News & Views
Ken Grist - SMACNA-KC Safety Director
Posted Mar 29, 2011
OSHA has tripled the average fines, effective immediately. Changes in the penalty structure will impact our members. Serious penalties previously averaged $1000. OSHA says the new average will be $3000. Penalty reductions for small business, employer history and good faith efforts are being reduced or eliminated. Finally, repeat citations for similar hazards will be enforced for five years instead of the previous three years.
OSHA inspections have increased for constructions sites AND manufacturing facilities. Now is a good time for companies to consider joining the SMACNA/OSHA partnership. Partnership benefits include non-enforcement OSHA shop and site visits, program reviews, and training support. New SMACNA/OSHA partnership members this year include The Fagan Company, VHC Van Hoecke Contracting, Inc. and Edwards McDowell, Inc.
The top 10 OSHA violations this year are:
Scaffolding
Fall Protection
Hazard Communication
Respiratory Protection
Ladders
Lockout/tagout
Electrical (wiring)
Powered Industrial Trucks
Electrical (general)
Machine Guarding
Manufacturing facilities with a DART rate over 4.0 are now included in an OSHA inspection
emphasis program.
Other OSHA emphasis programs that impact our members include amputations, hexavalent chrome (welding on stainless) and record keeping. Information on compliance is available from SMACNA KC safety director.
New EPA lead RRP regulations could also impact sheet metal companies. Please be sure you are familiar with the new regulations and consider becoming a certified lead RRP company.
November 8th was the deadline for the new OSHA crane standard that requires anyone rigging or signaling to be “qualified”. We anticipate enforcement will come from many general contractors as well as OSHA. Classes for qualified training are being held by SMACNA and dates are on the SMACNA KC web site and published in the Labor Beacon SM#2 article.
Fall protection training for journeymen is scheduled for April 29th. OSHA Requires fall protection training for anyone exposed to fall hazards. Class will be presented by Mark Damon, DBI Sala technical representative.
Supervisor safety training from an OSHA perspective is scheduled for May 3rd. All foremen/supervisors should be aware of their responsibilities and liabilities. Class is presented by Mark Banden, OSHA compliance assistant.
If your company has not joined the SMACNA/OSHA work safe partnership please contact Ken Grist for information. Membership in the SMACNA/OSHA partnership can lead to company savings on workers compensation claims as well as provide a substantial competitive advantage with safety aware clients.