UNITED ASSOCIATION SAFETY NEWS Dedicated to ensuring the safest and healthiest working environment for our members September 2016 UA GENERAL OFFICERS General President William P. Hite General Secretary-Treasurer Mark McManus Assistant General President Michael A. Pleasant Executive Vice President Rick Terven General Executive Board Members John Wende, District 1 Kenneth J. Broadbent, District 2 Kenneth Edwards, District 3 James Buchanan, District 4 Sid Stolper, District 5 John Telford, District 6 Administrative Assistants to the General President Mark Buss Larry Cann Patrick H. Kellett James P. Moss ISSUE 07 CPWR Noise Awareness Survey Occupational noise is a serious and growing hazard for construction workers. According to the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH), hearing loss is the most-common, work-related injury in the U.S., and construction workers are one of the most at-risk groups of workers. To address this serious health hazard, the UA Training Department/International Training Fund has agreed to work with The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) to conduct research on noise training and noise-induced hearing loss. During May/June of 2015, several UA locals participated in the first phase of this research project by completing an online noise survey. These results are already being used to develop training materials to raise awareness and reduce hearing loss. For the next step, we are asking all of our trainers to administer a brief, 15to 20-minute survey to their trainees United Association Directors Tom Bigley, Plumbing Services Larry S. Bulman, Political & Legislative Affairs Tom Gross, Pipeline & Gas Distribution Christopher A. Haslinger, Training Brett C. McCoy, Organizing & Recruitment & Metal Trades Michael P. Mulvaney, Jurisdiction Martin Naseef, HVACR Service Eric L. Packard, Information Technology our vision The United Association and its local unions will apply its best practices and resources to build the best educated and safest workforce in all sectors of the piping industry. United Association Three Park Place Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Telephone: (410) 269-2000 www.ua.org STANDARD FOR SAFETY
UA safety news during training sessions conducted in October. Please contact Rich Benkowski by Friday, September 9th if you are willing to help with this research project. If you are willing, we will pass on your contact information to CPWR, and they will follow up with you to find out how many copies of the survey will be needed for each class, and where and to whom the survey packets should be sent. Each packet will include: brief instructions for administering the survey consent form for each participant survey and envelope for each survey pre-addressed envelope that you can use to return the completed surveys and consent forms. CPWR has assured us that all responses will be confidential. Results will be reported as group data only no names or identifying information of trainers or trainees will be recorded or used. If you have any questions or concerns about the study or administering survey, please contact Rich Benkowski at richb@uanet.org or call (412)525-0044. Your help in administering this survey is an important step in addressing a serious hazard facing every construction worker. OSHA Delays Modernization of Injury Tracking Final Rule Earlier this year OSHA added three new provisions to the injury/illness tracking requirements for contractors who employ more than 20 workers. According to the Federal Register, the rule creates three changes: employers must inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation; procedures for reporting work-related injuries and illnesses must be reasonable and not deter or discourage employees from reporting, and lastly; prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses. Furthermore, OSHA plans to modernize the reporting model (FORM 300) by mandating the employers to publish the data on a website absent of any explanation of the circumstances of the incident. Initially, the procedure was to be in place by August 10, 2016. Due to an apprehensive industry response, this date has been pushed back by OSHA to November 1, 2016. This delay allows OSHA to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. This standard effects 466,000 worksites nationally. Additionally, OSHA included language that addressed incident-related drug testing and incentive programs. To be clear, the regulation does not ban drug testing, and does not supersede state, Our new rule will nudge employers to prevent work injuries to show investors, job seekers, customers and the public they operate safe and well-managed facilities. Access to injury data will also help OSHA better target compliance assistance and enforcement resources, and enable big data researchers to apply their skills to making workplaces safer. Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health federal or workmen s compensation guidelines. Another concern addressed by OSHA is the common practice by contractors to reward workers for adhering to safe practices. Some programs offer gifts and/or cash, which in certain instances may cause employees to under report work-related injuries or illnesses. OSHA recommends an appropriate balance for drug testing and incentive agendas. OSHA s Form 300 (Rev. 01/2004) Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses 2 SAFETY NEWS September 2016
