OSHA fined Lakeland Feed and Supply $122,500 and issued the company 30 citations for exposing workers to hazards including suffocation in grain bins at its Hamilton, Mont., facility. The inspection was initiated under OSHA's Regional Emphasis Program that targets grain handling establishments in the state.
Serious violations included employees walking on grain in the bins; not locking out augers when employees enter the bins; platforms missing guarding; the lack of an emergency evacuation plan and no fire alarm system; high levels of potentially explosive dust; exposed live electrical lines; and improper electrical wiring for high dust areas.
Since 2009, OSHA has issued fines exceeding $100,000 per employer to grain operators across the country following preventable fatalities and injuries. In addition to enforcement actions, OSHA sent a notification letter in August 2010 and another in February 2011 to a total of more than 13,000 grain elevator operators warning them of proper safety precautions. See the news release for more information.
Order Combustible Dust Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Showing posts with label safety instruction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label safety instruction. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Roofing contractor fined nearly $250,000 for egregious fall hazards
OSHA fined roofing contractor Lessard Brothers Construction Inc. $243,360 for egregious willful, serious and repeat violations following OSHA's inspection of a Lewiston, Maine, worksite. OSHA previously cited Lessard Brothers, and its predecessor Lessard Roofing & Siding Inc., 10 times for fall protection violations at Maine worksites.
Lessard employees were exposed to potentially life-threatening falls of 23 feet while working without fall protection on a steep-pitched roof. Due to the company's knowledge of the hazard, along with its extensive history of OSHA violations, inspectors issued Lessard four egregious willful citations for the lack of fall protection. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. In addition to the egregious willful citations, OSHA issued Lessard two serious citations for an electrical hazard and for failing to train workers on electrical hazards and fall protection. The company was also issued one repeat citation for lack of hard hat protection. This significant enforcement action qualifies Lessard Brothers Construction Inc. for OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. See the news release for more information.
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Lessard employees were exposed to potentially life-threatening falls of 23 feet while working without fall protection on a steep-pitched roof. Due to the company's knowledge of the hazard, along with its extensive history of OSHA violations, inspectors issued Lessard four egregious willful citations for the lack of fall protection. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. In addition to the egregious willful citations, OSHA issued Lessard two serious citations for an electrical hazard and for failing to train workers on electrical hazards and fall protection. The company was also issued one repeat citation for lack of hard hat protection. This significant enforcement action qualifies Lessard Brothers Construction Inc. for OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. See the news release for more information.
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Lumber company fined nearly $2 million for egregious safety violations including exposing workers to amputation and fall hazards
OSHA fined Phenix Lumber Co. and its principal, John M. Dudley, for egregious and other safety violations at the company's Phenix City, Ala., facility, including exposing employees to amputation and fall hazards. Prior to these citations, Phenix Lumber was cited 77 times by OSHA for serious safety and health violations since 2007.
“Phenix Lumber continues to put workers at risk by choosing not to implement safety measures that would prevent serious injuries to their employees,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
OSHA began an inspection Dec. 15, 2010, in response to a complaint that employees working in the planer mill were exposed to amputation hazards while maintaining, cleaning and clearing jams on pieces of machinery that did not have their energy sources locked out to prevent their unexpected start up. Two months later, OSHA received a second complaint that an employee had suffered a partial finger amputation while clearing a piece of machinery that had not been locked out. At the opening of an inspection following the second complaint, the compliance officer learned of another employee who had just suffered a severe hand injury while working on unguarded machinery. Phenix Lumber had been cited numerous times during the past four years for allowing employees to work on unguarded machinery while it was operating.
OSHA issued Phenix Lumber citations for willful violations that included failing to properly shut down and lock out machinery before employees were required to perform tasks such as clearing jams and cleaning. These failures exposed employees to amputation hazards, as well as to the possibility of being caught between or struck by pieces of the machinery and falling lumber. The employer also failed to train employees who performed this work on the hazards and how to shut down and lock out the machinery so that they could perform their tasks safely. In addition, OSHA found that the employer willfully exposed a worker to fall hazards while working from the top of a machine, failed to issue locks to employees as required by the lockout standard, and failed to follow established lockout/tagout procedures.
