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Safety and Health Information Bulletin Focuses on Hearing-Impaired Workers
Hearing-impaired workers face challenges on the job including receiving emergency
notifications, evacuating safely in an emergency, receiving training, communicating and
responding to workplace safety hazards. These barriers can be minimized through
implementation of the practical steps, as appropriate for each situation, described in
OSHA's recently published Safety and Health Information Bulletin on Innovative Workplace
Safety Accommodations for Hearing-Impaired Workers. This bulletin, prepared in
collaboration with the National Hearing Conservation Association alliance participants,
industry representatives and other federal agencies, offers emergency/evacuation
response and workplace safety and health considerations for hearing-impaired employees.
NIOSH Publishes Recommendations for Protecting Outdoor Workers from West Nile Virus
Exposure
NIOSH offers recommendations to outdoor workers and their employers for protection from
West Nile Virus. The document identifies occupations at greatest risk, common mosquito
breeding grounds, and potential symptoms. The document also offers recommendations
for ways employers can keep their workers safe and actions workers should exercise to
reduce exposure. The document is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-155.
Employers Encouraged to Recognize Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and businesses
across the country are encouraged to participate. Achieving recovery from alcoholism and
drug addiction is a collective effort requiring participation of all sectors of society, including
the workplace. A safe workplace is one in which all workers understand that the abuse of
alcohol and other drugs poses a significant, but avoidable, threat to their and others'
safety. Recovery Month is an opportune time for employers and employees to work
together to reinforce that being safe means being drug free, and that, for those with
alcohol and drug problems, there is help. The U.S. Department of Labor's Working
Partners program offers ideas about ways employers can contribute to the success of the
campaign.
Click here for more information from the U.S. Department of Labor.
New NIOSH Study Links Certain Professions with Neurodegenerative Diseases
Findings from a new NIOSH study add to the body of scientific evidence for exploring
whether the risks of certain neurodegenerative diseases are associated with work-related
factors. The article, “Potential Occupational Risks for Neurodegenerative Disease,” was
published in the July issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (48:63-77). It
investigated hypotheses suggested by previous research, which statistically linked certain
occupations with higher-than-expected incidences of such diseases. The new results show
that about one-third of those occupations had statistically significant elevated mortality
odds ratios for the same outcomes, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease. The abstract for the article can be viewed at http://www3.interscience.wiley.
com/cgi-bin/abstract/110520795/ABSTRACT.
OSHA Announces Targeted Inspection Plan for 2005
Agency targets about 4,400 high-hazard worksites
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that its 2005 site-specific
targeting (SST) plan will focus on approximately 4,400 high-hazard worksites for
unannounced comprehensive inspections over the coming year.
Over the past seven years, OSHA has used a site-specific targeting inspection program
based on injury and illness data. This year's program (SST-05) stems from the agency's
Data Initiative for 2004, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to attain their
injury and illness numbers for 2003.
This year's program will initially cover about 4,400 individual worksites on the primary list
that reported 12 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted
work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time workers (known as the DART rate). The
primary list will also include sites based on a "Days Away from Work Injury and Illness"
(DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher (9 or more cases that involve days away from work per 100
full-time employees). Employers not on the primary list who reported DART rates of
between 7.0 and 12.0, or DAFWII rates of between 5.0 and 9.0, will be placed on a
secondary list for possible inspection. The national incident DART rate in 2003 for private
industry was 2.6, while the national incident DAFWII rate was 1.5.
OSHA will again inspect nursing homes and personal care facilities, but only the highest
50% rated establishments will be included on the Primary List. Inspections will focus
primarily on ergonomic hazards relating to resident handling; exposure to blood and other
potentially infectious materials; exposure to tuberculosis; and slips, trips, and falls.
The agency will also randomly select and inspect about 400 workplaces (with 75 or more
employees) across the nation that reported low injury and illness rates for the purpose of
reviewing the actual degree of compliance with OSHA requirements. These establishments
are selected from those industries with above the national incident DART and DAFWII
rates.
Finally, the agency will include on the primary list some establishments that did not
respond to the 2004 data survey.
Click here for the full report.
FACE (Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation)
FACE is a NIOSH research program for identifying and studying fatal occupational injuries.
FACE is designed to reduce occupational fatalities across the nation by identifying and
investigating work situations at high risk for injury and then formulating and disseminating
prevention strategies to those who can intervene in the workplace. http://www.cdc.
gov/niosh/face.
Work, Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace
NIOSH, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of Justice of the U.S.
Department of Justice, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of
the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor, will convene the
sixth international conference on occupational stress and health, Work, Stress, and Health
2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace in Miami, FL, March 2-4, 2006, at the Hyatt
Regency Miami Hotel. The conference is designed to address the constantly changing
nature of work, and the implications of these changes for the health, safety, and well-being
of workers. In keeping with the conference theme of “making a difference in the
workplace,” there will be a particular focus on the translation of research to practice and
workplace programs, policies, practices, case experiences, and other efforts to prevent
stress in today's workplace. More information about the conference can be found at http:
//www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh2006.html.
Factoid
Requirements for Protective Footwear
"What are the OSHA requirements for wearing foot protection?"
The requirement to wear foot protection (Section 1910.132(a)) does not address a
worker's occupation, but rather addresses the hazard. The activities and environment of
the worker must be evaluated to determine if there is a foot hazard in the form of objects
likely to be dropped or likely to fall on his or her feet. If this hazard is present, then foot
protection must be worn.
