This issue of Safety News contains articles reproduced from government websites or other government sources. The Construction Institute makes no representations as to the accuracy of the information therein contained; nor do these articles necessarily reflect the views or policies of the TCI. 2003 January | February | March | April | May | June | July August | September | October | November | December January 2003 Construction Workplace Injury/Illness Rates Continue to Decline The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the number of workplace injuries and illnesses in 2001 declined over 2000. The rate for construction went down from 8.3 to 7.9. The incidence of injuries and illnesses in construction for 2001 stands in marked contrast to the number for fatal work injuries in that same period which hit an all time record since BLS began conducting the fatality census in 1992. OSHA Recordkeeping Forms to Include Hearing Loss; MSD Decisions Delayed Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, employers will be required to check a hearing loss column to record work-related cases under the new recordkeeping standard, OSHA announced last month. The agency will also postpone until then the effective date of three provisions of the standard, including the definition of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), consideration of MSDs as privacy concern cases, and requirements to check an MSD column on the OSHA log. OSHA also issued a clarification of three matters in relation to its newly released hearing loss recordkeeping regulation. OSHA Updates Fact Sheets on Fire Safety and Variances OSHA recently updated four fact sheets on various safety and health issues, including Fire Safety and Variances. Fire Safety discusses employer requirements for protecting workers against fire hazards. The Variance fact sheet combines two previous publications and provides general information on the topic and application instructions. New OSHA Education Centers Will Help Outreach Efforts The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the selection of 20 Training Institute Education Centers, almost doubling the number of centers that currently offer training courses on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and occupational safety and health issues. OSHA's previous training program included 12 centers. The new program has been expanded to include 20 centers at 35 locations throughout the country. The 20 centers will complement the OSHA Training Institute, the agency's primary training center in Illinois. The centers are primarily responsible for training private sector personnel and federal personnel from agencies outside OSHA. The centers were selected through a national competition that was announced in February. Evaluation criteria included occupational safety and health experience, non-academic training background, classroom and laboratory availability, and the ability to provide training throughout the region. OSHA provides no funding to the education centers. They support their OSHA training through their normal tuition and fee structures. OSHA Investigating Fatal Texas Fall OSHA is investigating the death of a plumber who died from a skull fracture he received when he fell approximately 15 feet while installing a heating vent at Steve and Sons Inc., a door manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas. Lack of Cave-In Protection Cited in Fatal Accident The exposure of employees to a potential crushing accident from an unprotected trench and a damaged sling has resulted in federal safety citations and fines for a Wynantskill, NY, company. Casale Excavating, Inc., has been cited by OSHA for alleged serious and repeat safety violations carrying proposed penalties totaling $23,100. New York Contractor Cited for Excavation Site Hazards OSHA cited Pitts Plumbing for failing to protect workers from trenching and excavation hazards at an Abercorn Street construction site in Georgia. Proposed penalties total $51,550. Massachusetts Contractor Faces Fines for Cave-In and Underground Utility Hazards Failure to protect workers against unguarded trenches and unmarked underground utilities at a Burrillville, R.I., worksite has resulted in $129,800 in proposed fines against a Fitchburg, Massachusetts, underground utilities contractor. OSHA and Washington Group International Form Alliance OSHA and the Washington Group International have formed an Alliance to advance a culture of accident prevention in the engineering and construction industry. OSHA Exceeds Inspection Targets For Fiscal Year 2002 OSHA exceeded its inspection goals for Fiscal year 2002 by increasing both the number of serious violations and the penalties assessed for them. Local OSHA Partnership in Rhode Island OSHA's Rhode Island area office has formed a partnership with the Rhode Island Chapter of the Associated General Contractors and the Rhode Island Building Trades Council to enhance safety and health at Ocean State construction sites. The Rhode Island Construction Health and Safety Excellence strategic partnership is designed to eliminate serious hazards and promote safety and health protection at sites throughout Rhode Island. Construction Fatalities Hit Record Level in 2001 The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 8,786 fatal work injuries were reported in 2001. More than one third of that number was attributed to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Workplace fatalities in construction increased by 6 percent in 2001 to a record high of 1,225 - the largest number of fatal work injuries of any industry. Construction Standard on Signs, Signals, and Barricades Takes Effect December 11 OSHA issued a new standard Sept. 11 for traffic control signs, signals, and barricades to help reduce fatalities and injuries at roadway worksites. The standard requires retro-reflective and illuminated devices at traffic control zones, warning devices for speeds above 20 miles per hour, advanced warning signs for closed paved shoulders, and temporary traffic control devices and barriers. The rule will become effective Dec. 11, 2002. Trenching Hazards Lead to Nearly $110,000 in Fines Against Two Massachusetts Contractors The repeated failure of two Ludlow, Massachusetts contractors to protect employees against cave-in hazards has resulted in a total of $109,400 in fines. OSHA Takes First Step In Proposed New Crane And Derrick Safety Construction Standard In response to industry representatives, OSHA has taken the first step in updating its construction safety standards for cranes and derricks through the Negotiated Rulemaking Process. Patent Issued for Lead-Detection Handwipe The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been issued a patent for a handwipe that detects the presence of lead. Back to Top February 2003 OSHA Construction Industry Partnerships Making News Three construction projects in New York and Wisconsin are the subject of OSHA partnerships entered into over the last month. The partnerships give OSHA an opportunity to assist contractors in developing a workplace culture that focuses on safety and health. OSHA Signs Safety & Health Partnership for Queens Power Plant Construction Project In January, OSHA signed a partnership agreement to foster job safety and health during the construction of the Ravenswood cogeneration power plant at Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City, N.Y. Entering into the partnership with OSHA were construction contractor Slattery/ Skanska, Inc., KeySpan Energy Development Corporation, Stone & Webster Construction, Inc., and trade union officials. OSHA Announces Worker Safety and Health Partnership in Construction of Shopping Complex The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), through its Madison, Wis. Area Office, announced in February that it had entered into a partnership with Kraemer Brothers Construction and RED Development to ensure the safety and health of current and future workers at the shopping center complex currently under construction in Middleton, Wis. OSHA Cites Contractors for Trenching and Crane Violations OSHA has cited Reynolds, Inc. for failing to protect workers from a potential trench collapse at an Atlanta construction site. The agency fined the Indiana-based company $77,500. In another construction case in OSHA's Region 4, the Agency issued citations against Republic Contracting Corporation totaling over $66,000 following two crane collapses at a highway bridge construction site. OSHA Cites Contractor for Crane Collapses At South Carolina Bridge Project; Proposes $66,500 in Penalties The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Republic Contracting Corporation and proposed $66,500 in penalties following two crane collapses at the company's Maybank Highway Bridge construction site in Columbia, South Carolina. The citations also cover safety hazards found later at another site during a joint federal and state inspection. Contractor Charged with Criminal Indictment Following Workers' Deaths A large electrical contracting firm was indicted for allegedly causing the deaths of two workers who were working on high-voltage transmission towers. Union Jobs Almost 17% More Productive At the Construction Users Roundtable's (CURT) Annual Construction Conference in December, speaker Dean Findley, Regional Driector of the firm Independent Project Analysis, reported that union jobs are almost 17% more productive. New England Homeland Security Conference to be Held in April OSHA Region 1 and the OSHA Training Institute Education Center for New England at Keene State College are offering the "New England Homeland Security Conference" to be held on April 29, 2003. AGC to Hold OSHA 30-Hour Construction Industry Outreach Program in March The AGC of Massachusetts will be running their annual OSHA 30_hour Construction Industry Outreach Program on March 13-15, 2002 at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton, MA. Back to Top March 2003 Just Released: "State Report Cards for Workers' Comp" A new study based on data from OSHA Form 200's, covering all OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses, provides the basis for rating state-by-state workers' compensation performance. ASHRAE Issues Guidance on Health, Safety and Environmental Security Issues for Buildings A new risk management strategy for building owners to use in determining their level of risk in regard to extraordinary incidents has been issued