Spraying Pesticides? Check out the new ISO Standard!

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has just came up with a new standard for protective clothing which is directly going to impact agricultural workers, farmers and anyone else who might work with pesticides. What they have essentially done is set up three different levels based on the potential for contamination:

• Level 1: The potential risk of contamination is relatively low. The performance requirements for level 1 garments have been developed in view of low spray drift landing on the operator, e.g. from tractor boom sprayers
  
• Level 2: the potential risk of contamination is higher but not so high as to require the use of liquid-tight materials
  
• Level 3: the potential risk of contamination requires use of garments made with liquid-tight materials. This level is suitable for high-exposure scenarios where it has been determined that garments that prevent liquids from penetrating/permeating provide adequate protection.
  

Says Helmut Eichinger, Chair of ISO/TC94/SC 13: “ISO 27065:2011 will help pesticide users to be better protected and improve quality and performances of protective clothing, as well put safer protective clothing on the market. It will also contribute to reducing the risk to occupational health for operators and workers who use liquid pesticides.“

Find out more on the ISO website at: http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1446

OSHA clarification on PPE mandate

On February 10^th OSHA posted a new directive intended primarily for enforcement personnel but certainly of interest to employers, concerning when companies must provide PPE to their workers and what type of PPE it needs to be. It essentially tries to clarify and update the Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment rule that dates back to November 2007.

From the February 15^th OSHA press release:

“These personal protective equipment standards require employers to provide – at no cost to workers – protective equipment, such as goggles and face shields that fit properly without restricting vision; earplugs and earmuffs when they will reduce noise to acceptable levels and are less costly than administrative and engineering controls; and respirators to protect workers from exposure to air contaminants. Additionally, the directive lists PPE and other items exempted from the employer payment requirements and includes questions and answers useful in clarifying PPE payment concerns. Visit OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics page on Personal Protective Equipment for more information.”

Unsafe Conditions – The Deadly Dozen # 12

12. Improper personal attire

We round out the deadly dozen of the unsafe actions today. Much like the last unsafe action “Failure to wear the proper personal protective equipment” the final unsafe condition has to do with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Just because a worker is wearing PPE does not mean that they are safe. There are different types of PPE for different applications. A respirator cartridge that is meant to protect against particulates will not protect against vapors for example. Tyvek intended to protect against particulates is not going to protect against chemical splash. Nor are safety glasses going to protect against dust or chemical splash.

The Fix

The bottom line is that it is up to the worker as well as the employer to make sure that the PPE that they are wearing (or being given to wear) is the RIGHT PPE.

As a worker, you have a right to protect your health and with that right comes the obligation on the part of the employer to provide workers with the information needed in order to make an the proper assessment. Research, question and read. Find out what is the proper PPE and make sure that you are wearing it. Make sure that the level of PPE is adequate (if, for example, you need a P100 respirator and you are only using a N95, you are not adequately protected).

I have a small mirror on my desk here at the office. At the top of the mirror there is the following sentence: “Meet the person most responsible for your safety”. When all’s said and done, both with the Deadly Dozen of Unsafe Actions as well as the Deadly Dozen of Unsafe Conditions, the overarching lesson to take away is exactly that. Your health and safety is your responsibility. Laws and regulations are constantly made and enforced to make sure that employers do what they should to protect workers but ultimately it’s up to you, the worker, to make sure that everything necessary is being done to protect yourself and your co-workers.

If you are a consistent reader of this blog as well as other safety related website, conferences, shows, etc… then I am preaching to the choir. Spread the word and make sure that 2011 isn’t the year we regret not saying something with regards to safety.

Unsafe Actions – The Deadly Dozen # 12

Today we round out our unsafe actions deadly dozen.

To recap 1-11

1. Unauthorized use or operation of equipment.

2. Failure to secure or tie down materials to prevent unexpected movement.

3. Working or operating equipment too fast.

4. Failure to issue warnings or signals as required.

5. Using defective tools or equipment.

6. Removing guards.

7. Improperly using tools or equipment.

8. Standing in an unsafe place or assuming an improper posture (as in lifting).

9. Servicing moving equipment.

10. Riding equipment not designed for passengers.

11. Horseplay

And, finally, number 12

12. Failure to wear the proper personal protective equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is specifically designed to protect workers. PPE includes such things as safety glasses, protective clothing, boots, gloves, respiratory protection, earplugs, hard hats and much, much more. As new technology and new materials are discovered, manufacturers produce new and better PPE to provide a greater degree of protection, comfort, dexterity as well as, in some cases, reduce the cost.

