Safety News
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.
Ken Grist, SMACNA-KC Safety Director
Posted Sep 01, 2009
OSHA enforcement activity has increased under the new administration. There are several inspection emphasis programs resulting in more OSHA inspections for sheet metal companies. OSHA emphasis programs include lead exposure, amputations, hexavalent chromium exposure and stimulus funded construction projects. The SMACNA press brake safety compliance program should be reviewed because of the amputation emphasis program. Lead air sampling and program implementation should be considered if you are working with lead solders or welding on lead based painted structures. Hexavalent Chromium air sampling and program implementation should be considered if you are working with base metal with chrome content, using high fume producing methods and/or are working in poorly ventilated areas.
Missouri has a requirement as of August 29, 2009; all “on site” workers on publically funded projects must have an OSHA 10 hour or OSHA 30hour construction safety card. Missouri HB 390 defines “On-site employees” to include: laborers, workmen, drivers, equipment operators, and craftsmen employed by contractors and subcontractors to be directly engaged in construction at the site of the public works. “Directly engaged in construction” shall mean work performed in the actual erection of the structure or completion of the improvement constituting the public works. In addition, employees working at a nearby or adjacent facility used by the contractor or subcontractor for construction of the public works shall be deemed “on-site employees”. Persons engaged solely in the transportation of materials, fuel, or equipment to the site of the public works shall not be deemed to be “directly engaged in construction”.
PLEASE NOTE: OSHA 10 hour and OSHA 30 hour cards do not expire. Safety training and updates are being conducted on a regular basis, including OSHA 10 Hour, and first aid/CPR. An employee or contractor can request a class at any time by contacting Ken Grist, SMACNA KC Safety Director at 816.421.3360. Training classes are held at the Sheet Metal #2 JATC in Raytown, unless another location is requested by contractor. The Sheet Metal #2 OSHA alliance renewal has been approved and was signed on Monday, September 14th. 2008 was a record year for the amount of training support provided Sheet Metal #2 members by OSHA.
In addition, the SMACNA/OSHA partnership safety program has been renewed and signed on September 14th. This partnership has lead to reduced injuries and workers compensation costs as well as exemption from OSHA inspections for both shop and construction sites. The SMACNA/OSHA partnership members had less than half the national average of severe injuries during 2008. The SMACNA/OSHA partnership inspection exemptions will be very important because of the OSHA emphasis programs. If your company has not joined the SMACNA/OSHA work safe partnership please contact Ken Grist for information. SMACNA/OSHA partnership participation can lead to substantial cost savings as well as provide a substantial competitive advantage with safety aware clients.
The safety committee will continue to offer lunch and learn sessions. September topics include “Dealing with an OSHA inspection” and “Respect for Fellow Workers”.
ATTENTION CONTRACTORS!!
Posted Mar 04, 2010
The Federal EPA will require certain renovators, remodelers and painters to be EPA certified by April 23rd, 2010.
Beginning April 23rd, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require firms performing work that disturbs lead-based paint in residential homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978 meet certain qualifications and employ EPA Certified Renovators.
Please see the following document distributed by the Builders’ Association for more information and available classes.
The following document distributed by the EPA is a good handout regarding Lead Safety During Renovation.