Meeting Related

Meeting Related

May Meeting Announcement

The next SAFER meeting is May 1, 2017 from 7:30 – 10:00 AM.

It will be held at New England Institute of Technology, 2nd Floor Hall of Fame Room, 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI.

Calories and Coffee by E. W. Audet & Sons, Inc.

This week is Safety Week 2017.  Next week is the OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week .  How is your firm participating?

Join your peers Wednesday to discuss:

  •     Safety Messaging
  •     Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety (Jim Scanlon, American Aerial)
  •     Fall Prevention / Protection
  •     “Fix what bug’s you”
  •     Perhaps you have a lesson learned to share….

 

Please respond to bkunz@dimeo.com to RSVP.

Meeting Related

April Meeting Announcement

The next meeting will be held April 5, 2017 at NEIT, 2490 Post Road, Warwick, RI from 7:30 am – 10:15 am.

From Bob Kunz:

” Team, As you may be aware, the CPWR has developed the Foundations for Safety Leadership (FSL) training program.  The FSL program introduces safety leaders to 5 leadership skills and real-world scenarios.  Are leadership skills an innate characteristics or trained and practiced skill?  Before you answer that questions, answer this one:

Are you a supervisor?  If yes, how often are you satisfied with the outcome of the tasks that you assign – 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% of the time?  When you reflect upon those outcomes, what could you have done to improve the outcome?

Join team SAFER on April 5, 2017, and attend a 2-hour FSL to learn how to unlock the potential to move towards safe (and healthy), productive, quality driven outcomes.

Note: For FSL presentation material Information, visit this site: http://www.cpwr.com/foundations-safety-leadership-fsl . Or, contact Keene State College OTI Ed Center about onsite FSL training – see: http://oshaedne.com/.

Coffee and Calories sponsored by Concentra.

RSVP to bkunz@dimeo.com .”

Crystalline Silica, Meeting Related

March Meeting Announcement

The next SAFER meeting is March 1, 2017 in Room CT 332 at the New England Institute for Technology (NEIT), 2490 Post Road, Warwick, RI.

From Bob Kunz:

Team SAFER,

Good morning!  Are you ready?  The June 23, 2017, compliance date is right around the corner.  I have a few updates from industry association, as follows:

·         The AGC National has provided the following recommendation “At this point we are recommending that members proceed as if the rule will go into effect as is.  With the uncertainty with the silica litigation, we believe that is the right approach”, and

·         The Mason Contractors Association of America recommend “I would say there is a 95% chance the rule will begin on June 23, 2017. The only hope we really have of any delay would be Trump intervening. Even if he did, likely it would be a temporary delay. In my opinion there is a 100% chance we will see a change to our current silica rule. I do believe we will see the rule going into effect but tweaked a bit, but I believe portions of the rule will not change”.

On Wednesday we will discuss the following related to Silica rule and beyond:

  • Receive information from an OSHA industrial hygienist
  • Discuss the role of competent person
  • Review written control / exposure plan
  • Review training requirements

Please RSVP to bkunz@dimeo.com.

Meeting Related

February’s Meeting Announcement

Team SAFER,

The next SAFER meeting is February 1, 2017 at the New England Institute for Technology (NEIT), 2490 Post Road, Warwick, RI Room CT 332.

This month’s topic is Sexual Harassment and Hostile Workplace (and if time, OSHA Anti-Retaliation Rules).

In 1997, the Health and Safety of Women in Construction (HASWIC) workgroup, a workgroup established by OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety & Health (ACCSH) concludes:

  • Nearly 60% of women 16 years or older participate in the workplace
  • Only 2.3% in construction
  • 41% suffered from gender harassment, and
  • 88% experienced sexual harassment

“….The workgroup believes that with education about, and attention to, these issues, OSHA and all stakeholders can play a role in helping to bring about safe, healthy, and equitable conditions for all workers…”

This topic will include:

  • Definitions
  • Legal Responsibilities
  • Case Studies
  • Prevention
  • Corrective Action

The meeting will be sponsored by Peter Brewer of Ocean State Risk Management.

