tough director, John Dear, and new legislative proposals, OSHA
inspectors can turn up at your site more often. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Why are they
Picking on Small Business? </i> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whether you have just 2 employees or 250, OSHA believes
that statistically, more injuries will occur in small businesses than in
large ones. This conclusion is supported by a recent Wall Street Journal
computer analysis of more than 500,000 federal and state safety
inspection records, from 1988 to 1992 shows that 4,337 workers died at
inspected workplaces with fewer than 20 employees, while only 127 died at those
with more than 2,500.⁵ Of course, the study fails to correct for the fact that
there are fewer workplaces in this country left with 2500 employees or more.
The study did not report this figure as a percentage of total employees for
small vs. large businesses. The fact is that as the economy has changed, so has
the American workplace, with fewer manufacturing jobs and more service jobs and
small businesses, the regulators are turning to small business to enforce
safety.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What are the chances? </b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Statistically, OSHA claims they have 2300 inspectors
federally and that there are 6.1 million workplaces to inspect. If they
inspect 1/2 million workplaces per year or an average of 217
inspections per inspector (1 per day), then your statistical chances
are that you might be inspected once every 12 years. However, your chances
are much higher than that. First, states carry out inspections of government
and private workplaces, if they have an approved plan. Recently four more
states got approval. Only New York and Connecticut limit inspections
to government facilities. This means that OSHA counts with many more ad
hoc inspectors (like a franchise). Some states inspect
both government and business sectors and they add their own rules to
OSHA. So, in some states like New York, you could be visited by both OSHA
and the state labor department of health and even City inspectors get
involved sometimes. Each agency cites separately. Federal fines go to the
federal treasury and state fines go to the state. States keep their
own records of inspections and the Federal Government their own. It is
difficult to get hold of statistics that encompass all state and
federal inspections and to determine how much money was actually
collected in fines. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, inspecting small workplaces does not take
all day and fines are much smaller. Inspectors could easily inspect
several small businesses in a day, since they are only checking for a few
items. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They will concentrate on manufacturing
places,auto shops and other targeted industries. This means that when
it comes to smaller workplace inspections, inspectors can be much more
efficient. If they inspected say 2 to 3 small businesses daily,
and adjusting for the fact that state inspectors in some industrial
areas do part of the work, it seems your chances are about maybe once
every 2 years. Certainly if your businesses is within
commuting distance of an OSHA field office, your chances are much
higher. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Construction firms, who are visible, are
increasing their chances. Chances are that an OSHA inspector will
show up at most construction jobs in a town. OSHA claims that the average
fine is about $600. Yet, a computer analysis shows that is probably
more like their minimum fines. Typically, they run in the thousands
and it is our experience that even small construction firms are receiving
fines in the tens of thousands. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-2798287215512832662019-08-01T01:34:00.000-07:002019-08-01T01:34:03.050-07:00Voluntary Safety & Health Program Management Guidelines <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has issued voluntary program management guidelines to
encourage employers to do more than just comply with regulations to
prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although compliance with the law, including specific
OSHA standards, is an important objective, an effective program looks
beyond specific requirements of law to address all hazards. It
seeks to prevent injuries and illnesses, whether or not compliance is
at issue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The language in these guidelines is general so that it
may be broadly applied in general industry, shipyards, marine terminals,
and longshoring activities regardless of the size, nature, or
complexity of operations. Construction activities are not covered by
this guideline because they are already covered under OSHA's construction
standards. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guidelines, a distillation of successfully applied
safety and health management practices, are advocated by safety and health
professionals and consultants representing corporations,
professional associations, and labor unions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>The
Guidelines </i> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guidelines call for systematic
identification, evaluation, and prevention or control of
general workplace hazards, specific job hazards, and potential
hazards, which may arise from foreseeable conditions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The extent to which a program is described in writing
is less important than how effective it is in practice. As the size of a
worksite or the complexity of a hazardous operation increases, however,
the need for written guidance increases to ensure clear communication
of policies and priorities and consistent and fair application of rules.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-75244869976304791092019-07-29T01:34:00.000-07:002019-07-29T01:34:02.258-07:00OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Participation exempts a worksite from OSHA's programmed
inspections. However, participation is reserved for very special
worksites. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Do you have an effective safety
and health program? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Are your injury and/or illness
rate lower than the average for your industry? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Do managers and employees work
together to prevent accidents and eliminate Hazards? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Would you like to develop a more
cooperative relationship with OSHA? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If so, your company may be a candidate for one
of OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs -- Star, Merit or the
Demonstration Program. Designed to augment OSHA's enforcement efforts,
these programs encourage and recognize excellence in occupational safety
and health. Only those companies, which demonstrate commitment to
workplace safety and health beyond the requirements of the OSHA standards
-- especially at senior management levels -- are eligible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>General Requirements </b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To qualify, you must have an effective, ongoing safety
and health program. A strong safety and health program exemplifies
commitment to the prevention of occupational illness and injury beyond
satisfying the requirements of OSHA standards. It is the
central element, which qualifies a company for participation in the
Voluntary Protection Programs. Companies participating in Merit and Star
are expected to have comprehensive programs including elements
such as employee participation and annual comprehensive self-evaluation.
OSHA assesses the effectiveness of the program through a number of
measures including on-site review. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Cooperation </i> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A cooperative atmosphere is essential to make voluntary
protection work. Construction companies are required to use
a labor-management approach, which includes joint labor-management
safety and health committees. General industry sites may use some other
form of employee participation. Companies must demonstrate that the
collective bargaining agent(s) representing their employees, if any, has
(have) no objection to the company's participation. It is important
under all Voluntary Protection Programs that both employers and employees
recognize that they retain their rights and responsibilities under
the Occupational Safety and Health Act. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Good
performance </i> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although performance levels required vary with
the individual Voluntary Protection Program, the company must
demonstrate that its efforts are working to minimize injury and illness in
the workplace. Two indicators are the Bureau of Labor Statistics
injury incidence and lost workday injury rates. In addition, the company
must have demonstrated good faith in any previous dealings <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
with OSHA. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Star Program</b> </i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Open to any industry, Star is targeted for a company
with comprehensive, successful safety and health programs. Companies that
are in the forefront of employee protection as indicated by
three-year average incidence and lost workday case rates at or below the
national average for their industry may participate. They must also meet
requirements for extensive management systems. Because of
the changing nature of the worksite, <u>construction firms</u> <u>must maintain strong employee participation in their</u> <u>programs. Star participants</u> are evaluated every three years,
although their incident rates are reviewed annually.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-34668657317713624852019-07-26T02:00:00.000-07:002019-07-26T02:00:07.127-07:00Discrimination Protection for Trucking Employees <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA),
effective January 26, 1983, gives the Secretary of Labor authority to
investigate complaints by truckers, mechanics, freight handlers and others
involved in interstate trucking who believe they have been discharged or
discriminated against for protected safety activities. If your business uses
these workers, you are covered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since provisions of Section 405 of the STAA covering
commercial motor vehicle are similar to nondiscrimination requirements in
Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Secretary
has given OSHA responsibility for investigating these complaints. The Section
405 provisions set forth a longer time for filing complaints, permit immediate
reinstatement of discharged employees, and authorize
compensatory damages and attorney's fees for aggrieved
employees whose complaints are substantiated. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>STAA
Discrimination Protection </b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Section 405 prohibits an employer from firing, demoting
or in any other way discriminating against an employee who: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Refuses to operate a vehicle which
fails to meet safety regulations; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Reports violations of vehicle
safety requirements; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Alleges that he or she has been
exposed to significant hazards; or <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
•Testifies or otherwise
participates in safety related proceedings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-53495236162454014082019-07-24T01:29:00.000-07:002019-07-24T01:29:00.912-07:00Employee Protection (Whistle Blower) Provisions <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clean Air Act (Title 42 U.S. Code, Section 7622); Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Title 42 U.S.
