OSHA June 2018 news

OSHA News for June 2018
I hope the third heat wave of the year is not knocking you down.  Lori Mac and Walt Siegfried mentioned that pickle juice can help prevent heat cramps. This is one of many articles that seems to show its positive benefit.
https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/science-finally-helps-explain-legendary-pickle-juice-massacre-dallas?amp
I met with OSHA on the large Trench stand down this month. Over 200 workers and people attended the event.  OSHA mentioned that trenches and excavations on larger jobs are generally very good. It is the small jobs where they see most of the problems.
The OSHA nominee Scott Mungo is still not at the agency. I am not sure what is the hold up.
This month’s PowerPoint is skin cancer. It is now the most diagnosed cancer. I have had people I know die from the cancer and was surprised how prevalent it is today. The diagnosis and treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by 77 percent between 1994 and 2014. ... Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 4.3 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.
Some sunscreen can help prevent it and well and wearing light clothes. Stay cool and see you a month from now.
 John

OSHA News. 
1) OSHA issues new VPP. Death or willfuls is not automatic termination.
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/policy_memo7.html
2)  Representatives Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee has reported out a bill cutting overall OSHA funding from $552.78 million in FY 2018 to $545.25 million for FY 2019, a 1.4% reduction.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP07/20180615/108431/BILLS-115-SC-AP-FY2019-LaborHHS-LaborBill.pdf
3) Silica enforcement delayed until July 23, 2018 for Industry
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-announces-30-day-grace-period-enforcement-silica-standard-general-industry
4) Education and Labor department to be merged?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-propose-merging-education-labor-departments-1529533148
5)  OSHA 300a due in July.
https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2018/06/recordkeeping-reminder-get-300as-osha-july-1/
6)   OSHA whistleblower win. Wells Fargo to pay $5.4 million to a former manager who said he was fired in 2010 after reporting to his supervisors and to a bank ethics hotline what he suspected was fraudulent behavior.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/business/04-wells-fargo-whistleblower-fired-osha.html
7) OSHA has a new searchable, online database of workplace chemicals http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17209-osha-launches-database-for-workplace-chemical-information
8)  OSHA has new trenching safety poster
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/trench/3215_trench_poster_eng.pdf
9)   On June 29, Ann Rosenthal leaves the Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor where she has spent 40 years handling worker safety and health cases.
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/safety/labor-solicitor-wraps-four-decades-of-defending-worker-safety
10) The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that its five most popular videos center on construction safety.
https://www.equipmentworld.com/oshas-5-most-popular-construction-safety-videos-trenches-silicosis-falls-and-heat-illness/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Other Major News Stories.
1) Two workers die on elevator collapse in St. Louis
https://www.ksdk.com/mobile/article/news/local/2-construction-workers-dead-after-safety-cable-snaps-in-elevator-in-downtown-st-louis/63-561295160
2)  Skin cancers kills 50 a year from work exposures in Britain.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3051354/Skin-cancer-work-kills-50-year-250-cases-registered-people-spend-time-outside-jobs-construction-agriculture-leisure.html
3) OSHA has safety and health bulletin out on horizontal directional drilling.
https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib031318.html
4) Two KS deputies died during prison transfer
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-city-theresa-king-second-sheriffs-deputy-dies-following-shooting-2018-06-16/
5) Two dead in NY when slabs fall over on them.
https://www.wkbw.com/news/two-men-killed-in-industrial-accident-in-lockport

OSHA Citations this month
1)  $125,460 NH Conveyor fatality. Lockout. Guarding. Energy company.
2) $64,857 CO confined space, respirators. Chemical manufacturer.
3)  $120,320 WI Willful roof fall. Ladderjacks. Roofer.
4) $202,201 OH Willful trench. Excavation company.
5) $129,336 FL Willful roof. Roofing company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 10 Industry. Rockford July 9-10
OSHA 7200 Bloodborne Rockford July 11
OSHA 500 CSC July 9-12
OSHA 511 NSC July 10-13
OSHA 3015 Trenching Depends on enrollment July 16-18
OSHA 511 Chicago July 23-26


NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 1502 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too. I teach in Wisconsin, Central Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.   

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/skin-cancer-2018
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

OSHA May 2018 News

OSHA News for May 2018

We survived the third hottest May and the wettest May ever here in IL.  80% of the heat deaths were the employee’s first three days per OSHA. Everyone should have heat illness training and know the signs of heat stress.

