OSHA issued citations to Cambria Contracting Inc. for 11 alleged willful violations of the OSHA construction asbestos standard for failing to train and protect its workers at a Buffalo jobsite. The Lockport, N.Y., demolition contractor faces a total of $484,000 in proposed penalties.

“These significant penalties reflect the fact that this employer, an asbestos contractor with extensive knowledge of the OSHA standards that govern asbestos removal and handling, chose not to follow these standards and put its workers, including young, inexperienced college students, in harm’s way,” said acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA Jordan Barab.

OSHA found that several Cambria Contracting workers, who were cleaning up debris at the former AM&A department store warehouse on Washington Avenue, had not been trained in asbestos hazards and how to protect themselves. The workers also lacked proper respirators and protective clothing, and had not been informed of the presence of asbestos at the site. In addition, the employer failed to determine the asbestos exposure level and to establish a regulated work area for asbestos removal and handling. It also did not use vacuums with HEPA filters to collect debris but used methods to move debris with asbestos-containing material that typically can cause asbestos to be released into the air.

“This employer knew that training and other safeguards, which are well-known in the industry, were required, yet chose not to provide them,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s New York regional administrator. “That is unacceptable and needlessly placed the health of these workers at risk.”

“Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard since inhalation of asbestos fibers may lead to lung cancer and other diseases,” said Arthur Dube, OSHA’s Buffalo area director. “As exposures frequently occur during renovation and demolition work, we strongly urge contractors to ensure that their workers are adequately trained and protected against asbestos hazards.”

Detailed information on asbestos is available on OSHA’s Web site at:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html

and http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/construction.html

Top Stories

US Labor Department’s OSHA issues compliance directive to address flu prevention for health care workers.

For the protection of frontline health care and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

The directive closely follows the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidance.

“OSHA has a responsibility to ensure that the more than nine million frontline health care workers in the United States are protected to the extent possible against exposure to the virus,” said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. “OSHA will ensure health care employers use proper controls to protect all workers, particularly those who are at high or very high risk of exposure.”

In response to complaints, OSHA inspectors will ensure that health care employers implement a hierarchy of controls, and encourage vaccination and other work practices recommended by the CDC. Where respirators are required to be used, the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard must be followed, including worker training and fit testing. The directive also applies to institutional settings where some workers may have similar exposures, such as schools and correctional facilities.

The CDC recommends the use of respiratory protection that is at least as protective as a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator for health care personnel who are in close contact (within 6 feet) with patients who have suspected or confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza.

Where respirators are not commercially available, an employer will be considered to be in compliance if the employer can show a good faith effort has been made to acquire respirators.

Where OSHA inspectors determine that a facility has not violated any OSHA requirements but that additional measures could enhance the protection of employees, OSHA may provide the employer with a hazard alert letter outlining suggested measures to further protect workers.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza is transmitted via direct or indirect person-to-person spreading of infectious droplets passed when an influenza patient coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. Transmission occurs when expelled infectious droplets or particles make direct or indirect contact with the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes of an uninfected person. The OSHA directive and other guidelines show steps to eliminate the hazard.

Top Stories

Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets Recalled by Century 21 Promotions, Inc. Due to Strangulation Hazard.

The U.S. CPSC, in cooperation with Century 21 Promotions, Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of Youth Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Century 21 Promotions., Inc. of Seattle, Washington imported 17,000 of these Hooded Sweatshirts and jackets from China. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines  to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.  No Injuries have been reported.

This recall involves children’s sweatshirts and jackets sold in sizes XS – XXL in colors: navy blue, black, brown, pink, red, white, green, grey, blue, yellow, and orange. The recalled garments contain the following embroidered logos: “Montauk,” “Avalon,” “Stone Harbor,” “Cape May,” “Sea Isle,” “Ocean City,” “Alaska,” “Nantucket,” “Maine,” “Long Beach Island,” “Lavallette,” “Seaside Park,” “Newport,” “Monterey,” “Carmel,” “Skaneateles,” “1000 Islands,” “Block Island” and “Seattle.”

