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21st Annual Helping Heroes Charity Golf Tournament and Sporting Clays Competition

21st Annual Golf Tournament

Total Safety is pleased to announce the 21st Annual Helping Heroes Charity Event, Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors we have donated over $1,000,000.00 in proceeds to improve the lives of children, families, and US Military men and women. Beneficiaries of the 2018 event are Combat Marine Outdoors, Sky High, and Krysta’s Karing Angels.

Major Sponsors include:

MSA Safety is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures.

Valero Energy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company based in San Antonio, Texas, with approximately 10,000 employees, is an independent petroleum refiner and ethanol producer.

Industrial Scientific is a leader in providing gas detection products, services, and solutions for worksites around the world.

To learn more about the Helping Heroes Charity Golf Tournament and Sporting Clay Competition including sponsorship, participation, and to view messages of thanks from our select charities please click on the following link 2018 HELPING HEROES or email golf@totalsafety.com.

Issues with employees working at heights take up several spots on OSHA's top 10 violations list for 2017.

Top 10 OSHA safety violations of 2017

Issues with employees working at heights take up several spots on OSHA's top 10 violations list for 2017.

 

A review of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s top 10 violations is a simple and effective way to make sure your company doesn’t make some of the country’s most common workplace safety mistakes. Although there are plenty of OSHA violations in the federal regulator’s rule book, these 10 most commonly cited issues are recurring problems for businesses large and small in a wide variety of industries.

An uncommon change

“OSHA’s top 10 violations list contains a rare new addition.”

A rare addition of a new entry on the top 10 list, fall protection – training requirements, is especially notable. The nature of many of the most common violations means it’s hard for them to be displaced, whether due to the sheer number of workers who have to abide by the relevant standards, widespread issues with successful compliance or a mix of both. The rise of issues with fall protection training requirements should be an area of emphasis for companies that have employees working at heights, as Safety + Health magazine noted.

“Many of these violations were specifically related to training requirements and ensuring that a training program for each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards is established,” Patrick Kapust, deputy director for OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, told Safety + Health. “Often, these violations occurred in the roofing, framing and residential modeling industries. We are concerned about the recent uptick in this category and urge employers to take the necessary measures to train employees on this competency.”

OSHA issued a total of 1,724 citations related to this component of the fall protection rules. Common issues ranged from a lack of an established, formal training program for employees working at heights to maintaining written certification records, lack of qualified trainers and issues with employees retaining pertinent information.

There are some clear actions for safety professionals and business leaders to consider in terms of improving compliance with fall protection training requirements. Although each company and situation is unique, emphasizing the use of well-equipped, competent educators, regularly reviewing and corroborating training records, and ensuring training standards are in line with OSHA’s are all straightforward and important improvements.

A look at the full list

Besides the addition of fall protection – training requirements, there weren’t any other major changes to OSHA’s list of frequently cited violations. Here’s the full list:

  1. Fall protection – general requirements. Many of the 6,072 total violations cited by OSHA stemmed from a lack of effective protective systems for construction workers handling tasks 6 feet or more above a lower level.
  2. Hazard communication. The widespread, cross-industry need to develop a hazard communication program whenever workers use or interact with potentially dangerous chemicals means there are plenty of citations related to such plans – or a total lack of one.
  3. Scaffolding. With similarly serious safety considerations as fall protection and use in a variety of contexts, scaffolding citations stayed at the same spot on the list as it was in 2016.
  4. Respiratory protection. Issues with conducting required medical examinations for workers using respirators and documenting a respiratory protection plan, among other issues, contributed to the high ranking.
  5. Lockout/tagout. Protecting employees from unexpected startup and release of stored energy during equipment maintenance is a complicated task that can easily lead to citations by an inspector.
  6. Ladders. With so many issues related to working at heights, it’s not surprising ladders also consistently rank on OSHA’s list.
  7. Powered industrial trucks. Issues related to training, certification, unsafe use and the need to repeat the driver evaluation process every three years all led to a high volume of citations.
  8. Machine guarding. The need to protect employees from machinery in operation is a broad, widespread one that affects many businesses.
  9. Fall protection – training requirements. This is the rare new addition to the list.
  10. Electrical wiring methods. A variety of technical violations related to wiring safety led to this regulation’s spot among the most frequently cited violations.

