Meeting Related, OSHA Related

May Meeting Announcement

May’s meeting is May 4, 2016 from 8 to 10am at the New England Institute of Technology, 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI.

The main topic is Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP) Safety

There is little question that MEWP’s have and will continue to improve worker productivity as access to elevated work space can be immediate.  That being said, the use of MEWP’s does require planning, training, evaluation, and operation by competent person, for example.  The absence of anyone of these critical elements can result in mishap – see link to examples:  OSHA Aerial Lift Accident Search Results .

This month, Mike Flanagan, New England Territory Sales Manager for Terex, will speak to the group about MEWP’s, specifically, Genie products.

For example, consistent with OSHA interpretation dated April 20, 2012, Genie has provided guidance on how elevated basket can be used as anchor or restraint point.

Join the Building SAFER in RI for an interactive round table discussion on this subject and more, and to enjoy calories and coffee with your fellow safety professionals.

OSHA Related

OSHA’s Fall Protection Stand-Down

Capture - Stand Down

From OSHA’s website: “The purpose of the National Fall Prevention Stand-Down is to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 345 of the 899 construction fatalities recorded in 2014. Those deaths were preventable. Fall prevention safety standards were among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards, during fiscal year 2014″. Click here for more.

Crystalline Silica, Meeting Related, OSHA Related

April Meeting 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.