Meeting Related

Meeting Related, OSHA Related

June’s Meeting Announcement

The next meeting is June 3, 2015 from 8-10 am. The main topic will be Confined Space in Construction.

On 5/4/15 The final rule for Confined pace in Construction was published in the Federal Register and becomes final effective 8/3/15. The rule making began its journey in 2007 when the proposed rule was issued. Confined space activity has been covered under 29 CFR 1926.21 (b)(i)-(ii).  Many employers utilized 1910.146 as guidance. The new standard will be codified as 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA, or 1926.1200-1226.  The final rule also impacts Subpart C and Subpart V. Sponsor for the meeting is the OSHA Providence Area Office. We hope to see you Wednesday morning.  The new constriction confined space standard is set to become effective on 8/3/15 – are you prepared?  Please RSVP at bkunz@dimeo.com.

Electrical, Meeting Related, OSHA Related

May’s Meeting Announcement

The next meeting will be held May 6, 2015, from 8-10 am, at the New England Institute of Technology, located at 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI, 2nd floor Hall of Fame Room. E.W. Audet is sponsoring a Continental breakfast which will be served at 7:30am.

TOPIC – NFPA 70E – see overview at this link: NFPA 70E

Region 1 OSHA Training Institute Education Center Region 1, New England, Keene State College is providing this month’s speaker to discuss the NFPA 70E standard.

Doug MacDonald retired from Northeast Utilities after 40 years of service.  For the past 15 years has served as a Safety Manager and is an authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor in Construction for Region 1 OSHA Training Institute Education Instructor with Keene State College’s OSHA Education Center. He is also the President of the National Safety Council of Northern New England.

NFPA 70E Update and Correlating OSHA Standards Overview:

This 90 minute presentation will focus on the scope of standards, how OSHA uses recognized standards as a basis for general duty clause citation in construction,  the key elements that managers should be aware of, and overview of work practices, best management practices and regulatory responsibilities related to the protection of workers from exposure to workplace electrical hazards.

Refer to Region 1 OTI for training resources.

Below are some current OSHA interpretation concerning this subject:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24617

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=interpretations&p_id=25540

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25557

 

Meeting Related, OSHA Related

March Meeting Update

The March meeting was held 3/4/2015. The focus was on diisocyanate exposure in construction. This chemical hazard is found in many spray foams in use today. Guest speakers were Adam Wisnewski, PhD,  a senior research scientist from the Yale University Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program and Tyler Fiske from Anchor Insulation. SAFER would like to thank both speakers for sharing the expertise on the subject. Thank you also to Dennis Mullen, Gilbane Safety, for sponsoring the breakfast.

The meeting kicked off with safety updates from Bob Kunz, Dimeo Safety Director, and OSHA related updates from Ed Conway, OSHA Compliance Assistance.  Then, Adam Wisnewski, PhD, discussed his research associated with diisocyanate exposure, including spray foam insulation. After that Tyler Fiske discussed best management practices associated with application of spray foam insulation.

It was clear that both guest speakers knew a lot about diisocyanate exposure. Attendees asked a lot of questions and everyone took something away from the meeting.

After meeting remarks and link updates from Bob Kunz:

“Team SAFER,

I hope everyone enjoyed the very informative meeting this morning.  I would like to again thank Adam and Tyler for their participation.  Great job! 

NOTE:  Do not forget to utilize  the hyperlinks provided in the meetings announcement (below the line) for additional information on this subject.  I would also like to provide the following links in support of the topic and the OSHA’s  memorandum dated December 24, 2015: 

– OSHA memorandum: http://www.safteng.net/images/OSHA-Interim-Enforcement-Procedures-for-New-Reporting-Requirements.pdf

– Commonwealth of MA Spray Foam Workshop: http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/guidance-technical-assistance/agencies-and-divisions/ota/safe-spray.html

 

Links from the original meeting announcement:

To include discussion surrounding exposure assessment and control in presence of spray foam in construction.  Resources – see following hyperlinks:  The Spray Polyurethane Foam Association (SPFA), the Center to Protect Worker’s Rights (CPWR), OSHA Safety and Health Topic (SLTC) and Compliance Directive (CPL 03-00-017), and Electric Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health (ELCOSH), for example.

 

The SAFER alliance meets at New England Institute of Technology, which is located at 2500 Post Road in Warwick, RI.  If you park in the rear of building you would enter through double doors and proceed to the Hall of Fame room located on 2nd floor.

 

Meeting Related

February’s Meeting

The next meeting is February 4, 2015 from 8-10am with a Continental breakfast at 7:30am sponsored by Dimeo Construction Co. The meeting will take place at New England Institute of Technology, 400 Post Road, Warwick, RI.