Code, Section 9610); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Title 42 U.S.
Code, Section 5851); Safe Drinking Water Act (Title 42 U.S. Code, Section
300j-9(i)); Solid Waste Disposal Act (Title 42 U.S. Code, Section
6971); Toxic Substances Control Act (Title 15 U.S. Code, Section 2622);
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Title 33 U.S. Code, Section 1367);
29 CFR 24. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Who is Covered </b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These environmental Acts provide protection
from discharge or other discriminatory actions by employers in
retaliation for employees' good faith complaints about safety and health
hazards in the workplace. The Acts cover all private
sector employers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Basic Provisions/Requirements </i> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The employee protection provisions of these
Acts prohibit employers from discharging or otherwise discriminating
against employees in retaliation for their disclosure of safety and health
hazards to the employer or to the appropriate federal agency. They also
protect employee participation in formal government proceedings in
connection with safety and health hazards. The Acts specifically
exclude from protection the disclosure of hazards deliberately caused by
an employee. Additionally, the statutes do not protect "frivolous"
complaints. Employees have the right under the Acts to refuse to work in
hazardous or unsafe situations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Employees who believe they have been discriminated
against in violation of these protective provisions may file a complaint,
within 30 days of the alleged violation, with the Employment
Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Penalties </i> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon receipt of a complaint, the Wage and Hour Division
conducts an investigation to determine whether a violation has occurred. When a
violation has occurred, the employer is notified of the violation determination
and efforts are made to conciliate the situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The employer may appeal a violation determination to an
administrative law judge, if done within five calendar days of the
notification of the determination. The administrative law judge's decision
is referred to the Secretary of Labor for a final order. The Secretary may
affirm or set aside the administrative law judge's decision. Where
the Secretary concludes that a violation has occurred, his/her final
order may instruct the employer to take affirmative action to abate the
violation and provide for appropriate relief, which may include
restoration of back pay, employment status and benefits.
The Secretary may also order the employer to provide compensatory
damages to the employee. If dissatisfied with the Secretary's decision,
the employer may appeal in federal court. Final determinations on
violations are enforceable through the courts. The employee is entitled to
similar appeal rights under the Acts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Relation to State, Local and Other Federal
Laws </i> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The current whistle blower programs do not preempt
existing state statutes and common law claims. All provisions contained in
the programs are in addition to protection provided by state laws. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Actual case reported </b></i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actual court cases where as much as $100,000 in back
pay are awarded have been documented. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-43021709330026811192019-07-23T12:54:00.000-07:002019-07-23T12:54:02.548-07:00OSHA’s definition of “fibers” vs. science <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I hate to be so
cruel, but this one actually caused a colleague to tear from the laughter!
This is the definition in the booklet (Honest!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">"Fibers</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> are solid particles whose length
is several times greater than their diameter, such as asbestos." <o:p></o:p></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Here is an
extremely vague, misleading and outright WRONG definition of a fiber! This OSHA
definition is the definition of a geometric three-dimensional solid called a
"cylinder." Applying OSHA's definition of a fiber, here are some
other "fibers" you should not have in the air that your workers
breathe: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">A flagpole, a worm,
a salami, a rope, a pin, a bread stick, a glass rod, and (for those treckies) the
probe that invaded the earth in Start Treck V! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For your benefit,
here is Webster's definition of a fiber: "A thread or a
structure or object resembling a thread as: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">1) A slender root (as of grass.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">2) An elongate pairing cell that has at maturity a small lumen and
no protoplasm content that is found in many plant organs and is especially
well developed in the xylem and phloem of the vascular system and
that implants elasticity, flexibility, and tensile strength to the plant
or organ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">3) The axis cylinder of a nerve cell with its sheath <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">4) One of the structures composing most of the intercellular matrix
of ordinary and elastic connective tissues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">5) A natural or man-made object that has a length usually many
hundred or thousand times greater than its width, that possesses
considerable tensile strength, pliability, and
resistance particularly against heat, some chemicals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-64813458460009978192019-07-20T19:49:00.000-07:002019-07-20T19:49:39.947-07:00OSHA’s definition of a “mist” vs. science <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“The term <u>mist</u> is applied to liquid suspended
in the atmosphere. Mists are generated by liquids condensing from a
vapor back to a liquid or by a liquid being dispersed by splashing or
atomizing. Aerosols are also a form of a mist characterized by highly
respirable [they mean breathed - respiration does not need lung in strict
biological terms], minute liquid particles.” </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">First, the OSHA
author confuses respiration with breathing. While the term "respiratory
protection" is often used to refer to protective masks, respiration and
breathing are not the same. Respiration is a biological function and it does
not have to take place in a lung. Next, the word "minute"
is vague and unscientific. While you can see a mist in the harbor and describe
as such in standard prose, you need to be more accurate than that
when it comes to describing whether a worker is being exposed to a mist in
scientific terms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ambient
temperature, pressure, humidity of the air and <u>the size of the particle in the mist</u> as well as
the composition of the material are all very important to determine how
harmful the mist is and whether it qualifies as a mist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Mists change as
ambient temperature changes. A mist can be described generically as micron
sized droplets that are suspended in air for a long period because they are not
large enough or heavy enough to settle by gravity. Their size changes all the
time. As temperature rises, the droplet evaporates and becomes a gas, so it
disappears and may no longer be as noxious. As temperature drops particles may
coalesce, like rain in clouds, making the mist disappear. For example, a
mist of steam in a steam room could cause some people to cough because
they are breathing in micron sized liquid droplets of water, which
interfere with lungs function, like when a person drowns. However, when
cold air is allowed in the room, water droplets coalesce and form
large drops and fall to the floor or attach to walls. The air clears
visibly. What remains is water vapor or humidity in the air, and no longer
causes harm to the lungs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Some mists are so
fine that they don't coalesce or settle easily and may remain in the air
for a long time. These mists are often referred to as fogs. Foggers
are used commercially to deliver insecticides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-42421752789756284552019-07-18T19:48:00.000-07:002019-07-18T19:48:00.587-07:00How OSHA defines an Industrial Hygienists <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Industrial
hygienists play a major role in developing and issuing OSHA standards
to protect workers from health hazards associated with toxic
chemicals, biological hazards, and harmful physical agents. They provide
technical assistance and support to the agency's national and
regional offices. OSHA also employs industrial hygienists who assist in
setting up field enforcement procedures, and who issue technical
interpretations of OSHA regulations and standards.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Industrial
hygienists are your logical choice when getting outside contract help to
help you with OSHA compliance. However, please note that OSHA use
legalese to directly avoid the issue that OSHA officers are not all industrial
hygienists. The field compliance officer does NOT need an industrial
hygienist's degree and is trained by OSHA. In fact we conclude from the opening
statement in this booklet that 60% are not formally trained in indu</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">strial
hygiene or engineering. An ex-manager from OSHA's New York office told this
author that it is not required that OSHA compliance officers have any college
degree. I called a number of other offices. It may happen an officer has a
degree, but it is not required. In the past, this worked out OK, since the
field officer's reports were scrutinized by professionals in the office. Now,
apparently, field officers have a freer hand, according to this source. The
training of most of these field officers is limited only to what OSHA provides.