Effective workplace safety programs require a wide variety of general and industry-specific considerations, plans and tools. To make your business as safe as possible, reach out to Total Safety today.

The design of some respirators limit the facial hair employees wearing them can maintain.

Staying safe with facial hair and respirators

The design of some respirators limit the facial hair employees wearing them can maintain.

 

Respirators are vital tools for keeping employees safe in a variety of different and potentially dangerous contexts. Fumes, vapors, gases and small pieces of easily inhaled particulate matter can all cause consequences for employees up to and including serious long-term illness and death. From both common sense safety and regulatory perspectives, respirators are must-have equipment for a wide range of employees.

Facial hair and respirators: What’s acceptable, what isn’t

“Respirator safety is a vital consideration for a variety of businesses.”

There’s little, if any, debate about the value of respirators in general, but there is an issue that persists in terms of safe and compliant usage. OSHA regulations clearly state that respirators can’t be worn when facial hair interferes with the device’s seal to a worker’s face or impedes the function of valves. Functionally, that bars employees with a range of longer, fuller facial hair from using respirators and, therefore, filling job roles where these devices are required.

However, there’s no blanket ban on facial hair from OSHA. The rule allows some forms of neat, trimmed facial hair as long as it doesn’t interfere with safe respirator operation. Additionally, there are certain types of respirators that don’t require a seal around the face, such as some powered air-purifying hoods and hooded respirators that cover workers’ entire heads. These distinctions mean there are plenty of nuance involved in the respirator rules, as well as opportunities for both effective enforcement on the part of individual businesses and chances to run afoul of OSHA’s rules.

Where can companies place emphasis to encourage a high degree of compliance and discourage facial hair that interferes with safe respirator use?

  • Regular grooming: As Safety + Health magazine pointed out, one of the biggest impediments to effective, secure respirator utilization comes not from well-groomed, approved facial hair, but the growth of stubble. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health pointed to research that shows as little as one to two days of of beard growth can cause significant interference with the seal of a respirator. Whether businesses allow employees using this equipment to have facial hair or not, they must all stress the need to regularly shave to create conditions that are as safe as possible.
  • Clear understanding of specific equipment: The specific types of respirators used at a given business have a major impact on allowable facial hair. When these devices need a tight seal around the face, employees and managers must be careful about the types of facial hair worn. Respirators that fully envelop the head don’t carry such restrictions. It’s vital for companies to regularly review the employees utilizing these tools and the exact types of respirators used to make sure no issues slip through the cracks. Safety managers can consider reviewing standards and usage whenever a new employee takes on a role involving a respirator and when new devices are put into service.

OSHA estimated 5 million employees in 1.3 million workplaces have to wear respirators to safely perform and complete their daily duties. This valuable type of protective equipment only works as designed when all rules and suggestions are considered and followed appropriately. Whether your ultimate decision is to disallow any employee using these devices from having facial hair or conducting regular reviews to ensure the equipment seals appropriately and works as intended, respirator safety has to be a continual priority.

To make sure your facility and staff are as safe on the job as possible, get in touch with Total Safety today.

OSHA's electronic recordkeeping rules may be in a state of flux.

Will OSHA follow through on its proposed recordkeeping rule?

OSHA's electronic recordkeeping rules may be in a state of flux.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s electronic recordkeeping rule has gone through plenty of development, changes and delays since it was first announced in May 2016. The regulation technically went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Although the rule is in place, it hasn’t been enforced due to a series of delays issued by the federal regulator. Will businesses mandated to participate by virtue of company size or industry eventually have to comply with this rule and submit workplace injury and illness information electronically? Or is it possible the rule will never be fully enforced?

Electronic injury and illness record submission is a new step for OSHA.Electronic injury and illness record submission is a new step for OSHA.

Several recent enforcement delays highlight uncertainty

Business Insurance reported on a recent news release from OSHA that provided what might be a final extension for businesses that have yet to send 2016 electronic workplace injury and illness records to the federal agency. Companies now have until midnight on Dec. 31 to send their data through OSHA’s tracking tool, and failure to do so could result in enforcement action, including fines and other penalties. Once the calendar changes to 2018, OSHA’s application will no longer accept data for 2016.