Please RSVP to bkunz@dimeo.com.

Meeting Related, OSHA Related

January’s Meeting Announcement

From Bob Kunz – “Team SAFER,

The next meeting is January 4, 2017 7:30 am – 10:00 am at NEIT’s 2nd Floor -Hall of Fame Room, 2480 Post Road, Warwick, RI.

Save the date – get the new year off on the right (or left) foot by celebrating with your colleagues.  There is lots to speak about, including:

  • The CPWR Foundations for Safety Leadership program
    • OSHA 500/502 trainers will now be trained to deliver this wonderful program, effective January 1, 2017.
    • Safety leadership is not an innate trait, but rather a trained set of skills
    • This “free” program will provide your organization with the opportunity for improvement that you strive for…..
    • Visit CPWR.com for more information.
  • The CPWR Safety Climate Assessment Tool (S-CAT)
  • OSHA Recordkeeping

Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and New Year”.

Meeting Related

December’s Meeting Announcement

The next meeting is December 7,  2016 from 7:30 am – 10:00 am in room CT245 at the New England Institute for Technology (NEIT) 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI. From Bob Kunz:

“Team SAFER,

This month our topic is “the well-being of the worker”.  To stimulate the discussion, we have arranged for two guest speakers to join us, as follows:

David Brown, Sr. Site Safety Manager (Sgt. First Class, US Army Special Forces retired) for Dimeo Construction Company will be introducing Situational Awareness – see several resources below:

Construction Context:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/assets/downloads/situational-awareness.pdf

Personal Context:

http://feinet.com/sites/default/files/Situational%20Awareness%20WP_formatted.pdf

General Industry Contact:

http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/safety_library_items/AirbusSafetyLib_-FLT_OPS-HUM_PER-SEQ06.pdf

Is situational awareness an innate sense? Or, is it something else?  Could we eliminate incidents (including near misses), If we (the construction industry) committed to improving the situational awareness of management personnel and workers?

On September 13, 2016, OSHA Region 1 held a “Cut-It-Out” Stand Down is response to “….local accidents involving Cut-Off Saws resulting in severe injuries, including amputations and in at least one case a fatality”.  This stand-down was posted on our website www.buildingSAFERinRI.org.  Despite this effort to raise awareness, the local construction industry experienced another fatality involving the use of a cut-off saw – see link:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/19/construction-worker-killed-duxbury-work-site/5xXtOZbqfF8qH3WFPI8NTO/story.html .

While the incident remains under investigation, it is clear that we must raise the level of (contractor and worker situational) awareness to a higher point.  To that end, we have prepared a lesson learned, which will take a retrospective look at past incidents (from OSHA’s website), as well as cut-off saw manufacturer’s promotional material and safety guides, and material manufacturer “suggestions”.  The lesson learned will be followed by a presentation by Husqvarna Construction Products, which will discuss cut-off tool use and an alternative chain saw for cutting ductile iron pipe, for example.  Husqvarna is sponsored by Matt Particelli from Pro Equipment Rental.

Please RSVP to bkunz@dimeo.com with SAFER in subject line.

Meeting Related, OSHA Related

November’s Meeting Announcement

From Bob Kunz:

“Team SAFER,

SAFER November 2, 2016 7:30 am – 10:00 am New England Institute for Technology (NEIT) 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI Room CT 235

The November meeting is located room CT 235 (NOT the Hall of Fame Room).  Is your employer working on a multi-employer worksite (NOT limited to a construction worksite)?  If they are, your employer may be considered to be controlling, correcting, exposing or creating?  Why does this matter, you ask – join us Wednesday to learn more about OSHA CPL 2-0.124 Multi-Employer Citation Policy .