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Order Lock-Out/Tag-Out Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
“Phenix Lumber continues to put workers at risk by choosing not to implement safety measures that would prevent serious injuries to their employees,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
OSHA began an inspection Dec. 15, 2010, in response to a complaint that employees working in the planer mill were exposed to amputation hazards while maintaining, cleaning and clearing jams on pieces of machinery that did not have their energy sources locked out to prevent their unexpected start up. Two months later, OSHA received a second complaint that an employee had suffered a partial finger amputation while clearing a piece of machinery that had not been locked out. At the opening of an inspection following the second complaint, the compliance officer learned of another employee who had just suffered a severe hand injury while working on unguarded machinery. Phenix Lumber had been cited numerous times during the past four years for allowing employees to work on unguarded machinery while it was operating.
OSHA issued Phenix Lumber citations for willful violations that included failing to properly shut down and lock out machinery before employees were required to perform tasks such as clearing jams and cleaning. These failures exposed employees to amputation hazards, as well as to the possibility of being caught between or struck by pieces of the machinery and falling lumber. The employer also failed to train employees who performed this work on the hazards and how to shut down and lock out the machinery so that they could perform their tasks safely. In addition, OSHA found that the employer willfully exposed a worker to fall hazards while working from the top of a machine, failed to issue locks to employees as required by the lockout standard, and failed to follow established lockout/tagout procedures.
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Order Lock-Out/Tag-Out Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
OSHA announces three-month enforcement phase-in for residential construction fall protection
OSHA announced June 9 a three-month enforcement phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the agency's new directive to provide residential construction workers with fall protection. During the phase-in period June 16-September 15, if an employer is in full compliance with the old directive (STD 03-00-001), OSHA will not issue citations, but will instead issue a hazard alert letter informing the employer of the feasible methods that can be used to comply with OSHA's fall protection standard or implement a written fall protection plan. If the employer's practices do not meet the requirements set in the old directive, OSHA will issue appropriate citations. If an employer fails to implement the fall protection measures outlined in a hazard alert letter, and OSHA finds violations involving the same hazards during a subsequent inspection of one of the employer's workplaces, the Area Office will issue appropriate citations.
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Order Fall Protection Training by SafetyInstruction.com to Ensure OSHA Compliance
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Cut Cost Now!! With online safety training
Invest in better training for your staff and lower your cost.
We offer over 75 safety and environmental training courses available 24/7 through our on demand training center, as well as through our Enterprise Training Center program that includes your own dedicated, custom branded Training center.
CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE SAFETY TRAINING
We offer over 75 safety and environmental training courses available 24/7 through our on demand training center, as well as through our Enterprise Training Center program that includes your own dedicated, custom branded Training center.
CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE SAFETY TRAINING
Monday, March 1, 2010
What's that Grey Fuzzy Stuff? Mold!
Molds are microscopic organisms found everywhere in the environment, indoors, and outdoors. When present in large quantities, molds have the potential to cause adverse health effects
How to Recognize Mold:
How to Recognize Mold:
- Sight - Usually appear as colored woolly mats
- Smell – often produce a foul, musty, musty earthy smell
- Sneezing
- Cough and congestion
- Runny Nose
- Aggravation of Asthma
- Eye irritation
- Dermatitis (Skin Rash)
- Individuals with allergies, asthma, sinusitis, or other lung diseases
- Individuals with weakened immune system (e.g. HIV Patients)
- Remove excess moisture with a wet-dry vacuum and dry out the building as quickly as possible
- Use Fans to assist in the drying process
- Clean wet materials and surfaces with detergent and water
- Discard all water damaged materials
- Discard all porous materials that have been wet for more than 48 hours
- Identify and correct moisture problem
- Make sure working area is well ventilated
- Discard mold damaged materials in plastic bags
- Clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water
- Disinfect cleaned surfaces with 1/4 to 1-1/2 cups household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
CAUTION: Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products that contain ammonia. - Use respiratory protection. A N-95 respirator is recommended.
- Use hand and Eye protection
Monday, June 15, 2009
It's Summer - Are You Prepared for the Heat?!?