This month’s presentation is concrete safety. I like teaching it in the OSHA classes. I want to make a day long concrete safety class. I see shoring mistakes and masonry walls over 8 feet that are not braced. The file is 37 megs, so I need a gmail address if you want the powerpoint.

Jake Scott from OSHA was excellent as usual at the ASSE Three Rivers Chapter meeting last month. I summarized some key points in the news below.

I find myself in the summer doing more audits and legal work. No two attorneys prepare cases the same. These injuries cases and lawsuits are good material for training. They show that a third party can go after a company that does not meet the OSHA requirements.

John

OSHA News. 

1) Two CA managers charged in death of untrained forklift driver.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/2-charged-in-death-of-forklift-operator-at-San-12895421.php

2) Aurora office will be moving to 88 and 59 area in the summer.

3)  Silica Emphasis Program is on hold until compliance directive is finished. This means most will be handled via a phone call.

4) EPA pushes to rescind some Risk Management Program rules.

EPA is proposing to rescind:

•            the requirement that any facility that has a catastrophic release or a near miss conduct a "root cause" investigation into what happened;

•            the requirement that any facility that has a reportable release or incident get a third-party safety audit, or when the agency considers such an audit necessary;

•            the requirement that facilities in certain high-risk categories (such as chemical manufacturing and oil refining) research whether they could use safer alternatives;

•            the requirement that facilities provide, upon request by a member of the public, specific chemical hazard, accident history, and response information;

•            the requirement that facilities hold a public meeting to provide specific information within 90 days after a reportable release/incident.

https://www.epa.gov/rmp/proposed-risk-management-program-rmp-reconsideration-rule

5) OSHA recently published a final rule extending the operator certification compliance date until November 10, 2018, to provide the agency with additional time to complete this rulemaking to address stakeholder concerns related to the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/2017-11-09

6) OSHA proposes to amend its recordkeeping regulation to remove the requirement to electronically submit to OSHA information from the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) for establishments with 250 or more employees which are required to routinely keep injury and illness records. Under the proposed rule, these establishments would be required to electronically submit only information from the OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-s-revised-improve-tracking-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-regulation-omb

7) OSHA guidance on lighting. Seek an ENCLOSED building.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3863.pdf

8) Highlights from the OSHA ASSE meetings

For FY17 – OSHA

-             52% construction. Up 3%

-             Average penalty $3645

-             27% incompliance. Up 2%

-             51,273 violations. Down over 5000.

-             27% complaint inspections.

-             32,396 inspections. Up slightly.

Region V 2004-2016 had 449 struck by fatalities, 426 fall fatalities, 393 caught in fatalities, 126 electrocutions;

Region V fatalities went up from 106 CY16 to 127 in CY17. Construction was 40, Manufacturing was 20, and OTHER was 67.

OSHA in Aurora is inspecting nearly 100% of the lockout and machine guarding amputations. Over 400 amputations and hospitalizations were called in. $0% inspected of that total. 

Other Major News Stories.

1) Two workers die on elevator collapse.

"The workers were simply constructing the temporary elevator shaft when, unfortunately, it broke and they fell," said Seth Finman with the Naples Police Department.

http://www.wfla.com/news/florida/2-workers-killed-after-falling-110-feet-in-naples-elevator-shaft/1170202390

2) Two workers die in Powerline contact.

Sampedro and one of his coworkers were killed last week while drilling for soil near the Ray Nixon Power Plant. A part of their truck hit a power line overhead, killing the men almost instantly in a suspected electrocution.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/coroner-identifies-2-men-electrocuted-near-power-plant/

OSHA Citations this month

1)  $71,137 FL workplace violence, health facility

2) $199,178 FL willful falls, framing contractor

3) $251,108 GA 36 violations, combustible dust, noise, lockout,  mulch mfr

4) $79,004 CO Fatal pipeline fire, Energy and pipeline companies.

5) $222,152 PA Willful cylinders, falls, and floor holes. General contractor.

6) $201,212 PA willful lockout and machine guarding. Box manufacturer

7) $139,684  AL Fatal trench. Sewer contractor and staffing agency.

8) $281,220 NY Flash fire fatal. Willful bonding. Cosmetics company.

9) $147,822 WI Repeat Lead, Battery Company

10) $162,596 FL Steel plate trench fatal. Energy company.

11) $138,927 FL Cave-in protection, Paving company.

