Tips & Updates about OSHA & Hazwoper Training Courses | Safety Tips

In this year’s Illinois Occupational Safety & Health day, new topics will be featured at all the breakout sessions and workshops in the Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration Program. The topics range from construction safety to personal protective equipment and green building. This event is all set to be held on March 2nd at Peoria Civic Center. Sessions will be held on fall protection, lead abatements, confined space training and office safety, which have all been designed to help employers keep their offices and workers safe and healthy, while at the same increase productivity at the workplace. This particular event will also feature a unique mini-health fair with free screenings. The conference helps by offering safety professionals from Illinois the chance to learn more, gain more information, and learn about all valuable sources and ultimately networks with hundreds of other likeminded individuals. There will also be many exhibitors present to demonstrate vari...

Do you think the flavors added in most food products are safe? In most cases, the food flavors are harmful to our health, and are even more harmful to the workers who handle them in the first place! Workers exposed to flavoring substances face major health risks like lung disease, irritation of the eyes, throat and nose. OSHA has stated that even though flavoring substances may be considered safe to eat, it doesn’t mean it is safe to handle or breathe in occupational settings. There are records stating the potential risks to employees from uncontrolled airborne exposures to some flavoring substances. Till now, the Food and Drug Administration hadn’t really classified the safety of exposure to flavoring substances. Now, investigations have started on certain flavoring substances, including diacetyl, to find out what exact role they have in the development of lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans and fixed airway obstruction. Some manufacturers have either eliminated or reduced the amoun...

Six days ago, Lee County faced a disastrous gas main rupture, fire and explosion. TECO gas blamed Posen Construction for the cause of the unfortunate incident. However, the latter has still not issued a comment on the situation stating what happened and why. At the same time, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, in Tampa has confirmed that the situation is being thoroughly investigated. The fines for willful violations can go up to seventy thousand dollars, says the assistant director of the OSHA office. He also said that the serious violations can draw fines of up to seven thousand. Those who are repeatedly fined for the same violation can be fined up to ten times the original penalty. OSHA is supposed to issue a citation or find a violation well within the first six months of the incident. OSHA has not confirmed how long the investigation might last. TECO gas says it isn't its liability to pay for the losses of those customers who didn't have natural gas. ...

Almost two and a half years ago, J.P. Carroll Co., came under OSHA's radars when a worker fell off a roof. However, Jim Carroll, still feels that since the construction industry is an inherently dangerous line of work, accidents sometimes just cannot be avoided. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, had accused J.P. Carroll Co. of failing to properly protect its workers and employees from falls. Carroll on the other hand, is very satisfied with the fact that his work sites are safe. But what really keeps him up at night, is the nagging feeling that his firm is the target of heightened scrutiny by a federal workplace safety agency, that's only looking to make headlines. The executive director of the Connecticut Roofing Contractors Association, C. Mitchell Sorenson, to which Jim Carroll belongs, said that, “They keep going after the same people,’’ he went on to say that, “They tend to overlook the smaller contractors who are more likely to have unsafe workplaces.’’ T...

The number of workplace fall injuries have drastically reduced. But this drastic change could only be made possible with the help of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is primarily, a regulatory agency, that ensures workplace safety by issuing and enforcing certain health and safety standards and regulations. The compliance assistance specialist with the St. Louis Area Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Mr.Mark Minicky, recently spoke about these workplace injury trends at the annual Business Health Summit, which was held at the Saint Francis Medical Center. In 2003, 5 out of every 100 workers sustained an OSHA-reportable injury. In 2008, 3.9 of every 100 workers sustained an OSHA-reportable injury. More over, the number of workplace fatalities have also dropped, from 5,214 people in 2008 to nearly 4,340 in 2009. Mr.Mark Minicky, said that,"This is somewhat reflective of the downturn in the economy. There is less activity going on, particularly les...

Walbridge is all set to become the first construction company in Michigan to receive the Star Award for health and safety excellence from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. With this award, Walbridge is going to be commended for its exemplary safety practices and programs at the Couzens Hall renovation project on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. MIOSHA's Director, Doug Kalinowski and deputy director and chief of staff of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, Susan Corbin, will be presenting this Star Award to Walbridge. This commendatory ceremony will begin at 11:30 am on Thursday, Sept. 23, at Palmer Field. The CEO and chairman, Mr. John Rakolta, Jr, will accept the award on behalf of the company. Doug Kalinowski, said that, "The Star Award recognizes the highest level of achievement in the state for occupational safety and health management in construction," he went to say that, "The industry pl...