standard for safety Prior to the release of the final rule, many comments were received by OSHA expressing concern that job site safety could be compromised, because employers would hesitate to discipline workers who ignore OSHA requirements. OSHA reminds us that nothing in the expansion of this regulation prohibits an employer from disciplining a worker for violating safety rules. On July 8, 2016, the ruling was challenged in federal court by several employer groups. Lawyers for the groups opposing the standard felt OSHA lacked statutory authority to enforce this rule. Also, attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that the expanded employee involvement provisions are unlawful. The complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. To be sure, OSHA ensures that all workers may review records of work-related injuries and illnesses. More importantly, OSHA protects the worker s rights, under the law, to raise health and safety concerns with their employer without retaliation. Infringement of these protections must be reported to OSHA as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days. More information can be found at: https://www. osha.gov/recordkeeping/finalrule/index.html. 2016 UA ITP Launches ICRA Course and Welcomes UPMC Healthcare facilities in North America increasingly specify infection control training for construction activities that take place in hospital buildings adjacent to ongoing patient care. On August 14, 2016, the UA International Training Fund launched Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Practitioner classes at the UA Instructor Training Program September 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This course is intended to train UA craftsmen in the proper protocols and behavior expected while working inside of a healthcare facility. In essence, UA members must enter the hospital with the mindset of being clinicians first and craftsmen second. The curriculum presented an all-hazard approach for both patient protec- SAFETY NEWS 3
UA safety news tion and worker protection. The ICRA Practitioner learned how to work within appropriate barriers, which included understanding waste removal procedures and how to monitor areas of construction adjacent to patient rooms. The UA Lead Instructor was Dennis Molnar of Local 172 from South Bend, Indiana. Dennis brought 15 years of experience managing UA work within healthcare facilities throughout the Midwest to the class discussion. Coursework was a combination of theory and hands-on exercises. The text was provided by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR). Gary Gustafson, one of the CPWR authors, attended the entire 20-hour course and also qualified for the ASSE certificate. According to Gary, The UA ICRA training offered the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the importance of both patient and worker safety when working in a healthcare environment. The participants were also trained in the set-up and proper use of a mobile containment cart for working above ceiling tiles. Moreover, the construction and maintenance of soft wall barriers were demonstrated by the UA Instructor. The participants also earned certificates on ASSE 12000 Health & Safety of Construction and Maintenance Personnel. The ASSE standard outlined patient and worker protection through cautionary language concerning biological and waterborne pathogens present when UA members work in a healthcare facility. ASSE Executive Director Scott Hamilton presided over the ASSE discussion with the UA Instructors. In addition to ASSE 12000, a discussion of ASHRAE 188 provided the attendees an awareness level of the hazards intrinsic to all healthcare building water systems. ASHRAE 188 concentrates on auditing, management and maintenance of potable, chiller, cooling tower, and process water systems that are installed by UA craftsmen in healthcare facilities. On the first day of class, the UA was honored to have input from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), listed by Becker s Healthcare Review as one of the 10 largest healthcare systems in the United States. Greg Ballay, UPMC Improvement Specialist, Infection Prevention/Construction, Clinical Improvement Department, spoke to the Instructors from the healthcare owner s perspective. Mr. Ballay is continuing the work of the late Jeff Clair of UPMC, the original architect of the program used by the Carpenters Council and the Building Trades for many years. Greg s comments gave the class authentic insight into the impact of implementing appropriate ICRA procedures. In Greg s own words, I promise to work tirelessly with any organization that has an interest in elevating the bar of patient safety. To date, the UA has 50 UA Instructors who have successfully completed the ICRA Practitioner Train-the-Trainer course (UAT 241). To enhance the integrity of the UA ICRA initiative all 50 of the Instructors earned the ASSE 12000 certificate. More information about ASSE certification can be found at http://www.asse-plumbing.org/index.html. For UA locals interested in providing this important training for their members, you may contact Rich Benkowski at richb@uanet.org. 4 SAFETY NEWS September 2016