Operations involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical activities have a high potential for inducing heat stress in employees engaged in such operations. Such places include: iron and steel foundries, nonferrous foundries, brick-firing and ceramic plants, glass products facilities, rubber products factories, electrical utilities (particularly boiler rooms), bakeries, confectioneries, commercial kitchens, laundries, food canneries, chemical plants, mining sites, smelters, and steam tunnels.
Being uncomfortable is not the major problem with working in high temperatures and humidity. Workers who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face additional and generally avoidable hazards to their safety and health. The employer should provide detailed instructions on preventive measures and adequate protection necessary to prevent heat stress.
Certain safety problems are common to hot environments. Heat tends to promote accidents due to the slipperiness of sweaty palms, dizziness, or the fogging of safety glasses. Wherever there exists molten metal hot surfaces, steam, etc., the possibility of burns from accidental contact also exists.
Aside from these obvious dangers, the frequency of accidents, in general appears to be higher in hot environments than in more moderate environmental conditions. One reason is that working in a hot environment lowers the mental alertness and physical performance of an individual. Increased body temperature and physical discomfort promote irritability, anger, and other emotional states which sometimes cause workers to overlook safety procedures or to divert attention from hazardous tasks.
Common heat-associated health problems:- Heat Stroke
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat Cramps
- Fainting
- Heat Rash
- Transient Heat Fatigue
Safety Instruction's "Heat Stress" training reviews how heat effects the body, the steps that employees can take to prevent Heat Stress, and elementary first aid that can be given to a worker who has been affected by a heat-related illness. Each year thousands of employees suffer the adverse effects of Heat Stress. Whether they work outdoors under the hot summer sun, or indoors with equipment and machinery that give off high levels of heat, these employees need to know how to recognize and prevent Heat Stress and other heat-related health problems.
Source: Working In Hot Environments
Monday, June 8, 2009
Bloodborne Pathogens
The modern workplace is composed of millions of people who are potentially infected with various bloodborne diseases. Many of these diseases are difficult to detect and have no obvious symptoms. Many people do not even know that they are infected. Although bloodborne pathogens are difficult to contract in the workplace, controls and education must be implemented in order to control potential workplace hazards.Training is essential for employee safety at work because it is estimated that over one million people in the United States are infected with HIV. The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) poses a larger threat than HIV, putting five and a half million workers at risk.
Some Common Bloodborne Diseases:
- Hepatits A, B, C, D, E
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- Syphilis
- Malaria
- Crutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Relapsing Fever
- Brucellosis
Bloodborne Pathogens Can Be Transmitted By:
- Vomit
- Blood
- Body Fluids
- Nose and Mouth
- Mucous Membranes
- Absorption through the Eyes
- Cuts, Scrapes, Burns, Rashes, Dermatitis, etc.
This program covers bloodborne pathogens for compliance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030. Workers in many different occupations are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. First aid team members, housekeeping personnel in some settings, and nurses are examples of workers who may be at risk of exposure. In 1991, OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to protect workers from this risk. This program will ensure your employees are aware of the risks and how to prevent exposures by implementing a bloodborne pathogens policy, exposure control plan, and training program.
Monday, June 1, 2009
SafetyInstruction.com Releases Combustible Dust Training Program
Gerry Janssen Vice President in charge of sales and marketing at Safetyinstruction.com has announced the addition of their “Combustible Dust” Safety Training Program to their comprehensive suite of products. These products enable companies of all sizes to achieve OSHA compliance with Federal regulation 29 CFR 1903.1
He further explains that combustible dust is fine particles, for example sugar, flour, sawdust, paper and coal dust. They present an explosion hazard while suspended in air when certain conditions are present. A dust explosion can be catastrophic, causing death, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. In many combustible dust accidents employees, and employers were unaware that a hazard even existed.
The Combustible Dust training program provides company employees with an overview of the hazards associated with combustible dust generation in work operations and site processes. It provides the necessary framework to conduct combustible dust hazard training. Since every company must address their site-specific operational requirements, site instructors will provide the necessary information needed to address their specific industry requirements. Their judgment will be used in adding or editing site-specific information pertinent to safety operations.
The Combustible Dust training program introduces the hazards associated with combustible dust and addresses the applicable safety regulations. It discusses where combustible dust can occur in the workplace, the mechanics of fire, and combustible dust explosions, and hazard assessment requirements. Training also details hazard recognition and control skills, methods of compliance with combustible dust safety. It also addresses engineering controls needed to control hazards, along with discussing actions to take in an emergency situation, and providing tips for using contractors on site.