Employers are required by law to provide their employees with the PPE necessary to do their jobs effectively and safely. A lot of time and money has gone into finding ways to increase compliance on the part of workers. The most commonly cited reasons employees give for not wearing PPE include:

• “It isn’t comfortable”
• “I look dorky in it”
• “I didn’t think it was necessary for this job”
• “It’s too hot with it on”

The Fix

A lot of time and money has been spent (and continues to be spent) on finding ways to increase PPE compliance. A quick google search will turn up dozens of ideas designed to eliminate the above objections to PPE. I will cover only the top ones:

1. PPE no longer has to look dorky. The days of boxy, square looking safety glasses are gone (although, if you still want them, they are certainly available). Today’s safety glasses are sleek and stylish, in many cases, reminiscent of high end sun glasses. Even without spending a fortune, glasses such as the Starlite glasses provide a lightweight, sleek, wrap-around style for as little as $1.26 a pair. A glance through the safety glasses on our website will show dozens of different styles at a variety of prices.
   What we are saying about safety glasses applies to a large percentage of other PPE now available on the market.
2. New materials, such as breathable liquid-resistant fabrics are increasingly making PPE more comfortable to wear. Disposable coveralls are a perfect example of this. Traditional materials tended to quickly heat up causing the worker to sweat. The result was that workers didn’t like wearing them because they were hot and damp. Newer materials are breathable, keeping the wearer more comfortable while still providing an effective barrier against the chemicals and particles that workers need to protect against.
3. Proper training, as well as posting the proper signs, letting employees know which PPE needs to be worn for what jobs can decrease the “I didn’t know” factor. Standardization of PPE for the various tasks can take the guesswork out of it as well.
4. Offering workers choices is often a great way to increase compliance. When there is no choice about whether or not to wear the PPE, having a choice of which PPE to wear can often make the difference with many workers.
5. Proper training is also key. Most workers, when fully aware of the dangers, are more than willing to wear the required PPE. Not knowing, it is a lot easier to “pretend” that everything is okay. Proper training, including visuals, drives home the necessity for the proper PPE.

Want more ideas? Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Join http://www.safetycommunity.com/ . This website is specifically designed for safety professionals. At the time of writing this post, some 2,823 members had joined. It provides a network for the exchange of ideas, information and more, all related to issues of safety in the workplace. Post questions, participate in discussions, read posts and interact with other safety professionals.
2. Do an internet search with the key words “Safety Compliance”
3. Join a local safety organization. In WA, for example, there is the Puget Sound Safety Summit which is “dedicated to forming a networked alliance of government, management, and labor to develop methods and solutions for continuous improvement of workplace safety, with the goal of reducing workplace injuries and accidents to zero.”
4. Subscribe to blogs such as this one and post comments. All of us can benefit from each other.

 

Goblin’s Peripheral Vision System lets you see movement behind you

No one should die being run-over/backed-over, especially at 5 mph or less, but it happens all the time. Goblin® Peripheral Vision System gives you the chance to see danger sneaking up on you and enough time to react and get out of the way. Goblin® is the first Active Safety Gear™ that allows you some control over your own safety, instead of passively hoping someone else will see and avoid you. Goblin® is not a substitute for other safety gear; instead it works in conjunction with all other safety gear and protocol.

The idea isn’t to install rear-view mirrors on your hard hat. The idea is to add a “window” just out of your normal area of vision that will cause you to notice movement behind you. In much the same way as you turn your head when you see movement out of the corner of your eye, these mirrors reflect movement behind you, causing you to turn around.

Check it out online at http://www.nationalsafetyinc.com/9377/581334/Accessories/Goblin-Hard-Hat-Mirrors.html

If you click on the “additional Info” tab on that page you can download additional information in pdf format.

Putting together an effective safety program

Stumble It!

It isn’t enough to simply have a safety program, it must also be understandable, applicable and effective.

We have talked in the past on this blog about the importance of getting the workers themselves involved in the safety program and it needs to be reiterated here once again. Safety programs cannot be effectively managed from the top down. There is an old adage in the safety industry that says that the best PPE is the PPE that the workers will wear. The most expensive, the latest and greatest is 100% ineffective if it stays in the drawer or the cabinet instead of being worn. When workers “buy into” the safety program, they own it and put it into effect. When they don’t, they will find ways to avoid it.