by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The report provides guidance for new and existing buildings regarding protection of air, water, and food systems within buildings. Crane and Derrick Safety Construction Standard Headed for Revision Using a negotiated rulemaking process, OSHA announced on February 26 it would go forward in revising the crane and derricks standard. The agency published a proposed list of members to serve on the rulemaking advisory committee in a Feb. 27 Federal Register notice, and is asking for public comment by March 31 on that list. The final committee will negotiate issues associated with the development of a proposed revision of the existing standard, first published in 1971. In negotiated rulemaking, a proposed rule is developed by a committee composed of representatives of government and the interests that will be significantly affected by the rule. The process allows for better communications among agency officials and parties representing different interests. OSHA Plans to Enhance Enforcement for Employers Who Defy Safety and Health Regulations Labor Secretary Elaine Chao announced on March 11 that employers who expose their workers to serious safety and health hazards and who continue to defy worker safety and health regulations, will be subject to an enhanced enforcement policy. Contractors Cited for Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards OSHA cited a general contractor and three sub-contractors for failing to protect workers from fall hazards at a ten-story condominium building under construction on in Alabama. The agency is proposing over $126,000 in total penalties. Inaccurate Asbestos Exposure Records Lead to Nearly $51,000 in OSHA Fines A Massachusetts asbestos removal contractor's failure to maintain accurate records of its workers' exposure to asbestos has resulted in a total of $50,900 in OSHA fines. GEM Environmental Services has been cited for alleged willful and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act following an OSHA inspection begun in response to an employee complaint. OSHA and The Associated General Contractors of Washington Form Alliance The Seattle OSHA regional office and the Associated General Contractors of Washington have formed an alliance to promote safer and more healthful working conditions for construction workers. Back to Top April 2003 BLS Reports Decline in Lost Workday Injuries and Illnesses in 2001 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported March 27 that workplace injury and illnesses continued a steady decline in 2001. A total of 1.5 million injuries and illnesses in private industry during 2001 required recuperation away from work, a 7.6 percent drop over the previous year. The report also highlighted a decline of 9.6 percent in musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said in a statement that the report is good news and its detailed information "will help us better target our outreach and enforcement efforts in those industries that have more work to do to bring their injury and illness rates down." OSHA Marks One Year Anniversary of Ergonomics Plan Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced one year ago that OSHA would confront the issue of workplace ergonomic injuries and illnesses head-on using a comprehensive approach of industry guidelines, enforcement, outreach, and research. Since that announcement last April, OSHA believes it has made significant progress, including the issuance of the first set of guidelines for the nursing home industry, the formation and inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics, and the establishment of 12 national Alliances with professional organizations and associations focusing specifically on ergonomics. Highlights of the program and significant accomplishments are available on the agency's website. OSHA to Develop Industry-Specific Ergonomics Guidelines For Shipyard Industry The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will develop guidelines for the shipyard industry to help employers reduce ergonomic-related injuries among workers. Representatives from the industry and labor have agreed to work with OSHA to develop draft guidelines that will be available for public comment. Potentially Fatal Westwood, Mass., Construction Accident Results in OSHA Citations and $224,000 in Proposed Penalties for Employers Exposing employees to potentially fatal safety hazards at a Westwood, Mass., construction site has resulted in two Massachusetts employers and one Vermont employer being cited and fined a total of $224,000 by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Butte Construction Company Issued $52,500 in Proposed OSHA Penalties The failure of a Montana employer to protect employees on a construction site from the hazards of working around heavy equipment, has resulted in $52,500 in proposed penalties issued against Jim Gilman Excavating, Inc., Butte, following a fatal accident in September. OSHA Announces Safety & Health Partnership on PATH Construction Project A new partnership between OSHA and construction contractors in New York will pave the way to the redevelopment of commuter train service between New Jersey and lower Manhattan. OSHA's Region II headquarters in New York announced the partnership last month with construction contractor Yonkers/Tully/Pegno Tri Venture, and the general Contractors Association of New York, the Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Utility & Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey. The partnership covers the ongoing redevelopment of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Commuter Train service that was destroyed by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Trenching Fatality Brings OSHA Citations Alleging Willful Violations of Safety Standards A Watson, La., homebuilder's alleged failure to protect employees from a trench cave-in that allegedly caused the death of one employee has resulted in proposed OSHA penalties of $76,750. OSHA Welcomes New Special Assistant for Emergency Preparedness John Ferris, OSHA's new Special Assistant for Emergency Preparedness, was appointed by OSHA Administrator John Henshaw last month and will coordinate the agency's efforts to address emergency preparedness and response in workplaces throughout the country. Ferris, a technical expert in chemical emergency preparedness and prevention, comes to OSHA following 13 years of service with the Environmental Protection Agency. OSHA's Top Ten Citations The top ten standards that general building contractors violated most often from October 2001 to September 2002 are... Back to Top May 2003 Cost of Disabling Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Rising The cost of disabling workplace injuries and illnesses outpaced inflation between 1998-2000, according to the annual Workplace Safety Index compiled by Liberty Mutual. The report said the top three injury causes - overexertion (e.g., excessive lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying), falls on the same level, and bodily reaction (e.g., from bending, climbing, slipping or tripping without falling) - accounted for 51 percent of workers compensation direct costs in 2000, a five percent increase from 1998. The annual index identifies the direct costs of disabling workplace incidents and the top 10 causes based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and Liberty Mutual. Amendments to OSHA Law Considered by Congress A bill that would make it much harder than it is now to cite a "willful" violation of OSHA regulations was proposed last month by Rep. Charlie Norwood, (R-GA), the chair of the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee. The bill is cosponsored by all the Republicans on the subcommittee, which suggests that it is likely to pass in the House of Representatives. Groups Demand OSHA Issue Rule Requiring Employers To Pay For PPE A coalition of labor unions and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are trying to revive an OSHA standard that appears to have tumbled into the agency's rulemaking purgatory. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), the Hispanic Caucus and eight other labor groups filed a petition with the Secretary of Labor to demand action within 60 days on a rule requiring employers to pay for PPE. OSHA to Present Free Fall Protection Seminar for Southwestern Connecticut Employers As part of its efforts to help employers and workers in Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties prevent potentially fatal fall hazards, OSHA will hold a free seminar on fall hazards and fall protection at the Bridgeport Public Library's North Branch and Community Center, 3455 Madison Ave., on Tues., May 20, 2003, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. OSHA Schedules Public Hearing on Standards Improvement Project Proposal OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing here, July 8-9 to discuss the agency's proposed rule on the second phase of the Standards Improvement Project. OSHA Announces New Evacuation Planning Matrix OSHA announced the release of a new tool to help employers plan for emergency evacuation of the workplace in emergency situations. The new Evacuation Planning Matrix located on OSHA's website will provide employers with ideas, assistance, and on-line resources to help them reduce their vulnerability to and plan for workplace emergencies. OSHA Cites Florida Contractor for Exposing Workers to Trenching Hazards OSHA cited MAJ Contracting, Inc. for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a Venice job site. The agency is proposing $46,750 in penalties. OSHA Cites Florida Contractors for Exposing Workers To Fall Hazards OSHA has cited two contractors for failing to protect workers from fall hazards at a Jensen Beach, FL job site. Contractor Cited for Exposing Workers to Confined Space Hazards OSHA cited a Florida electrical contractor for exposing employees to safety hazards at a Miami Beach job site where two workers died after entering a manhole and being exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas. Company Cited For Alleged Willful Violation In Trench Collapse OSHA cited a California-based excavation company for serious and willful violations of federal safety standards following an investigation into the death of an employee when a trench collapsed. Back to Top June 2003 OSHA Administrator Unveils Agency's Five-Year Strategic Management Plan A 15% percent reduction in workplace fatalities and a 20% decrease in workplace injuries and illnesses by 2008 highlight OSHA's strategic management goals for the next five years. OSHA Administrator John Henshaw unveiled the agency's strategic management plan in a speech at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition in Dallas, May 12. Henshaw said OSHA would focus on reducing occupational hazards through direct involvement, promoting a safety and health culture, and strengthening OSHA's capabilities and infrastructure to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency. Ergonomics Advisory Committee Submits First Set of Work Plans The National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE) presented its first set of work plans to OSHA following its second meeting in Washington, May 7. The plans resulted from the efforts of the committee's three work groups that focused on guidelines, outreach and assistance, and research. NACE is scheduled to meet again in September. OSHA Forms Alliances with Two Construction Trade Associations OSHA recently formed Alliances with two construction trade associations to further occupational safety and health. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) joined with the agency to target various worker safety issues including workplace violence, ergonomics, residential construction, equipment and material handling, and driver and vehicle safety. Air Conditioning Contractors of America Align with OSHA Accident Prevention a key element of the agreement Ensuring a safer and more healthful workplace for contractors and employees in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry is the goal of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's latest Alliance with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Communications Tower Industry Hears from OSHA OSHA Administrator John Henshaw asked communication tower owners and providers to work with OSHA in reducing the high fatality rate of workers in the industry. Whistleblower Provisions under Sarbanes-Oxley Act Published OSHA is seeking comments from the public on an interim final rule that establishes procedures for handling whistleblower complaints under the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, also known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The rule establishes procedures for the expeditious handling of discrimination complaints made by employees or by persons acting on their behalf. Included in the interim rule are procedures for submitting complaints under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, investigations, and issuance of findings and preliminary orders. Semiannual Regulatory Agenda Published OSHA unveiled its regulatory priorities for the next year as part of the Department of Labor's unified agenda that was published in the Federal Register on May 27. Alliance in Western New York Targets Future Construction Workers Promoting safe and healthful working conditions for future members of western New York's construction industry is the goal of a newly established alliance between OSHA's Buffalo area office and the Orchard Park-based Lehigh Construction Group, Inc. The alliance will train and educate the region's high school and college level construction students in construction hazards and the best practices companies have implemented to reduce those hazards. The training will both protect students' safety and health and raise their awareness of the value of safety in construction. Mason Contractors' Association, Eastern Laborers' District Council and OSHA Sign Landmark Partnership Agreement The Mason Contractors' Association of St. Louis (MCA) and the Eastern Missouri Laborers' District Council will join forces with OSHA in an agreement designed to help contractor participants to develop new or improve existing industry workplace safety and health programs. OSHA Announces Partnership in Construction of Courthouse Project OSHA's Eau Claire, WI Area Office, has entered into a partnership with Market & Johnson, Inc., designed to protect workers at a courthouse construction site now underway in Barron, WI. Fines Proposed against Three Contractors for Safety Hazards at Massachusetts Jobsite Failure to protect workers at a Massachusetts construction site against falls, cave-ins and other potentially fatal safety hazards has resulted in $126,300 in fines against three contractors. Failure to Protect Workers against Traffic Hazards Leads to OSHA Fines A construction contractor's failure to safeguard workers against the hazards of high-speed traffic in a highway work zone has resulted in $49,000 in OSHA fines. OSHA Cites New Hampshire Contractor after Worker Falls A worker's four-story fall at a New Castle, N.H., construction site could have been prevented if his employer had supplied required fall protection according to OSHA. Potential Trenching Hazards Bring Fines Against Louisiana Contractor Failure to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought Coushatta Empire Inc. of Oakdale, La., $99,400 in proposed penalties from the Baton Rouge OSHA area office. Continued Failure to Protect Roofers from Injury Leads to Fines for Georgia Firm A Georgia roofing company is facing fines proposed by OSHA following an inspection of a worksite in Loves Park, IL, where the company allegedly allowed roofers to work at serious safety risk. OSHA Cites Florida Masonry Firm For Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards OSHA has cited a Florida Masonry firm for exposing employees to fall hazards by not properly erecting scaffolding at an Altamonte Springs job site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $55,000. OSHA Cites Contractors for Lack of Fall Protection on Bridge Project OSHA has cited two contractors for failing to protect workers from fall hazards on a bridge construction site where one worker fell to his death in December. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $49,300. EPA Launches Awareness Campaign On Vermiculite Insulation The federal government has launched a national consumer awareness campaign to provide homeowners with important information on vermiculite attic insulation which may contain asbestos. Asbestos Compensation Talks Break Down Negotiations over a federal asbestos injury compensation program broke down when Senator hatch introduced bill to set up trust fund to pay asbestos claims. Study Calls for Banning Asbestos The final version of a report on the use and management of asbestos, prepared by a non-profit think tank under a contract with the EPA concludes that the federal government should ban all importation and use of asbestos. EPA Announces Environmental Compliance Tool For Builders - Contractors Association Praised For 'Performance Track' Participation EPA announced the establishment of a new Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center (CICAcenter), that will provide Web-based information and resources to assist contractors with compliance with important federal and state environmental regulations. Construction Contractors Settle Clean Water Act Violations with EPA EPA has settled Clean Water Act violations against two construction developers for alleged violations concerning the control of polluted runoff from construction work at residential housing development sites in Virginia. Back to Top July 2003 Revision to OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standards Proposed OSHA would like to hear from interested persons regarding two issues in the agency's Respiratory Protection Standard. OSHA is proposing to amend the standard to include a new fit-testing protocol and incorporate new Assigned Protection Factors for respiratory programs. Comments are due to OSHA by Sept. 4, 2003. OSHA Announces Targeted Inspection Plan for 2003 About 3,200 high-hazard worksites will be targeted for inspection under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Program for 2003. This year's program began June 16 and will initially target those sites that reported a lost workday injury and illness rate (LWDII) of 14.0 or higher and, for the first time, sites that have a days away from work injury and illness (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher. The program stems from OSHA's Data Initiative for 2002 that surveyed approximately 95,000 employers to attain injury and illness. OSHA Launches Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for Cranes and Derricks OSHA wants to develop a new construction safety standard for cranes and derricks and announced in June that it will establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to help develop a proposed rule. The agency announced in February it would go forward with a negotiated rulemaking process to update the standard. Through negotiation, a committee composed of persons that could significantly be affected by the rule will develop a proposed revision that will address changes in technology and work processes. OSHA has appointed 23 members to the Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (C-DAC). The committee will hold its first public hearing in Washington, DC, July 30-Aug. 1. OSHA Issues Final Rule On Recordkeeping Form OSHA has decided not to modify the form which employers use to record workplace injuries and illnesses to include a separate column for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), the Agency announced. OSHA's decision appears in the June 30th Federal Register. National Hearing Conservation Association Aligns with OSHA The prevention of noise-induced hearing loss is the focus of OSHA's national Alliance signed June 2 with the National Hearing Conservation Association. The collaborative relationship is geared to preventing hearing loss caused by exposure to industrial and construction-related noise and other environmental factors in the workplace. OSHA, Florida Institute for Safety and Construction Form Alliance OSHA and Florida Atlantic University's Institute for Safety and Construction have formed an alliance designed to assist in identifying and removing safety hazards at construction sites. Fall Protection and Scaffolding Hazards at Long Island Work Sites Lead to Fines for NY Contractor A New York stucco contractor's failure to protect employees from the hazards of working on roofs and elevated scaffolds at two Long Island work sites has resulted in citations and substantial fines from OSHA. OSHA Fines Sewage Treatment Plant Contractor For Alleged Safety Violations An explosion at a sewage treatment plant in Boston that injured two contractor employees might have been prevented if safety standards were followed for working in confined spaces that contain flammable gas, according to citations issued by OSHA. Drilling Rig Company Cited for Violating Safety Standards Following A Fatal Accident A Louisiana.