Technically, the deadline for submitting the information remained at Dec. 15, with OSHA clarifying that it won’t pursue any consequences for organizations that don’t take action until the second half of the month. Although the health and safety regulator didn’t make a specific statement, it’s reasonable to assume enforcement of submission deadlines could start in 2018 – barring another extension of the timeline.

Eric Conn, a partner in law firm Conn Maciel Carey L.L.P., said actions over the past year have indicated the electronic recordkeeping rule could be changed substantially or entirely removed, in an emailed statement shared by Business Insurance.

“We have closely tracked the Trump Administration’s treatment of OSHA’s new e-recordkeeping and anti-retaliation rule, and while there have been plenty of signals that this rule is due for an overhaul, or even possibly to be rescinded entirely, no such action was taken to interfere with the first required data submission, other than to extend the deadline from this summer to Dec. 15 and now to Dec. 31 for all intents and purposes,” Conn said.

As EHS Today pointed out, OSHA’s electronic recordkeeping rule faced many delays since the original announcement. The July 1 submission deadline moved to Dec. 1, then Dec. 15 and was finally and unofficially pushed back a final time to the very end of the year. Part of the issue, aside from a potential desire to change or eliminate the rule, might be a lack of resources to effectively review and process the data. Although OSHA issued statements in the past noting it had adequate staffing to deal with the influx of new data, the agency simply may not have the tools or personnel on hand to effectively manage this new program.

In late October, OHSA indicated it was somewhat close to completing the review process for the rule, according to firm Jackson Lewis PC. However, there’s no clear timeline in place for a conclusion and subsequent revision or removal, meaning businesses have to submit 2016 data at a minimum.

Keeping up with regulatory changes is a complicated affair for businesses large and small. To enhance compliance and keep employees and facilities as safe as possible, turn to Total Safety.

Disaster preparedness: Workplace safety for the worst scenarios

 

Safety managers and EHS professionals regularly address short- and long-term issues that affect the health and security of a facility and its workers with aplomb. However, one area that might be overlooked in certain situations is the impact of a natural disaster, or a manmade one that’s outside the scope and control of the worksite and employees.

Recent examples from across the country – flooding in Houston, the severe hurricane in Puerto Rico, wildfires in California – reinforce the need to have a response plan ready to go in the face of an impending disaster, as well as in its aftermath.

Car under water.Flooding is one of many potential disasters for which businesses need to prepare.

Confidently handling the basics

As The Houston Chronicle pointed out, all businesses with more than 10 employees need a documented emergency action plan shared with all workers, per OSHA regulations. OSHA offered detailed guidance about developing such plans on its website, and noted some especially important and mandated basic components. They include:

  • The method used to report fires and other emergencies.
  • Evacuation plans and routes.
  • Procedures for employees who fulfill critical operational roles to follow before evacuation.
  • A plan to account for all staff members after leaving the facility.
  • Documentation of specific rescue and medical duties assigned to staff.
  • Contact information for staff members carrying specific duties in the plan.

Ensure staff have access to communication devices, be they phones, weather radios or other tools, specially when employees are spread out over a large geographic area. Efficiently getting the word out to evacuate as danger gets too close for workers to continue regular operations is an important consideration.

Disaster specific response

Protecting employees in the face of imminent danger is the most important responsibility for businesses, but it’s far from the only one. Preventing or minimizing negative outcomes, such as the release of hazardous chemicals into the surrounding environment. Protection of equipment and fixed assets also needs to be addressed.

EHS Today suggested starting with a detailed risk assessment specific to the facility. That means determining the types of natural disasters that are possible in the area, based on location, weather patterns, topography and other factors. Assessing how such incidents could affect volatile chemicals, fuel stores, machinery and other potentially destructive materials at the facility is incredibly helpful. It gives you a base from which you can make specific, effective plans for minimizing damage to staff, assets and the local community.

In a similar vein, worst-case scenarios for addressing critical failures of facility systems that contain and secure volatile substances is also vital. Although extremely unlikely with proper safety measures and active review in place, situations like the 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, are still possible. Having a response plan for serious internal events that arise is just as important as a strategy to respond to a natural disaster.

