Volume 2, Issue 9 February 2015 Richland is a Host Training Organization for the National Safety Education Center, an OSHA Training Institute OSHA 500 Trainer Course for Construction February 23-26 Register Deadline: Feb 9 OSHA 511 Standards for General Industry March 9-12 Register Deadline: Feb 23 New OSHA Recordkeeping Course to be Offered at Richland The Occupational Safety and Health Administration updated their recordkeeping rule as of January 1, 2015. Is your OSHA recordkeeping system up to date? Don t wait for an OSHA problem to occur. Contact us for more information about our OSHA Recordkeeping class! ~ Worker Protection ~ Large Furniture Retailer Exposes Employees to Amputations, Other Hazards ARCADIA, WI In a three-and-a-half year period, 4,500 employees at Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., in Arcadia Wis., experienced more than 1,000 work-related injuries. One worker became another terrible statistic when he lost
OSHA 502 Update Course for Construction Trainers March 24-26 Course Fee: $675 Register Deadline: Mar 10 1.8 CEUs available OSHA 501 Trainer Course for General Industry May 5-8 Register Deadline: Apr 21 To register for OSHA Training Institute Classes, click or visit www.niu.edu/nsec three fingers in July 2014 while operating a dangerous woodworking machine without required safety mechanisms in place. Of the injuries recorded, more than 100 were caused by similar machinery. Investigators identified 12 willful, 12 repeated and 14 serious safety violations at Ashley Furniture's Arcadia location, carrying a total of $1,766,000 in penalties. "Ashley Furniture has created a culture that values production and profit over worker safety, and employees are paying the price," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Safety and profits are not an either, or' proposition. Successful companies across this nation have both." Dr. David Michaels, the assistant secretary of labor of occupational safety and health, said, "Ashley Furniture intentionally and willfully disregarded OSHA standards and its own corporate safety manuals to encourage workers to increase productivity and meet deadlines. The company apparently blamed the victims for their own injuries, but there is clear evidence that injuries were caused by the unsafe conditions created by the company. OSHA is committed to making sure that the total disregard Ashley Furniture has shown to safety stops here and now." The 12 willful and 12 repeated violations were cited after OSHA found that the company did not take the necessary steps to protect its workers from being injured by moving machine parts. It did not prevent machines from unintentionally starting when workers were performing tooling and blade changes on woodworking machinery, and also failed to provide adequate safety mechanisms to prevent contact with those moving parts. These types of violations are among the most frequently cited by OSHA and often result in death or permanent disability. OSHA also cited Ashley Furniture Industries for 14 serious violations, including not training workers on safety procedures and hazards present when servicing machinery. The company also lacked adequate drenching facilities for workers exposed to corrosive materials; it committed three electrical safety violations, and it did not equip some of its machines with readily-accessible emergency stop buttons. Click HERE for full story
~ Respiratory Protection ~ OSHA Cites Metals Company for Worker Exposure to Metal Fumes Call us for Customized Training Leadership OSHA Awareness Accident Investigation Aerial Lifts Confined Spaces Electrical Safety Ergonomics Excavation Safety Fall Protection HAZCOM HAZWOPER Mobile and Overhead Cranes Powered Industrial Trucks ST. MARYS, OH Three employees were exposed to dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, iron oxide and copper particles and fumes while torch-cutting steel at a scrapyard operated by OmniSource St. Marys. Their employer, CS Metals Inc., did not provide required personal protective equipment or health monitoring, a June 2014 OSHA investigation found. OSHA has proposed penalties of $378,070. "CS Metals failed its workers by not providing personal protective equipment and monitoring exposure levels to metal dust, which can cause severe, long-term health effects to the central nervous system and vital organs," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "OSHA's investigation found deficiencies with CS Metals' compliance programs for lead exposure, arsenic and other hazardous air contaminants. These violations must stop." OSHA found CS Metals' workers were not required to shower at the end of shifts to prevent metal particles from being transported. The company also failed to implement engineering controls that would have limited exposure; provide separate containers to dispose of leadcontaminated clothing; and ensure that workers required to wear respirators were clean-shaven. Additionally, CS Metals did not implement an arsenic compliance program, which allowed workers to be overexposed; did not provide properly fitted respirators; and failed to train workers in respiratory protection use and storage. Click HERE for full story Rigging & Signaling OSHA Recordkeeping
Train Your Employees to Save a Life! Heartsaver CPR/AED Heartsaver First Aid BLS for Healthcare Providers Provider Classes Renewal Classes Individual Training Group Training Online elearning Available Saves Time Away From Work Call (217) 875-7211 x219 for more information Safety Topic: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Are your workers adequately protected? 1. PPE is considered the best way to protect against hazards. 2. Who is responsible for determining when PPE is needed? a. Employer b. Employee 3. Leather gloves provide protection against chemicals. 4. A standard dust mask can be considered a respirator. 5. Which of the following common noises is above the OSHA threshold of 85 db? a. Power Lawn Mower b. Belt Sander c. Hand Drill d. Chain Saw e. 12-Gauge Shotgun
Safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. ~Eleanor Everet Answers: 1(b), 2(a); 3(b); 4(a), 5 All of them! Power Lawn Mower - 90 db Belt Sander - 93 db Hand Drill - 98 db Chain Saw - 110 db 12-Gauge Shotgun - 165 db Have any questions or issues you would like to discuss? Contact the professionals at Richland Community College today! Barry Schwalbe, CHMM Safety & Contract Training Coordinator Richland Community College One College Park Decatur, Illinois 62521 (217) 875-7211, ext. 219 schwalbe@richland.edu www.richland.edu/cpe Sign up for this newsletter! www.richland.edu/cpe/osha/newsletter This newsletter is a free service of Richland Community College.