Typical salary starts at $40,000 and can increase if they meet the standard
government requirements for promotion. They have a very good benefit package
and a salary that even degreed engineers today envy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This means that the
typical compliance officer goes only by the book in enforcing regulations
and follows the OSHA handbooks very closely. Their training is by
OSHA and may not really be relevant or based on any actual industrial
experience. It is important for the business being inspected to keep
this in mind and realize they have to follow the booklets carefully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-18622476245497105052019-07-15T02:30:00.000-07:002019-07-15T02:30:11.835-07:00Intentional Torts | Civil Liability <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Intentional torts
are all “acts” while negligence may consist of either an act or an
omission. Some intentional torts are also crimes under
federal, state, or local law, and may also be FAR violations. In such
a case, the wrongdoer may be not only subject to a fine or imprisonment in
a criminal action, but also ordered to pay compensation to the victim
in a civil tort action, and fined or subjected to certificate suspension
or revocation by the FAA or other federal and state
regulatory agencies, all for the same misbehavior. The courts have
generally held that this is not double jeopardy, which is prohibited by the
Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, interpreting that
provision only to prohibit the government from criminally penalizing a person
twice for the same misdeed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For example, state
criminal charges including 110 counts of murder and 110 counts of manslaughter
(one of each for each person killed in the crash) were filed against SabreTech,
Inc., an airline maintenance contractor that shipped highly flammable oxygen
canisters that were improperly packaged and not identified as hazardous
material and that caused an in-flight fire, and against several of its
employees in connection with the 1996 ValuJet DC-9 crash in the Florida
Everglades, a crash that also gave rise to extensive civil litigation and FAA
enforcement action. The state criminal action was ultimately settled for a
$500,000 fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Meanwhile, a
federal grand jury indictment charged SabreTech with several criminal
violations of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act in connection with the
crash. In that case, the trial judge sentenced SabreTech to pay $2 million
in criminal penalties and $9 million in restitution to victim’s
families (over and above the civil settlements already reached). This was
the first time an aviation business was convicted of criminal charges
arising out of a commercial jet airliner crash in the U.S., and some legal
analysts suspect that the fine would have been much larger if the
company had not already been in bankruptcy at the time. On appeal, the
U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the $9 million portion of the sentence
for restitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In the civil (tort)
action, SabreTech and its insurers paid out some $262 million
in settlements to the families of the victims. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In addition, the
FAA initiated a $2.23 million civil penalty action against SabreTech for
related FAR violations. The company settled that case by a compromise
agreement to pay the FAA $1.75 million. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-7166362897515122632019-07-11T19:37:00.002-07:002019-07-11T19:37:26.815-07:00Medical Certification Considerations in International Operation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Many nations’
airman medical certification standards and requirements differ from those
of the United States. Like the FAA, ICAO standards (published as ICAO
Annex 1—Personnel Licensing, available online at the ICAO
website) recognize three categories of airman medical certificate.
But the U.S. and ICAO differ on what medical certificate must accompany what
pilot certificate. ICAO requires a Class 1 medical (“medical assessment” in
ICAO terminology) for holders of commercial and air transport pilot
certificates; Class 2 for private pilots; and Class 3 only for air traffic
controllers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Under U.S.
standards in 14 CFR §61.23, the category of current airman medical
certificate
a pilot must hold depends on the <i>nature of the particular operation</i>. For example, an ATP making a non-commercial
flight, such as for personal transportation or recreation, would require
only a Class 3 airman medical certificate for that flight.
In contrast, under ICAO standards the category of current airman
medical standards a pilot requires depends on the <i>category of pilot certificate the individual
holds, regardless of the nature of
the particular flight operation</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The National
Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reports that while U.S. standards for
FAA first and second class airman medical certificates are similar to
ICAO’s Class 1, the differing classification structure and standards have
historically caused confusion in international flying. As a practical matter,
NBAA recommends that pilots (including those serving as second-in-command)
operating outside the U.S. and Canada (whose standards are similar) carry a
current FAA first class medical certificate. Otherwise, a foreign inspector may
require the crew to bring in a replacement or replacements holding current FAA
first class medicals to operate the aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-1929833217257418392019-06-27T12:10:00.000-07:002019-06-27T12:10:00.162-07:00Appeal for FAA Certified When You Don’t Meet the Standards<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you receive a final denial of your application for a
medical certificate from the FAA or the FAA issues an order of suspension or
revocation of your existing medical certificate, you can appeal the decision to
the NTSB. Your appeal will be heard by one of the board’s administrative law
judges, like the hearing you would receive on appeal of an enforcement case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the appeal is from an FAA order suspending or revoking
your medical certificate, the FAA has the burden of proving by a preponderance
of the evidence that you are not medically qualified. In the case of an FAA
denial of your application for medical certificate, however, you have the
burden of proving (again, by a preponderance of the evidence), through the sworn
in-person testimony of qualified physicians supported by copies of your medical
records, that you are qualified. In either case, if you convince the ALJ, the
NTSB can order the FAA to issue you a medical certificate or set aside the
FAA’s order suspending or revoking your current medical certificate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the ALJ, the route of appeal goes to the full board,
court of appeals, and Supreme Court under the same procedures described for
enforcement cases. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not all cases of denial, suspension, or revocation of a
medical certificate are appropriate for appeal. If you have a history or
diagnosis of one of the specific disqualifying conditions, and there is no real
question that the history or diagnosis is accurate, appeal to the NTSB is futile.