At an apartment complex in Plantation, a 26-year-old Stuart man died, after a bizarre landscaping accident. Battalion Chief Joel Gordon, of the Plantation Fire Department, said that the man was riding an industrial lawn mower next to a man-made lake. His co-workers, six to be exact, were also doing maintenance work at Southern Point, but apparently in different areas. The Battalion Chief Joel Gordon, went on to say that, “Somehow the mower ended up in the lake, with him trapped under it.” he also stated that, “I say `somehow,' because we're not sure how the accident happened, or even when it happened. He even said that, “we don't know how long he was in the water. No one saw him go in. But a resident called 911 at about 10:20 am.'' The Plantation police officers were the first to arrive on the scene. They were even able to find the spot at which the man and mower entered the water. However, the water was too dark and too deep for officers to locate him. Both the Pla...

The U.S OSHA has slapped a fine of $16.6 million on the construction companies connected with the explosion in February this year at Kleen Energy Systems, which killed 6 workers. O&G Industries, the project's general contractor was fined $8.3m, whereas, the commissioning and start up contractor for the plant, Blue-water Energy Services was fined $896,000 and 14 sub contractors were fined a total of $686,000. The assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, Mr. David Michaels said that,"These employers blatantly disregarded well-known and accepted industry procedures and their own safety guidelines in conducting the gas blow operation in a manner that exposed workers to fire and explosion hazards." he also further stated that, "We see this time and time again across industries when companies deliberately ignore safety precautions in the interest of completing jobs quickly, and workers end up being killed or seriously hurt." It is important to note that the Kleen En...

A Queens contractor was found selling dozens of fake safety certificates that are needed by the hardhats on construction projects and so was busted on Thursday. It was shocking to know that Junior Lewis, owner of Jule Builders Group Inc. in Jamaica had sold around 69 workers Labor Department cards that certify 30 hours of safety training course completion; but actually they had not completed the course. Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office has disclosed the matter. Now, it has been brought into the light by Daily News investigations that there has developed a widespread black market in the coveted certificates named OSHA-30 cards. These cards are required by the workers to work with the most city construction of buildings of 10 or more stories. According to the prosecutors, under a program regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Lewis, 53, has been certified as a construction-safety trainer. And illegally they have started selling the certificates for $200-$400 apie...

OSHA Administrator, David Michaels, has expanded on the actions that are taken by OSHA till date in a plenary session at the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Safety 2010 conference on June 14. His speech was quite inspirational and has inspired safety professionals across the globe to get involved and help shape the agency’s future. Michaels told ASSE attendees, “We want you to hear from us that OSHA is back and we are a strong regulatory agency first and foremost.” Explaining the aim and objective of OSHA, he said that OSHA is working “to make fundamental changes to secure workplaces.” He emphasized on the matter that OSHA's goal is to encourage employers to plan, prevent and protect, but not to punish or react. Michaels gave a brief idea regarding some of OSHA’s priorities and actions over the past months, including: hiring additional standards writers and inspectors; moving more personnel into enforcement; developing a Severe Violator Enforcement Program; making the a...

OSHA, the US department of Labor's Occupational Safety And Health Administration, has required workplace injury and illness data from the employers so that they can identify the employers whose employees face higher injury and illness than the national average. OSHA has sent letters about 15,000 workplaces that have faced highest number of injuries and illness and they are restricted from work, work related activities. This high rate of injury at workplace is known as DART rate. The receiver of this letter requires to take immediate steps to give proper protection to the workers. The letter has also offered assistance to reduce the rate of injuries and to give safety measures to the workers. The state will provide OSHA's free safety and health consultation services for the small business. OSHA has done all these examining the survey of workplaces and the data of the employers of 2009 The workplaces that have received the letters have DART rates two times more than the national...

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the federal agency in the Department of Labor of US ensures the safety and healthy working environment. It has struggled a lot for reducing the death rate, accidents, and work related diseases. OSHA has regulated many standards for the betterment of workers and working environments. It conducts inspections to ensure the requirements of the employers and also the employees. OSHA provides two types of courses: 10 Hour OSHA Courses and 30 Hour OSHA Courses 10 Hour OSHA Courses are divided into two different types: • General Industry Course and • Construction Industry Course The 10-hour OSHA General Industry Course provides training program for the general industry workers that help them recognizing preventive hazards on a general industry site. The course includes the policies, standards and processes and also the general industry safety and health principles required by OSHA. OSHA 10 hour course teaches the employers and employe...