The following retail and gift shops: Montauk Clothing, Riptide East, Shirt Shops of Cape May, Summer Sweats, Rip Current Sportswear, B&B Dept. Stores, Trapper Jack’s, Annie & The Tees, Emporium, Inc., The Trading Co., Mackerel Jack’s, Carmel Classics, Rolands, The Ship Gift Shop, Star Dept. Store, Seattle Shirt and Simply Seattle from September 2005 through September 2009 for between $25 and $35. Most stores are located in New England with two stores each in Seattle, Washington and Alaska.

Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard, or return the garment to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Century 21 Promotions at (800) 935-2100 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Top Stories

The U.S. CPSC, in cooperation with Grand World Inc, today announced a voluntary recall of Bobby Chupete Pacifiers.

Grand World Inc., of Maspeth, N.Y. imported 641,000 of the Bobby Chupete Pacifiers from China, these pacifiers fail to meet federal safety standards. The pacifier mouth guard is too small, posing a choking hazard to infants and toddlers. These pacifier’s were sold at various retail stores nationwide from November 2004 through July 2009 for about $1. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Bobby Chupete pacifiers. The pacifiers have a ring-shaped handle and heart-shaped mouth guard with two ventilation holes. The nipple is made of latex. Bobby Chupete and a picture of an infant are printed on the pacifier’s packaging. The pacifier was sold in aqua, red, white or yellow colors.

Consumer should immediately take the recalled pacifiers away from infants and toddlers and contact Grand World for a refund or a replacement pacifier.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Grand World collect at (718) 326-7786 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.grandworldinc.com

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Top Stories

The U.S. CPSC, announced today a voluntary recall of EXO-Tech Safety Harnesses.

90 of the EXO-Tech Safety Harnesses sold by Gorilla Inc., of Flushing, Michigan were recalled due to Fall Hazard.  These units were sold at Cabelas, Bass Pro and at various sporting goods stores nationwide from May 2009 to August 2009 for about $200.  These harnesses were manufactured in the Philippines.

The webbing of the waist belt on the safety harness is not routed through the lineman’s loop located on the front of the harness near waist level. Since the loops are not properly anchored to the harness webbing but are attached only through stitching not intended to restrain a user during a fall, they that can pull away from the harness when force is applied, leaving the user unrestrained.  So far no incidents were reported.

This safety harness, used as a fall restraint for hunting, is comprised of two leg straps and two shoulder straps, which connect to a waist belt and padded back support. There is a long, black tether strap at the top rear of the safety harness, which has grey and red accents. The name EXO-Tech is located on the right front shoulder strap and the name Gorilla is located on the left front should strap both in white lettering. Similar to a shirt tag, there is a white manufacturing label on the inside of the back of the harness with the model number 45111 and manufacturing dates, 4/22/2009 or 6/26/2009. These are the only harnesses recalled.

Consumers should immediately stop using the harness and contact Gorilla Inc. to receive a refund.

For additional information, contact Gorilla Inc. at (877) 685-7817 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.gorillatreestands.com. Consumers can also write to the firm at Gorilla, Inc., P.O. 378, Flushing, MI., 48433 or 3475 Eastman Drive, Flushing, MI. 48433.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Top Stories

Cardiac Science Corporation recalled AED due to device failure which could lead to death to patients.

Cardiac Science Corporation is initiating a voluntary field correction after it was determined certain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may experience a rare product issue in which the AED may not be able to deliver therapy during a resuscitation attempt. Device failure may affect resuscitation of the patient, which could lead to serious adverse events or death. These AEDs have electronic components which may fail and the failure may not be detected by the device’s periodic self-tests. The affected models include the Powerheart 9300A, 9300C, 9300D, 9300E, 9300P, 9390A, 9390E, and CardioVive 92531, 92532, and 92533 devices.