12) $191,071 NE Willful falls, Residential roofer

  

Safety Training at Non-Profits

OSHA 511 NIU Hoffman Estates                              June 4-7

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/

CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org

WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/

TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org

 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/

I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 1435 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/1926-concrete-safety-2018

I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

April 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for Apr 2018
It has been a crazy three weeks with audits and legal work filling in the schedule.
Worker’s Memorial Day was good in Lincoln Nebraska.  It was good to see friends again. I like teaching there every other year. Other trainers were excellent.
The Heat Stress Training for companies should be covered again as we had a taste of summer this last week. I had people get sunburn and heat rash already.
I did four lockout audits and all four had serious issues. One maintenance man was upset that it would take 30 minutes to restart. The company policy was to lockout. An identifier needs to be on the lock or tag.
The Bulk Powder show was in Rosemont this year. Most of the fire protection, spark detection, explosion venting and dust collector companies were there. It was a good chance to see the state of the art that is out there.
I will be attending the ASSE Three River Meeting on May 11. Jake Scott from OSHA is speaking. He is one of the best OSHA speakers with the best data shown in any presentation.   https://threerivers.asse.org/events/osha-update-rescheduled/
This month’s powerpoint is hazardous materials. Many instructors find this a difficult module to teach. I focus on the hazards and the common citations. The file is 25 Megs so I included a pdf. If you have a gmail, I can send a ppt.
OSHA News. 
1) OSHA offers searchable trainer list online.
https://www.constructionequipment.com/osha-offers-searchable-outreach-trainer-list-online
2) Ignorance of OSHA rules is not a defense.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/ignorance-of-osha-standards-no-defense-for-workers-death/521280/3)
3) Eleventh Circuit Highlights Importance of Safety Training in Affirming Willful Violation of OSHA Standard
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/eleventh-circuit-highlights-importance-safety-training-affirming-willful-violation


Other Major News Stories.
1) Opioid-related overdoses claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 Midwest construction workers in 2015
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16749-midwest-construction-industry-hit-hard-by-opioid-crisis-report-shows
2) Tree care-related worker fatalities down in 2017: report
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16753-tree-care-related-worker-fatalities-down-in-2017-report
3) ComDust victim awarded $39.7 million
https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/comdust-victim-awarded-397-million?utm_source=Real_Magnet&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=180417_DB&utm_content=DAILY%20BRIEF&utm_campaign=ComDust%20victim%20awarded%20big
4) Two FL deputies killed in ambush.
 https://nypost.com/2018/04/19/two-florida-deputies-shot-dead-in-suspected-ambush/
5) Honeywell recalls some hardhats.
https://cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Honeywell-Recalls-Hard-Hats-Due-to-Risk-of-Head-Injury
6) A California jury has awarded $11.4 million at the conclusion of a take-home asbestos exposure trial, finding that the defendant had acted with malice when it failed to warn employees of asbestos-related hazards.
https://harrismartin.com/article/23436/calif-jury-awards-114-million-at-conclusion-of-take-home-asbestos-exposure-trial/


OSHA Citations this month
1)  Mi $154,000 Pole Barn Roof fall. General Contractor
2) CA $134,454 Roofing fall repeat. Roofer. 
3) NY $108,095 Asbestos Silica, Rental facility
4) OH $258,672 Willful forklift, Farm Supply company
5) OH $261,454 Willful machine guarding. Plastic Mfr.
6) NE $46,930 Cave-in hazards, Sewer contractor.
7)  ND $454,750 Cave-in Hazards, Pipeline company
8) OH $138,394 Willful falls. Residential Roofer
9) NJ $435,679 Willful Lockout, Machine Guarding, and Forklift. Plastic company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits
OSHA 500 CSC May 7-10
OSHA 7205 Health Hazards CSC             May 16
OSHA 511 NSC May 7-10
Scaffold TRMA               May 30

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/
CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org
WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/
TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org
 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/
I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 1358 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too     

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/gi-2018-subpart-h-hazardous-materials
I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

March 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for March 2018

April brings the remnants of winter with it. The training will cool off in the spring and summer. The Train the trainer class classes are going strong. The new changes take effect today. I did not know the 510/511 expire have 7 years so a trainer who is coming back from 10 years would have to repeat the whole process.

I am seeing custom made lifting devices on many jobs. Osha Regs do not allow job made baskets and drums to lift hundreds of pounds. Too often these containers break apart. There is no capacity on these devices.

