Top 5 OSHA violations

July 27, 2015   |   Indigo Blog

OSHA has published the top 5 violations for General Industry for FY2014. I am happy to report those to you today for your amusement. They are as follows:1. 1910.1200 Hazard Communication - The changes in this rule for 2015 should keep it at the top of the list for a long time. There are a lot of companies not aware of the GHS changes.2. 1910.134 Respiratory Protection - Not only is this one hard but it carries some very fine details that require an employer to have intimate knowledge of the standard. Air sampling will be required.3. 1910.178 Powered Industrial Trucks - If you have forklifts, you will need a certification program. Each company is required to have their own.4. 1910.147 Lockout Tagout Protection - A formal program for the protection and description of risks is required.5. 1910.305 Electrical, Wiring Methods - Is your maintenance guy actually an electrician or does he just play one on TV? He needs to prove he is an electrician not just say he is or you are in trouble.Bonus Material (free of charge)6. 1910.212 Machine Guarding - Employee don't often understand that the removal of a guard requires lockout tagout (see #4) for protection. No Guard - No RunI hope you find this list helpful in bringing your facility into compliance. If you need assistance, please send us an email or call and we are happy to answer questions.Wally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 07/27 at 02:16 PM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

Managing Heat Stress and Preventing Heat Stroke

June 15, 2015   |   Indigo Blog

For those companies that work in the South we have entered that dangerous time of year. The HEAT has arrived and this year it brought its dear friend - humidity. These two factors taken in concert can hit your employees quickly and without much warning unless you have trained them in understanding how their body's cooling system works. Extreme heat can cause severe sickness and death for workers that are not prepared. You need to have training and explain the importance of drinking water and avoiding the most common mistakes of drinking the wrong thing. While you are not required to provide electrolyte drinks, it is a great idea to have them and maybe even a frozen version for them to enjoy on a break.OSHA has created a Heat Application for Android and iPhone to help supervisors and managers understand the impact of heat and humidity on employees. OSHA has teamed up with the NWS to assist in this evaluation and the App makes recommendations based on the readings in your area. I use it often in evaluating the heat stress my client's employees are working in.Learn more from OSHA's site regarding Heat Stress here.Get the app here.Email with questions regarding how your company can best handle this hazard.

Posted by Wally Steidley on 06/15 at 11:47 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

More Good News from OSHA

July 22, 2013   |   Indigo Blog

The following announcement has been made from the DOL. What impact will this have and what does it say about where OSHA is going?"The U.S. Senate on July 18 approved the nomination of Thomas E. Perez to be the nation's 26th Secretary of Labor. Perez has spent his entire career in public service, and will join the department on July 23 after an impressive tenure as the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice."This announcement is more confirmation that OSHA has no clue about what is happening in your business. Fines continue to go up. Inspectors are increasing their number of citations and it is all driven by those in Washington D.C. that have never worked in business. Don't get caught unprepared - except a visit and keep your facility prepared for one of these government "lifers" to come in and show you how it should be done.For the entire announcement you may see it here. http://www.dol.gov/_sec/newsletter/#.Ue01jxZ23wwWally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 07/22 at 07:30 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

Baby Steps

May 10, 2011   |   Indigo Blog

What is your company doing to help the Environment? It seems so over-whelming when you consider the "greening" of a large office or manufacturing facility. However, the successful "green" companies don't achieve their goals overnight. Start small and build slowly.Old habits die hard in office cultures. Printing is one of the most wasteful areas in an office.- Why must you print that 100 page sales report?- What about that inventory report?Take a few minutes with your office personnel and ask why you have some of the wasteful habits in the office. You might find that "it is just how it was always done," leaving room for "this is how we do it now." Move on to other habits and take some baby steps to a "greener" office.Wally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 05/10 at 09:14 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