Cardiac Science has received a total of 64 complaints concerning four resistors within certain AEDs. Two of these complaints were associated with a failure to deliver therapy. This issue is predicted to occur in approximately one in 75,000 AEDs manufactured between August 2003 and August 2009. The company has also received 114 complaints regarding “Service Required” messages resulting from a specific relay switch failure. There have been no reported instances where this issue has resulted in an inability to deliver therapy.

Until a correction is available in May, 2010, the company strongly advises customers to check the status indicator on the front of the AED and follow the procedures documented in the materials accompanying the AED. The company advises that customers leave their AEDs in service.

“When customers choose a product from Cardiac Science, they expect outstanding reliability,” said Dave Marver, president and chief executive officer. “We understand the role our products play in public health and are taking appropriate measures to further improve the performance of our products.”

The company has implemented more stringent testing of the components and all AEDs produced since August, 2009 are unaffected. Customers in possession of an AED that may exhibit either of these issues will be notified immediately. A software update to address the resistor issue will be available by May, 2010. This software update will enhance the AED’s self-test capabilities and improve detection of the issue. In the interim, the company advises customers to keep their AEDs in service and follow the normal testing and maintenance procedures found in the Operator and Service Manual. A copy of these procedures is available at www.cardiacscience.com/AED175. At this site, customers may confirm if their AED is affected and register for automatic e-mail reminders to conduct scheduled maintenance.

If the AED is not rescue ready (the indicator is red) customers should contact the company immediately at 425.402.2000 (option 1) within the United States. Outside the US contact +44.161.926.0011 or the local Cardiac Science representative. Customers can also email the company at AED175@cardiacscience.com.

Top Stories

According to OSHA what is an effective hearing conservation program for construction?

Employers who are required to follow General Industry standards for Occupational Noise Exposure have pages and pages of requirements and guidelines that are published by OSHA.  It lays out specific requirements and responsibilities for employers, employees, and audiometric testing personnel along with other details. 

What if you are in the construction industry and you know you have a noise problem?  The standard is pretty simple: determine your noise level and if it exceeds Table D2 then feasible engineering & administrative controls must be implemented and an effective and continuing hearing conservation program must be administered.  If these are not effective in bringing the noise to acceptable levels then hearing protection must be fitted and worn to reduce the noise.  If the person in charge of the construction safety program did not read anything more than the half page standard, things would seem pretty simple.  But what is an “effective hearing conservation program?”   Discussions have occurred about proposed revisions to this standard, but no official changes yet. However, OSHA has been asked this question before.

There are some standard interpretations published by OSHA which lay out additional requirements that are similar to the General Industry Requirements.  One letter states an effective hearing conservation program consists of the following elements:

1. Monitoring of employee noise exposures.
2. The institution of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls for excessive noise.
3. The provision of each overexposed employee with an individually fitted hearing protector with an adequate noise reduction rating.
4. Employee training and education regarding noise hazard and protection measures.
5. Baseline and annual audiometry.
6. Procedures for preventing further occupational hearing loss by an employee whenever such and event has been identified.
7. Record keeping.

If you would like assistance or guidance on the implementation of an effective hearing conservation program feel free to contact Advanced Safety & Health at (502) 240-6910.

Top Stories

The Dodge Co. Inc. cited for 41 safety and health hazards. Formaldehyde and other hazards lead to $138,000 in U.S. Labor Department OSHA fines for embalming fluid manufacturer.

OSHA has cited The Dodge Co. Inc. for 41 alleged violations of workplace safety and health standards at its Cambridge, Mass., production plant. The embalming fluid manufacturer faces $138,000 in fines for inadequate safeguards involving formaldehyde stored and used in manufacturing processes at the plant as well as for various chemical, mechanical, and electrical hazards. These were identified during comprehensive OSHA inspections conducted over the past several months.

