Cleaning Manakins

Oh heavens!  I have not posted on this blog since December.  Sorry all, what can I say… we’ve been busy.

Busy with wonderful clients, intriguing problems, strange compliance issues, and the everyday business of helping others stay safe.

Speaking of safety, here is one of our interns cleaning the CPR manikins – with her rain coat on.  But, since a 7% solution of bleach  is being used she should probably have her safety glasses on.  And, the over head cabinet doors closed.

A fairly typical example of a Hazard Communications’ MSDS “station” put up and never used or dusted.

Industrial sites put up the “Right-To-Know Information Station,” shelf or cabinet while construction companies haul around a copy of their binder in a job box or on the shelf of the office trailer.  It doesn’t matter what sector of employment or how the employer stores the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) because the truth is the information is not used as it was intended by OSHA.  I’ll guess that 99% of the binders out there are collecting dust just like the one in the photo.

MSDS sheets had their true time and place in the mid-1980’s when they were first required by OSHA in the Hazard Communications Standard (1983) and by the EPA’s Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (1986) – and for good reasons as this information was not easily available.  But, that time has gone; electronic media has made the dusty old collection of data sheets obsolete. 

I’m not discounting OSHA’s requirement for an employees’ right-to-know.  A review of an MSDS sheet makes for a great safety talk.  (Hint:  before you review an actual chemical being used on site, go over an MSDS for something fun like beer or fireworks or even WD-40).   And, if there are “exotic” chemicals on site – Yes, the MSDS must be reviewed on a regular basis so employees will remember what to do when handling or during emergencies.

But aren’t there better ways to provide the MSDS information – inexpensively – without hauling these dusty binders around that no one updates or looks at?

Unopened beverages waiting for the lunch break (Photo: Jan Thomas)

Every once in a while our site inspections disclose a situation that really isn’t addressed by OSHA but falls into the “common sense” category of safety rules (as well as running counter to many employers’ clearly stated employment policies). Drinking on the job or before you go on duty is one of those common sense rules.  I can always tell when my son-in-law is going to be on duty in 24 hours – he declines my offer of a beer.

But, is a beer at lunch while on the job really that out of line?  I clearly remember my shock 25 years ago when I conducted an OSHA inspection of an international brewer’s operations and discovered large coolers filled with iced bottled products in the break room.  All of the workers at this factory and warehouse – including the forklift operators – were allowed to have a cool one when on break. They were even allowed to take home a 6-pack at the end of their shift.  I was told this was part of the brewers’ tradition.  That tradition stopped, at least in the U.S.

I’m also very aware that other parts of the world – and probably where these workers migrated from – consider a bit of wine or beer totally normal; it’s maybe safer to drink than the local water.

I’m not defending drinking on the job; I just like to figure out where these dangerous behaviors come from. Then I can better talk to workers about safety—and why we need to change their behavior, even when it’s a time-honored tradition.

Framing a multi-story residential building with the guardrail and window rail already in place. (Photo: Jan Thomas)

Many construction framers like to think that they fall into the “residential exemption” at 1926.501(b)(13) and .502(k) where they explain in a written fall protection plan that it is infeasible for them to use conventional fall protection systems.  I’ve seen one too many companies search for excuses instead of finding solutions. 

As I’ve pointed out in the past, there are so many products available today that provide common and leading edge fall protection.  Once the initial expense for this equipment is taken the crew’s production can increase and everyone goes home at the end of the day.

Or, you can do what this company has done and design and fabricate your own portable guardrail system.  I watched this job while 2 men installed lengths of their perimeter guarding system while working from a personnel hoist. Right after it was installed the team of framers came in and deck and set the outer walls.  It was precision, quality and production all based upon planning and design, not excuses.

Blackwell, Virginia water tower being repainted with fall protection in use! (Photo: Jan Thomas)

I have to admit, I took this photo as much for the “art” as for the science of appropriate fall protection displayed.  Note how the foreground power lines seem to intersect with the tower’s structural components as well as the safety lines?  Cool.

It’s also cool to be driving in rural Virginia and come across such a good example.  Believe me, I’ve seen plenty of recent examples of workers trying to make a living while trying not to fall (see my blog on Low Bid = High Risk).  And, be sure to check out the story published at eLCOSH  of two lucky workers who survived a water tower fall due to the same system shown in my photo.

A broken anti-two block… on the ground while its crane is still in operation. (Photo: Jan Thomas)

I was going through my picture catalog, looking for inspirations for this blog when I came across this photo.  Here is the story…  a couple of summers back I seemed to follow one particular crane and operator around the region from job-to-job.  This crane was almost always without its required “anti-two block” – necessary when lifting personnel platforms and a good idea for all other types of lifts.

I kept asking that this be fixed.  It kept getting fixed.  And the next time I came across the operator he showed me his most recent two-block, on the ground after another failure to keep it up.  As you will notice, this wasn’t a brand new mechanism.  And, as you might suppose, there were some other issues here beyond a mere mechanical failure.  Questions were asked; people were spoken to and agreements put in place.  I’ve seen the crane recently and it proudly sported its anti-two block.

But, what this photo called to my mind was the question – what has happened to OSHA’s proposed  Cranes and Derricks standard for construction?   So far it’s been two-blocked and is lying on the ground.