1926.251(a)(4) - Special custom design grabs, hooks, clamps, or other lifting accessories, for such units as modular panels, prefabricated structures and similar materials, shall be marked to indicate the safe working loads and shall be proof-tested prior to use to 125 percent of their rated load.

I was glad to meet many of you at the CSC safety conference.  A record 31 took the CHST prep class.  The CHST has changed with more management and training questions. One person has passed, I hope success for the others.

This month’s powerpoint is Coal Power plants fatalities.  This is an industry with safety programs, but it seems like there are many different types for fatalities.

OSHA News. 

1) Fake OSHA cards on the rise?

http://www.safetyfirstconsulting.com/safety_consulting_safety_consultant_osha_compliance_austin_san_antonio_waco_houston_dallas_ft_worth_texas_blog/post.php?s=fraudulent-osha-certification-a-disturbing-trend

2) Second Circuit Rules OSHA Not Bound By Field Operations Manual's Look-Back Period for Repeat Violations

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/second-circuit-rules-osha-not-bound-field-operations-manual-s-look-back-period

3) Bravo MA for having public worker OSHA protections.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/03/gov_charlie_baker_signs_bill_e.html

4) OSHA makes Trenching the top priority.

https://www.ishn.com/articles/108183-osha-makes-reducing-trenching-deaths-a-top-priority

5) Dr. David Michaels:Worker injuries are evidence of the absence of operational excellence.

https://hbr.org/2018/03/7-ways-to-improve-operations-without-sacrificing-worker-safety

6) OSHA 2018 budget Highlights. Harwood Grants funded. VPP gets a budget

For necessary expenses for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

$552,787,000, including not to exceed

$100,850,000 which shall be the maximum amount available for grants to States under section 23(g)

Small Farmers still exempt: Provided further, That the foregoing proviso shall not apply to any person who is engaged in a farming operation which does not maintain a temporary labor camp and employs 10 or fewer employees:

Provided further, That $10,537,000 shall be available for Susan Harwood training grants, of which the Secretary shall reserve not less than $4,500,000 for Susan Harwood Training Capacity Building Developmental grants

Provided further, That not less than $3,500,000 shall be for Voluntary Protection Programs.

http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20180319/BILLS-115SAHR1625-RCP115-66.pdf

7) At a hearing yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum claimed the training sign-in sheets were “intentionally falsified.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2018/03/forged_documents_alleged_in_trench_collapse_trial

8) OSHA provided guidance for citing employers that were required to electronically submit the injury and illness records but failed to do so. OSHA has instructed that failure to submit records should be classified as Other than Serious.

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=88f80652-4b83-47b4-9686-366581d0905b

Other Major News Stories.

1) Three workers killed by shooter in CA Veteran home.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/10/us/california-veterans-home-shooting-victims/index.html

2) Jury Awards $30 Million in Fatal Grinder Machine Accident

 https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Jury-Awards-30-Million-in-Fatal-Grinder-Machine-Accident-477347743.html

3) TOPEKA, Kan.  • A water park company co-owner accused of making a spur of the moment decision to build the world's tallest waterslide and rushing it into service, and a designer accused of shoddy planning, were charged Tuesday in the 2016 death of a 10-year-old boy who was decapitated on the ride when the raft he was on went airborne and hit an overhead hoop.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/designer-park-owner-of-deadly-kansas-city-waterslide-charged-with/article_eadaf343-8328-5e7e-8dd1-5fbb7ec512b2.html

OSHA Citations this month

1)  FL $271,606 Willful cave-in, Utilities contractor.

2) OH $155,208 Amputation in bag sealing machine. Plastics company.

3) CO $90,538 Trench collapse. Concrete company.

4) OH $109,939 Amputation clearing a jam. Food company.

5) NY $143,954 Hot milk burns. Milk company.

6) FL $133,604 Falls. Roofing company.

7) MA $299,324 Falls. Roofing contractor.