-based company's failure to properly train and protect employees from a fatal crane collapse in March has resulted in eight citations for alleged safety and health violations from OSHA. Crushing and Fall Hazards at Demolition Site Lead to $258,300 in Fines A Rhode Island demolition contractor's failure to safeguard its workers against falling debris and falls of up to eight stories from a partially demolished building has resulted in $258,300 in proposed fines from OSHA. OSHA Issues Bulletin On Hazards Associated With Striking Underground Gas Lines A new Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued by OSHA advises contractors on hazards associated with striking underground gas lines during excavation work. Health and Safety Plan Tool Available Online OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency have jointly developed an online Health and Safety Plan Guide for hazardous waste site operations. The plan includes ten chapters on various issues, including medical surveillance, spill containment, emergency response, confined spaces, decontamination, site control, and more. Emergency Exit Routes Card Published A pocket card that includes valuable information to aid workers and employers in safely evacuating workplaces during emergencies is now available on OSHA's website. The card complements the emergency exit routes fact sheet published in April, and includes brief descriptions of both design and construction requirements and necessary safety features. NIOSH Releases Publication on Asphalt Fume Exposure During the Application of Hot Asphalt to Roofs Last month NIOSH released a publication entitled "Asphalt Fume Exposures During the Application of Hot Asphalt to Roofs" NIOSH Publication No. 2003-112. Study Shows Hazard of Non-Road Diesel Engines as EPA Considers New Regulations Hundreds of thousands of workers who operate and work around non-road diesel equipment, such as bulldozers and farm tractors, are being exposed to dangerous concentrations of toxic diesel soot and other emissions according to a study released this week. World Trade Center Workers and Volunteers Stiffed by Government Workers and volunteers who have become sick as a result of their exposure to toxic materials in the Lower Manhattan air are being stiffed by the government, both federal and New York State. Congress Takes Up Legislation to Overhaul the Asbestos Compensation System After weeks of difficult negotiations, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee approached an agreement concerning asbestos liability compensation just before the Senate adjourned for a week-long break on June 27. ANSI Approves New American Society of Safety Engineers' Eye And Face Protection Standard The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) announced that the updated Z87.1-2003 'Practice for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices' was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standard, which has not been revised since 1989, is significant to employees and employers as it sets important criteria for minimizing and preventing eye and face protection. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Issues Driver's Hours-Of-Service Regulations The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued the first significant revision to the hours-of-service regulations in over 60 years. The new regulations provide an increased opportunity for drivers to obtain necessary rest and restorative sleep, and at the same time reflect operational realities of motor carrier transportation. Back to Top August 2003 House Subcommittee Passes Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act In what safety and health advocates perceive to be a stealth attack on the Occupational Safety and Health Act, on July 24 the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections passed three amendments to the law on three party-line votes, with all the Republicans on the committee voting in favor of the amendments and all the Democrats voting against them. Virgin Islands Converts to Public Employee Plan The U.S. Virgin Islands agreed with OSHA to convert the Territory's comprehensive state plan to a public employee only state plan. Last month, federal OSHA assumed jurisdiction over all private sector employees while the Virgin Islands will continue coverage of Territorial and local government employers and workers. The Virgin Islands also will provide on-site consultation services to the private sector. New Safety and Health Topics, Electronic Tools Available on OSHA's Website OSHA recently made available on its website several new or revised information products to aid workers and employers on various safety and health issues. Tips for Working in Hot Weather The sun and warm weather of summer can also bring special hazards for those working outdoors. To help employers and workers stay safe throughout the summer months, OSHA offers tips that can help prevent many heat-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries. OSHA's Atlanta Region Working to Reduce Occupational Electrical Hazards Electrical work is the topic, and preventing worker exposure to the hazards associated with the trade is the goal behind the efforts of OSHA's 13 area offices in the Atlanta Region. The offices are offering a free "Electrical Outreach" compact disc to assist employers in preventing injuries and fatalities associated with electrical work. The CD contains training presentations and photographs of various electrical hazards. It also discusses OSHA's regulations on the topic and provides helpful information on removing or correcting hazards before an injury occurs. Record-keeping Requirements for Ergonomic-Related Injuries/Illnesses Erroneous reporting from the Associated Press on June 30 may have led some employers to believe they were not required to report repetitive stress injuries or other workplace musculoskeltal disorders (MSDs). Employers must report all work-related injuries. OSHA's press release on June 30 makes it clear that such reporting is mandatory; however, the OSHA 300 form will not include a separate column for MSDs. The Associated Press published a correction to their article on July 7. OSHA Proposes Revision To Voluntary Protection Programs Benchmarks OSHA is seeking comments on a proposed revision to its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) that would change the benchmark injury and illness rates used to determine whether VPP applicants and participants meet the rate requirements for the VPP Star Program. This change would also apply to the requirements for construction applicants' qualification for the Merit Program. OSHA Unveils Web Pages on Emergency Preparedness & Small Business OSHA recently announced the availability of two new pages on the agency's website which will provide information on workplace emergency preparedness and information on how OSHA helps small businesses. OSHA, Mass. AGC, and Building Trades Partner for Increased Safety and Health at Bay State Construction Sites Enhancing safety and health at Bay State construction sites is the object of a unique partnership agreement among OSHA, the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO. OSHA, Construction Safety Roundtable, Join to Promote Safe and Healthy Working Conditions Eliminating job hazards at construction sites is the goal of a newly-signed alliance between OSHA's Braintree and Methuen, Mass., area offices and the Construction Safety Roundtable of Eastern Massachusetts. Fatal Fall at University Worksite in Mass. Leads to $46,200 in OSHA Fines The death of a worker who fell two stories to his death at a Waltham, Mass., construction site could have been prevented if his employer had supplied required fall protection, according to citations issued by OSHA. Excavation Hazards Bring $99,500 in Fines to Houston Company The Fishel Co. of Houston should have taken steps to protect employees from the dangers of a cave-in at a local excavation site this past winter, according to citations issued to the company by OSHA. The company now faces $99,500 in fines for allegedly not following established safety standards. Lack of Cave-In Protection Results in OSHA Fines for NH Employer A Hooksett, N.H., auto dealership's failure to provide cave-in protection for an employee working in a water-filled, six foot deep excavation has resulted in $37,750 in OSHA fines. NIOSH Prototype GPS Monitor Promises Faster, Surer Way to Identify Exposures The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is adapting Global Positioning System or GPS technology as a faster, more certain way to pinpoint locations at outdoor work sites where employees may be exposed to hazardous levels of dusts, gases, fumes, noise, and heat. New Edition of Lung Disease Data Report Updates Resource Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002, the latest edition of a widely used compendium of information on the occurrences of and trends in occupational respiratory diseases and exposures, is available from NIOSH. EPA Announces New Cleanup At 11 Superfund Projects In Nine States EPA today announced last month that to further protect public health of citizens living near hazardous waste sites, it will begin clean up at 11 new Superfund projects in nine states. EPA Awards Brownfield Redevelopment Money to Worcester, Mass The EPA recently announced a $200,000 grant to the Main South Community Development Corporation in Worcester, Massachusetts to help assess, clean and redevelop abandoned, contaminated parcels known as Brownfields. Recession Affects Workers' Compensation Trends Benefits paid to workers and employers' costs for workers' compensation rose slightly faster than wages in 2001, according to a new report released today by the National Academy of Social Insurance. This is the first year since 1992 that benefits grew faster than wages and the first year since 1993 that employer costs rose faster than wages. New Federal Report on Carcinogens Lists Beryllium and Wood Dust The federal government recently published its biennial Report on Carcinogens, adding beryllium and wood dust to its official list of "known" human carcinogens. These and 15 other new listings bring the total of substances in the report, "known" or "reasonably anticipated" to pose a cancer risk, to 228. CDC Releases Assessment of Americans' Exposure to Environmental Chemicals The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, the largest and most extensive assessment of the U.S. population's exposure to environmental chemicals. Check List Focuses on Controlling Infectious Diseases in the Workplace Every year, millions of Americans contract infectious diseases that can result in staggering health care costs, reduced workplace productivity, and adverse or even fatal outcomes. Because of the world-wide concern regarding the spread of viruses, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has chosen the prevention of infectious diseases as the focus of its annual Labor Day Check List. BCSP to Discontinue CSP Specialty Examinations in 2004 The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) will cease offering the CSP specialty examinations in 2004. These Certified Safety Professional (CSP) specialties include Construction Safety, Ergonomics, and System Safety. New Book Addresses Workplace Noise Control Identifying and reducing noise in the workplace, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently published a new, Third Edition of "Noise Control," edited by Emory E. Knowles III, of Essex, MD. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), thirty million people in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace. Events Chicagoland Safety and Health Conference August 11 - 15 Naperville, IL Construction and general industry safety, machine guarding, recordkeeping and effective safety management are among the topics on the slate at the 15th annual Chicagoland Safety and Health Conference scheduled for Aug. 11-15. The conference will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the NIU-Naperville campus, 1120 East Diehl Road, Naperville, IL. For general conference information, registration fees, and hotel accommodations, please contact Joe Islinger at (847) 297-6542. To register, contact Eugene Satrun at (815) 521-7739, or visit the conference website at http://www.info@chisafetyconf.org. For exhibitor information, contact Christine Petitti at (630) 745-7542, or visit the conference website at http://www.exhibitors@chisafetyconf.org. National Safety Council's 91st Annual Congress & Expo September 5 - 12 Chicago, IL For information and registration visit www.congress.nsc.org. Designing for Safety and Health in Construction: A Research and Practice Symposium Sept. 15-16 Portland, Oregon, Sponsored by University of Oregon Research Center; The Center To Protect Workers' Rights; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; and Oregon State University Construction Engineering Management Program, Industrial Design and Construction. Contact: Steven Hecker, Labor Education and Research Center, shecker@oregon.uoregon.edu, 541-346-2788. Click here for program information. ASSE Construction Safety Leadership Symposium October 16-17 New Orleans, LA Addressing construction safety challenges, tactics and regulations, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will hold a Construction Safety Leadership Symposium this October 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans - Louisiana Superdome. To register for the symposium or workshops call ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929 or register online under Educational Opportunities at www.asse.org. ASSE Safety And Health Law Symposium November 20 - 21 Fort Lauderdale, FL Educating safety professionals on law fundamentals and their role in reducing liability loss, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will hold the Law Symposium for the Safety, Health and Environmental Professional this November 20-21 at the Wyndham Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL. To register for the symposium or workshops call ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929 or register online under Educational Opportunities at www.asse.org. Back to Top September 2003 Electrical Contracting Workers Reap Benefits from Latest National Alliance The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) recently joined a growing list of organizations aligning with OSHA to further worker safety and health. NECA signed an Alliance August 12, focusing on workers in the electrical contracting industry, concentrating on hazards related to inside electrical, power line, and video-data-voice systems. Strategic Partnerships Signed in New York, Chicago Regions OSHA's New York region joined with labor, management and other government agencies to protect construction workers during a ten-year "City of Buffalo Schools Project" that will renovate existing schools and build new ones in the Buffalo, NY, area. The partnership includes the Buffalo Building and Construction Trades Council, the Louis P. Ciminelli Management Company, Inc., and the New York State Department of Labor's consultation program. Workers at the Lorain County (OH) Visitors Bureau construction project will benefit from a new strategic partnership between OSHA's Chicago region and the Northeast Ohio Carpenters, H. Fior General Contractor, Inc., Safety Controls Technology, and the Ohio consultation program. The six-month project will employ a! n average of 20 workers daily. Boston Region Forms Alliance with Liberty Mutual Research Institute A strategic alliance focusing on the principal causes of work-related injuries was formed between OSHA's Boston Region and the Boston-based Liberty Mutual Research Institute, August 19. OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said that Liberty Mutual's long expertise in tracking and developing solutions to work-related injuries will be of great value to OSHA's mission of reducing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association forms Alliance with OSHA The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) joined with OSHA to help reduce workplace injuries and illnesses and advance overall workplace safety awareness. OSHA Adds Important Subjects to Safety and Health Topics Web Page The latest additions to OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Web Page include information on a toxic metal, and discussions on the safe operation of forklifts. Revised Whistleblower Investigations Manual Published A revised compliance directive for OSHA's whistleblower protection program was published August 22. "Inside The Green Line" Tells OSHA's Story Of World Trade Center Cleanup Agency Also Releases Other New Publications Including Updated "All About OSHA" The critical role played by OSHA and its partners in ensuring the safety and health of workers at the World Trade Center site and the lessons learned in the process are chronicled a new publication, Inside the Green Line. OSHA also released several other publications about workplace safety and health. Masonry Contractor Fined $117,500 for Scaffolding Hazards A Houston-based masonry contractor's alleged failure to protect employees from falls and other scaffold-related hazards at a Dallas construction site has resulted in proposed OSHA penalties of $117,500. Rhode Island Trench Death Leads to $89,000 in Fines The death of a worker in a Woonsocket, R.I., trench collapse could have been prevented if his employer had supplied the required protection against cave-ins according to OSHA. Safety and Health Hazards Bring $78,600 in Fines to Texas Contractor OSHA announced it is imposing $78,600 in fines against a Laredo construction company because it failed to provide its employees with adequate protection and training for the dangers of cave-ins and other hazardous conditions. NIOSH Advances New Methods, Techniques, and Resources To Bolster Emergency Preparedness Drawing from its technical expertise in meeting traditional occupational safety and health challenges, NIOSH has advanced new methods, techniques, and resources to bolster preparedness for emergency responders, employees, and businesses. NIOSH-Funded Study Finds Emergency Responders Feel Inadequately Protected Against Terrorism A recent NIOSH-funded study by the RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute finds that emergency responders feel inadequately protected against the dangers of chemical, biological and radiological terrorist attacks. New NIOSH Partnership Forms on Silica A new Silica Partnership has been formed between NIOSH, the National Asphalt Paving Association, the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, milling machine manufacturing companies, and the Harvard School of Public Health. NIOSH Updates Online NIOSHTIC-2 Database NIOSH has updated and expanded its widely used online resource NIOSHTIC-2. The database is updated daily as reports are published and now includes full text access to the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation reports and Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation reports. Newly enhanced software enables users to conveniently email their search results to themselves or others. NIOSH Conducts New Studies on Health Effects of Welding Fumes Some studies suggest that occupational exposures to welding fumes may pose increased risk of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive effects, but the available data generally are too limited to offer conclusive answers. To help fill these challenging gaps, NIOSH researchers are developing new research that will use a special robotic welding arm. NIOSH Hearing Protector Device Compendium Now Available Online The new NIOSH Hearing Protector Device Compendium is now available for online use. Based solely upon data submitted by manufacturers, the updated compendium offers several new features. Leaked Report Says EPA Soft-Pedaled 9/11 Health Hazards at Urging of White House The Environmental Protection Agency systematically misled the public concerning the health hazards created by the collapse of the World Trade Center, according to a draft report by EPA's Inspector General, which was leaked to the New York Times. Pregnant Women Exposed to Polluted WTC Air Gave Birth to Abnormally Small Babies The clouds of dust and smoke resulting from the collapse of the World Trade Center and from the fires that burned for four months afterwards may have caused expectant mothers exposed to the polluted air to give birth to abnormally small babies, according to research published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. ASSE Issues Revised Standard on Confined Spaces and Updated Publication on