With these elements in mind, the next major step should be engaging stakeholders throughout the facility to gather feedback and incorporate it into the overall plans for disaster preparedness. Workplace safety strategies that take the informed opinions of staff into account are well-rounded and help address additional contingencies.

The last major consideration to make is instituting the plan, ensuring roles and responsibilities are clear and ensuring all workers know how to respond when under pressure. Practice runs, clear written plan descriptions and regular reviews can all go a long way toward ensuring everyone knows how to respond appropriately when disaster approaches, instead of scrambling to figure out what to do.

Effective workplace safety planning means addressing a wide range of important issues. Get in touch with Total Safety to put focused and successful solutions inside your facility.

Total Safety’s Freeport District Office Recommended for OSHA VPP Star

Freeport VPP banner preview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 29, 2017 the Freeport District Office was recommended by Region VI OSHA for participation as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star site. OSHA officials conducted a comprehensive and intense safety review in order to determine that the site was not only meeting the VPP expectations, but continuously improving their safety program.

The review involved employee interviews, a comprehensive site walk down and documentation assessment. The review was very successful due to the fact there was zero findings. OSHA had many favorable comments about the cleanliness and orderliness of the site, the safety knowledge of employees and the strong commitment of local management.

Once approved by OSHA, the District Office will be one of twenty-two Total Safety VPP Star sites. Congratulations to all employees at the Freeport District office.

The value of comprehensive forklift safety

 

Forklifts are one of the most commonly used tools at industrial and commercial work sites. Their versatility and power make these machines a popular choice in a variety of warehouses, factories and production plants. However, forklifts also pose a variety of safety risks that are due not to any design or operational flaw, but simply their prevalence throughout the working world.

Developing an effective forklift safety program is critical to keep employees who work on and around these vehicles healthy and injury free. Let’s look at some common concerns around safe operation of forklifts, and how businesses can make positive changes to help employees use forklifts as safely as possible.

“There are nearly 100,000 forklift accidents each year.”

Common safety issues surrounding forklifts

An easy way to contextualize the size of the problem of forklift-related injuries is to look at how many accidents involving these vehicles occur each year. Safety + Health Magazine highlighted data from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industry that said close to 100,000 injuries involving forklifts happen each year nationally. Specifically, 62,000 nonserious injuries and 35,000 serious injuries related to forklift operation happen on a yearly basis. It’s clear that such injuries are unfortunately frequent and a major factor influencing a variety of workplaces.

According to OHS Online, the most prevalent fatal accident caused by forklifts is crushing injuries caused by a tipping vehicle. A variety of other incidents, from struck-by injuries to falls from these machines and workers being run over, can all cause serious consequences, up to and including death.

How can employers combat the many minor and major incidents that are possible when workers use these powered vehicles? Plenty of elements go into a comprehensive forklift safety strategy, and a few foundational components must be present to realize success:

  • Effective training: Without a comprehensive program in place to educate staff, it’s nearly impossible to meet OSHA standards and avoid accidents. As Safety + Health magazine said, committing to safety involves investing in proper training that covers all pertinent areas of forklift safety. That means covering proper procedure to avoid the most serious types of injuries, such as properly balancing loads to avoid forklifts tipping over. However, a truly effective approach also requires reviewing the practices that can help employees avoid more minor incidents, including proper form for disembarking from these vehicles to avoid slip-and-fall accidents. This kind of approach requires employees to go through a full accounting of forklift safety.
  • Strict limits for access: It’s clear that only trained, authorized personnel should operate forklifts, regardless of the specific situation. However, workers too eager to finish a job or trying to combat an unexpected absence can quickly put themselves and their colleagues at substantial risk for serious injury. Employers need to emphasize strong, consistently applied rules for using forklifts and establish meaningful consequences for unauthorized use.
  • Vehicle and facility familiarity: In addition to the basic elements of safe operation, forklift operators should also have a deep understanding of all areas where they operate these vehicles. They also need to recognize any differences between individual forklifts in an employer’s fleet. Awareness of high-traffic corridors near where forklifts operate, tight corners and different weight limits for loads between machines are all vital for continued safe operation. Operators should regularly inspect their forklifts for any potential issues, and workplace safety managers should take a similar approach to reviewing how these machines operate throughout a facility.

