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Fall Protection, Training, Compliance & Certification

OSHA releases 2017 list of most frequently violated standards

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s annual release of its most frequent workplace violations is an excellent opportunity for businesses to assess their own risk factors and act accordingly.

The repeated appearance of many violations on the list is a reminder that common workplace safety issues can be corrected with effective planning and the right approach to problem-solving. As you review OSHA’s most commonly violated standards, consider how your organization can address any similar concerns and improve safety outcomes.

OSHA’s most common violations, ranked

“The 2017 list features several violations that regularly appear.”

Although the final results could change as the information is still in a preliminary stage, little movement on the list is expected, according to Safety.BLR. Patrick Kapust, OSHA deputy director for the directorate of enforcement programs, shared this information at the National Safety Council’s annual Congress & Expo, held in Indianapolis in 2017. Although OSHA hasn’t yet officially released the data on its website, the results were widely reported. Here are the top 10 most frequent violations:

  1. Fall protection, general requirements.
  2. Hazard communication.
  3. Scaffolding.
  4. Respiratory protection.
  5. Lockout/tagout.
  6. Ladders.
  7. Powered industrial trucks.
  8. Machine guarding.
  9. Fall protection, specific to training.
  10. Electrical, specific to wiring methods.

The list is very similar to 2016’s version, shared by Safety + Health magazine. Ladders and powered industrial trucks changed places, while issues with fall protection training jumped to No. 8 and ultimately displaced last year’s No. 10 position holder, general requirements for electrical. Even when considering the variations in this year’s preliminary data, the persistence of many common safety violations is clear to see.

Recognizing the one type of standard to make two appearances on the list, fall protection, is especially important. Although the prevalence of violations specifically in the construction market has an impact on fall protection’s ranking, there are thousands of general industry violations each year as well.

With issues related to training now also cracking the top 10, workplace safety specialists and leaders need to make sure staff are fully trained in appropriate use of relevant personal protective equipment and have a work environment free of height-related hazards. Considering scaffolding and ladders’ positions on the list, a deep review of any work done by employees at heights is needed to ensure full compliance.

A wide variety of companies have the potential for many, if not all, of the violations listed to occur in their facilities if they don’t thoroughly and consistently value the need to assess conditions, implement changes, educate staff members and solicit feedback. PPE, training, safe scaffolding, machine guarding and plenty of other physical and conceptual needs go into the development of a truly safe environment.

The Society for Human Resource Management spoke with Tressi Cordano, a lawyer with Washington, D.C., firm Jackson Lewis, who suggested employers place particular emphasis on training. Many of the most common violations involving training in some form or another. Therefore, regular audits of employee records and quick action to provide any missing training are both critical for a safe workplace.

To ensure your company makes its working environment as safe as possible, partner with an experienced and knowledgeable vendor like Total Safety.

Training, Compliance & Certification

Why employee engagement is a key factor in overall workplace safety

 

Occupational health and safety is a practical matter, where the major goals are seemingly universally shared by the business and its staff. No reasonable employee would want to hurt themselves or others in a workplace accident, and companies have a vested interest in both keeping workers safe and staying on the right side of relevant regulations.

This common desire for a safe workplace doesn’t mean problems won’t arise, however. Employees may become complacent or view certain safety requirements as too much of a burden, while safety managers and business leaders may not notice these issues or work to resolve them quickly. How can organizations encourage a better overall climate for workplace health and safety for both frontline employees and managers? The answer is effective engagement.

An engaged workforce is a safe workforce

“Employees and workplaces with high levels of engagement are safer, too.”

Statistics and polling group Gallup conducted an extensive meta-analysis of health and safety data in 2016, involving more than 82,000 business units and 1.8 million employees across 230 total organizations. The findings were clear: Employees and workplaces with high levels of engagement saw fewer workplace accidents than those with lower engagement. Specifically, business units among the top 25 percent of engaged workplaces saw 70 percent fewer incidents than those in the bottom 25 percent.

A 2014 study focused on other dimensions of workplace engagement by Queens University’s Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing and Aon Hewitt reinforce this broad finding. Research by the two groups, covering more than 10 years and 110,000 employee surveys, found significantly lower absenteeism (20 percent) and employee turnover (26 percent) rates in businesses with strong engagement levels. Low levels of both metrics are significant factors in general engagement and maintaining high levels of safety.