How, then, do we put together a safety program that is going to work?

Below is a list of “musts”. It is not comprehensive or complete by any means. There are many other things that, depending on your circumstances, your particular industry, your specific make-up, etc… will be needed and that will work in promoting better ownership.

1. It must come from the bottom. No one knows better than the guy working the machine where the potential areas of injury lie. It’s the forklift driver who can point out the blind spots.
2. Workers must know that they will be heard. It isn’t enough to have a suggestion box. Each and every suggestion or issue must be addressed in a timely fashion. When workers understand that management wants to hear from them concerning safety related issues (or other issues, for that matter) they will contribute.
3. Whistle-Blowers must be rewarded, not punished. If an employee is worried about being fired, demoted, reprimanded, singled out, ostracized or otherwise punished for speaking out, he will, of course, be reluctant. If, instead, management understands that fixing potential safety related problem areas is going to effectively save the company money in the long run, they will be willing to reward the employees who bring these issues to their attention. Uncovering and fixing safety related issues affect the bottom line as much as any other productivity issue.
4. Employees must see a change. Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. When employees see that their suggestions have positive results, that their input brings about change, they will take pride in their work and it the company that they work for.
5. Employees must be able to access the safety program. This means that it must be written down and readily-available to the employees. Monthly newsletters, bulletin board postings, company meetings, etc… are all great forums for this type of communication. A safety program that is locked away in a filing cabinet somewhere is of little use to anyone.

Do you have other suggestions? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to post a reply.

 

 

Materials Handling and Storage Booklet available from OSHA

Stumble It!

Monday July 28^th, 2008

First thing this morning, a man and a woman from a local company spent an hour here at our facility trying to get all the PPE that they needed in order to properly cleanup an acid spill at their company. I wasn’t the one helping them get the right PPE (Boots, Gloves, protective suits, etc…) so I don’t know how the spill occurred but a couple of points jumped to mind as I heard about this incident.

1. We need to have procedures and regulations in place concerning the transfer, storage and handling of all materials in our companies. This doesn’t apply simply to hazardous chemicals either. Lifting pallets of steel parts, books or anything that might injure if the pallet were to give way or the product slide off the pallet should be subject to the same regulations and procedures.
2. We need to be prepared, not only with procedures and regulations for safe handling but also with procedures and regulations for what to do if, in fact, an accident does occur. The basis of any effective safety program includes not only prevention but also steps and measures to be taken when the prevention measures fail and an accident does occur.

What this means is that you need to have clear step-by-step procedures in place for the safe transport, storage and use of everything that comes into your facility. In also means that you have the correct personal protective equipment ready in case a spill occurs, or a pallet breaks or whatever.

For the first step, you can download the OSHA “Materials Handling and Storage” booklet that is available for free at their website in pdf format here. It means making sure that you have the correct storage cabinets and safety cans.

For the second you will, of course, have to read the MSDS sheets, analyze potential accident issues and take the appropriate measures. This means having spill kits available where they might be needed. It means having the right boots and the right gloves for the specific chemicals you have on hand.

 

NIOSH/CDC PPE Guidance on CBRN

Stumble It!

NIOSH and the Department of Health and Human Services have issues a new document on “Guidance on Emergency Responder Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Response to CBRN Terrorism Incidents”

Prepared by NIOSH, with input from OSHA, EPA, NFPA this new documents provides “local, State and Federal emergency response entities with comparison information on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration/Environmental Protection Agency (OSHA/EPA) Protection Levels A, B, and C to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adopted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) performance based standards for response to terrorism incidents involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards”

The basis of the standard has to do with identifying the particular hazard and putting together the correct combination of PPE based on the probable impact and exposure to that substance. The document categorizes hazards and PPE levels on the following criteria:

■ Level A —To be selected where the hazards are unknown or unquantifiable or when the greatest level of skin, respiratory and eye protection is required

■ Level B—The highest level of respiratory protection is necessary but a lesser level of skin protection is needed

■ Level C—The concentration(s) and type(s) of airborne substances is known and the criteria for using air-purifying respirators are met

“Currently, no single personal protective ensemble can protect the wearer from exposure to all hazards. It is important that the appropriate combination of respirator, protective ensemble and other equipment be selected based on a conclusive hazard assessment at the scene.”