In that situation, the petition for special issuance is the only process by
which you can have any hope of obtaining your medical certificate. If, however,
the FAA position is based upon an erroneous or a subjective application of the
catch-all conditions, an appeal to the NTSB may succeed. If your physicians
testify convincingly that your physical condition does not make you an especially
risky pilot or that the medication or treatment you are taking is unlikely to
interfere with your safe performance in flight, the NTSB may overrule the FAA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-23412496868072794182019-06-24T13:26:00.000-07:002019-06-24T13:26:00.644-07:00Getting FAA Reconsideration Certified When You Don’t Meet the Standards<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon review of your application and completion of your
examination, your AME has three alternative courses of action available: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(1) if you appear qualified, issue the medical certificate; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(2) if your qualifications are in question, defer the
certification decision to FAA superiors, who review the question and decide
whether to issue or deny your certificate; or <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(3) if you appear disqualified, deny your application. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your AME defers issuance, the review process begins
automatically without further action on your part, but if your AME denies you a
medical certificate, you must request that he issue you a denial slip and
forward your application to the FAA Aeromedical Certification Branch in
Oklahoma City for reconsideration of the denial. If this step is not taken, you
are considered to have withdrawn your application for a medical certificate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the Oklahoma City office also denies your application, it
may be necessary for you to request further reconsideration by the Federal Air
Surgeon in Washington, D.C., in order to preserve your appeal rights. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office
(GAO), each year about 400,000 candidates apply for an FAA airman medical
certificate and complete the medical exam to determine whether they meet FAA medical
standards. On average, about 90 percent are certified by their AME or regional
flight surgeon. Of the remaining applicants, about 8.5 percent receive a
special issuance medical certificate, while only about 1.2 percent are not
medically certified as fit to fly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-21691189910882737832019-06-21T07:05:00.000-07:002019-06-21T07:05:02.082-07:00Getting FAA Certified When You Don’t Meet the Standards <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You may have a “history or diagnosis” of one of those
specific disqualifying conditions or otherwise fail to meet Part 67 standards
but now present no special risk. Perhaps you had a heart attack but then
underwent heart surgery, quit smoking, went on a low cholesterol diet, and are
following a good exercise regimen so that you are now no more likely to have
another heart attack than anyone else of your age. Maybe you were able to beat
an alcohol or drug habit. Maybe the history or diagnosis was erroneous (doctors
are human and sometimes make mistakes too). Or perhaps the Federal Air Surgeon
has disqualified you because in his opinion your condition, medication, or
current course of treatment is incompatible with safe flying. Your treating
physicians may strongly disagree with the Federal Air Surgeon’s opinion.
Shouldn’t you be free to fly? Yes, and if you can convince the FAA that despite
your medical history you are now fit to fly, you can.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Statement of
Demonstrated Ability (SODA) <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pilots who have a static disability that is not expected to
worsen may be certified through a process referred to as a Statement of
Demonstrated Ability (SODA). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start with the easiest ones: vision and hearing
problems. If your vision doesn’t meet FAA standards without eyeglasses or
contact lenses but does with these lenses, all that may be required is for your
AME to add this limitation to your medical certificate: “Holder shall wear
correcting lenses while exercising the privileges of his/her airman
certificate.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you failed the color vision test, you may be able to get
your medical certificate by arranging a test to determine whether you are able
to distinguish between the red, green, and white of the control tower light gun
that would give you directions in the event of a radio failure. If you can, you
get your medical certificate even if your color vision isn’t perfect. If your
hearing is below standards but you can demonstrate that you can still hear and understand
ATC instructions and flight deck conversation, you should be able to get your
medical certificate, although it may have a limitation on it requiring you to
use a noise-canceling headset while flying. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have a below-the-knee amputation of a leg, but have a
prosthetic limb which generally enables you to function normally, and your AME
is of the opinion that this would present no problem with operating the aircraft’s
controls, she has authority to issue you a student pilot certificate with the
limitation “For Student Pilot Purposes Only” to enable you to take a checkride
with an FAA examiner. If you pass the checkride by demonstrating that you are
in fact able to operate all of the aircraft’s controls despite your disability,
you will be issued a SODA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Special Issuance <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your problem is a history or diagnosis of one of the
specific disqualifying conditions listed above, but you can prove that in spite
of that history you are unlikely to become suddenly incapacitated while flying
(or to fly irresponsibly), you may obtain an FAA medical certificate by
“special issuance.” The burden will be on you and your doctors to convince the
Federal Air Surgeon that you are now an acceptable risk to flight safety. If
you succeed, the Federal Air Surgeon has the discretionary authority to issue
you any class of medical certificate by special issuance, even though you don’t
meet the letter of the law. Long a tedious, time-consuming, and frustrating
bureaucratic process, the Federal Air Surgeon has delegated special issuance
authority for certain medical conditions to the AME under new published
guidelines called “Certificates an AME Can Issue (CACI).” This allows an AME
the discretion to issue a medical certificate to applicants with arthritis,
asthma, glaucoma, chronic hepatitis C, hypertension, hypothyroidism, migraine
and chronic headache, pre-diabetes and renal (kidney) cancer. This delegation
has simplified and expedited certification for many airmen, and this list is
likely to continue to expand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One exception to the possibility of certification through
the special issuance process is the diabetic who requires insulin injections to
control the disease. The FAA long considered insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM)
absolutely disqualifying for any class of medical certificate. No special
issuance medical certificates of any class were granted to individuals with
ITDM. In response to a petition from the American Diabetes Association, the FAA
has opened third-class aviation medical certification by special issuance to
individuals with IDTM who haven’t experienced any further complications, such
as heart or kidney disease, neurological abnormalities, or vision problems. The
conditions for special issuance to individuals with ITDM, which include stringent
monitoring requirements, are available on the FAA’s website. This change has
opened up the joy and freedom of personal flying (under a student, recreational
or private pilot certificate) to hundreds of such individuals, at this writing.