8) NE $188,464 Dock leveler fatality Lockout. Food company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits

OSHA 510 CSC                                                             Apr 2-5

OSHA 7500 Chicago Campus                                   Apr 6

OSHA 511 Dekalb                                                       Apr 9-12

OSHA 10 Industry Hoffman Estates                        Apr 17-18

OSHA Silica, Trenching, Confined space in NE      Apr 28 fordtonya@gmail.com is contact person

This is a free event for USMWF.org

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/

CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org

WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/

TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org

 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/

I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 1141 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/coal-power-plant-fatalities

I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

February 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for February  2018

John

We survived the cold start to February.  March 5 starts the Construction Safety Council annual conference. I will be doing a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) prep class on March 5 from 8-12. Over 30 have already signed up. I had four students pass the CHST in the last 6 weeks.  Here is the link to register.  I volunteer to teach this and do not get paid. I want to see Chicago have the most CHSTs for any city.

https://myprereg.com/Registration.aspx?key=SAud56LoHLs9n2JYJ8EjBYXULNXTiY4lnatUIbmN83dRYttowi0vtw%3d%3d

This month powerpoint is respirators. The ppt is I am finding this is requested after silica so this is a shorter version. I am seeing grade D breathing air compressors that are oil-less and cost $1600.

Some audit findings for February include: no manual for equipment; wet electric welders; homemade lift material baskets; electrical tape repair on electrical cords; saws that are burning wood; no proof of aerial lift training; silica – no written program, training, medical surveillance, and air sampling; exits blocked; mobile scaffolds – no manuals, over 2 to 1 height to base ratio; missing confined space signs; ergonomics lifting to much; and many more. 

OSHA News. 

1) OSHA’s FY 2019 budget request provides an increase of $6.1 million for 42 new Compliance Safety and Health Officers; and another $5.1 million for 24 Compliance Assistance Specialists and eight Voluntary Protection Programs staff to allow the agency to expand its training, outreach, compliance assistance, and cooperative programs.

2) OSHA budget

FY 2016: $552,787,000

FY 2017: $551,736,000

FY 2018: $543,257,000 Still pending as Labor’s budget has not passed.

3) CAL-OSHA Approves Hotel Housekeeping Injury Standard. It will require. Worksite evaluations for identifying and evaluating housekeeping hazards.

●            Specific Risks Identified – The worksite evaluation must identify and address potential risks to

●            Injury Investigations

●            Corrective Measures

●            Training

●            Recordkeeping

https://www.fisherphillips.com/california-employers-blog/cal-osha-approves-hotel-housekeeping-injury-standard

4) Another OSHA multi-employer case. "The subcontractor was a sole proprietor who derived almost all of his work from the GC."

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/for-osha-purposes-first-circuit-deems-16872/

5) "Accordingly, this case upholds OSHA’s right to refuse to allow its compliance officers to testify in civil proceedings."

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/district-court-upholds-osha-s-refusal-48794/

6) There are many online vendors offering OSHA official training. Here is the 10/30 authorized training vendors.

 https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/training_providers.html

7) OSHA only has the capacity to inspect every workforce once every 159 years, so the Volks decision rendered the record-keeping rule “virtually unenforceable” without the 2016 rule, David Michaels, the longest-serving assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, under the Obama administration, and professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington, testified at a House subcommittee on workforce protections hearing on Tuesday.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180227/NEWS08/912319496/Former-OSHA-head-criticizes-regulatory-pullbac

8) OSHA requested $549,033,000 and is seeking a change from 2018 funding levels in only five of its ten budget categories: enforcement, federal compliance assistance, training grants, technical support, and executive direction. The agency requested the same amount of money and staff for safety and health standards, whistleblower programs, state programs, state consultation, and safety and health statistics that those areas received in 2018

https://safety.blr.com/workplace-safety-news/safety-administration/OSHA-Occupational-Safety-and-Health-Administration/OSHA-budget-seeks-more-enforcement-funding-cuts-tr/

9) "After OSHA had left, the company owner found the officer’s credential card left behind and discovered that the card had expired several weeks earlier."

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/an-osha-officer-with-expired-31428/

10) OSHA and Waubonsee College have an OSHA day in Sugar Grove on March 14. I cannot make it this year. It offers many great speakers.

http://www.kendallcountynow.com/2018/02/20/waubonsee-planning-osha-safety-day/azhce0g/

11) OSHA budget request eliminates training grants.

https://www.constructionequipment.com/osha-budget-request-eliminates-training-grants

12) OSHA data shows 23 construction workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016, exceeding the combined total from 2014 and 2015.

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16730-alarming-rise-in-trench-worker-deaths-prompts-hazard-alert

Other Major News Stories.

1) Three dead at Manitowoc. Not any details.

http://www.echo-pilot.com/news/20180206/crane-accident-at-manitowoc-claims-two-lives

OSHA Citations this month

1)  $256,088 GA Fall Protection, Confined Space. Colorant Manufacturer.

2)  $101,800 AL Combustible Dust, 10 Serious. Pressure Vessel mfr.