standard for safety Safety Technology Session for UA OSHA Instructors The next frontier on the construction site will be technology that is designed specifically for protecting the health and safety of the worker. Imagine a hardhat that measures blood gas saturation levels to ensure that the wearer is safe from toxic fumes, or a vest that notifies a crane operator that someone is walking behind him or her, or a drill that automatically slows down when it becomes unsafely wedged in the materials. To that end, a workshop was designed to introduce the UA OSHA Instructors to the ever-changing technology now used in the construction industry. The intention of the session was to provide information and awareness about safety enhancements already available to the modern construction job site. Presenters gave both visual and hands-on demonstrations to six UA Master OSHA Instructors and over 70 local UA Instructors. September 2016 Ken also pointed out that location devices, in both hardhats and vests, can be synchronized with dashboards of large equipment to alert the operator when a person walks into a blind spot on the machine. On Monday, August 15, 2016, industry experts presented the latest technology collectively to all of the OSHA courses during the Instructor Training Program. The UA was honored to have Pete Chaney, MCAA Director of Safety and Health, deliver the keynote address to the group. Mr. Chaney reassured the participants that the MCAA is equally committed to safety as the UA. Pete also encouraged everyone to utilize the resources on the MCAA website, such as Arc Flash training and Radio Frequency awareness videos. The Instructors were then given insights from these leading technology experts: Next Dimension Technology Partners Ken Hepburn, Managing Partner, informed the participants about the latest trends in wearable devices. Prior to workers populating a jobsite, programmers can identify at-risk areas of the site. Illustrated above left is a vest with a location device that will light up and/ or sound a personal alarm to a worker who knowingly or unknowingly walks into a restricted area of the project. Milwaukee Tools Kyle Adams, Regional Sales Representative, demonstrated the safety and practical benefits of their One Key location system. This system tracks connected Milwaukee devices and can be monitored on a worker s mobile device. Safety Apps Julie Henderson, OSHA Master Instructor, walked the group through the process of downloading and presenting phone apps to their classes in their home locals. The NIOSH Ladder App was navigated to display the navigation details of ladder selection and placement could be recognized. Mosaic Learning Software Mike desimon, President, introduced the Hololens with graphic depictions of piping systems and the learning opportunities embedded into the software. Hololens embraces virtual reality and SAFETY NEWS 5
line of defense against the harmful effects of dust inhalation, vibration, and loss of tool control. Additionally, Jon demonstrated the safety advantages of tethered hand tools and provided the Instructors with a sample of the tethered devices that can be attached to tools at the local training center. DeWalt Tools Jon Howland, VP of Vertical and Event Marketing, presented Perform & Protect tools that provide a For UA locals interested in providing this important training for their members, you may contact Rich Benkowski at richb@uanet.org. resources augmented reality to create a new reality mixed reality. Mixed reality blends 3D holographic content into the physical world to allow the user to experience real-world context and scale. This technology can promote safer experiences in confined space work or other high risk workplaces. Below is a list of websites and links to help you with your health and safety program. Many of these sites have PowerPoints and pictures that are free to download for your use. Please take the time to look at a few of these valuable resources. The Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov OSHA Occupational Safety and Health http://www.osha.gov Access to MCAA Safety Training Resources Electronic Library of Construction Safety and Health http://www.elcosh.org The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) develops and produces a broad array of mechanical industry-specific safety and health training resources. The resources include safety and health training videos, pocket guides, tests, and answer keys. MCAA invites UA local instructors to use the resources to supplement their safety and health training. If you would like access to the resources, send an e-mail to Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa. org. Be sure to include your name, title, local, and e-mail address. Center of Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov NIOSH-National Institute Occupational Safety and Health http://www.cdc.gov/niosh Safety Toolbox Talks http://www.safetytoolboxtalks. com EPA-Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov CPWR-Center for Construction Research and Training http://www.cpwr.com http://esmartmark.org In Canada, the above safety regulations fall under either the Workers Compensation Board or the Provincial Safety Authority. STANDARD FOR SAFETY United Association Three Park Place Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Telephone: (410) 269-2000 www.ua.org