NOTE ADDED – sortly after this was posted OSHA published the final standard – see OSHA crane page at http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/index.html - the new standard becomes effective November 9, 2010.

August at the top of the construction and it's hot. (Photo: Jan Thomas)

One of several now available. (Sun Shield for Omega II Full Brim Hard Hats)

I’m just back from ASSE’s Professional Development Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.  I’ve been going to these for over 25 years and have even presented at a number of them.  Every year I have attended I’ve come back with new information from the educational sessions as well as from chats with professional colleagues.  And, let’s admit it, we all love and learn from the vendor displays. 

I almost always find one new “safety gadget” that causes me to say to myself “darn, if I only patented that idea when I first thought about it.”  This year it came when I saw at several booths the “sun shield” for hard hats. 

Yes, that patent would have been nice to tuck into my professional portfolio but it really belongs to the worker I photographed 3 summers ago on the top of a building.

I acknowledge that he has “modified” his hard hat and he may be out of compliance with 29CFR1926.100 (b) or ANSI Z89.1-1969, Safety Requirements for Industrial Head Protection but I have to admit that he had a good idea!

Keep cool and safe out there.  Jan

Jan at last year’s VOSH Conference discussing the finer points of purchasing the correct electrical safety equipment. (Photo: from Virginia Department of Labor & Industry video of session and off of their website)

This year I suggested speaking on how safety and health professionals can use Digital Photography in Support of Safety.  Here is the brochure description:

This is not your typical accident investigation photography class.  Instead, we will discuss the ever- growing opportunities to use – and misuse – digital photography in our safety and health efforts.  Topics will include effective use of the camera as a tool in documentation of the workplace; camera selection (point & shoots are just fine); privacy and property rights, including legal and ethical issues; use of digital images for safety training and communication of safety messages; use of image- enhancing software.  If you are reading this before the conference, you are invited to bring prints of your best examples of “digital safety.”  We will set up an exhibit!  All levels of photo experience are welcome – this is really about safety!

Those of you who have been following this blog will see my sneaky attempt to merge my professional work with my love of photography.  If you are in the Northern Virginia – DC – Maryland region, please join us June 1 – 4, 2010.  Day-tripper admissions are available.  Follow the link above and bring your safety photos with you.

Recent renovation of a doctor’s x-ray room… note the drywall dust, reciprocating saw, and the sheets of lead… put the clues together. What might you also find? (Photo: Jan Thomas)

Sometimes I choose topics for this blog when the same issue crosses my desk or my awareness three times or more in close proximity.  Lead exposure in the workplace is the most recent example.

A new EPA requirement came into effect on April 22, 2010. It impacts any contractor doing renovation, repairs and painting in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities.  The focus seems very specific and might not apply to all contractors. However, no one is turning down work today and renovation of existing spaces & LEED are up-swing trends so, just in case, we’ve been making sure all of our contractor clients know about this rule.  See the Lead-Renovation Rule.

And then it became personal. I’ve just bought an historic house (read built in the late 1900’s and in need of some repair).  During the last few weeks we’ve had interior reframing and repainting done.  Even though I knew about the new rule, I saw how it might be applied to and impact small renovation companies.

But as I hope everyone knows, this renovation rule from EPA is only one of many such federal and state requirements.  We also need to be aware of OSHA lead standards.  The above photo from a recent audit shows the cutting and installation of lead-lined drywall. The company and their drywall sub were quick to respond when we discussed potential exposure.

And then today I dropped off a family heirloom stained glass window that needed repair and I ended up walking around the artist’s studio talking about lead exposures – yes, lead is still used and there was a lot of it with what looked like all the correct controls.  So you see why I have lead on my mind.  Be safe out there!  Jan

This is a picture from National Wind of a wind turbine under construction. Can you see the familiar hazards?

I recently attended an OSHA seminar in Washington, D.C. concerning the growth of “green jobs” and the role safety plays in those jobs. Green jobs are jobs related to preserving or restoring the environment or natural resources. Green however, does not mean a job is safe.

The focus of green jobs, carbon footprints and sustainability is to limit human impact on the natural environment. We do this by using new technologies in building construction to limit wastes, by creating new and different ways to produce energy and by rethinking the ways our industries operate with the end goal of being more environmentally friendly. What about safety? How can we use the things we have learned in the green movement and apply those to safety issues? How can we make green jobs safe?

The answer is easy. Green jobs are just like any other job, and it is essential to protect our nation’s workers on the job. The overall consensus was that green jobs are no different in terms of compliance as all the rest. Common hazards still exist, such as electricity, falls, heavy equipment, that can potentially injure or kill workers. Therefore, safety must not be forgotten when dealing with green jobs. A job is not sustainable unless all the workers come home safe!

We can also use some techniques of the green jobs movement to improve the way we “do” safety. At this conference one of the speakers introduced a safety system based on the LEED model that was geared toward safety. This model uses a LEED type points system in construction projects as a way to rate them based on the importance given to safety and the degree of implementation of safety elements. Essentially it is a scoring system for how safe a job is. Using a system such as this, safety remains an essential component in the construction industry.

Green jobs MUST be safe jobs!

Rating System: http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/3805/1/Rajendran%20Dissertation%20Report.pdf