The importance of effective engagement is clear in terms of improving workplace health and safety concerns. There are many tactics for improving engagement, including:

  • Regularly involving staff in health and safety concerns: All businesses have to train employees on a variety of relevant safety issues, but businesses with high levels of engagement go further. Open, two-way communication about why and how the company deals with safety issues is important, as giving employees a voice makes them feel involved and heard. Addressing potential concerns proactively and transparently helps convince workers their employer is doing more than the bare minimum and can inspire a similar sense of participation.
  • Recognizing employee achievements: The National Safety Council suggests simple actions, like thanking workers for continued periods of safe operation and informal, on-the-spot praise for following safety rules can have a positive effect. Expressing support and recognizing good behaviors is an easy and effective way to reinforce those actions among staff.
  • Supporting ongoing employee development: Companies that give employees resources to grow in their roles and move into new ones show they value staff in the long term. EHS Today said businesses that take this step see more successful workers and lower turnover.
  • Providing excellent PPE and other safety equipment: Giving employees more than the bare minimum is a clear indication of care and support.

Working with an experienced and knowledgeable vendor like Total Safety gives companies plenty of choices when it comes to high-quality safety equipment. Make sure your business finds the right partner for providing staff with the best safety equipment possible – a key element of successful engagement.

Gas Detection

Global gas detection market to expand to $5.6 billion by 2024

 

For a number of reasons, employees of industrial firms often find themselves working in a confined space. Worker health and safety is critically important in these situations; indeed, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration maintains a number of regulations focused on providing a safe working environment and rescue protocols for workers who must work in these confined enclosures.

Having adequate gas detection equipment is a big part of maintaining awareness and compliance regarding confined spaces. Gasses present particular risks for workers with little maneuvering room because they may be odorless and colorless; without the right tools, a worker may be exposed without even knowing for certain. Such hazards can be mitigated by sufficient personal gas detection systems, but before acquiring solutions, companies should know where the gas detection equipment market is headed. In short: up.

Sustained growth into the next decade

The global market for gas detection systems has seen notable growth of late, something that Transparency Market Research said is going to continue into the 2020s. In a recent report, TMR said the worldwide gas detection equipment market will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.6 percent to $5.6 billion by 2024. In 2015, the market value was $3.4 billion. TMR cited the rising tide of rulemaking and worker safety-focused regulation being enacted not just in the United States, but also the developing world at large.

Another factor in creating greater demand for gas detection systems is the shift toward natural gas. Coal has seen significant declines in recent times, and natural gas has risen to the top of many consumers’ preferences for heating and energy purposes. The increased number of gas-powered installations means increased chance workers may find themselves in enclosed spaces that could be affected by gas leaks.

Factory workerGas detection systems are becoming more commonplace in industrial settings.

Developing world to play large role in market demand

TMR isn’t the only market research firm predicting big things for the gas detection equipment market. Persistence Market Research also offered a recent look into the market and found that considerable opportunities for market expansion exist given the high rate of infrastructure projects in the developing world. Researchers highlighted India and Brazil as countries undertaking particularly large projects that will elevate demand for gas detection systems.

High-quality tools needed regardless of use

As evidenced by recent research, more companies than ever are actively investing in gas detection systems. However, while most may understand they need equipment, new buyers often don’t have the product knowledge that will help them choose the right option. Working with an experienced and customer service-focused partner like Total Safety can help businesses get the exact gas detection solution for their needs. Whether that’s a chip gas detector, pipeline emission monitoring system or multigas monitors, Total Safety has the products designed to keep you and your workers safe.

Fall Protection

Massive anti-compliance penalty underscores vital importance of fall protection

 

Fall protection is a vital element of an effective workplace safety program. Every business that requires employees to perform duties at potentially dangerous heights needs to take all the precautions possible to ensure their safety. This is important to both the well-being of workers and maintaining compliance with the strict fall protection regulations enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The lack of proper planning and equipment for a comprehensive fall protection program can have a major impact on a business’s financial security, due to OSHA’s lack of tolerance for regulatory violations. For some of the worst offenders, penalties can quickly reach seven figures.

$1.5M penalty for contractor highlights need for fall protection

A roofing contractor based in Jacksonville, Florida, provides an especially clear and recent example of the costs associated with a lack of fall protection. The contractor had a history of noncompliance with OSHA regulations, with a mix of willful, serious and repeat violations dating back to 2012. EHS Today reported the company accrued more than a dozen violations altogether during an inspection in early 2017.

Worker wearing safety harness.Proper fall protection is vital for all industries where height is a factor.

The OSHA inspection quickly grew in scope and stretched to two nearby work sites. According to Business Insurance, workers were performing tasks several stories above ground level without effective fall protection. While the employees had harnesses, they lacked the robe grabs and roof anchors needed for full compliance.

OSHA staff found a variety of violations across the pair of locations, and the business ultimately faced a financial penalty of $1,523,710. Additionally, the company was placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which means a higher regulatory burden for the company, among other consequences.

“The company allowed their employees to work without fall protection and made no reasonable effort to eliminate the hazard,” said Kurt Petermeyer, OHSA regional administrator in a press release.

Could this happen to my business?