Bringing Logistics In-House

April 29, 2011   |   Indigo Blog

For the past couple of years Indigo Process Management has used contractors to assist with all the required logistics of our Beneficial Reuse Program. Our decision to bring the transportation in-house is to provide superior service to our client companies that were having challenges with our third party carrier. That is no longer an issue.IPM has purchased the logistics equipment and will begin service the first week of May. This is a new stage in our growth and we are excited for the additional opportunities this new capacity brings to the company. We will soon be expanding our Beneficial Reuse network to wood products, food, and other organics. However, we will remain strong in Industrial Ecology and look for every opportunity to redirect industrial by-products to new markets.Thank you to all of you that helped us get to this point. We look forward to serving you for many more years.Wally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 04/29 at 06:36 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

Bigger Fines and Penalties
April 06, 2010   |  

Michaels recommends higher penalties and improved whistleblower protectionsEmployers who ignore OSHA's rules and risk workers' lives should pay higher penalties, Assistant Secretary Michaels told Congress March 16. Michaels was on Capitol Hill giving testimony supporting the goals of the Protecting America's Workers Act. "Safe jobs exist only when employers have adequate incentives to comply with OSHA's requirements. Meaningful penalties provide an important incentive to do the right thing," said Michaels to the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Monetary penalties for violations of the OSH Act have been increased only once in 40 years. Michaels offered a revealing disparity between OSHA penalties and those of other agencies: In 2001, a tank full of sulphuric acid exploded at a refinery killing a worker and literally dissolving his body. OSHA's penalty was only $175,000. Yet, in the same incident, thousands of dead fish and crabs were discovered, allowing an EPA Clean Water Act violation amounting to $10 mill ion — 50 times higher. "Unscrupulous employers who refuse to comply with safety and health standards as an economic calculus will think again if there is a chance that they will go to jail for ignoring their responsibilities to their workers." Read Michaels' testimony for more information.(From the April web update)

Posted by Wally Steidley on 04/06 at 03:09 PM

Category:

 

Is OSHA still concentrated on SAFETY?

February 16, 2010   |   Indigo Blog

The proposed budget for OSHA was submitted on February 1, 2010, for FY 2011 and it is striking when you read through the comments from Secretary Solis. No matter your political leanings, this should alarm you just a little. The news release states that "The FY 2011 budget will help to make the vision of good jobs for everyone a reality for America's workers. This budget invests in innovation and reform that will play a critically important role in building long-term economic security for workers,"Funny, when I inquire as to the mission statement of OSHA is reads "Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health." (http://www.osha.gov/oshinfo/mission.html) I am curious what has changed in the mission of an organization that was built to protect the American worker. It appears safety in the workplace is now 5th on the list. The Secretary lists the budget's goals as follows:Secretary Solis defines "good jobs" as those that:- Can support a family by increasing incomes.- Offer fair compensation.- Narrow the wage gap.- Allow for work-life flexibility.- Promote safe and healthy workplaces.- Give workers a voice.- Foster fair working conditions in the global marketplace.- Are sustainable and innovative, such as green jobs, providing opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge for the jobs of the future.- Help restore the middle class.As a business owner or person responsible for the safety at your facility, take this seriously. Fines are going up and the newest discretionary request only allocates 12% for improvement programs and the rest to hire more investigators and enforcement staff. NOW is the time to get control of your safety processes either internally or with some outside help. Either way, safety always pays!!!Read the whole news release - http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=17139

Posted by Wally Steidley on 02/16 at 10:27 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

Why Recycle Your Old Electronics?

October 07, 2009  | Indigo Blog

The improper disposal of obsolete electronics in our landfills releases deadly toxins, such as lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury and copper, into our soil, water and atmosphere causing both environmental and health problems. In fact, cathode ray tubes found in most computer monitors and television sets contain more than four pounds of lead each! As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency in 2006 passed the CRT Rule, which prevents the land disposal of cathode ray tubes and streamlines management standards and encourages recycling and reuse. Safely recycling cathode ray tubes saves energy and conserves resources, allows the recycled glass cullet to be reused to manufacture new CRT glass, and reduces the amount of lead in landfills.Let us know if we can help your company manage these resourses as they reach of the end of their useful life.reuse@indigopm.com or fill out the form.Wally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 10/07 at 11:49 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

