Sunday, May 31, 2009

Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins Tomorrow

The official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season begins tomorrow, June 1st. If you live along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, this is a good time to dust off your Hurricane Preparedness Plans and review them so that you are prepared.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a 50% chance of a "near normal" hurricane season. According to NOAA, we should expect
  • 9-14 named storms
  • 4-7 hurricanes
  • 1-3 major hurricanes
The 2009 season storm names will be: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, and Wanda. Hopefully, we won't have to use them all.

Good Luck! Be Prepared!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

2 Contractors Cited in Mississippi - $175,000

Yesterday, OSHA reported that it had cited two contractors in Mississippi following the collapse of a wood shoring system. Significantly, OSHA has proposed two willful and five serious violations to the general contractor. The willful violations were the result of the contractor failing to adequately brace the structure. And, as you know, willful means that the contractor knew better. Plain indifference on the part of a contractor is nothing new to any of us.

More importantly, however, concrete subcontractor was cited for three serious violations, "for failure to provide a written hazard communication program, a safety and health program, and fall protection training." The proposed penalty was a mere $2,000. Is that penalty enough to get the contractor's attention? Perhaps - perhaps not. But it brings up a very important point that most of we safety professionals already know; large numbers of subcontractors (most in the residential marketplace) don't know that they must follow safety rules - or don't care. Training? Not they!

Yesterday, I was on a jobsite where painters were using aerial lifts to paint 2nd and 3rd levels on the exterior of a building. Surprisingly, they were all wearing harnesses. Upon closer inspection, however, none of them had lanyards. There employer had been told that workers using aerial lifts must have harnesses, so he gave them harnesses. NO TRAINING!

There are two things that employers can do to significantly reduce accidents on the job: (1) Train workers in hazard recognition, and avoidance; (2) make sure that all workers understand that they will not be penalized for telling their employer about safety hazards and asking for corrective action before they are exposed to the hazard. Yes, I know, it's a cultural change!

Over the years, I have come to realize that the single most important function of a safety professional is the education and training of workers. Not just in the classroom, but in the field - one-on-one explaining why you just told that guy to get off the top step of a step ladder, or why tying off to a guardrail is hazardous.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

"Congress Turns Up The Heat" [on safety]

An article in "Human Resource Executive Online" reports that "the potential for criminal convictions and increased financial penalties for OSHA violations -- coupled with an increased funding for enforcement activities -- mean that companies need to refocus on their health-and-safety policies and procedures. An emphasis on recordkeeping is also a necessity."

If you have been in the safety field for some time (spanning Presidential administrations), you should have seen this coming. We all know that there is a shift when a new party is in the White House. Democrats are generally pro-labor and Republicans are generally pro-business. I know that this is a simplification, but we usually see a fortified focus on inspections when the Democrats are in the majority.

I was delighted to see a comment from Jason Schwartz, an attorney in Washington, that is very pro-safety professional. He said that "It is important to hire health and safety professionals who 'really understand the regulations.' This stuff is not easy; the OSHA regs are very dense."

Schwartz also suggests that you make sure that OSHA recordkeeping functions are conducted by someone who understands them. The new proposals of increased criminal penalties may make this a critical function.

Bottom Line? Be Prepared! If you would like to read the whole article, click here.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Florida Suncoast Chapter ASSE a Chapter Shooting Star

A few short years ago, the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)was nearing "extinction." Membership was dropping off, meetings were attended by only 4 or 5 members, and it was difficult to get members to step up to officer positions.

A few members did "step up" though, and the Chapter slowly began to heal. The Chapter started to grow again, membership increased, dedicated safety professionals with vision recruited new members, focused on improving programs, outreach, and the all important networking.

This year, at the ASSE Annual Professional Development Conference in San Antonio, the chapter will be recognized with a Shooting Star Award at the Chapter Recognition Luncheon. This is quite an accomplishment - in 4 years to go from nearly extinct to award winning chapter. I am proud to have been a part of that growth and offer my congratulations to all of those dedicated safety professionals in Southwest Florida who continue to contribute their time and talent to the Florida Suncoast Chapter ASSE.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Jordan Barab on EEP

Now you can hear it for yourself.

Barab Reports on Changes

On April 30th, the new Acting Assistant Secretary, Jordan Barab, generated a report of a new OSHA program named the Severe Violators Inspection Program (SVIP) and has suspended the practice of setting goals for new VPP sites and Alliances. In short, he has directed OSHA to spend their resources on enforcement.

According to his statement, the focus will be "...more on large companies and less on small businesses." According to Barab, "the new program will include a more intensive examination of an employer's history for systemic problems that would trigger additional mandatory inspections."

I don't know about this directional change in General Industry, but my experience in the Construction Industry is that the "small business," particularly residential type subcontractors, are the biggest safety problem. Most of the "large" general contractors understand that the investment in jobsite safety pays big returns. The larger subs understand that too. So, if they focus on the "big guys" with bad records, what about all of the "not so big guys" who may have no record because they've never been caught?" I can't begin to count all of the subs who still say "but that's the way we've always done it." Or, "what's a 'competent person?'"

Now, I don't mind that OSHA ignores my workplace. My employer still sees the value of jobsite safety. In fact, OSHA inspections (or the lack thereof) are not motivators for our program. But, I think that OSHA's focus on the "big guys" to the exclusion of the "little guys," may backfire.

To read Barab's printed statement and decide for yourself, click here.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Dallas Cowboys Practice "bubble" Collapse

My office in Irving, Texas is across the street from the practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys. As you probably read in newspaper (or saw on television), the Texas version of high winds caused the facility to collapse over the weekend. As a result, several people were injured, two had serious injuries.

In case you were wondering, OSHA is on the site today. Yes, some of the injured were employees of the Dallas Cowboys and, therefore, subject to the multiple hospitalization inspection.