3)  $74,833 AL Amputation pipe winding machine. Pipe mfr.

4) $195,144 AL Fatality in plastic recycling machine. Recycler.

5)  $281,286 IL Falls. Residential Roofer.

6)  $40,096 FL Fatal fall. Pool Mfr and installer.

Safety Training at Non-Profits

CHST Prep and CSC annual show                            Mar 5 Drury Lane

OSHA 500 CSC                                                             Mar 5-8

OSHA 7205 Health Hazards CSC                              Mar 14

OSHA 511 NSC                                                            Mar 20-23

OSHA 510 NSC                                                            Mar 26-29

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/

CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org

WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/

TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org

 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/

I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 994 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/respirators-2018

I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.

January 2018 OSHA News

OSHA News for January 2018

Training was in demand and silica was the hot topic. I included a construction ppt on silica that I presented at the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association in January. They had record attendance, and many wanted to hear about silica. The ppt is 22 megs. I included a pdf. If you want the ppt; it is on slideshare, or I can try to send.

I see too many workers attaching at their feet exposing themselves to 12 foot falls.  It is clear that OSHA has specific rules on this. It would take a professional engineer to allow this excessive fall.

1926.502(d)(16)(iii) Fall arrest systems shall be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;

I attend the ASSE Three River Chapter meetings on the second Friday in Lisle. It is well attended and has a speaker each month.

I will be doing a CHST prep class at the Construction Safety Conference on March 5. I do not get paid and it is free for paid attendees. www.buildsafe.org

Thanks for everyone help make February a sellout month.

John

OSHA News. 

1) OSHA penalties for other-than-serious, serious and failure to abate violations increased by $319 from $12,615 per violation to $12,934 per violation.  The penalty for willful and repeat violations increased from $126,749 to $129,336, an increase of $2, 587.  The new penalty increase is effective today and will apply to any citations issued today or through the remainder of 2018.

https://www.oshalawblog.com/2018/01/articles/osha-penalties-up-to-adjust-for-inflation/?utm_source=Jackson+Lewis%2C+P.C.+-+OSHA+Law+Blog&utm_campaign=405bda7527-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd6a79170f-405bda7527-70486261

2) OSHA inspectors drop 40 in 2017.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/exclusive-number-osha-workplace-safety-inspectors-declines-under-trump-n834806

3) OSHA 10 will have only one hour of Intro of osha. Effective April.

https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/generalindustry/General_Industry_Procedures-2018.pdf

4) WA man charged with Felony in cave-in death.

http://www.khq.com/story/37220262/seattle-construction-company-owner-faces-manslaughter-charges-over-worker-death

5) Covered establishments with 250 or more employees are only required to provide their 2017 Form 300A summary data. OSHA is not accepting Form 300 and 301 information at this time. OSHA announced that it will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to reconsider, revise, or remove provisions of the "Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses" final rule, including the collection of the Forms 300/301 data.

Covered establishments with 250 or more employees are only required to provide their 2017 Form 300A summary data. OSHA is not accepting Form 300 and 301 information at this time. OSHA announced that it will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to reconsider, revise, or remove provisions of the "Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses" final rule, including the collection of the Forms 300/301 data.

https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/finalrule/index.html

6) Former OSHA head discusses OSHA for 2018.

https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/sites/nationallawjournal/2018/01/12/former-osha-head-predicts-shift-from-enforcement-to-compliance-assistance/?slreturn=20180013145154

7) OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA’s Form 300A, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2017.

8) Two OSHA regulatory developments bear watching in 2018, including an advancing potential rule on lockout/tagout requirements and possible changes to OSHA’s current electronic record-keeping rule, Mr. Conn said.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20180117/NEWS08/912318549/Trump-administration-impact-on-OSHA-minimal-so-far-Experts

9) Workplace Violence, Indoor Heat, Cannabis Regulations on Cal/OSHA 2018 Schedule

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/workplace-violence-indoor-heat-cannabis-regulations-calosha-2018-schedule

10) OSHA under the Obama administration had promised to share the data, Sean Sherman, a Washington-based attorney for the Public Citizen Foundation, which brought the suit, told Bloomberg Environment.

https://www.bna.com/employers-osha-injury-n73014474351/

11) Missouri Court of Appeals Upholds $1.5 Million Whistleblower Jury Verdict

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/missouri-court-appeals-upholds-15-million-whistleblower-jury-verdict

Other Major News Stories.