Flight operations by these individuals are, however, limited to the United
States, as ICAO has yet to adopt comparable rules. It continues to be the FAA’s
position that individuals with ITDM still pose too great a risk of sudden
incapacitation to allow first or second-class medical certification as would
allow them to carry passengers for hire. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Periodic renewal of medical certificates issued under this
special issuance process, once as slow and cumbersome as getting the first
special issuance, is now being expedited under the FAA’s “Quick-Cert” program. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This program is part of the Federal Air Surgeon’s goal to
provide “same-day medical certification” to qualified applicants. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to the NTSB, medical causes are a factor in only
about 2.5 percent of civil aviation accidents in the United States. The safety
record of pilots operating under specially issued medical certificates has
proven every bit as good as that of the general pilot population over the
years, so this increasingly enlightened and humane process of personalized
evaluation is likely to remain a feature of aviation medical certification.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-63534995053078335202019-06-18T13:55:00.000-07:002019-06-18T13:55:05.062-07:00FAA Health Standards<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doctors and lawyers tend to communicate with their
respective colleagues in their own professional languages, which are often
largely unintelligible to outsiders. 14 CFR Part 67, which describes the
medical standards and certification procedures for aviators, was written by
doctors and lawyers in a not particularly readable mixture of the languages of
both professions. To make sense of the specific FAA medical standards, it is
helpful to bear in mind that each of these standards was designed to enable the
FAA to answer the following basic questions about your health: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you see well enough to control the aircraft,
see and avoid other aircraft, distinguish runways from taxiways at night, and
recognize light gun signals in the event of radio failure? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you speak and hear well enough to
effectively converse with other crewmembers on a noisy flight deck and with air
traffic controllers? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are you likely to suffer disorienting vertigo or
loss of equilibrium in flight? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are you likely to suffer a suddenly
incapacitating medical event in flight? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are you likely to operate an aircraft
irresponsibly so as to endanger other people? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The specific medical standards are designed so that if you
have any medical condition that would result in an unfavorable answer to any of
these basic questions, you are not qualified for an FAA medical certificate.
Therefore, your aviation medical examiner (AME) should not issue you a medical
certificate if you fail to pass the hearing and vision requirements of Part 67
or if you have a history or diagnosis of any of the following “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">specific
disqualifying conditions</i></b>”: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Diabetes requiring insulin or other hypoglycemic
medication for control. (If your diabetes can be controlled by careful
attention to diet, you are not disqualified.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
2. Heart attack (myocardial
infarction). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
3. Angina pectoris (the crushing
chest pain that is your clue that you are having a heart attack). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
4. Other evidence of coronary
artery disease (such as an irregular electrocardiogram (EKG). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
5. Heart valve replacement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
6. Permanent cardiac pacemaker
implantation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
7. Heart replacement (transplant). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
8. A psychosis. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
9. A personality disorder that has
repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
10. A bipolar disorder (formerly
known as manic depressive disorder). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
11. Epilepsy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
12. A disturbance of consciousness
without a satisfactory medical explanation of the cause. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
13. A transient loss of control of
nervous system function(s) without a satisfactory medical explanation of the
cause (such as a so-called transient ischemic attack). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
14. Substance dependence, abuse or
misuse (including alcohol and a wide variety of drugs and controlled
substances) within the previous 2 years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Compare these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“specific disqualifying conditions”</i></b>
to the previous basic questions the FAA is trying to answer about your health.
The vision standards are designed to be sure that you can see well enough to
control the aircraft, see and avoid other aircraft, distinguish runways from
taxiways at night, and recognize light gun signals in the event of radio
failure. Hearing and speech standards are to ensure you can communicate with
other flight crewmembers on a noisy flight deck and with air traffic
controllers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Concern for risk of sudden and unpredictable in-flight
incapacitation compels your AME to disqualify you if you have diabetes
requiring insulin (putting you at risk of incapacitation by insulin shock),
have suffered a heart attack or have coronary artery disease (which can lead to
an incapacitating heart attack). The same concern requires your AME to
disqualify you if are epileptic, or have experienced a loss of consciousness
without a satisfactory medical explanation (so that your next seizure might
happen while you’re at the controls of an aircraft in flight). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Concern over potential irresponsible operation of aircraft
endangering others disqualifies people having a psychosis or other psychiatric
problems that have led to irrational behavior, as well as substance abusers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A “history or diagnosis” of any one of the specific
disqualifying conditions prevents your AME from issuing you an FAA medical
certificate regardless of how good your health may otherwise appear during the
examination. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are also catch-all subparagraphs that disqualify you
for any other physical condition that in the opinion of the Federal Air Surgeon
could make it unsafe for you to exercise airman certificate privileges, or if
you are taking any medication or undergoing any course of treatment that could
adversely affect your performance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some examples of physical conditions the Federal Air Surgeon
has found disqualifying under this “other physical condition” catch-all,
depending on severity and treatment, include arthritis, asthma, chronic lymphocytic
leukemia, colitis, colon cancer, glaucoma and ocular hypertension, hepatitis C,
hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease, migraine
syndrome, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, and urolithiasis (kidney stones). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some examples of medications the Federal Air Surgeon
presently considers disqualifying include antidepressant or serotonin blocker
drugs (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-55299816140923153822019-06-16T18:41:00.002-07:002019-06-16T18:41:35.055-07:00Aviation Medical Cases <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the United States, you must hold a current FAA airman
medical certificate in order to serve as a pilot or air traffic control tower
operator. The exceptions are that glider and balloon pilots may self-certify
that they have no known medical defects which would make them unable to pilot
one of these aircraft, and a sport pilot candidate is not required to possess
an FAA airman medical certificate but may use a valid U.S. driver’s license as
proof of medical fitness. Any restriction on the driver’s license becomes a
medical restriction for exercising sport pilot privileges. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the previously
mentioned proposed Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 is enacted into law, those relaxed
medical certification standards now in place for sport pilots will be expanded
to cover all pilots operating aircraft with a maximum certified gross take- off
weight of no more than 6,000 lbs with no more than 5 passengers or 6 occu-
pants (“covered aircraft”), at or below 14,000 feet above mean sea level and at
an airspeed not to exceed 250 knots, whether IFR or VFR, as long as no
passenger or property is being carried for compensation. This proposal is
intended to help re- verse the current steeply declining number of active U.S.