The recent snow storms have certainly put a damper on all of us. February’s topic was originally scheduled to be on Isocyanates and the hazards involved with its use. Due to backlogs created by the snow storms we need to post-pone the original topic and instead have a discussion on:

Main topic: Safety Leadership Development:  Communication

Whether you are a site safety representative or safety manager, the use of appropriate and effective communication will always be the cornerstone of your success.  During this session, Casey Banks (SAFER member) of Travelers Insurance Co., will engage the group and provide insightful information to illustrate how:

  • Awareness is positively impacted through…
  • Worker engagement is sustained through…Effective communication. We will also examine how an effective communicator can utilize different styles of communication to maximize his/her messaging, for example.

Second topic: Review of RI Workers Compensation “coming and going” case and OSHA Recordkeeping. 

We will discuss RI Workers Compensation “coming and going” case and OSHA Recordkeeping interpretations involving commuting to and from work.  If you have other recordkeeping questions, please bring them up during the discussion.

Sponsor: Dimeo Construction Co.

Meeting Related

December’s Meeting Update

SAFER’s December meeting was held Wednesday, December 3, 2014 7:30 – 10:00 am at the New England Institute of Technology, located at 2500 Post Road in Warwick, RI. The topic was Hearing Protection: “Say What” and the meeting was sponsored by Atmed Occupational Medicine.

Thank you to Jane Viscolosi, from New England Laborer’s Health & Safety Fund, for presenting the informative session on hearing conservation and for providing the extremely helpful handouts.

The following links are provided by Bob Kunz as a follow up to the meeting:

ISHN web resource:

http://eblast.bnpmedia.com/ISHN/ISHN_PPE_1114hearing/ISHN_nov2014PPEedition_hearing.html

Ring tones:

http://www.teenbuzz.org/

Misc. Information including exposure related to iPhone ear buds:

http://www.noisehelp.com/noise-induced-hearing-loss.html

Meeting Related

November Meeting Announcement

The next SAFER meeting is this Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 8 to 10am at NEIT.

TOPIC

Personal Protection Equipment Utilization: “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.”

We have all seen the outrageous images of a worker with a square of foam in lieu of a hard hat, with a sheet of newsprint used in lieu of an appropriately shaded face shield, or inverted bucket in lieu of motorcycle helmet.  In a moment, without much consideration, the use of these materials can be determined to be inappropriate.

Why then, in a market were appropriate PPE (and instructions for use) are readily available do we find misapplication (and even non-use).

The group will exam ways to improve PPE utilization through an interactive discussion.  OSHA has provided useful resource information – see OSHA PPE SLTC, which includes among other resources: eLCOSH PPE Training Guide.

LESSONS LEARNED: Jason Berard of ORCPG we share a lessons learned with the group.

SPONSOR: Old Republic Construction Program Group (ORCPG)

Meeting Related

October’s Meeting Held

The first meeting of the 2014/15 year was held October 1, 2014. The topic was “Boots on the Ground: “Hazard Identification and Mitigation.” Thank you to Sam Brusco, of Brusco Design & Renovation, for his table top exercise, and Joseph Werbicki, M.S., CSP, Safety and Health Consultant, for his presentation on individual safe behavior. SAFER would also like to thank Ocean State Risk Management (OSRM) for sponsoring a Continental Breakfast and NEIT for sponsoring the meeting place.

For those who missed it the following link is for the BTEA Newsletter that was passed around.

Meeting Related, Uncategorized

September’s Meeting Kicks Off the 2014/2015 Year

Building SAFER in RI community – We hope that you have plans to enjoy the last few beach days and the holiday weekend. We look forward to seeing you on September 3, 2014 for the first meeting of the 2014 -2015 program year. We have an exciting schedule to share with you. The information for the first meeting follows:

Date: Sept 3, 2014, 8-10 am.

TOPIC: A Fresh Perspective on Construction Safety : “Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks.”

Michael Soares, of Stillwater Associates LLC, will speak about the lessons learned from oil industry, the crude by rail industry and share several vignettes and anecdotal references to illustrate how a construction safety program can be enhanced by the embracing and utilization of multi-industry approach.

SPONSOR: New England Laborers Health and Safety Fund (NELHSF).

RSVP: Please join us for some calories and coffee before the meeting. To ensure that we can accommodate all interested individuals, please respond to bkunz@dimeo.com with SAFER in subject line.

Bob Kunz, SAFER Steering Committee Chairperson

Meeting Related

Follow-up Info from May’s Meeting

From Maryann:

Hello Everyone – Just a few follow-up items from this morning:

1.  Here is a link to the NIOSH Science blog which discusses the most accurate sound level meter apps:

http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/04/09/sound-apps/

2.  Here is a link to the new OSHA page on  Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution and Electrical Protective Equipment (includes

http://www.osha.gov/dsg/power_generation/index.html

3.  Here is a link from OSHA Quick Takes to the four free webinars on electrical safety (includes minimum approach distance calculator:

 OSHA and partners to host new regulation Subpart V webinars

Edison Electric Institute, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and OSHA will host a series of webinars on topics relating to recently published regulations on Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution and Electrical Protective Equipment.

There are a total of four webinars on the following subjects: Minimum Approach Distances, Fall Protection, Host Employer/Contractor and Arc Protection. These webinars are open to the general public. Click here to see an agenda and to register