1) Postal worker kills 2.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/trending-now/ohio-police-naked-postal-worker-kills-2-supervisors-in-separate-shootings/668323524

2) A NY jury awarded approximately $174,00 to a whistleblower who was fired for reporting improper asbestos removal practices at asbestos abatement and demolition company.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/whistleblower-fired-disclosing-improper-asbestos-removal-wins-trial

3) 5 dead in oil rig explosion in Oklahoma

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/drilling-contractor-in-quinton-explosion-had-osha-violations-in-past/article_c1062dba-160d-5957-9752-3c4c233991ff.html

OSHA Citations this month

1)  $91,629 OH Fall Protection Roofer.

2) $212,396  MA Foundation collapse Foundation company

3) $199,996 NJ Repeat machine guarding Chainlink fence mfr.

4) $59,864 FL Willful guardrails Concrete company

5) $91,832 IL Machine guarding. Pallet company.

6) $69,058 GA Lockout, Tire mfr.

7)  $70,711 CO Fatal explosion at Tire and gas battery. Petroleum company.

8) $208,977 GA 14 serious. Machine guarding. Poultry company.

9) $194,006 KS Willful hexchrome Aircraft mfr.

10) $113,073 AL Willful Fall protection Framing company.

Safety Training at Non-Profits

TRMA Crane Signal Rigging          Feb 14

CSC Confined Space                      Feb 15

OSHA 511 Naperville                    Feb 5-8

NSC OSHA 501                               Feb 20-23

OSHA 6000 NIU                              Feb 26-Mar 1

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/

CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org

WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/

TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org

 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/

I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have been teaching many 10.30 hour class for private companies.  I have taught 734 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/johnanewquist/silica-2017-construction

I use your feedback to make chan

OSHA December 2017

OSHA News for December 2017

Hello,

Are we frozen yet? It has not been above freezing since December 24. I hope you dress in layers and have good warm gloves.

This month’s PowerPoint is a short Laboratory Safety ppt. I see many hazards in laboratory besides bloodborne. Ventilation in the hoods is rarely adequate. Training in mixing of chemicals and PPE is necessary to prevent explosions and deaths.

I ended the year with 2399 trained which is more relaxing than last year. I was glad to take the weekends off to prepare instead of teaching.

I will be speaking at the Blackhawk College Safety Summit January 10, 2018 in Moline IL. I will be covering 20 frequently missed serious hazards in manufacturing. Call 309-796-5718 to register. OSHA’s Brian Bohast will speak on the 2017 Fall Protection standard for industry. John Deere’s Ergonomist Janelle Haines will speak on ergo. Nick Walters, Tom Bielema and Angela Moore are the other speakers.

My most frequently taught subjects in 2017

1. Fall Protection.

2. OSHA 30

3. Trenching

4. OSHA 500

5. Confined space

OSHA News. 

1) OSHA issued a long interpretation on qualifications of fall protection trainers. I could not find it on the OSHA site so I included the pdf.

2) Scott Mungo passed through confirmation hearings to be head of OSHA.

http://www.durabilityanddesign.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=17806

3) OSHA wins silica appeal.

https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-employment-osha/oshas-rule-for-silica-dust-survives-industry-challenge-dc-circuit-idUSL1N1OQ17G

4) OSHA offers snow removal tips.

http://triblive.com/local/regional/13117389-74/osha-offers-tips-to-guard-against-snow-removal-hazards

5) Worker fatalities jumped 300+. According to BLS, 5,190 fatal work injuries died on the job in 2016, a 7-percent increase from the 4,836 fatal injuries reported in 2015 and the third year in a row the number has increased.

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm

6) “The Department of Labor will work with public and private stakeholders to help eradicate the opioid crisis as a deadly and growing workplace issue.”

https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/12192017

7) The stopgap extends federal funding through Jan. 19.  This means OSHA is on frugal spending until the final budget.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/after-passing-tax-overhaul-gop-returns-to-infighting-as-shutdown-deadline-looms/2017/12/21/dfad1890-e659-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html?utm_term=.8f997d676ca1

8) Under the settlement agreement, Bartlett is required to review its safety and health management system and consult with industry experts to conduct a detailed audit of the system’s effectiveness. As well, the employer will give its internal safety manager authority to:

•            Stop unsafe operations;

•            Obtain a qualified third party to review new installations or material modifications to certain equipment;

•            Update housekeeping and preventive maintenance programs;

•            Enhance training procedures; and

•            Report to OSHA on a quarterly basis throughout the term of the agreement.