general aviation pilots. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The FAA’s scrutiny of applications for medical certification
is heightening with increasing accumulation of medical and related data on
individuals in computer data banks of various government agencies and
increasing cross-matching of this data between agencies. For example, in order
to obtain an FAA medical certificate, you are now required to give the FAA
written permission to access your driving record file in the National Driver
Registry (NDR) database of traffic violations. NDR data is routinely
cross-matched with information you provide on your application for an FAA
airman medical certificate. Other data in the possession of federal agencies
has also been cross-matched with FAA airman medical certificate application
data and used for enforcement purposes. This trend is likely to grow in this
new era of big data. Aviators who are unaware of this process and the potential
consequences frequently succumb to the temptation to be less than candid on
applications for medical certification, with immediate and catastrophic
results to their aviation careers. Personal, financial, or employer-imposed
pressures may also lead a person who is not fully cognizant of the possible
consequences to act as a pilot or required crew member at a time when medically
disqualified. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that you have a
practical working knowledge of how to analyze various aeromedical problems and
dilemmas and arrive at the best solution or course of action. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I often see a classified ad listing an aircraft for sale
that tells a tale of tragedy of Shakespearean depth encapsulated in the
succinct phrase: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Must sell, lost medical</i>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not often that I’m moved almost to tears by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trade-A-Plane</i> but that one gets me every
time. I always want to call the seller up and say, “Wait! Before you sell your
aircraft, are you sure you’ve done everything possible to get your medical certificate back?” You see, you don’t always have to take no for a final decision.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes the FAA can be persuaded to change its mind and
reinstate your medical and in some circumstances the NTSB can order the FAA to
issue or rein- state your medical certificate. We will now examine how the
medical certification process and appeal procedure works. The procedure is very
different from that of enforcement cases in important respects. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-89733142537626483202016-03-20T10:56:00.000-07:002016-03-20T10:56:01.408-07:00Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate<h4 class="sect4-title" style="color: black;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="204"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec14DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate</h4>
<div class="first-para" style="color: black;">
This includes cases involving days away from work, restricted work activity, and transfers to another job and is calculated based on (N/EH) x (200,000) where N is the number of cases involving days away and/or job transfer or restriction, EH is the total number of hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, and 200,000 is the base for 100 full-time equivalent employees</div>
<div class="first-para" style="color: black;">
</div>
<div style="color: black;" xmlns:esi="i.am.akamai">
<div>
<div class="chapter">
<div class="section">
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="206"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec24DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Establishment</h4>
<div class="first-para">
An establishment is a single physical location where business is conducted or where services or industrial operations are performed. For activities where employees do not work at a single physical location, such as construction; transportation; communications, electric, gas and sanitary services; and similar operations, the establishment is represented by main or branch offices, terminals, stations, etc. that either supervise such activities or are the base from which personnel carry out these activities.</div>
<div class="para">
Normally, one business location has only one establishment. Under limited conditions, the employer may consider two or more separate businesses that share a single location to be separate establishments. An employer may divide one location into two or more establishments only when:</div>
<ul class="itemizedlist">
<li class="first-listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Each of the establishments represents a distinctly separate business;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Each business is engaged in a different economic activity;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
No one industry description in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual (1987) applies to the joint activities of the establishments; and</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Separate reports are routinely prepared for each establishment on the number of employees, their wages and salaries, sales or receipts, and other business information. For example, if an employer operates a construction company at the same location as a lumber yard, the employer may consider each business to be a separate establishment.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="para">
An establishment can include more than one physical location, but only under certain conditions. An employer may combine two or more physical locations into a single establishment only when:</div>
<ul class="itemizedlist">
<li class="first-listitem"> <div class="first-para">
The employer operates the locations as a single business operation under common management;</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="207"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="IDX-604DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a> </li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
The locations are all located in close proximity to each other; and</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
The employer keeps one set of business records for the locations, such as records on the number of employees, their wages and salaries, sales or receipts, and other kinds of business information. For example, one manufacturing establishment might include the main plant, a warehouse a few blocks away, and an administrative services building across the street.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="last-para">
For employees who telecommute from home, the employee's home is not a business establishment and a separate <span class="b24-hit">OSHA</span> 300 Log is not required. Employees who telecommute must be linked to one of your establishments.</div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="208"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec34DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>First Aid</h4>
<div class="first-para">
In general, first aid treatment can be distinguished from medical treatment because:</div>
<ul class="itemizedlist">
<li class="first-listitem"> <div class="first-para">
First aid is usually administered after the injury or illness occurs and at the location (workplace) where it occurred.</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
First aid usually consists of one-time or short-term treatment.</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
First aid treatments are usually simple and require little or no technology.</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
First aid can be administered by people with little training (beyond first aid training) and even by the injured or ill person.</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
First aid is usually administered to keep the condition from worsening, while the injured or ill person is awaiting medical treatment.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="para">
For the recordkeeping standard, first aid treatment means the following:</div>
<ul class="itemizedlist">
<li class="first-listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using a non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength (for medications available in both prescription and non-prescription form, a recommendation by a physician or HCP to use a non-prescription medication at prescription strength is considered medical treatment);</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Administering tetanus immunizations (other immunizations, such as hepatitis B vaccine or rabies vaccine, are considered medical treatment);</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Cleaning, flushing, or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids™, gauze pads, etc.; or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips™ (other wound closing devices such as sutures or staples are considered medical treatment);</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using hot or cold therapy;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, non-rigid back belts, etc. (devices with rigid stays or other systems designed to immobilize parts of the body are considered medical treatment);</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an accident victim (splints, slings, neck collars, back boards, etc.);</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using eye patches;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using finger guards;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Using massages (physical therapy or chiropractic treatment are considered medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes); or</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="209"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="IDX-614DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a></div>
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="210"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec44DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Injury or Illness</h4>
<div class="first-para">