Effective forklift safety practices are a cornerstone of keeping employees healthy and facilities operational. Turn to Total Safety to protect your staff, assets and work sites from a wide variety of operational health and safety concerns.

Addressing opioid use and abuse in the workplace

Opioid painkillers play a significant and legitimate role in modern medicine, helping patients deal with substantial pain that could have serious, negative consequences for their short- and long-term health. However, there are major addiction and abuse issues that arise with these powerful drugs, to the point where the White House declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency in October.

For employers, issues with opioid abuse in their workforces require plenty of consideration and a strong understanding of steps to address and curb the problem.

Practical and compassionate considerations

“Only 19% of businesses believe they’re ready to address workplace opioid abuse.”

There are two major areas where opioid abuse has an impact on business operations: Productivity and workplace safety and the damage that these drugs can cause to individual employees and their families. Both can easily lead to bad results for companies, such as employees being unable to safely perform their duties or failing to meet production quotas.

According to a survey from the National Safety Council, about 70 percent of 501 respondents in HR said their respective companies felt negative effects of opioid abuse. They included issues such as absent employees, safety incidents and accidents, and reduced productivity and output. However, just 19 percent of survey respondents said their organizations were in a position to effectively address opioid use.

What can employers do to help?

Drug abuse is an especially serious issue for businesses. It’s also complicated by local and federal laws, as well as medical confidentiality requirements. That means responses have to be similarly deliberate and nuanced.

In terms of specific steps to address opioid abuse, Crain’s Detroit Business suggested finding local resources and organizations, like a state or county mental health authority, that has the ability to help staff deal with addiction issues. Not every worker who uses opioids develops a substance abuse issue. This is especially true in cases where they carefully follow short-term treatment plans designed by medical professionals. However, knowing where to refer employees who have such problems is vital. Although it’s a larger financial commitment, businesses can also consider partially or wholly sponsoring treatment at rehab centers.

The Travelers Companies recommended an active post-injury management strategy that follows appropriate medical regulations, but also takes steps to avoid employees falling into situations where the possibility of opioid abuse increases. Quick response to injuries and a proactive approach to medical case management can both help workers recover quickly and let other employees know their workplace cares for them.

Safety + Health recommended a drug-testing program that focuses on compliance with relevant laws and labor agreements, as well as emphasizes on confidentiality, clear procedures and consequences. Additionally, instructing employees to inform supervisors if they use a prescription drug that affects performance and workplace safety – while avoiding discussion of why the medication is used, to align with privacy needs – can also improve outcomes.

A safe workplace means addressing all potential hazards effectively. Turn to Total Safety to keep your facility productive, happy and healthy.

Workplace fatigue affects 40 percent of US employees

 

Workplace safety involves anything that could have an impact on how employees perform job duties and move throughout a facility. That includes factors businesses have little or no control over, like worker fatigue.

Although companies have few direct controls beyond making sure employees working very long shifts have adequate breaks in between, they need to address tired, groggy or slow-to-respond staff to avoid injuries and costly damage. Recent news about the prevalence of fatigue in the workplace means it’s even more important to address this widespread issues and make facilities as safe as they can possibly be.

Nearly 4 in 10 workers suffer from fatigue in the workplace

EHS Today reported on proceedings from the 2017 National Safety Congress in Indianapolis, where Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, discussed overtired employees and the many issues associated with them. Hersman noted fatigue is the rare issue that can stretch across literally every job description and industry, and is a universal concern.

“Lack of sleep affects employees at work and while traveling.”

She noted the direct impacts of tired employees include increased likelihood of accidents and injuries, but the problems extend beyond immediate concerns. In the long term, continued fatigue and lack of a proper amount of sleep can lead to poor employee health, potentially increasing the incidence or severity of issues like diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, employees feel the effects of a lack of rest when they commute back and forth to work. Reduced alertness and reaction time both negatively influence driver performance, and put workers at risk as they travel to and from job sites each day.

The frequency with which fatigue occurs in the workplace must be recognized to craft an effective response. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and reported by EHS Today, on average, 38 percent of all employees report fatigue symptoms at least once in a two-week period. Businesses as a whole, alongside the managers, supervisors and EHS specialists that address safety issues, need to look at this as a broad-based problem that can lead to negative consequences at nearly any workplace.