While most businesses don’t have a history of major compliance issues that lead to major penalties like repeat violations, they can start down that path if they don’t give enough support to fall protection efforts. Companies need to take this aspect of daily operations seriously, whether employees work several feet or several stories above ground level. A lack of proper attention and resource allocation, even with the right intentions in mind, can cause harm to staff and the company’s financial health.

Fall protection regularly ranks as the most-frequently violated OSHA safety standard on the federal regulator’s annual list, which indicates it’s a widespread problem throughout a variety of industries. While examples from the world of construction are common, safety violations can take place in a variety of other organizations.

Every type of business, from warehouses to oil refineries, need effective fall protection to ensure staff remain safe as well as avoid regulatory penalties. Consider working with an experienced provider of fall protection services, like Total Safety, to ensure your company achieves and maintains a high degree of compliance.

News, US

Hurricane Harvey Recovery

To our Total Safety community of customers, friends and family,

We are deeply saddened by the tremendous impact Hurricane Harvey has made on so many of us. This is a tragedy unlike any we have seen in Texas; but we are enormously proud of the incredible ways people have pulled together, reached out, and helped one another. Together, we will all get through this.

Whatever you need during this time, you can count on Total Safety to assist in every way possible. Day or night, we are here to offer support, services; or a helping hand. We are grateful for the lives that have been spared, and we are ready, willing, and eager to be a proactive part of the recovery and healing process. There is no problem we won’t help you try to solve.

We are dedicated to Ensuring the Wellbeing of Workers Worldwide (W3). Our #1 priority is to keep you out of harm’s way. We can’t control Mother Nature; but we can absolutely control how we respond to her. Total Safety is a strong partner you can count on to get through this. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help.

Best Wishes,
Paul Tyree, Chief Operating Officer, TOTAL SAFETY

Fall Protection

What the new fall protection rules mean for the equipment you need in 2017

 

Having adequate fall protection systems in place is essential to full compliance for many industrial employers – like those in construction. Therefore, it is of particular interest for these businesses to become fully knowledgeable on the new rule put forth by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration that updates standards for walking-working surfaces and creates new requirements for what fall protection systems companies and workers need.

Understanding the new rule

“OSHA expects the rule will affect 112 million workers and prevent some 30 fatalities and 5,850 injuries a year.”

In November 2016, OSHA announced that it had introduced a final rule that adjusted its general walking-working surfaces standards in a way that specifically addresses slip, trip and fall hazards. However, the major impact of the rule refresh is that it establishes new requirements under the personal protective equipment standards that deal with what fall protection systems employers can use.

Broadly, OSHA has revised the rule to allow for employers to select the fall protection system that is more appropriate for their needs. Specifically, personal fall protection systems (in use in construction since 1994) requirements have been adopted for general industry use, expanding the available equipment options that employers can choose from.

“The final rule will increase workplace protection from those hazards, especially fall hazards, which are a leading cause of worker deaths and injuries,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels said. “OSHA believes advances in technology and greater flexibility will reduce worker deaths and injuries from falls.”

In all, OSHA expects the rule (which went into effect Jan. 17 of this year) will affect 112 million workers, while preventing some 30 fatalities and 5,850 injuries related to falls a year.

Two workers with PPE on cherry picker.New OSHA regulations will affect how employers buy fall protection systems.

How employers should approach PPE/fall protection system buying

The main takeaway for employers is that they have greater flexibility in choosing the right OSHA-approved fall protection equipment for them and their employees. This means companies not in construction may be using personal fall protection systems for the first time.

In this case, it’s highly important to become familiar with the various consensus industry standards for fall prevention. Among them, the ANSI/ASSE Z359 – which has been recently updated in 2016 – is a prevailing fall protection code that employers affected by the new rule should become acquainted with. Topics it addresses include the definitions of passive and active fall systems; differences between positioning, fall and arrest; as well as applications for emergency and rescue.

The OSHA rule update also included some other items of regulation that will affect which fall protection systems employers research and buy. For example:

  • Employers will now be able to use rope descent systems up to 300 feet above a lower level.
  • Body belts are prohibited in personal fall arrest systems; and
  • Worker training and personal fall protection systems will be required.

Industrial businesses will have a lot more research on their hands as more fall protection systems become available and approved for use in their specific applications. Especially for employers newly integrated into the fall protection standard for general use will the challenge of securing the right fall protection system be felt. Working with an experienced and knowledgeable vendor in the safety and PPE space for years, one like Total Safety, can help businesses get the best equipment for their needs that satisfies compliance.

Turnaround & Shutdown

What the new lockout/tagout revision could mean for you

 

Lockout/tagout procedures are core pieces of any industrial company’s safety protocols. The release of energy as a machine is powered on accidentally can be fatal: The U.S. Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration says lockout/tagout procedures prevent 120 deaths and 50,000 injuries a year. Given the importance of these processes, businesses need to be aware of lockout/tagout changes OSHA has proposed that may affect your own workplace training and compliance.