Six worker died in the explosion.

https://safety.blr.com/workplace-safety-news/equipment-and-process-safety/agriculture/OSHA-grain-company-settle-citations-20-sites-affec/

9)  Rather, the EPA rule requires that workers be evacuated to a distance 100 feet from the spray equipment until the equipment has moved on.  For pesticides where respirators are required to be used by the applicator, the Oregon OSHA proposal would require evacuation to 150 feet — 50 feet more than the EPA rule. And it would require that evacuation last at least 15 minutes after the spray equipment moved on, rather than end immediately, as is the case with the EPA rule.

http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/36228897-78/proposed-pesticide-drift-rule-would-exceed-epas.html.csp#

10) Cal/OSHA Issues Advisory on Respiratory Protection for Harmful Exposure to Wildfire Smoke. When outdoor workers are exposed to air quality that is designated "Unhealthy", "Very Unhealthy" or "Hazardous" by local air quality management districts, employers are required to provide filtering respirators such as masks labeled N95 and certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2017/12/19/DC73882

Other Major News Stories.

1) Postal worker kills 2.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/trending-now/ohio-police-naked-postal-worker-kills-2-supervisors-in-separate-shootings/668323524

2) A NY jury awarded approximately $174,00 to a whistleblower who was fired for reporting improper asbestos removal practices at asbestos abatement and demolition company.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/whistleblower-fired-disclosing-improper-asbestos-removal-wins-trial

OSHA Citations this month

1)  FL $160,972 5 dead in coal slag blockage removal.

2) Saipan $59,576 3 dead in sewer manhole

3) IL $220,497 Lead at Chicago Post Office

4) OH $514,236 Amputation. Lockout. Machine guarding. Vinyl Floor Manufacturer.

5) GA $148,845 Repeat Trench cave-in.

6) GA $130,552 Trench cave-in hazards.

7) AL $152,099. Triple fatal flash fire in auto pit.

8) WV $86,916 Roof fall injury. Demolition. 

9) NH $329,548 Mercury. Demolition of a boiler.

Safety Training at Non-Profits

CSC 30 Hour construction            Dec 5 7 12 14

CSC 10 Hour construction            Upon Request

NIU 10 Hour Industry                   Jan 3-4 Hoffman Estates   

CSC OSHA 500                                January 8-11

OSHA 510                                        January 29-1 NSC

CSC Excavation Safety                   Upon Request

Recordkeeping                               Upon Request

7125 Combustible Dust                Jan 5 Hoffman Estates

7205 Health Hazards                    Jan 17

7145 Lockout                                 Upon Request

7505  Incident investigation        Jan 22 NSC

7400 Noise                                     January 18

TRMA Scaffold                               Upon Request

CSC Crane Signal Rigging              Dec 13

CSC Confined Space                      Upon Request

TRMA Confined Space                  Upon Request

CSC GHS/Health hazards              Upon Request

CSC Fall Protection                        Jan 24

CSC Fall Protection Industry        Upon Request

CSC Work Zone MUTCD               Upon Request

CSC Job Hazard Analysis               Upon Request

CSC Machine Guarding 7100       Upon Request

CSC Emergency Planning              UIpon Request

CSC Health Hazards                       Upon Request

CSC OSHA Excavation 3015          Upon Request

7415 Construction Req.               Upon Request

OSHA 501                                        Upon Request

OSHA 503                                        January 23-25 NSC

NIU Small Business                        Upon Request

OSHA Intro safety mgt csc           Upon Request

NIU Bloodborne                             Upon Request

OSHA 7115 Lockout                      TBA

OSHA 3115 Fall CSC                       2018

NIU is Northern Illinois University OSHA Education Center http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/

CSC is the Construction Safety Council in Hillside. Www.Buildsafe.org

WDCC is the Western Dupage Chamber of Commerce http://www.westerndupagechamber.com/

TRMA is Three Rivers Manufacturers Association   www.trma.org

 NSC is National Safety Council https://www.greatlakesosha.org/sites/national-safety-council/

I usually teach only part of the 30 hour and the 500 series. I have taught 2399 people this year. I teach evenings, weekends, early mornings too      

All presentations are put on slideshare.net for free downloading. I put this presentation at this link. https://www.slideshare.net/JohnNewquist/laboratory-safety-2017

I use your feedback to make changes to make corrections.