Trying to determine the appropriate level of protection for all the known chemical agents that might be used is a daunting task, especially in light of the fact that it needs to be determine for eye, face and head protection, protective clothing, respiratory protection, protective shields and barriers.

“The major requirements include: permissible practices; definitions; hazard assessment and equipment selection; training; and the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal; program evaluation; and record keeping.”

For the complete text of the document, download the 13 page pdf at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-132/pdfs/2008-132.pdf

 

Karl Lagerfeld promotes road safety by dressing “ugly”

Stumble It!

 

 

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is known for his good taste in clothing. He dresses impeccably and always looks his best. So why is showing up on billboards all over France in something that he himself describes as “It’s yellow, it’s ugly, it doesn’t match anything”? Because if he’s willing to wear the “ugly”, bright yellow safety vest, the French road safety chiefs figure that other French men and women might be willing to do the same. It’s the newest push to get every vehicle in France equipped with a reflective, hi-viz safety vest and road triangle kit. Both are now mandatory in all car; both need to come out if and when the car is forced to pull over on the side of the road (flat tire, breakdown, etc…).   Billboards all over France show Karl standing with his safety vest on with a stranded car and a road triangle kit in the background (See photo at the right). The text reads: “It’s yellow, it’s ugly, it doesn’t match anything, but it might save your life.” The text at the bottom of the poster reads: “Vest and road triangle reflector are now mandatory in every vehicle. Be prepared”   Bright yellow safety vests might be ugly, they might not match anything… but only Karl Lagerfeld with his signature dark sunglasses, black suit and fingerless gloves can make it look cool the way he does!

Physical Fitness and Safety

Whether your job is physically demanding or not, there is a direct correlation between physical fitness and safety. A body that is “out-of-shape” is at risk of injury.

If your job is a physical job that actually requires you to move around quite a bit and use your muscles in some form or other you probably already know some of the basics to make sure that you stay injury-free like lifting with your legs instead of your back, making sure that you stretch your muscles before you do any real heavy work, etc…

Other pointers that you need to pay attention to:

• Make sure that, whatever the activity, you are doing it properly and using the right muscles to do it. As in the previous example, lifting with your back rather than your legs will result in injury. Carpal Tunnel is another example.
• Take a break when you sense that you’re overdoing it. Most accidents happen when workers are tired or physically exhausted.
• Use the correct PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Knees pads, back braces, wrist supports and wraps, anti-vibration gloves, all of these can help keep you free from injury.
• Make sure that your body stays hydrated. When your body is dehydrated you are much more likely to injure yourself. Know the signs of heat stress and take appropriate action.
• In your personal exercise program outside of work, try to strengthen the muscles that you might not be using for your job. Work especially on strengthening the core of the body as well as other muscles that might not get a regular workout. One of the keys to avoiding injury is to have a balanced body with all the muscle groups being used properly. When one particular muscles group is weak, another set of muscles may try to compensate, usually resulting in injury.
• Try to keep your physical activities within your “normal” range. Overstretching and overexertion are dangerous.

 

If your job is a non-physical job on the other hand, you will need to make sure that you are purposing to stay fit. The nature of your job means that you are not getting the exercise that you need.

Again, because you are not doing anything physical, you might be tempted to think that you are not at risk for physical injuries. The opposite is in fact more likely. Unused and un-stretched muscles are more susceptible to injury with the lack of use.

Fortunately, help is available and, to make a good thing even better, you don’t necessarily have to pay for it.

Exercise Minder is a free program that sits in your taskbar and reminds you at regular intervals to stretch and exercise. It gives you a series of different exercises that you can do while sitting at your desk.
(For another free app that reminds you to take a break and stretch, you can also try Workrave)

Helpful as this is, however, it is not enough. You are going to have to make time outside of work for exercise.

The good news is that a little goes a long way. A simple 20 minute full-body workout three times a week, combined with a sensible diet (think “bringing a proper lunch from home” instead of buying one each day) can work wonders.

The benefits of staying physically fit, of course, goes beyond the lack of injury. The increase in Serotonins and the increased oxygen will improve your mood and feelings of well-being as well.

Who knows, with this improved mood, the whole office might benefit!