Section 1910.136 addresses the design of safety shoes and requires them to meet
American National Standard for Men's Safety-Toe Footwear, Z41.1. This standard requires
that the safety shoes meet a compression test and an impact test. It does not specify the
means by which to reinforce the shoe to pass the test. Steel toe boxes are the prevalent
means used, however, fiberglass has been used in some cases. The best method to
determine if the requirement has been met is to look for a marking in the show "ANSI Z41.
1." As a matter of information, OSHA does accept protective footwear designed and
marked in accordance with later editions of the ANSI Z41.1 standard.
Free OSHA Download
TEEN WORKER POSTER
(English and Spanish)
Click here to download in English
Click here to download in Spanish
NIOSH Seeking Comment to Respirator Standard Concepts
The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) policy and
standards team is seeking comment regarding respirator standard development efforts.
Interested participants may obtain copies of the CBRN Powered Air Purifying Respirator
(PAPR), the Industrial PAPR, and the CBRN Closed Circuit, Self Contained Breathing
Apparatus concept papers from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl. Comments regarding these
concepts will be discussed at future public meetings. Send your ideas to Jon Szalajda at
JSzalajda@cdc.gov.
Mark Your Calendar
September 21-23, 2005 - National Safety Congress, Orange County Convention Center,
Orlando Florida
Click here for more information
September 26-30, 2005 - Chicagoland Safety Conference, Northern Illinois University
Naperville Illinois campus
Click here for more information
September 27-29, 2005 - International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition,
Louisville, Kentucky
Click here for more information
October 26-29, 2005 - AMI International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention and
Exposition, Chicago Illinois
Click here for more information.
January 25-27, 2006 - International Poultry Exposition, Georgia World Congress Center,
Atlanta Georgia
Click here for more information
Click here for more information about Saf-T-Gard's participation in other upcoming events.
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News You Can Use
American Society of Safety Engineers Offers Business Resumption Safety Checklist
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business resumption following a disaster. However,
the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offers this disaster safety checklist to
assist businesses before, during and after a disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina.
Following any such disaster, all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and
assessment performed by an occupational safety professional and it would include the
following:
SAFE ENTRY
STRUCTURAL SECURITY
POWER CHECKS
CLEAN-UP SAFETY
HEALTH/SANITATION ISSUES
AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT
VENTILATION
INTERIOR, EXTERIOR EXPOSURES
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
USE EXISTING FEDERAL GUIDELINES
LIGHTING
EMERGENCY PLANNING
SOLID/HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL
CHECK MAINFRAMES
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
MACHINE INSPECTIONS
SURFACES
OFFICE FURNITURE
Click here for the full report.
Try the Interactive Noise Meter
The Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation and NIOSH have
developed this interactive noise meter.
Play around with the Noise Meter (turn on your computer speakers) and hear the different
sounds. The red bar below shows how long it takes before a particular sound level
becomes dangerous to the human ear. For example, a chain saw has a sound level of
about 110 dB. Without proper hearing protection, running a chain saw for only 2 minutes
can become dangerous to your hearing!
Click here to try the Noise Meter.
ACOEM CheckList Focuses on Air Travel Tips
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine checklist provides pre-
flight planning tips and makes recommendations for traveling with medications, suggests
what to eat and drink on the plane, and offers suggestions on ways to deal with the effects
of air cabin pressure.
Click here to download.
Home Electrical Safety
A review of electrical home mishaps shows a variety of factors are involved in the typical
mishap. Identifying electrical hazards such as improper misuse of polarized plugs, three-
pronged or three-pronged outlet adapters, worn cords and plugs, replacing fuses, rugs
placed over extension cords, overloaded outlets and extension cords, appliances used
around water or other objects around power lines is the first step for risk assessment and
risk management process.
Click here for the full report
Source: U.S. Naval Safety Center
Contributions to Assist Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Click on logo for on-line contribution.
Call 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) English speaking
Call 1-800-257-7575 Spanish Speaking
Call 1-800-220-4095 For TDD Operator
Donate Airline Miles - click here.
Saf-T-Gard Customers
Knowledge is power, and now we put the power in your hands, your fax machine, and your
Internet-enabled computer.
Click here for full details.
International News
European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work 2006 - Focus on Young People
Younger workers are vulnerable, as they often are inexperienced, and ignorant of risks to
themselves and others. It is important to integrate safety and health into education so that
young people are aware of the risks they might face and are capable of dealing with them.
It is also important for employers to pay extra attention to the safety of young workers,
including students taking summer jobs. The European Week for Safety and Health at Work
2006 will focus on young workers promoting a preventive health and safety culture among
young people, young workers and their employers as well as within schools, professional
training institutions and employment centers.
Click here for more information.
We have a free gift for you in return for sharing some information with us. Tell us about
your company and your requirements for safety products and we'll send you a personal
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Focus on Homeland Security / Domestic Preparedness
OSHA and JCAHO Hosting Seminar on Hospital Emergency Preparedness
Helping prepare hospital employees to respond to victims of mass casualty incidents
involving hazardous substances is the focus of a conference being sponsored by OSHA
and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The event will take
place October 6-7 at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Emergency
management experts will address a variety of hospital emergency preparedness topics
including selection of appropriate personal protective equipment, development of
emergency management plans, approaches to strengthening communication between first
responders and receivers, as well as local emergency planning groups, and guidelines for
ensuring worker safety. Conference seating is limited and early registration is encouraged.
To register by telephone, or for more information, please call 877-223-6866.
Click here for more information.
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