Here are some additional resources that you may find informative:

  1. OSHA Field Operations Manual  CPL 02-00-160 FOM – see Chapter VII Section 3 paragraph 3-19
  2. American Bar Association white paper entitled, FOUR BIRDS WITH ONE STONE? ISSUES IN MULTI-EMPLOYER WORKSITE
  3. US Court of Appeals Eight Circuit 07-2191 Summit Contractors vs. OSHRC

Please RSVP to Bob Kunz at bkunz@dimeo.com if you would like to attend.  Please ensure that SAFER is in subject line”.

Meeting Related

Ocotober’s Meeting Announcement

From Bob Kunz:

Team SAFER,

The October meeting is located room CT 245 (NOT the Hall of Fame Room).  Violence in the workplace is persisting.  Consequently, we will be discussing this important topic once again.

What is workplace violence anyway?  And, what can we do?

Join your peers for an interactive discussion on this important subject.  Below, are some resource links for your consideration and reference:

OSHA Publication

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/

DHS Violence in the Federal Workplace: A Guide for Prevention and Response

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ISC%20Violence%20in%20%20the%20Federal%20Workplace%20Guide%20April%202013.pdf

DHS Active Shooter Preparedness

https://www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-preparedness

DHS Active Shooter How to Respond

http://alerts.si.edu/docs/DHS_ActiveShooterBook.pdf

DHS Run, Hide, Fight (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0

Fleet, Meeting Related

September’s Meeting Announcement

From Bob Kunz:

Team SAFER,

Are you ready for some SAFETY discussions?  It’s here, the 2016-17 SAFER seminar series.  In early August, while the rest of you were hard at play (or work), the steering committee worked diligently to develop an exciting series.

We hope that you can join us on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 7:30 am to 10:00 am to kick-off the series.  The program will focus upon Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Driver Fitness.  If your fleet operates a vehicle(s) with a GVWR of 10,001 or more lbs. you should plan to attend.  Our discussion leaders will be Lt. David Medeiros, RI State Police (retired) and Wayne Estes, Atmed Occupation Medicine.

Of course, there will be coffee and calories served.

Please RSVP to bkunz@dimeo.com .

Crystalline Silica, Meeting Related

April Mtg – Update #2

Additional information on Silica from Bob Kunz:

“Team,

As a followed to the April 2016 SAFER meeting on Silica, please find the following:

I hope this helps answer questions”.

Attached is ANSI.Z87.1.2003. Table E-1 is being removed from 1926.102 at the end of the month.

SAFER wishes to thank the following people for providing great information on the latest changes to the silica standard and how to prepare and get ready to meet the new requirements that go into effect 14 months from now:

  • John Goins, OSHA Compliance Officer
  • Bob Kunz, Dimeo Construction & SAFER Chairman
  • Linda Peacock, HILTI North America

SAFER Also thanks New England Institute of Technology for providing the meeting room and GT Safety for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

The focus of the meeting was the new OSHA standards related to silica for Construction and General Industries.

Occupational Exposure to Respirable Silica – Final Rule effective 6-23-2016

Construction compliance by 6-23-2017 and General Industry  compliance by 6-23-2018

As you may be aware, OSHA published the final rule for Occupational Exposure to Respirable Silica on 3-23-2016.  OSHA has developed a web page that contains the final rule, fact sheets, question and answer white paper, for example – see link:  https://www.osha.gov/silica/index.html .

The new permissible exposure level (PEL) for construction is 50 µg/m3, which is the equivalent of 5 grains of sand in 264 gallons of water (approximately five 55 gallon drums).

We will discuss the final rule, to ensure that your firm is prepared to comply with the requirements codified within same.  Compliance with the final rule, may require:

  • Development of written plan or program
  • Employee qualification |surveillance | training
  • Equipment and tool evaluation
  • Objective data acquisition | evaluation

The increased conversation concerning silica within the community may impact insurance program considerations, as well.