Electrical Safety The American Society of Safety Engineers has published a new standard on Confined Spaces, and a new, Fifth Edition of its popular guide to electrical safety. Events Annual Construction Safety Conference & Exposition February 10 - 12, 2004 Chicago, IL Annual conference sponsored by Construction Safety Council & Chicagoland Construction Safety Council. Offers over 70 construction safety sessions, covering such topics as fall protection, powerline hazards, excavation safety, workers' compensation, helicopter and crane safety. For more information, call the Construction Safety Council at 800.552.7744, or visit their website at www.buildsafe.org. Back to Top October 2003 Bureau of Labor Statistics Announces Historic Drop in Workplace Fatalities, But Construction Records Highest Number of Fatal Injuries The number of workplace fatalities fell by more than six percent in 2002 to the lowest level ever recorded, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS' Sept. 17 announcement also highlighted an all-time low in the fatality rate - 4.0 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers during the same year. Construction continued to record the highest number of fatal injuries of any major industry, although the total for construction was down 9 percent from the series high recorded in 2001. Roofers, electricians, brick masons, and painters were among the construction trades recording increases in 2002. DOL Awards More Than $11 Million in Safety and Health Training Grants Sixty-seven nonprofit organizations are on tap to share portions of $11.2 million in training grants for safety and health training and educational programs. Announced Sept. 22, this year's grants were awarded in three categories: Targeted Topic Training Grants (e.g., construction and general industry hazards, workplace violence, emergency preparedness and response, etc.); OSHA Training Materials Development; and Ergonomics Guidelines Training. The training grants are named in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate, who died in 1996. The Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance is among the award recipients. CSA will use its grant to implement a hearing conservation program for building trades workers. Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the National Safety Management Society Join OSHA Alliance List OSHA recently signed an Alliance with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) starting a collaborative effort to encourage safety experts to strive for enhanced knowledge of safety and health programs and to achieve the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation. The National Safety Management Society (NSMS) is joining today with OSHA to focus on integrated safety management systems and workplace safety and health programs. OSHA, Union, Contractors Form Alliance to Reduce Worker Exposure to Electrical Hazards OSHA announced an alliance with labor unions and employers in the Southeast to save lives, avoid injuries and teach young workers how to work safely with electricity. New OSHA Partnership for New York Construction Project OSHA's Manhattan Area Office in New York signed a partnership agreement Sept. 15 for workers at the Trump Riverside South project. The 32-story residential and retail facility is on Manhattan's West Side and is expected to be completed in December 2004. Joining OSHA is HRC Construction LLC, the Building and Construction Trades Council and the Building Trades Employers Association. International Safety Equipment Association Aligns with OSHA Construction workers will benefit from increased attention to safety and health issues under an Alliance signed between OSHA and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and OSHA during the National Safety Congress in Chicago. The Alliance unites ISEA and OSHA on safety and health issues in heavy construction worksites, with a particular focus on the proper selection, use and maintenance of personal protective equipment. Two Dayton Construction Companies Receive OSHA's Top Safety Award Dayton, OH-based Danis Building Construction Company and Danis Industrial Construction Company received OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Demonstration Award in separate ceremonies last month. OSHA's Mobile Workforce Demonstration Program is a special component of VPP designed for construction and service industries. Mike Connors, OSHA's Regional Administrator in Chicago, said the awards "are a fitting testament to the cooperation between OSHA and these companies in developing a safer workplace." Connors also congratulated them on achieving two million man-hours without a lost time injury. OSHA, American Concrete Pipe Association form Alliance Protecting concrete pipe workers from the dangers found in confined spaces is the goal of an Alliance signed by the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) and OSHA. OSHA Aligns with Wage and Hour Division to Remind Employers of Prohibition for Young Workers to Operate Forklifts Employers should note that most workers under the age of 18 are prohibited from operating forklifts, according to a new Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued by OSHA and the Wage and Hour Division. Federal regulations prohibit most workers in non-agricultural employment under the age of 18 from operating forklifts. New OSHA Forms For Recording Work-Related Injuries And Illnesses Now Available On Agency's Website The revised OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses is now available on OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf. The forms, which are required for employers to use in recording injuries and illnesses, have changed in several important ways for 2004. Fall Protection Systems Continue to Save Lives Falls account for the greatest number of fatalities throughout construction and continue to be a major concern in other industries. OSHA Cites Ohio Excavating Firm for Exposing Workers to Trench Hazards An Ohio construction firm is facing a proposed OSHA fine of $510,750 after inspections along a 150-mile petroleum pipeline in Ohio found inadequate cave-in protection inside trenches. Failure to Supply Cave-in Protection Leads to $73,800 in OSHA Fines for NY Contractor An Alden, N.Y., construction contractor's failure to protect workers against a potentially fatal cave-in has resulted in $73,800 in fines from OSHA. Lack of Fall Protection, Other Hazards, at NY Construction Project Leads to Fines for Six Contractors Exposing construction workers to falls and other hazards at a Brooklyn condominium construction project has led to a total of $69,225 in OSHA fines against six New York contractors. OSHA Fines Contractor for Trenching Violations at Wisconsin Job Site Failing to provide workers a means to safely exit a construction trench and failing to assure adequate safety protection inside the trench for the fourth time this year has resulted in a $235,200 OSHA fine for Wisconsin contractor. Trenching Hazards Bring $105,500 in OSHA Fines to Texas Contractor OSHA has cited a Houston-based contracting company with $105,500 in proposed penalties for allegedly failing to adequately protect employees from trench cave-ins. Virginia Company, Owner Charged With Illegal Asbestos Removal The EPA announced charges against a Virginia company and its owner, for allegedly violating the Toxic Substances Control Act. The charges allege that the defendants conducted an asbestos remediation project at an apartment complex using workers who were not accredited to remove asbestos-containing materials. Using non-accredited workers can create a risk of releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Texas Man Sentenced For Illegal Asbestos Removal In Colorado The EPA announced that a Texas man was sentenced on Sept. 17 to serve 68 months in prison and pay fines exceeding $232,000 in restitution to a school district. He previously pled guilty to charges of illegally handling asbestos at the a high school in the district. Oregon Man Pleads Guilty To Asbestos Removal Violations An Oregon man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland, to one Clean Air Act (CAA) felony count of violating the asbestos work practice standards for asbestos abatement activity. New York Man Sentenced For Asbestos Crimes, Money Laundering A New York man was sentenced to 14 years in prison and was ordered to forfeit $939,079 to the United States for illegal asbestos abatement and money laundering. Former Connecticut Town Official Indicted On Asbestos Charges A former Connecticut official was indicted on Aug. 27, on charges that he recommended the demolition of a building containing asbestos. Former Demolition Crew Leader Sentenced For Dumping Asbestos Into The Sea A former demolition crew leader was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Houston Man Sentenced On Asbestos Charges A Houston man was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison, serve three years of supervised release and pay a $20,000 fine by the U.S. District Court for the Southern district of Texas in Houston on two counts of violating the Clean Air Act. Texas Painting Company And Three Individuals Charged With Multiple Federal Violations A painting company, its owner, a former supervisor for the company, a former Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Inspector, were charged in U.S. District Court in Little Rock in a 47-count indictment that alleged they violated various federal laws while performing highway bridge contracts in northeast Arkansas in 1999 and 2000. Asphalt Fume Exposure Topic Page NIOSH resources on asphalt fume exposure are now available on a new topic page. The website is http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/asphalt. Carbon Monoxide Hazards from Small Gasoline Powered Engines Topic Page A new NIOSH topic page lists recommendations for preventing carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings from small gasoline powered engines such as high-pressure washers, floor buffers, and generators. Because CO is a colorless, odorless, and nonirritating gas, exposed persons can be overcome without warning. This was the case during the recent power outages associated with Hurricane Isabel in which several individuals died from CO poisoning due to insufficient ventilation while using generators. The topic page can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/co. Energy Department Awards Key Cleanup Contracts to Small Businesses