The future for Safetyinstruction.com looks like a busy one. Watch for their continued growth and success
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 W. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
He further explains that combustible dust is fine particles, for example sugar, flour, sawdust, paper and coal dust. They present an explosion hazard while suspended in air when certain conditions are present. A dust explosion can be catastrophic, causing death, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. In many combustible dust accidents employees, and employers were unaware that a hazard even existed.
The Combustible Dust training program provides company employees with an overview of the hazards associated with combustible dust generation in work operations and site processes. It provides the necessary framework to conduct combustible dust hazard training. Since every company must address their site-specific operational requirements, site instructors will provide the necessary information needed to address their specific industry requirements. Their judgment will be used in adding or editing site-specific information pertinent to safety operations.
The Combustible Dust training program introduces the hazards associated with combustible dust and addresses the applicable safety regulations. It discusses where combustible dust can occur in the workplace, the mechanics of fire, and combustible dust explosions, and hazard assessment requirements. Training also details hazard recognition and control skills, methods of compliance with combustible dust safety. It also addresses engineering controls needed to control hazards, along with discussing actions to take in an emergency situation, and providing tips for using contractors on site.
The future for Safetyinstruction.com looks like a busy one. Watch for their continued growth and success
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 W. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
Monday, March 2, 2009
SafetyInstruction.com Announces Newsletter Series
Gerry Janssen Vice President in charge of sales and marketing has announced that SafetyInstruction.com has launched a monthly newsletter series. Janssen said that there seems to be a bit of a void in some of the older less high profile topics that are still a part of critical but sometimes less evident danger. The first newsletter discussed “Asbestos” an old but sometimes forgotten hazard. The next newsletter, slated to be published later this month, will highlight “Mold”. “What’s that gray fuzzy stuff?
He went on to say that “the industry is challenged by the exodus of the baby boomers to retirement”. They Take with them experience, and hands on knowledge. Our newsletters will target some of the older topics, thought to be covered, but are still out there. We want to recreate an awareness of those hazards.
Safetyinstruction.com is a provider of OSHA approved safety instructional, and compliance materials. They market globally through the Internet. Gerry said “We will constantly look for educational tools to make it easier to be safe”.
The future for Safetyinstruction.com looks like a busy one. Watch for their continued growth and success
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 W. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
He went on to say that “the industry is challenged by the exodus of the baby boomers to retirement”. They Take with them experience, and hands on knowledge. Our newsletters will target some of the older topics, thought to be covered, but are still out there. We want to recreate an awareness of those hazards.
Safetyinstruction.com is a provider of OSHA approved safety instructional, and compliance materials. They market globally through the Internet. Gerry said “We will constantly look for educational tools to make it easier to be safe”.
The future for Safetyinstruction.com looks like a busy one. Watch for their continued growth and success
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 W. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
Monday, January 12, 2009
Asbestos Is Still Out There
As Baby boomers leave and retire, they take with them experience, and knowledge leaving a void. That void can harbor old problems, thought to have disappeared. One of those problems is the presence of Asbestos in buildings and 
OSHA proposes $273,000 in Fines against a Jamestown NY Employer”
So what can you do when it’s in your space?
Basic Asbestos Debris Cleanup Advice
In most cases, where the asbestos is not damaged, it is safest (and least costly) to leave the asbestos-containing materials alone.
Friable, damaged asbestos materials in a living space, work area or located where the asbestos is likely to be carried to an occupied space, need professional asbestos remediation.
If you are cleaning-up in a building area where asbestos products may have been dislodged, such as a basement where asbestos pipe insulation has fallen to the floor, the US EPA recommends avoiding causing airborne dust and debris - a condition that could be harmful.
- If hiring a contractor to remove asbestos, the US EPA guidelines for asbestos removal requires protection of the rest of the building, proper asbestos waste disposal, and any other local or state environmental regulations be followed. In most areas contractors must be specially licensed to test or remove asbestos from
buildings. In some areas it may be legal for a building owner or another contractor to remove asbestos, though it still must be disposed-of legally.