EPA Studies Greenhouse Gases at Businesses

September 24, 2009   |   News

Published from a recent release from EPA. The effects on your company will be based on what studies like this find.EPA Finalizes the Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System/Monitoring to begin in 2010Release date: 09/22/2009WASHINGTON – On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities.“This is a major step forward in our effort to address the greenhouse gases polluting our skies,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “For the first time, we begin collecting data from the largest facilities in this country, ones that account for approximately 85 percent of the total U.S. emissions. The American public, and industry itself, will finally gain critically important knowledge and with this information we can determine how best to reduce those emissions.”EPA’s new reporting system will provide a better understanding of where GHGs are coming from and will guide development of the best possible policies and programs to reduce emissions. The data will also allow businesses to track their own emissions, compare them to similar facilities, and provide assistance in identifying cost effective ways to reduce emissions in the future. This comprehensive, nationwide emissions data will help in the fight against climate change.Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are produced by burning fossil fuels and through industrial and biological processes. Fossil fuel and industrial GHG suppliers, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2 equivalent per year will be required to report GHG emissions data to EPA annually. This threshold is equivalent to about the annual GHG emissions from 4,600 passenger vehicles.The first annual reports for the largest emitting facilities, covering calendar year 2010, will be submitted to EPA in 2011. Vehicle and engine manufacturers outside of the light-duty sector will begin phasing in GHG reporting with model year 2011. Some source categories included in the proposed rule are still under review.More information on the new reporting system and reporting requirements: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

Posted by Wally Steidley on 09/24 at 09:32 AM

Category: News |

 

Beneficial Reuse Initiative

May 28, 2009   |   Indigo Blog

Indigo Process Management is developing a Beneficial Reuse Initiative to upcycle several form of waste and direct them into the marketplace. The most common area for upcycling is the use of foundry sand. EPA, TCEQ and several other state's environmental agencies have been promoting this environmentally conscious practice to lesson the impact of industrial waste on landfills and reap the benefits of providing a more cost conscious product.What is Beneficial Reuse?Diverting a recycled material from the solid waste stream for purposes of upcycling or reuse in the manufacture of products which may otherwise be produced from raw or virgin materials.IPM has developed a system that can save you money if you are currently land-filling this product. We can also save you money if you are currently buying raw aggregate for your products or services.The following article appears on the EPA websiteBeneficial Reuse of Foundry Sand"A current barrier to Foundry environmental performance is the lack of foundry sand reuse. Approximately 10 million tons of sand is generated each year from foundries. The sand, used in the mold-making process, is generally reused directly in the mold-making process, but eventually the sand is no longer structurally suitable for foundry use. The overwhelming majority of this sand is non-hazardous and can be effectively reused in a variety of ways, including roadbeds, construction fill, and cement manufacture. However, only 1 million tons of sand are currently reused due to inefficient state policies and regulations and undeveloped markets."We are very excited about this new opportunity in the market!!!! Wally

Posted by Wally Steidley on 05/28 at 10:30 AM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

