OSHA Related

Cut-Off Saw Safety Stand Down Scheduled Sep 13, 2016

From Tim S. Irving, Assistant Regional Administrator/Cooperative and State Programs, US DOL/OSHA

The next safety stand down for Region I is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2016 and will cover working with Cut Off Saws which will be beneficial to the Construction and Landscaping industries which frequently use these tools.  The “Cut-It-Out” Region I Stand Down is being presented as a direct result of local accidents involving Cut-Off Saws resulting in severe injuries, including amputations and in at least one case a fatality.   The material provided and format is similar to other recent Regional Stand Downs where the foreman or supervisor can utilize the training materials as a tool box talk.   I am requesting you to forward this email and attachments to your distribution list within the Construction and Landscaping industries, although other may apply, request their participation and encourage them to complete the course evaluation after the training has been completed.

OSHA Region I
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Time: Start anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Duration: Expected between 30 minutes and one hour depending on location size
Location: Buildings, landscaping projects and construction sites throughout New England
Sponsor: OSHA Region I – Cooperative and State Programs
Contact: Timothy S. Irving, Assistant Regional Administrator 617-565-9807

Peter Barletta, Compliance Assistance Specialist 617-565-6924

OSHA Region I Cooperative and State Programs and the Area Offices are working with our State Partners, Alliances, Partnerships, Voluntary Protection Programs and SHARP companies have scheduled a Safety Awareness for Cut-Off Saws Training “Cut-it-Out” Day on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, starting anytime between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Mission Description: During the allotted time frame of the “Cut-it-out,” each participating company will designate an individual to provide a group safety training component involving employees on their project/location. In addition, the company will review its site and identify hazards related to Cut-Off Saws which could be reduced through engineering controls or PPE. Participating organizations will be asked to document training and inspections via their own internal attendance sheets and complete a course evaluation to assist in determining of the effectiveness of this event. Please coordinate the totals for your facility/location or site and have one course evaluation completed per facility/location or site:  ­­­ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLM8JY3

Information Provided: Working Safer and Smarter with Power Cut-Off Saws booklet by High Performance Diamond Technology, Cut-Off Saw Safety Tool Box Talk by WorkSafe.  Concrete Construction Magazine Safety Article reprint – http://www.concreteconstruction.net/products/general-construction-equipment/safety-with-saws_o , and OSHA Letter of Interpretation are provided electronically and will be posted on the Safety Training and Inspection Days – New England Facebook page two weeks prior to training date.  The material provided is recommended but are not required to be used.   In addition, links to other educational videos and training sites are attached; AGC Cut-Off saw safety Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXuHDiUPGCI , Cut-Off Machine Safety, Maintenance and Operation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWNI9v5mz0 .  Special thanks to AGC America, www.WorkSafeCenter.com, www.concreteconstruction.net  and High Performance Diamond Technology Ltd.

Concrete Construction Mag Art Cut It Out Evaluation Flyer and introduction Cut it out Jul16 draft OSHA LIO Cut off Saw Tool Box Cut Off Saw Working Safer Power Cut-Off Saws Booklet

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.