There are so many hazardous issues lying with the construction and general industries that are tried to be reduced by OSHA. Electricity has played a vital role in the industries and it is quite impossible to think about an industry without electricity. The electricians and other workers who have to work with electricity must have to take utmost care otherwise it obvious to meet some danger. Working with electricity is not a game and the employers must have to provide extreme protective measures for the workers working with electricity. There ample examples of electrical hazards in the annals of construction and general industries. An alliance is formed with OSHA, Labor Union and employers to reduce worker exposure to electrical hazards in the Southeast. This is a voluntary and cooperative effort for safety and health of the workers that will be done by the means of education, communication and training. The workers will be given proper and practical training to improve their skill to f...

Construction and general industrialists have to comply with the regulations of OSHA. The aim of OSHA is to reduce the risk of workers while working and to enhance the working environment. OSHA has imposes some rights and responsibilities on the employers about hazardous site. The employers have to comply with the Hazard communication Standard (HCS). According to this standard, employees have the need and right to know about hazards and chemicals that they have to expose while working. Working at hazardous site and exposing chemical that can affect human badly are difficult task always. They should know the protective measures to prevent difficult effects from taking place. OSHA has introduced the Hazard Communication Standard that is designed to provide employees with all the necessary information required for working at hazardous place. HCS standard ensures the safety of the workers at working site. Chemicals are widely used at working places which many times cause illness and injurie...

OSHA regulations have worked a lot to maintain the requirements of OSHA imposed upon general and construction industrialists and their employees. OSHA regulations are especially designed for the workers working with general and construction industries to protect them from hazardous conditions and also to ensure safe working conditions. The major issues that are covered by OSHA regulations are: reporting, record keeping and posting. There are so many regulations which should be abided by the workers and their employers. They include revelation of information or materials, safety and protection of individual privacy and random access to inspections, records, proposed penalties, citations, and reporting and recording of occupational grievance, occupational safety and health standards that includes-shipyard equipment, agriculture, long shoring, identification, workshops and rehabilitation facilities, procedures to handle discrimination complaints by employees etc. OSHA regulations, in othe...

Open trench work has been cited by OSHA as the 4th deadliest job in US. So, you are well aware of the kind of danger that the workers might face every day at the job site. Often the death and injury of the workers happen when walls collapse burying them inside. This is a serious case that often plagues the sewer, pipeline, water or construction industry. Even though the incidence cannot be stopped from happening but it sure can be prevented. Since that the incidence of trench collapsing is continually increasing often accompanying death OSHA has guaranteed an increased enforcement presence at those job sites where such operations are being conducted. OSHA has made it a high priority when it comes to trench and excavation safety as it still continues to be the highest area of fatality and the highest in number of safety violation as well. Apart from wall collapsing the other trenching hazards include explosions, electrocution, toxic fumes, as well as drowning. If you are involved in tre...

OSHA fined $113,200 to West Contractor Conn, after an employee was injured when he fell 24 feet from roof. OSHA’s inspection found that the employer J.P Carol failed to supply fall protection to employees working on the roof and aluminum ladder used for roof purposes was not being extended for at least 3 feet above the roof’s edge and so didn’t afford the stability. Also the ladder posed a electrocution danger as it was located only 14 inches from an energized electric power lines. Due to these results OSHA issued West Hartford three citations with $105,000 in proposed fines. This event is a basic example of what happens when commonsense and legally required safeguards are ignored by companies. Recent inspection led the company to pay another fine of $8,200 in proposed fines for damaged scaffold, failing of which leads to accumulation of debris on work platforms. OSHA mainly issues citations when death or physical harm is likely to result from workplace hazards about which the employer...

Pfizer has been fined for violating the safety violations at its Groton Campus for amount of $15,0000. On investigating the Groton Campus OSHA officials found that there were five violations related to workplace safety in the office buildings itself. One of the 5 violations involved the unsafe clearance near electrical equipment. On other end Pfizer said that they are partnering to co-operate with OSHA and discussing the agency’s concern over the violations. Also it stated that the company is committed to provide workplace safety and welcomes suggestions from OSHA. OSHA termed the Pfizer’s workplace violations serious but said that if the allegations are wrong Pfizer can contest the findings. If the findings are not contested or OSHA’S findings turn to be true then these violations will be posted on workplace.

Union and Construction Industry officials appreciated a new law they said aimed to create a culture of safety on construction work sites. This new bill signed into law by Government requires all construction workers and supervisors to attend health and safety course training within 15 days of being employed. The bill which was signed exactly a year after Construction Trades Council agreed to end a 24-hour strike at construction sites .This bill requires the workers to attend a 10 Hour health Course and 10 Hour Safety course . It will require supervisors to complete 30 hours of training. Perini Building Co one of construction companies agreed to offer 10 hour health and safety course to its workers after a strike by workers. But these courses have been provided by us without the workers demand because we understand your needs. Making this course mandatory is important as it will change the culture on construction sites making it safe for workers. The rule is such that if employees...