President Proposes $10.5 Billion Budget for EPA

February 27, 2009   |   News

President’s Proposed EPA Budget Provides Strengthened Environmental ProtectionRelease date: 02/26/2009Administrator Jackson: ‘With these proposed resources, and the president’s strong environmental agenda, it should be overwhelmingly clear that EPA is back on the job.’(Washington, D.C. – Feb. 26, 2009) The Obama administration today proposed a budget of $10.5 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the largest in the agency’s 39-year history. The increase of $3 billion from 2008 funding levels will further ensure the protection of public health and the environment for all Americans.“The president’s budget proposes critical resources to protect the American people and the places where they live, work and play,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We are no longer faced with the false choice of a strong economy or a clean environment. The president’s budget shows that making critical and responsible investments in protecting the health and environment of all Americans will also lead to a more vibrant and stable economy. With these proposed resources, and the president’s strong environmental agenda, it should be overwhelmingly clear that EPA is back on the job.”Last week, President Obama announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $7.22 billion for EPA-administered projects and programs to protect human health and the environment.Some key highlights of 2010 budget initiatives include:$3.9 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grants to support approximately 1,000 clean water projects and 700 drinking water projects - this year’s largest single investment. In addition to the funds recently invested through the ARRA, this funding is a critical step in addressing the water infrastructure needs in thousands of communities across the country. EPA will work with state and local partners to develop a sustainability policy, including management and pricing, conservation, security and a plan for adequate long-term state and municipal funding for future capital needs.A new $475 million, multi-agency Great Lakes Initiative to protect the world’s largest fresh water resource. EPA will coordinate with federal partners, states, tribes, localities and other entities to protect, maintain and restore the chemical, biological and physical integrity of the lakes. EPA and its partners will address invasive species, non-point source pollution, habitat restoration, contaminated sediment and other critical issues.A $19 million increase for the greenhouse gas emissions inventory and related activities that will provide data critical for implementing a comprehensive climate change bill. EPA’s funding for climate change investments is the foundation for working with key stakeholders and Congress to develop an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions approximately 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.Strengthening EPA’s core research, enforcement and regulatory capabilities. The budget request also proposes reinstating the Superfund excise taxes that expired. Reinstating the Superfund taxes would collect over $1 billion annually to fund the cleanup of the nation’s most contaminated sites.

Posted by Wally Steidley on 02/27 at 04:38 PM

Category: News |

 