There aren’t direct safeguards to protect workers from fatigue in the same way that a potentially dangerous piece of machinery or storage room of volatile chemicals may be guarded. Even when compared to drug use – which can be addressed to a significant extent with testing and workplace rules – fatigue presents unique challenges for companies. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to tackle this issue, just that those approaches differ from many of the other strategies used to keep employees safe.

Taking on the problem of employee fatigue

“Discussing the need for sleep is an important part of addressing workplace fatigue.”

Safety.BLR.com shared recommendations for addressing fatigue from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, including more effective management of staff and shifts. Having enough workers to avoid long stretches of regular overtime can mitigate one of the major causes of tired employees. Similarly, businesses should try to give as many employees as possible the chance to sleep at night, as night shifts can lead to more issues with quality of sleep and disruptions of rest.

Training, encouragement and education all also play major roles. While it seems like basic information, employers should share information about the need for a good night’s sleep and the problems that can arise from missing it. Also, encouraging employees to be proactive about sleep-related health issues and work with their doctors to address them.

Workplace fatigue is one of many issues businesses must address to keep employees healthy, happy and focused. Get in touch with Total Safety today to ensure your workplace is as safe as possible.

Understanding OSHA’s new silica rule for construction sites

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regularly reviews and updates its workplace safety guidelines to better protect employees in a variety of working environments. The recent reduction in permissible exposure limits for silica at construction job sites is one change that has widespread impacts across the country and could lead to costly violations if not addressed appropriately.

Let’s review what these changes mean and how businesses can successfully address the stricter standard, to keep employees safe and avoid the consequences of violating the new rules.

What the new silica standard means for businesses

“The permissible exposure limit dropped from 250 micrograms to 50.”

The new silica standard is focused on the construction industry, which is good news for organizations outside of that market. However, it affects many thousands of businesses and millions of individual workers throughout all aspects of the construction field. Silica exposure creates a variety of negative health outcomes, ranging from cancer to kidney disease. With silica dust a common element of the construction industry, it’s not surprising OSHA decided to reduce allowable limits in an effort to better protect workers.

Officially, OSHA significantly reduced the allowable level of employee exposure to silica in late September, dropping from a Permissible Exposure Limit of 250 micrograms of silica per cubic liter of air to just 50 per eight-hour workday, Lexology said. This 80-percent drop means a variety of contractors and construction companies in nearly all areas of the industry need to consider how to change workflows, improve protection and stop overexposure on a consistent basis.

Although the new rule technically went into effect on Sept. 23, the federal health and safety regulator postponed enforcement for 30 days for any businesses found to be acting in good faith to comply with the new rule, Safety + Health magazine said.

Along with a numerical reduction to the upper limit of silica exposure, the OSHA rule also requires specific approaches to compliance. The federal regulator shared two options to help businesses align with the new requirements, as highlighted by Lexology. The first is a specific control method outlined as part of the new rule. It lays out a variety of common construction tasks, lists OSHA-approved control methods and notes required respiratory protection for both half and full shifts.

Employers in the construction industry can also elect to measure exposure at their own work sites, then choose protective measures they believe are effective in their specific circumstances. Both approaches are allowable based on OSHA’s guidance and must be accompanied by a written plan that documents efforts to mitigate or eliminate exposure. However, individual determination of silica risks and implementation of safety considerations can mean significantly more work for contractors and construction companies.

Construction Dive said the reaction to the new rule was mixed, with some businesses pushing back against the rule until it recently became official. However, others in the construction industry have already implemented new equipment and other safeguards to get ahead of the rule’s enforcement.

Important decisions

“Effective personal protective equipment is vital for protecting workers.”

Businesses in the construction industry need to make sure they continue on the path to compliance and quickly implement the necessary pieces to ensure workers remain safe. One resource geared toward small businesses that can help significantly is OSHA’s “Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction.” The document, nearly 100 pages long, offers guidance from a variety of perspectives. In-depth information about creating a written plan, respiratory protection and much more are included, and much of the information is applicable to larger companies as well.

Effective personal protective equipment is also vital for protecting workers from silica. Consider working with a trusted provider like Total Safety to address your business’s needs.