An injury or illness is an abnormal condition or disorder. Injuries include cases such as, but not limited to, a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation. Illnesses include both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, but not limited to, a skin disease, respiratory disorder, or poisoning. (Note: Injuries and illnesses are recordable only if they are new, work-related cases that meet one or more of the Part 1904 recording criteria.)</div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="211"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec54DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Medical Treatment</h4>
<div class="first-para">
Medical treatment means the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. Under <span class="b24-hit">OSHA</span>'s recordkeeping standard, medical treatment does <i class="emphasis">not</i> include:</div>
<ul class="itemizedlist">
<li class="first-listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Visits to a physician or other licensed healthcare professional solely for observation or counseling;</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
The conduct of diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays and blood tests, including the administration of prescription medications used solely for diagnostic purposes (eye drops to dilate pupils); or</div>
</li>
<li class="listitem"> <div class="first-para">
Procedures that constitute the standard's definition of first aid.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="212"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec64DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Physician or Other Licensed Healthcare Professional</h4>
<div class="first-para">
A physician or other licensed healthcare professional is an individual whose legally permitted scope of practice (<i class="emphasis">i.e</i>., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently perform, or be delegated the responsibility to perform, the activities described by this regulation.</div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<h4 class="sect4-title">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="213"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch03lev3sec74DC537FF-055B-4145-8151-87716753C3F8"></a>Work Environment</h4>
<div class="first-para">
<span class="b24-hit">OSHA</span> defines the work environment as the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. The work environment includes not only physical locations, but also the equipment or materials used by an employee to perform work.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-58821677627603205652016-02-19T20:05:00.000-08:002016-02-19T20:05:29.603-08:00RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING CONSTRUCTION HAZARDS<br />
The first step necessary for reducing accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases in construction is to establish an on the job program of hazard recognition and prevention.<br />
<br />
This action is effective for identifying and abating construction hazards involving falls, struck-by, getting caught, and electrocutions. This chapter discusses approaches for developing such a program on construction operations.<br />
<br />
<b><u>What’s A Useful Approach For Recognizing Hazards On Construction Projects?</u></b><br />
It’s useful for construction workers to have a quick and easy way to identify hazards on the job. The following hazard recognition program can help do this. Using this method, the next sections describe the previously cited four major hazard areas. Examples are provided for each area, along with actual cases of occupational accidents, injuries, and deaths that have resulted when proper practices and<br />
safeguards were not implemented. Through a hazard recognition program, workers and supervisors can survey their work environment and operation for both general and specific hazards that exist or could develop, and then take the necessary actions for protection.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Fall Hazards</b> — There are two types of fall hazards: falls from a higher to a lower level, and falls on the same level.<br />
<br />
Examples and actual cases involving these hazards include:<br />
a. locations where fixed as well as movable ladders are being used;<br />
b. fall hazards resulting from poor housekeeping practices, spilled fluids, lack of proper guardrails, lifelines, safety nets, and safety belts; unguarded openings in floors, trenches, and other construction work areas;<br />
d. scaffolds and elevated platforms improperly erected, guarded, inspected, and/or maintained;<br />
e. loose fitting clothing or inadequate work shoes or boots which can cause a worker to trip;<br />
f. slippery work surfaces;<br />
g. situation where a worker can fall when trying to move a large awkward object on an elevated work area.<br />
<br />
Actual cases:<br />
a. “Carpenters were setting trusses on the second floor of a house they were building. There was no<br />
guardrail or floor cover over the floor opening for the stairway. While placing a truss in position, one<br />
of the carpenters fell through the opening to the concrete basement below.”<br />
<br />
b. “A crew laying bricks on the upper floor of a three-story building built a six-foot platform spanning a gap between two scaffolds. The platform was correctly constructed of two 2" × 12" planks with standard guardrails; however, one of the planks was not scaffold grade lumber and also had extensive dry rot in the center. When a bricklayer stepped on the plank it disintegrated and he<br />
fell 30 feet to his death.”<br />
<br />
c. “A laborer was working on the third level of a tubular welded frame scaffold which was covered<br />
with ice and snow. Planking on the scaffold was inadequate, there was no guardrail and no access ladder for the various scaffold levels. The worker slipped and fell head first approximately 20 feet to the pavement below."<br />
<br />
<b>2. Struck-by Hazards</b> — These hazards occur where employees can be struck by objects, materials, equipment and/or vehicles. Often these types of hazards result from unsafe work practices, poor planning, or lack of training. The following are examples and actual cases pertaining to these hazards:<br />
<br />
Examples:<br />
a. improperly guarded equipment, machinery, power tools or instruments;<br />
b. materials or equipment improperly stored or handled overhead;<br />
c. lifting, pulling, pushing, or carrying materials and/or equipment;<br />
d. work on or near conveyors, belts, hoists, and rollers used for moving stock/material;<br />
e. material loading, unloading, storage, and sorting;<br />
f. work with hand carts, power equipment, hand tools, gas cylinders, and cranes;<br />
g. exposure to passing vehicles.<br />
<br />
Actual cases:<br />
a. “Four employees were working near pile driving
equipment preparing to drive the first piling.
Apparently the two clips on the eye of the hammer
hoisting rope slipped, permitting the hammer
which was still inside the lead to fall some 45 feet.
The hammer struck a large timber on the ground
breaking it. One end of the timber struck the
employees, fatally injuring one man.”<br />
<br />
b. “Two employees were doing remodeling construction
and were building a wall. One of the
workers was killed when he was struck by a nail
fired from a powder-actuated tool. The tool operator,
while attempting to anchor plywood to a 2" ×
4" stud, fired the tool. The nail penetrated the stud
and the plywood partition prior to striking the
victim.”<br />
<br />
c. “An employee was in the process of locating an
underground water line. A trench had been dug
approximately 4 feet deep along side a brick wall
7 feet high and 5 feet long. The brick wall collapsed
onto the victim who was standing in the
trench. The injuries were fatal.”<br />
<br />
<b>3. Getting Caught Hazards </b>— The three common types of
hazards found in this category include caught in, caught on,
and caught between. Examples and actual cases are:<br />
Examples:<br />
a. working surfaces and equipment where an
employee can catch a limb in an unguarded opening;<br />
b. workplaces or sites where a worker can get
“caught in” a cave-in, or a confined space;<br />
c. any fixed or moving projections pose a threat to
workers in the form of “caught on” hazards, such
as when a worker gets his or her hair, limb, or article of clothing caught on a moving part and
dragged into a machine;<br />
d. employees confront “caught between” hazards
resulting from operations where two objects move
toward each other, or one object moves toward a
stationary one;<br />
e. conveyor belts, excavations, fuel tanks and other
confined spaces, as well as moving vehicles of any
kind may present a caught in, caught on, or
caught between hazard.<br />
<br />
Actual cases:<br />
a. “Construction workers were installing new fittings
to the gang-edger waste conveyor. To move
their equipment over the conveyor they placed a
steel plate on top of it. A worker crossing over the
conveyor fell into it, trapping his leg in the box
link chain. The conveyor carried him forward,
wedging his right leg under the steel plate. He
suffered massive crush injuries to his leg.”<br />
<br />
b. “The operator was exiting a rubber-tired front
loader with the bucket still in the raised position,
when his rain jacket caught on the arm-control
lever. The snagged jacket caused him to slip, activating
the bucket-arm control. He was trapped on
the frame when the bucket dropped. He suffered
serious injuries
when crushed
between the boom
arms and the
machine frame.”<br />
<br />
c. “A driller/blaster
was waiting in his
rock drill cab for a
call to move further
up the road being constructed. He put the drill in rotation and
left the cab to grease the hammer and centralizer
on the drilling arm. He greased the fittings on one
side of the hammer and walked around the 10 foot
rotating drill steel and somehow caught his
clothes on the end of the steel. He was found lying
close to the drill steel end, the clothes torn from
his upper body.”<br />
<br />
<b>4. Electrocution Hazards</b> — As one of the primary causes of
death in the construction industry, these hazards deserve
careful attention for hazard recognition. While workers are
likely to be aware of overhead power lines, as the following
examples and cases reveal, there are power line contact dangers
that can be quite unexpected. Construction workers
need to have specialized knowledge in this area, such as the
minimum distance requirement for live-line work, and principles
of arc generation.