OSHA found that the plant lacked a process safety management (PSM) program. They also discovered that the plants procedures to proactively assess and address hazards associated with processes and equipment using large amounts of formaldehyde. It was also noted that the plant also lacked controls and other safeguards to reduce the levels of formaldehyde to which some workers were overexposed.

OSHA also identified numerous deficiencies in the plant’s respiratory protection, emergency response, hazardous energy control, chemical hygiene and chemical hazard communication programs as well as electrical hazards, unguarded moving machine parts, untrained forklift operators, failure to maintain work floors in a clean condition, and the use of unapproved forklifts where flammables are used.

“Workers’ exposure to excess formaldehyde levels can impact their health, while the other conditions cited here pose more acute safety hazards,” said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA’s area director for Middlesex and Essex counties. “All of these hazards must be effectively corrected for the safety and health of the plant’s workers.”

As a result, OSHA has issued the company 38 serious citations for these hazards plus, four other-than-serious citations for incomplete and inadequate recordkeeping. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.
Detailed information about process safety management and formaldehyde is available online at:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html   and

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/formaldehyde-factsheet.pdf.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA’s role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information, visit:

http://www.osha.gov.

Top Stories

October 14, 2009

OSHA Statement re: H1N1-related Inspections

WASHINGTON - To ensure the protection of frontline healthcare and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection with H1N1 virus, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will soon issue a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

The Directive will closely follow the CDC’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel.

In response to complaints, OSHA inspectors will ensure that healthcare employers implement a hierarchy of controls, including source control, engineering, and administrative measures, encourage vaccination and other work practices recommended by the CDC. Where respirators are required to be used, the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard must be followed, including worker training and fit testing.

The CDC recommends the use of respiratory protection that is at least as protective as a fit tested disposable N95 respirator for healthcare personnel who are in close contact (within 6 feet) with patients with suspected or confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza.

“Employers should do everything possible to protect their employees,” Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor Jordan Barab said. Barab emphasized, however, that where respirators are not commercially available, an employer will be considered to be in compliance if the employer can show that a good faith effort has been made to acquire respirators. The employer will also need to implement a hierarchy of controls such as feasible engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use, as appropriate, of personal protective equipment, such as gloves and respirators to protect workers while providing close-contact care.

Since a shortage of disposable N95 respirators is possible, employers are advised to monitor their supply, prioritize their use of disposable N95 respirators according to guidance provided by CDC, and to consider the use of elastomeric respirators and facemasks if severe shortages occur. Healthcare workers performing high hazard aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., bronchoscopy, open suctioning of airways, etc.) on a suspected or confirmed H1N1 patient must always use respirators at least as protective as a fit-tested N95, even where a respirator shortage exists. In addition, an employer must prioritize use of respirators to ensure that sufficient respirators are available for providing close-contact care for patients with aerosol-transmitted diseases such as tuberculosis.

Where OSHA inspectors determine that a facility has not violated any OSHA requirements but that additional measures could enhance the protection of employees, OSHA may provide the employer with a Hazard Alert Letter outlining suggested measures to further protect workers.

Top Stories

Scenario: Your business is in the middle of flu season and many employees are calling in sick. Two of the employees are claiming that they have been diagnosed by their doctors with the H1N1 flu. They say they contracted the flu at work from a co-worker who was also diagnosed with the H1N1. The two employees want you to record their illnesses because they say they got the flu at work.

Question: Are you required to record these flu related illnesses? 

Answer: The OSHA standard states that the common cold or flu are not recordable.  However, OSHA recently (Early December 2009) posted this statement on the very bottom of the Recordkeeping page of the OSHA website: 

H1N1: Employers are responsible for recording cases of 2009 H1N1 illness if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) the case is a confirmed case of 2009 H1N1 illness as defined by CDC;

(2) the case is work-related as defined by 1904.5; and

(3) the case involves one or more of the recording criteria set forth in 1904.7 (e.g., medical treatment, days away from work). Per CPL-02-02-075.

Note: This recording criteria applies to all establishments covered by PART 1904.

Top Stories