March 2006 OSHA News

Greater Illinois OSHA News             March 22, 2006

Vol. 2. No. 3 

DIOSH DAY 2006

We want to thank the DIOSH day committee and volunteers for all the hard work they did to ensure that the event was a success. We had approximately 500 people attend the sessions and we hope you enjoyed the presentations.  

Z Project/Best Practice Project 

OSHA is taking nominations for the Z Project which highlights best practices from companies. There are four award categories. 

- The Lifesaver Award is presented for a control that could save a life.
- The Pluto Award for a concept that is unusual and innovative. 

- The Alveoli Protection Award is awarded for a control that improves air quality. 

- Highest honors, the Z Project Award is for the best control of the year. 

Please contact Peggy Zweber for more information at (309) 589-7033 or zweber.peggy@dol.gov

Macomb Electrical Fatality

A young second-year apprentice was electrocuted installing 277v ballast while the electricity was on. This is the second fatality in less than a year that we in Peoria have investigated for this issue.  

(Photo by John Newquist)

We expect during ballast changing operations that the breaker be locked out as shown in the above photo. 

(Photo by John Newquist)

Here the electrician is checking to see if the wires are de-energized. He is wearing a headlight to see. He is also wearing Class 0 gloves with leather protectors to do the wiring. 

Peoria building collapse

(photo by Rob Bonack)

In March, a commercial property under construction collapsed when the wood trusses fell. We expect all wood trusses to have horizontal and diagonal bracing in accordance with the Truss Plate Institute Guidelines. Four industry documents currently provide recommendations for temporary bracing. The documents include DSB-89 Recommended Design Specifications for Temporary Bracing of Metal Connected Wood Trusses (TPI, 1989), HIB-91 Commentary and Recommendations for Handling, Installing, and Bracing Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses Pocketbook (TPI, 1991), HIB-91 Summary Sheet (TPI, 1991), and HIB-98 Post Frame Summary Sheet (TPI, 1998). All documents are available from the Truss Plate Institute. www.tpinst.org

Four Fingers Amputated in a Press Brake

We are investigating an amputation of four fingers in Sauget IL. The temporary worker was using a hydraulic press brake when the amputation happened. It was foot pedal operated. 

Top Cited Construction National 2005

#1 – 1926.501(b)(1) 

• Subpart M:  Fall Protection, Open-sided floors with no guardrails

• Total Violations: 1952

• Ave. cost/citation: $1944

#2 – 1926.501(b)(13)

• Subpart M: No Fall Protection for Residential Construction. Most common is the lack of slide guards during roofing.

• Total Violations: $1871

• Ave. cost/violation: $1550

#3 – 1926.100(a)

• Subpart E:– No Hard Hats

• Total Violations: 1605

• Ave. cost/citation: $764

#4 – 1926.451(g)(1)

• Subpart L: Scaffolding – No Fall Protection

• Total Violations: 1441

• Ave. cost/citation: $1452

#5 – 1926.503(a)(1)

• Subpart M:  Fall Protection Training Requirements

• Total Violations: 1214

• Ave. cost/citation: $768

#6 – 1926.453(b)(2)(v)

• Subpart L:  Aerial Lifts – no fall arrest used. 

• Total Violation: 1185

• Ave. cost/citation: $1419

#7 – 1926.451(e)(1)

• Subpart L:  Climbing scaffolds like walkthrough frames

• Total Violations: 1161

• Ave. cost/violation: $1372

#8 – 1926.1053(b)(1)

• Subpart X:  Ladder too short, not 3 feet above landing

• Total Violations: 1090

• Average cost/violation:  $820

#9 – 1926.652(a)(1)

• Subpart P:  Lack of cave-in protection on trenches

• Total Violations: 1070

• Ave. cost/violation: $1498

#10 – 1926.451(b)(1)

• Subpart L : Not having full planking on each working deck

• Total Violations: 1065

• Ave. Cost/citation: $1498

Springfield Tornado

(Photo by John Newquist)

OSHA sent several people to the City of Springfield to assist in recovery  from an F2 tornado that hit the city on March 12;  94% of the power was lost to the city. The West mall area and the east Dirksen drive area were the hardest hit.  Over 100 interventions were done (all tornado related); serious hazards affecting over 1000 employees were identified and abated.

(Photo by John Newquist)

The company agreed to have an insulated aerial lift brought in to do roof edging instead of this unsafe practice. Power lines must be presumed to be hot unless visibly grounded. 

OSHA is co-sponsoring the Midwest Emergency Preparedness and Response Conference in Rockford on May 8-10, 2006. The Regional Administrator, Michael Connors will give a keynote.  The website, http://www.winn-lepc.org/conference.htm has more information and the agenda.

Secretary v. Reynolds, Inc.

OSHA issued a Citation containing willful, repeat, and serious violations following a fatality inspection of the firm’s Mason, Ohio worksite.  The fatality occurred when a bucket unintentionally detached from a track hoe and fell onto a worker in an open excavation.  The judge affirmed the willful and repeat violations and one of three serious items.  The affirmed willful violation involved the failure to use cave-in protection in a trench that was over five feet deep.  The repeat violation alleged the failure to provide training on excavation cave-in hazards, and quick coupler use and procedures for preventing accidental disengagement of attachments from quick couplers.  The one serious item that was affirmed involved the failure to include inspections of quick couplers in the firm’s accident prevention program.  The ALJ assessed a penalty of $25,000 for the willful violation, $10,000 for the repeat violation, and $1,000 for the serious violation.

The ALJ vacated a 5(a) (1) citation alleging the failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using a quick coupler finding,  that the manufacturer’s instructions were inadequate because they did not specify which steps are critical, did not stress the need to perform each step, and did not describe how to perform the visual inspection aspect of the test.  Finally, he vacated the serious violation which alleged that Respondent’s accident prevention program failed to address quick couplers and work near swinging attachments.  Reynolds, Inc., headquartered in Orleans, Indiana, is engaged in excavation contracting and in-ground pipe installation and employs approximately 800 employees nationwide.  

House Under Renovation

OSHA does not have any jurisdiction for home owners who may erect unsafe scaffolds. We would talk to them if available. (photo by Trish Rankin)

Comments

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Peoria office - Phone (309) 589-7033. 

Fairview Heights office - Phone (618) 632-8612

The information contained herein has been compiled and reported with the intent that it is

both reliable and up-to-date, and is offered for general guidance only. Additional safety

measures may be required by your facility under certain conditions or circumstances.

Please seek professional advice for your specific situations.  The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IL DCEO) can be contacted at 1-800-972-4216.