Many electrical accidents are not the result of a worker’s
direct contact with a power line. Often, these accidents are
from indirect contact.<br />
<br />
For example, while using equipment or
machinery, a worker may become distracted from touching a
live wire with one of these objects. This can occur especially
with a ladder or a moving vehicle.<br />
<br />
General Examples:
Electrical hazards that can occur in both in-plant and
outdoor construction projects
include:<br />
a. Lack of Ground Fault Current
Interrupter;<br />
b. Contact with power lines;<br />
c. Path to ground missing or discontinuous;<br />
d. Equipment not used in manner
prescribed;<br />
e. Improper and unsafe electrical
installation.<br />
<br />
Actual Cases:<br />
a. “Two employees were installing aluminum siding
on a farmhouse when it became necessary to
remove a 36-foot high metal pole CB antenna. One
employee stood on a metal pick board between
two ladders and unfastened the antenna at the top
of the house. The other employee, who was standing
on the ground, took the antenna to lay it down
in the yard. The antenna made electrical contact
with a 7200-volt power transmission line 30 feet
10 inches from the house and 23 feet 9 inches
above the ground. The employee handling the
antenna received a fatal shock and the other
employee a minor shock.”<br />
<br />
b. “Employees were moving a steel canopy structure
using a “boom crane” truck. The boom cable
made contact with a 7200 volt electrical power
distribution line electrocuting the operator of the
crane; he was the foreman at the site,” [who
stepped in to operate the crane].<br />
<br />
c. “A lineman was electrocuted while working on
grounded de-energized lines. He was working
from a defective basket on an articulated boom
aerial lift when the basket contacted energized
lines which ran beneath the de-energized lines.
The defective basket permitted current to pass
through a drain hole cut into the body of the basket,
then through the employee, and to ground via
the de-energized line.”Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-11405815292976380842015-10-05T04:13:00.000-07:002015-10-05T04:13:00.203-07:00Trimming and Felling Precautions<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Before
you begin to cut, you must determine your escape area. This is the area you
will go to immediately after the back cut has been made and the tree is
beginning to fall. To locate the escape areas, you must first determine the
danger zones. Two danger zones can be identified and must be avoided to prevent
serious injury or death. The first danger zone is located in a semi-circle,
from half the diameter of the tree toward the direction of the fall. The second
danger zone is one-quarter of the diameter of the tree and located in the
opposite direction of the intended fall. Fellers MUST avoid these two danger
zones. The escape areas are then located between the danger zones. Always
retreat to one of these areas as the tree is beginning to fall.</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use control lines on trees, to direct their fall in the intended direction.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When felling, keep a distance of at least twice the length of the tree between the tree and people. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a co-worker assist in controlling movement of falling branches. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay at least 10 feet away from power lines. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use an observer to watch out for power lines. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Safety observer should wear protective clothing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All workers and observers should wear hardhat, goggles, hearing protection, fluorescent vest, cut-resistant trousers, and safety boots. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-4495736502451223212015-10-01T13:00:00.000-07:002015-10-01T13:00:04.155-07:00To safely fell a tree, you must be trained how to:<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">When
a tree must be removed, there are several things to consider before cutting. 1.
Ensure coworkers and all others maintain a two-tree length distance. If the
tree is going to fall downhill, increase the distance depending on the slope.
2. Look for any fences, buildings or power lines and avoid felling toward them.
3. Work only in good weather. Never work in strong winds, lightning, rain or
any time when visibility is low.</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Inspect
the tree: Is the tree leaning in one direction? This will play a major role in
the direction the tree will fall. Check the trunk (where the cuts are going to
be made) for knot holes, cracks or signs of rot that could hinder the felling
operation. Ensure the tree has no interlocking branches or vines from another
tree. If it does, they must be separated prior to felling.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Also,
survey the crown of the tree for any material that may break loose as the tree
falls. Trim any low branches that are in your way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfAqmUzlV8gOmZQnIkfx-VxI3771NWqjQtUR5WSS8LnQUNASXRmogF6YViEuJR8H99BxScJxd2imDcdG3w4skXw58EGjcWAhSqN0yqr90yoG7MyaWQ-fB0JKiOtTZPnf6ACAQNrSMRLY/s1600/A.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfAqmUzlV8gOmZQnIkfx-VxI3771NWqjQtUR5WSS8LnQUNASXRmogF6YViEuJR8H99BxScJxd2imDcdG3w4skXw58EGjcWAhSqN0yqr90yoG7MyaWQ-fB0JKiOtTZPnf6ACAQNrSMRLY/s320/A.png" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Figure out the best felling direction.</li>
<li>Plan, clear and use an escape path.</li>
<li>Figure out the proper hinge size.</li>
<li>Use proper controlled felling techniques.</li>
<li>Maintain safe separation distances from other workers and machines.</li>
<li>Wear required PPE.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572382080289767808.post-32517823640746830722015-09-28T08:09:00.000-07:002015-09-28T08:09:00.328-07:00Area of Kick-Back | Chain Saws<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Kickback
is a common cause of injury associated with chainsaws. Kickback occurs when the
chain around the end of the bar contacts a hard object (such as a knothole) or
when the teeth of the saw are pinched in the wood. This kicks the saw backward
and upward, rapidly, where it can strike you.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">To
reduce kickback: Do not cut with the upper section of the bar. Insert the saw
fully. When cutting, always stand at an angle, with a firm balance on the
ground or branch, so that if the saw kicks back, it will avoid your neck and
head. Make sure your saw has an anti-kickback device.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQx_INFh2F00S13bZzHh-h4CydyQ5XG6VQ_GFMUqRRXa492Zgrme4c9CSq65QgpFxGy03w340eqhIx3LNgJlgRcM-cWroE2IAAkQMYRvuxhWyGyfZJMnjWrIlPM0X5WaV4ZwTANAYaO4/s1600/C.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQx_INFh2F00S13bZzHh-h4CydyQ5XG6VQ_GFMUqRRXa492Zgrme4c9CSq65QgpFxGy03w340eqhIx3LNgJlgRcM-cWroE2IAAkQMYRvuxhWyGyfZJMnjWrIlPM0X5WaV4ZwTANAYaO4/s320/C.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The top front of the bar is the area prone to kick-back.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Always keep this in mind.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">No other part of the saw will work so hard to get you!</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3