- Do not vacuum clean or dry-sweep up asbestos debris that has fallen to the floor - you'll simply cause it to become airborne – which can cause potentially dangerous medical conditions. Professional asbestos abatement contractors use a combination of wet mopping and HEPA vacuuming to clean up asbestos from building surfaces.
- Do not disturb asbestos or asbestos-suspect material if you do not absolutely have to do so.
- Seal the work area off from the rest of the building if asbestos material has to be disturbed. Poly plastic sheeting and duct tape may suffice, but be sure the duct tape is adhered continuously to the plastic edges and that it binds securely to the wall surface. It may be necessary to secure the plastic using nailed-furring strips. You don't want your containment barrier to fall down in the middle of a cleanup project. Use an air-lock and change footwear and protective clothing or take similar precautions so that you do not bring asbestos debris into other building areas.
- Wear an approved respirator, protective clothing, gloves, hat, goggles that can be disposed-of after the cleanup.
- Wet the asbestos with a hand sprayer when moving it;
- Drill or cut only if it is absolutely necessary, then do it outside (and having wet the material)
- Demolition of asbestos materials during removal should keep the asbestos in the largest feasible pieces, not in many small pieces.
- Bag the removed asbestos in sealed plastic bags and (according to the EPA) dispose of it in an approved land-fill (check with your community building department and your state environmental regulatory association)
- Perform a final cleanup of the work area using wet mops, sponges, disposable rags/ wipes. Do not track wet asbestos-contaminated water into other building areas.
Need a simple and easy OSHA compliance solution? Train your employees quickly and easily! Our easy to follow Asbestos Awareness Training Program will ensure your employees are trained to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1001 and 1926.1101, and 29 CFR 1910.1028. You will also need a complete written plan as well to be in compliance.
Friday, January 2, 2009
SafetyInstruction.com Hires New Vice President
New vice-president takes marketing reigns
Gerry Janssen has been appointed Vice President in charge of sales and marketing. The position was created to expand overall effectiveness and ensure that the company continues its positive growth. He comes to the position with over 35 years of sales and marketing experience. Gerry has stated that while the economic climate has been less than stellar it’s a good time to take a look at how you’re doing business, clean it up, regroup, and be ready when economic times improve. One of his favorite quotes is “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got”.
Safetyinstruction.com is a provider of OSHA approved safety instructional, and compliance materials. They market globally through the Internet. Janssen said “that after careful study they’ve decided that not only are they going to continue to improve that venue they were also going to introduce themselves to the street, and be more proactive in that arena”. He also said that they were going to improve and encourage more “Online Training”. “We feel that that is where the greatest growth is going to be”. Of course he said that the “other challenge that industry faces is the continued growing presence of a Hispanic work force which needs training, and we are addressing that sooner than later. We’ll have an announcement in that regard in the coming months”. “We will constantly look for educational tools to make it easier to be safe”.
The future for looks bright for Safetyinstruction.com watch for their continued growth and success
###
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 w. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
Gerry Janssen has been appointed Vice President in charge of sales and marketing. The position was created to expand overall effectiveness and ensure that the company continues its positive growth. He comes to the position with over 35 years of sales and marketing experience. Gerry has stated that while the economic climate has been less than stellar it’s a good time to take a look at how you’re doing business, clean it up, regroup, and be ready when economic times improve. One of his favorite quotes is “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got”.
Safetyinstruction.com is a provider of OSHA approved safety instructional, and compliance materials. They market globally through the Internet. Janssen said “that after careful study they’ve decided that not only are they going to continue to improve that venue they were also going to introduce themselves to the street, and be more proactive in that arena”. He also said that they were going to improve and encourage more “Online Training”. “We feel that that is where the greatest growth is going to be”. Of course he said that the “other challenge that industry faces is the continued growing presence of a Hispanic work force which needs training, and we are addressing that sooner than later. We’ll have an announcement in that regard in the coming months”. “We will constantly look for educational tools to make it easier to be safe”.
The future for looks bright for Safetyinstruction.com watch for their continued growth and success
###
If you would like more information about this topic and this company please visit www.safetyinstruction.com
Contact Information:
SafetyInstruction
Division of Nexstep Inc.
3215 w. Lawrence Street Suite F.
Appleton, WI. 54914
866-598-2128
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