What OSHA Expects: Questions Asked During an Inspection

January 21, 2009   |   News

When it comes to electrical safety, OSHA standards can be technical and confusing. What requirements do safety managers need to know?Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly what OSHA is training its inspectors to look for during an inspection that includes electrical safety, including surprising new areas of emphasis based on national OSHA directives?This article covers some of the typical electrical safety questions that OSHA inspectors will ask during a field investigation, what they mean and how to be prepared and in compliance.A good starting point is to understand OSHA’s approach to electrical safety. OSHA’s goal is for employers to identify all electrical hazards, both potential and actual. In the past, OSHA focused on process changes, encouraging companies to de-energize circuits before working on them, perform lockout/tagout procedures and develop ongoing safety programs that include worker training and retraining. A more recent area of emphasis is arc flash safety, which means electrical safety professionals must analyze the workplace for shock and arc flash hazards, establish safe protection boundaries and define what personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used within these boundaries.For electrical safety in the workplace, OSHA relies on expert consensus bodies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its standards published in NFPA 70E. To ensure that employers are following NFPA and OSHA guidelines, OSHA trains its inspectors and compliance officers to ask specific questions in the event of an electrical safety incident. Some typical questions follow.Is there a description of the circuit or equipment at the job location?OSHA expects employers to know their workplaces. If an employer cannot provide a written description or drawing of the circuit or equipment, then the compliance officer may assume that the employer has not assessed the facility for electrical hazards.Is there a detailed job description of planned work?In order to know which safety procedures to use, the worker must be provided with a description of the job task. OSHA publication 29 CFR 1910 lays out employer responsibilities for protecting their workers from electrical safety hazards. It states that the employer shall train workers to use safe work practices that are designed to avoid injury.Can you justify why equipment cannot be de-energized or the job deferred until the next scheduled outage?Per OSHA 1910.333(a)(1), live parts to which an employee may be exposed must be de-energized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is not feasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. (Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be de-energized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.)The message is clear: never work on live circuits unless it is absolutely necessary. OSHA allows work on live circuits in some cases, but the reason cannot be simply that turning off the power is inconvenient or will interrupt production. Nor can workers use the excuse that they didn’t have the authority to shut off power.When it is necessary to perform work on energized equipment, OSHA 1910.333(a)(2) requires safety-related work practices to be used and NFPA 70E Article 110.8(B)(1) requires an Electrical Hazard Analysis before work is performed on live equipment operating at 50 volts and higher.Other questions you can expect from an OSHA inspector include:What about safe work procedures?Has a detailed work procedure been established?Are there detailed descriptions of work practices to be employed?Was a job briefing checklist performed, and was the job briefing completed for those performing the work?Was proper management approval secured?OSHA wants employers to make electrical safety procedures and practices part of regular work processes. Several annexes to NFPA 70E offer guidelines for lockout/tagout procedures, checklists and approvals. For example, Annex E covers Electrical Safety Programs, Annex F covers Hazard Risk Evaluation Procedures, Annex I covers Job Briefing Checklists and Annex J covers Energized Work Permits.NFPA 70E annexes are not strictly “enforced” by OSHA, as they are appendices to the NFPA standard. However, OSHA inspectors and investigators will ask if the content and information contained in these annexes was followed and adhered to.As an EHS professional, would you know the answers to these questions if an OSHA inspector came knocking on your door?Were required electrical safety analyses performed?Was an arc flash hazard analysis performed?Were flash protection boundaries established?Were all other potential electrical hazards identified?OSHA regulations state that every employer shall furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, and that the employer must assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present and select PPE to protect employees. When it comes to electrical safety, OSHA refers to NFPA 70E, which requires employers to conduct an electrical hazard assessment consisting of a shock hazard analysis and an arc flash hazard analysis before work is performed on live equipment operating at 50 volts and higher.These requirements may be fairly complex, as they involve calculating the potential fault current at each piece of equipment, understanding the characteristics of the overcurrent protective devices and how they are coordinated for each circuit and creating or updating one-line electrical drawings. Complex or not, OSHA inspectors are trained to ask if these analyses were performed, because they are essential to reducing the number of arc flash-related deaths and injuries that occur each year, as well as ensuring a safe installation.When the safety of any job task involves electricity or electrical equipment, ask yourself these questions:Were proper tools and equipment used?Was the necessary PPE determined?Were the proper insulated tools used?Were insulated blankets and/or sheeting used to properly cover all of the live parts?OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to assess hazards, select PPE and make sure that employees are trained how to use it. Electrical PPE, safe work practices such as lockout/tagout and safety training are covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.301-.399, also known as Electrical Subpart S.For example, OSHA 1910.333 (a)(1)(i) states: “Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards shall be provided with and shall use, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed.”For electrical workers, this standard’s effect is multi-fold. First, employers must facilitate workers’ understanding of the PPE required for each task on each piece of equipment. This may be communicated via a work order, a descriptive label on the equipment or a one-line drawing. Second, employers must select the PPE, which includes insulated tools and protective clothing. Third, the employer is required to train workers in safe work practices – and in particular, how to match the PPE to the level of the electrical hazard. And finally, OSHA 1910.269(a)(2)(iii) requires employers to “determine, through regular supervision and through inspections conducted on at least an annual basis, that each employee is complying with the safety-related work practices ...”Were the workers performing the tasks qualified to do so?OSHA defines qualified workers as those specially trained to work on live electrical equipment. Qualified workers must protect themselves against all electrical hazards including shock, arc flash, burns and explosions. Training is key. Even an experienced electrician is not “qualified” in OSHA’s eyes unless the employer can show proof of the appropriate training and certifications.OSHA 1910.332(b)(2) also requires unqualified workers to be trained in the electrical safe work practices that are necessary for their safety. Unqualified workers, such as painters or cleaners, occasionally come into contact with energized equipment, and therefore they must be trained to recognize and avoid electrical hazards.By Kenneth Cybart printed in http://www.ehstoday.com

Posted by Wally Steidley on 01/21 at 09:00 PM

Category: News |

 

 