The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has awarded nationwide contracts to five Section 8 (a) businesses to perform environmental cleanup work at small DOE sites across the country. Department of Energy Announces Agreement Reached for Oak Ridge on Accelerated Cleanup Contract The Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new accelerated environmental cleanup contract has been finalized with Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC for work at sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The $1.8 billion five-year cost plus incentive fee contract is effective October 1, 2003. Construction Supervisor Falls at Massachusetts Highway Project - Lowell Sun, Sat., October 4, 2003. Wall Falls on 4 Men, Injuring 1 Seriously, Burlington County Times, Thurs., Oct. 2, 2003 Events Construction Users Roundtable 2003 National Owners Conference, 10-11 The Construction Users Roundtable proudly presents, "Driving Change: Collaborative Leadership For Challenging Times" as the theme for the 2003 National Owners Conference. The annual conference will be held November 10, 11 and 12 at the beautiful beachfront Registry Resort & Spa in Naples, Florida. The Conference Chairpersons are Ricardo Aparicio of General Electric Company, and Al Bunner of Tyco International. For more information, visit the CURT website at www.curt.org. First International Scientific Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health, November 12-14, 2003 The first International Scientific Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 12-14, 2003. NIOSH is cosponsoring the conference along with organizations and agencies in United States and Vietnam. The conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to exchange scientific information on occupational and environmental health in southeast Asia. For more information on the conference, contact the Vietnam Association of Occupational Health at nioeh@hn.vnn.vn or the University of Washington's Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at ce@u.washington.edu. National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Conference, November 13-15, 2003 The first National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Conference will be held in November 13-15, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia. The goal of the conference is to provide scientific and societal background concerning COPD to further education, awareness, and improved care in the United States. The conference will provide an opportunity to meet and to actively participate in state-of-the-art workshops, lectures, and meetings. For more information, visit the conference website http://www.uscopd.com/index_confer.html. ISEA Fall Meeting This year's Fall Meeting is at a new location at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in the Nation's Capital, and appropriately features a couple of firsts for ISEA. The Responder Protection Showcase on Tuesday afternoon will give ISEA members a chance to demonstrate their products to Department of Homeland Security and other federal and Congressional staffers. The first ISEA Award for Legislative Leadership will be presented at Monday's Awards Dinner, along with the Distinguished Service Award. Visit the ISEA website at www.isea.org for more information. Back to Top November 2003 OSHA's Role at World Trade Center Reaffirmed during Congressional Testimony Expressing "confidence and pride" in OSHA's staff, Patricia Clark, the agency's Regional Administrator in New York, told a Congressional subcommittee Oct. 28, that the agency did "everything humanly possible to protect workers during recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site." Clark, whose office directed OSHA's participation of those efforts, testified before the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations Committee on Government Reform. She reminded the committee that no deaths occurred among the workers despite a non-stop and dangerous rescue and recovery mission over a ten-month period. More than 1,000 OSHA staff participated in that clean-up and recovery effort following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. OSHA Offers New Resource for Chemical Reactivity Safety Reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities during chemical manufacturing and operations is the stimulus for OSHA's newest safety and health information webpage, Chemical Reactivity Safety. The page features resources on the recognition, evaluation and control of chemical reactive hazards, and also offers free access to a new book by the Center for Chemical Process Safety that includes a compendium of best practices from leaders in chemical processing. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Topic of New Safety and Health Bulletin OSHA recently published a bulletin reiterating the agency's policy on disposal of contaminated needles and blood tube holders following blood drawing procedures. OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard prohibits the removal of needles from medical devices and removal of contaminated needles from blood tube holders following a blood drawing procedure. The safety and health information bulletin details those requirements and also includes an Evaluation Toolbox that supplies guidance on the evaluation, selection, and appropriate use of engineering controls. The bulletin also provides the most recent sharps injury data from the Exposure Prevention Information Network. OSHA Issues Safety And Health Information Bulletin On Mold A new Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued by OSHA in October gives recommendations on how to prevent mold growth and how to protect workers involved in the prevention and cleanup of mold. Indoor exposure to mold can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks in some individuals. OSHA Offers Safety Tips For Tilt-Up Construction A new Safety and Health Information Bulletin from OSHA alerts workers and employers about the hazards of unsupported panels and provides practical recommendations on ways to prevent them from collapsing. The bulletin offers safety information for workers involved in tilt-up panel erection-a common method used to raise concrete wall panels during the construction of many types of buildings and structures. Revised Recordkeeping Forms Available Online Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, employers must use OSHA's revised Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). To aid in that transition process, the agency has made the form available online. The revised form includes various changes, including the addition of an occupational hearing loss column and more clear-cut formulas for calculating incidence rates. And, remember-while there is no separate column for work-related injuries associated with ergonomic factors, employers must still record those injuries in either the injury or "all other illness" columns. Potential Trenching Hazards Bring $98,800 in Fines to Texas Contractor Failure to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought a Texas contractor $98,800 in proposed penalties from the Corpus Christi OSHA. Cave-In Hazard at Mountain Highway Worksite Leads to OSHA Fines A New Hampshire contractor's failure to safeguard workers against potentially fatal cave-in hazards at has resulted in citations and OSHA fines. Trenching and Confined Space Hazards Bring Fines to Houston Employer A local employer's alleged failure to protect workers from trench cave-ins and exposure to carbon monoxide has resulted in citations for alleged violations of OSHA safety standards. Proposed penalties total $83,300. OSHA Fines Houston Masonry Company $344,800 After Citing Company for Fifth Time A Houston masonry company's failure to properly train its employees and follow safety standards to prevent scaffolding and fall hazards has resulted in proposed OSHA penalties totaling $344,800. OSHA Cites Florida Contractor for Exposing Employees to Trenching Hazards OSHA has cited Modern Continental, Inc., of Ormond Beach, FL for failing to provide adequate cave-in protection for workers at a Port Orange excavation site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $77,500. Rhode Island Water Project Stalled Over Safety Training Workers Begin Taking Down Wall At Fallen Tropicana Casino Resort Parking Garage Voters Repeal Washington State Ergonomics Rule Construction Worker Dies of Fall at Boise State University Strategic OSHA Partnerships in Kansas City, New York Regions OSHA's Kansas City region joined with the Wichita Area Builders Association last month in a strategic partnership to promote safety and health for workers in the local area's residential construction industry. The partnership provides the Association's 1,200 contractor members with information and services to help comply with safety and health standards. Two partnerships were recently formed in OSHA's New York Region with labor, management and other government agencies. The Buffalo Area Office formed a partnership to protect construction workers during a two-year project for the construction of the Buffalo Life Sciences Complex, while the Long Island Area Office signed its second partnership to help protect workers during the construction of a combined-cycle power plant at the Charles M. Poletti Generating Station in Astoria, NY. OSHA Signs Partnership with AMEC Construction Management Fostering a relationship that encourages construction employers to improve their safety and health performance is the foundation of a strategic partnership signed on Oct. 30 between OSHA and a leading international engineering services and construction management firm. OSHA Forms Alliance with the Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers Furthering the safety and health of construction workers is the goal of an Alliance signed between OSHA and a national organization dedicated to all workers in the construction industry. National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Partners with OSHA Workers in the ready mixed concrete industry will benefit from a partnership agreement signed by the OSHA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). John L. Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA and James Russ, Chairman, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and senior vice president with Aggregate Industries Management, signed the partnership agreement today in Washington, DC. Health and Safety Partnership Formed For Fish Market Construction Project in Bronx Providing enhanced safety and health protections for construction workers building the new Hunts Point Fish Market is the goal of a partnership agreement announced by the Tarrytown, N.Y. OSHA area office. Association of Diving Contractors International Aligns with OSHA Improving the health and safety of commercial divers is the fundamental goal of an Alliance formed today between OSHA and the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADC). Network of Employers For Traffic Safety Aligns With OSHA Reducing work-related traffic injuries and deaths is the goal of a new Alliance OSHA has formed with the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS). NIOSH and ASSE to Collaborate On Research To Prevent Work-Related Deaths, Injuries On October 28, NIOSH signed an agreement with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) to collaborate on strategic research for preventing work-related deaths and injuries. Under the new agreement, which will continue until December 31, 2004, NIOSH and ASSE will partner on projects to reduce work-related injuries by developing and disseminating information on worker safety and health, participating in occupational safety and health conferences and events, advancing the effectiveness of occupational safety and health research, and promoting and facilitating the transfer and workplace implementation of research results on effective occupational injury prevention strategies and technologies. NIOSH Approves First Upgrade to CBRN Protection for SCBA Devices NIOSH announced recently that specified models of previously deployed Scott Health and Safety self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) could be upgraded for protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents using procedures and materials certified by NIOSH. Maryland and Virginia Companies Plead Guilty To Buying False Asbestos Training Certificates Between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3, several guilty pleas for buying false asbestos training certificates were entered in federal court in Alexandria, VA. American Society Of Safety Engineers To Develop Mold Standard For Worker Protection The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) announced on November 5th that it will develop a standard aimed at protecting workers when dealing with mold remediation. ANSI Fall Protection Standard Focuses On Proper Training Requirements Each year hundreds of workers die from falls, the third leading cause of on-the-job deaths in the U.S., often due to the lack of training with fall protection equipment and procedures. WorkingUSA Publishes Special Occupational Safety and Health Issue "Occupational Safety and Health in a Neoliberal World" is the epigraph for the Fall 2003 issue of the quarterly WorkingUSA. Edited by long-time safety and health activist/scholar Vernon Mogensen, four articles cast a jaundiced eye on some of neoliberalism's challenges to workers and unions - the myth that industrial injuries and fatalities aren't preventable, toothless protective laws that are violated with impunity, the tragic destruction of OSHA's ergonomics standard, and the EPA's misleading advice after 9/11. Events Construction Users Roundtable 2003 National Owners Conference, November 10-11 Construction Users Roundtable 2003 National Owners Conference, November 10-11. The Construction Users Roundtable proudly presents, "Driving Change: Collaborative Leadership For Challenging Times" as the theme for the 2003 National Owners Conference. The annual conference will be held November 10, 11 and 12 at the beautiful beachfront Registry Resort & Spa in Naples, Florida. The Conference Chairpersons are Ricardo Aparicio of General Electric Company, and Al Bunner of Tyco International. For more information, visit the CURT website at www.curt.org. First International Scientific Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health, November 12-14 The first International Scientific Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 12-14, 2003. NIOSH is cosponsoring the conference along with organizations and agencies in United States and Vietnam. The conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to exchange scientific information on occupational and environmental health in southeast Asia. For more information on the conference, contact the Vietnam Association of Occupational Health at nioeh@hn.vnn.vn or the University of Washington's Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at ce@u.washington.edu. National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Conference, November 13-15 The first National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Conference will be held in November 13-15, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia. The goal of the conference is to provide scientific and societal background concerning COPD to further education, awareness, and improved care in the United States. The conference will provide an opportunity to meet and to actively participate in state-of-the-art workshops, lectures, and meetings. For more information, visit the conference website http://www.uscopd.com/index_confer.html. ISEA 2003 Fall Meeting, November 17-19, 2003 This year's Fall Meeting is at a new location at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in the Nation's Capital, and appropriately features a couple of firsts for ISEA. The Responder Protection Showcase on Tuesday afternoon will give ISEA members a chance to demonstrate their products to Department of Homeland Security and other federal and Congressional staffers. The first ISEA Award for Legislative Leadership will be presented at Monday's Awards Dinner, along with the Distinguished Service Award. Visit the ISEA website at www.isea.org for more information. Construction Safety Council, Leading the Way…The 14th Annual Construction Safety Conference and Exposition, February 10-12, 2004. The Construction Safety Council's 14th Annual Construction Safety Conference and Exposition, will be held at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL on February 10-12, 2004. The conference will feature over 70 exciting construction safety sessions, ranging from 1-1/4 hour to 2-1/2 hours. Session topics will range from fall protection, power line hazards and excavation safety to workers' compensation, helicopter and crane safety, and health hazard issues. Exhibitors displaying at SAFETY EXPO '04 will be introducing the latest in safety and health technology. The Expo will be open for the first two (2) days (February 10 & 11) of the 14th Annual Construction Safety Conference. More information available at www.buildsafe.org. Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance, Safety - It's Your Life: Annual Construction Safety Conference & Expo, March 23 - 25, 2004 The Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance will hold its Annual Construction Safety Conference & Expo on March 23 - 25, 2004 at the Lantana meeting facility in Randolph, MA. The premier event of its kind in New England, the conference will feature plenary sessions, workshops and Professional Development Seminars, on some of the hottest safety and health issues facing the construction industry today. Exhibitors will also be displaying the latest health and safety products, services, and other resources available to the construction workforce. Back to Top December 2003 New Data Show Record-Breaking Results From Strong Enforcement, Compliance Assistance U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao released the Department of Labor's annual enforcement statistics last month, showing that the Department's innovative and effective approach to protecting workers is yielding record-breaking results. NIOSH, Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Ally with OSHA to Improve Roadway Work Zone Safety Improving roadway work zone safety and health is the goal of a new Alliance the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formed with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition. Public Hearing on Assigned Protection Factors Scheduled A public hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 28, 2004, to discuss OSHA's proposal to amend the Respiratory Protection Standard to include new Assigned Protection Factors (APFs). APFs reflect the workplace level of respiratory protection that respirators are expected to provide workers. Interested parties who intend to present testimony must notify OSHA by Dec. 12. The hearing will be held at the Labor Department in Washington, D.C, beginning at 9 a.m., Jan. 28. New Emergency Response Training Tool Available Having the tools and knowledge to participate effectively in response to major incidents, natural and otherwise, is the goal of OSHA's latest web-based training tool-Incident Command System (ICS). ICS is an integrated and flexible structure that emphasizes cooperation and coordination in local, state, and federal responses to incidents that may cross various jurisdictions and agencies. The electronic assistance tool highlights planning and preparation and the implementation of an ICS system. The tool includes a section on safety aspects outlining OSHA standards that affect ICS workers, and provides additional guidance information applicable to emergency response safety and health. Giving Cardiac Arrest Victims a Fighting Chance OSHA has published a new brochure with life-saving information for worker's who may fall victim to sudden cardiac arrest. Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the Workplace provides information on the importance of readily-available automated external defibrillators (AED), and encourages the installation of the devices in workplaces. Also included is a list of resources for more detailed guidance on the use of AEDs as well as how to obtain qualified training. The brochure highlights three success stories provided by the American Heart Association and NIOSH. Tilt-Up Panel Construction Hazards Subject of Safety Bulletin OSHA recently issued a safety and health information bulletin for the construction industry. The Tilt-Up Panel Construction Hazard bulletin alerts contractors and construction personnel about hazards associated with unsupported panel walls during construction. The bulletin provides safety recommendations to employers and workers involved in tilt-up construction and also highlights investigation details of a North Carolina accident where three workers were killed when a 20-ton concret