Why one word matters so much

Although OSHA put forth a raft of changes – 18 in all – in October 2016 aimed at revising standards, according to AutomationWorld, it was the change to Control of Hazardous Energy Standard (29 C.F.R. part 1910.147) that garnered the most attention from industrial employers and stakeholders. The rule sets guidelines for protecting workers when “the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy, could harm employees.”

“New lockout/tagout procedures, if approved, would apply to more machines than many companies are currently prepared to meet compliance for.”

Under the change OSHA submitted to public comment, “unexpected” would be removed. The safety agency argues it wants to clarify its original intent to mean “unexpected energization” as all re-energization startups before lockout/tagout devices are removed, not just when the release of stored energy by a machine would be “unexpected.”

This seemingly small semantic change could have large repercussions for employers. If approved, lockout/tagout procedures, which require a full shutdown, would have to be applied to more machines than factory floors or processing plants are currently prepared to meet compliance for.

MachineryNew OSHA lockout/tagout compliance requirements may force employers to change safety procedures.

Court case can provide insight

In a series of judgments issued in favor of GMC in the late ’90s, lockout/tagout was ruled to not cover maintenance activity on machines that had proper advance warning functions and where the only risk being a startup while an employee is in a danger zone — an unexpected reenergization. As BNA Bloomberg reported, industry stakeholders have cautioned the revised rule could burden employers by having to divert more resources toward overhauling current lockout/tagout procedures that comply according to the law, even if they don’t rely solely on these setups.

Looking ahead for lockout/tagout

Compliance with OSHA lockout/tagout mandates is difficult for many employers. As a way to better improve their internal procedures, companies can look to the ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 as a model for modern approaches to lockout/tagout responsibilities. Developed with scalability in mind, rather than the zero-risk blanket approach, the best practices included in the standard allow for right-sizing changes to lockout/tagout procedures.

Remember, ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 is guidance, not the law, and OSHA will dictate enforcement policies. However, coupling best practices that bring lockout/tagout procedures in step with where compliance is trending can set companies up to keep workers safe and ensure adherence to the rules in the future.

Middle East, News, Training, Compliance & Certification, Turnaround & Shutdown, US

Improving your LOTO program to stay ahead of industry changes

An effective lockout/tagout program is a foundational element of a larger health and safety initiative. The wide-ranging need to protect employees from the dangers posed by the unexpected operation of machinery presumed to be shut down for maintenance, repair or other service means many businesses have to develop effective LOTO procedures.

What makes a LOTO program effective, and how can companies develop rules that take industry changes into account in an agile, responsive way? Consider these pieces of advice:

Use modern technology to your advantage

“Making a few straightforward changes can significantly enhance employee safety outcomes.”

Physical training materials and reference sheets will always be useful in certain situations, but the rapid development of mobile technology means safety managers and other leaders need to look beyond hard copies. As Todd Grover, Master Lock senior manager, pointed out in an article for EHS Today access to information is one of the core issues involved in the complete implementation and correct use of a lockout/tagout program.

When a database of proper procedures is developed and made easily available to employees, the results are very positive. Entering a machine ID number or similar code into a mobile app’s search function is all that’s needed to find the specific, correct lockout/tagout process and have those directions available throughout the task. This simple and fast method for accessing relevant information boosts compliance efforts and means workers are less likely to make rough guesses about the proper approach or otherwise not fully follow the specific procedure needed to secure a specific piece of equipment.

Prudent use of technology makes developing and implementing a LOTO program easier, centralizing information and increasing ease of access. Incorporating the advantages of mobile devices and many other available assets makes compliance an effort more in line with many other business processes and the daily lives of many workers.

Make training efforts work for your business

Employees – whether they simply need to understand the restrictions on machine use relevant to a LOTO program or perform maintenance and lockout and tagout machines themselves – require effective training. This necessary effort shouldn’t be seen as a burden by safety managers, however.

A focused and productive training program encourages a high degree of compliance by providing workers with information about the reasoning behind a LOTO program, as well as the practical guidance for abiding by its rules. When employees understand why LOTO efforts are so important and how they benefit by following the rules, it’s easier to reach a high degree of adherence.

OHS Online highlighted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regulatory requirement for annual LOTO training and advised businesses to look at that level of frequency as a baseline, not a level of high achievement. More frequent trainings allow safety professionals to focus on specific aspects of LOTO standards and develop a deeper understanding of them among workers. Other considerations, like ensuring multilingual training is available for employees with limited English proficiency, are vital to make educational efforts as effective as possible.

Improving a LOTO program doesn’t have to be a complicated or involved task. Making a few straightforward changes can significantly enhance employee safety outcomes.