ASSE Warns of Safety Cutbacks

December 19, 2008   |   News

For Immediate ReleaseReducing Or Ignoring Workplace Safety During Business Downturns Costly, ASSE NotesDes Plaines, IL (December 18, 2008) — “Workplace safety processes must be in place at all times,” American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHMM, of Fairborn, Ohio, said today. “They are even more critical during business downturns.”Brown is referring to recent reports of some companies cutting safety processes hoping to reduce costs.“If companies believe they will save money by reducing or ignoring safety for their workers, customers and communities they do business in, they are mistaken,” Brown said. “The ongoing positive results are in and have been for companies that have a strong safety culture and continually invest in and implement effective safety processes. Not only does their bottom line benefit positively, but their company reputation stays intact, employees stay safe and healthy reducing health care, workers comp, training and turnover costs not to mention keeping customers, the communities they do business in, vendors and employees happy. Safety is good business.”Members of the 97-year-old ASSE -- occupational safety, health and environmental professionals located worldwide -- caution employers against cutting back on workplace safety in time of economic difficulty.President-Elect of the ASSE South Carolina Chapter Laura Comstock said, “Some safety related purchases and testing can be deferred, but other purchases, such as those for employee personal protective equipment (PPE) like hardhats, safety glasses and respirators, are critical to operations.”It is especially important for companies to show support for their employee safety during challenging economic times, she notes. “Employee morale may be low and employees may be carrying additional workloads, such as working additional hours or doing unfamiliar tasks due to cutbacks,” she notes.Comstock added, “In order to remain viable long-term, a company must maintain a solid safety process even through difficult times. The most successful companies in the long term also have the strongest safety performance.”“We realize these are tough times, but during economic down-turns, employers seeking to cut expenses may target variable operating costs such as travel, training and safety,” Brown said. “Money cut from safety processes now could have an enormous cost later; this can be from injury and health care costs, fines, lost production time, employee morale, or worst of all, employee injury or even death. There are better and smarter ways to protect the bottom line.”The South Carolina ASSE chapter suggests employees can also take measures to help companies save money such as by: following safe working procedures and practices to prevent injuries, related downtime and expenses such as costly fines; by properly using, cleaning and caring for protective equipment such as hardhats and respirators; reusing gloves whenever possible for as long as possible; and by keeping track of safety glasses and reusable hearing protection.Investing in safety pays and contributes positively to a company’s bottom line. Businesses spend about $170 billion a year on costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses and pay almost $1 billion every week to injured employees and their medical providers. In addition, a recent investment firm study in Australia showed valuation links between workplace safety and health factors and investment performance. It found that companies who did not adequately manage workplace safety issues underperformed those that did.Comstock also reminds employers, “When considering training reductions, some safety related training is driven by regulation, is time sensitive and cannot be delayed. Safety training related savings can be generated by streamlining and implementing simple solutions including using online or electronic safety training services, rather than face-to-face classroom safety training.”“We need to work together during these difficult times, but reducing or ignoring workplace safety should not be a strategic or budget option,” Brown said. “The costs – both tangible and intangible – are far too high and hard to recoup.”Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to http://www.asse.org.(http://www.asse.org/newsroom/release.php?pressRelease=1162)

Posted by Wally Steidley on 12/19 at 08:10 AM

Category: News |

 

Be Prepared For The Holidays

November 26, 2008   |   Indigo Blog

Safety and Quality is a 24/7 way of life. The Holiday season is upon us and many key people in organizations are taking time off.Before leaving for that much deserved vacation make sure all the bases are covered and things do not fall through the cracks. Leave written instructions for your replacement(s). Sweat the details and expect what you inspect.When you return you are less likely to encounter new problems.

Posted by Layne Reeves on 11/26 at 11:28 PM

Category: Indigo Blog |

 

OSHA Doubles Efforts

October 24, 2008   |   News

After reading the following news release from OSHA, you need to ask yourself two questions. "Is the injury rate at my company going down like other companies" and "Is my facility ready for OSHA to double its efforts?"National News Release: 08-1532-NATOctober 23, 2008Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on 2007 workplace injury and illness ratesRate continues to decline significantly and continues at recorded lowWASHINGTON -- The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry declined in 2007 for the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers declined from 4.4 cases per 100 workers in 2006 to 4.2 cases in 2007.Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. said, "Today's injury and illness results demonstrate that OSHA's balanced approach to workplace safety encompassing education, training, information sharing, inspection, regulation and aggressive enforcement is achieving significant reductions in workplace injury and illness throughout the country. This report shows that employees are now safer in the workplace than ever before. This success validates our efforts, and we are redoubling this commitment to make workplaces even safer." (emphasis added)OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, having conducted more than 39,000 inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2007, OSHA found nearly 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations.

Posted by Wally Steidley on 10/24 at 02:35 PM

Category: News |