Workers' Compensation: Personal protective equipment

Showing posts with label Personal protective equipment. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Supreme Court Rules for Employers in Two Cases

Today's post was shared by WSJ Law Blog and comes from blogs.wsj.com

The Supreme Court Monday gave airlines a wide berth to report potential security threats, dismissing a pilot’s lawsuit alleging his employer defamed him by telling the Transportation Security Administration he could be armed and mentally unstable.

Separately, the court rejected a claim by steelworkers from Gary, Ind., that they were entitled to pay for time spent putting on safety gear, finding that the task qualified as “changing clothes,” for which their union contract didn’t require compensation.

Finally, Monday, the court sided with a convicted heroin dealer to rule that he couldn’t be punished for the death of one of his customers because of evidence that the man’s health was so poor he might have died even without the narcotic.

All three decisions were unanimous or nearly so, underscoring that despite gulfs in the most charged disputes, justices of different ideological backgrounds agree on a significant number of legal issues. Read the full story here.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

Chain Saw Safety

Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.osha.gov

OSHA Quick Card

Chain Saw Safety
Operating a chain saw is inherently hazardous. Potential injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.

Before Starting a Chain Saw

Check controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles to ensure that they are functioning properly and that they are adjusted according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure that the chain is always sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full.
Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting is never allowed.
Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain's brake engaged.

Use approved containers for transporting fuel to the saw.
Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities. No smoking during fueling.
Use a funnel or a flexible hose when pouring fuel into the saw.
Never attempt to fuel a running or HOT saw.

Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw's chain path. Look for nails, spikes or other metal in the tree before cutting.
Shut off the saw or engage its chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.
Keep your hands on the saw's handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.
Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when operating the saw, which includes hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection.
Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.
Be careful that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind...

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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Choosing Chemical Hand Protection

There has been a shift in manufacturing operations, creating an even greater need for proper hand protection. Within the last 10 years, robotics and automated processes have taken over much of the handling, pouring and manipulation of hazardous chemicals in the industrial workplace. However, the risk of harm to workers' hands has not diminished.
In fact, this passive attitude toward hand protection from workplace chemicals may contribute to the major threat of hand injury. Users are not as eager to protect themselves, relying on machines to do this for them. In addition, workers often do not use the protective equipment that the specific task requires.
To further magnify the problem, the chemical retains its characteristics whether exposure comes from outright submersion or an incidental splash. Any skin contact – whether from a splash or from residual chemicals – can result in chemical burns. That exposure remains in almost every work environment where chemicals are used. At the same time, many jobs still require that workers pour chemicals into containers, apply chemicals manually, mix chemicals or transport chemicals and deal with accidental leakage on a daily basis.
For all of these reasons, it is essential that users don the proper protection, as there isn't a single glove that protects against the thousands of chemicals and chemical combinations to which workers may come in contact.
With the magnitude of...

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Monday, January 9, 2012

Hostess Fined $105,000

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Interstate Brands, doing business as Hostess Brands, for eight serious and two repeat alleged violations of workplace safety standards at its Biddeford production plant. The company, which manufactures Hostess products, faces a total of $104,700 in proposed fines following a safety inspection by OSHA's Augusta Area Office.

"Our inspection identified mechanical, electrical, fall and exit hazards, including some similar to those cited at other Interstate Brands facilities," said William Coffin, OSHA's area director for Maine. "Left uncorrected, these violations expose workers to the hazards of electrocution, lacerations, amputation, falls, being caught in operating or unexpectedly activated machinery and being unable to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency."

OSHA's inspection found an absence of guardrails to prevent workers from falling into and through hoppers; a locked emergency exit door and an exit route blocked by product racks; unguarded moving machine parts on a conveyor belt, band saw blade, drill press and other equipment; undocumented procedures to prevent the unintended activation of machinery during maintenance; and individuals working on live electrical equipment who were not familiar with the protective equipment needed for such work. These serious violations resulted in citations carrying $42,200 in fines. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The recurring violations involve failing to guard chains and sprockets on a cake alignment conveyor and a packaging machine feeder, and provide personal protective equipment to safeguard employees against electrical shocks, arc flashes and arc blasts while working with live electrical parts. The citations carry $62,500 in fines. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. OSHA cited International Brands in 2010 for similar hazards at plants in Columbus, Ga., and Schiller Park, Ill.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/InterstateBrands_315672352_1222_11.pdf.*

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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

EPA Urged to Shut Down Dangerous Asbestos Removal Method

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Inspector General has just signed an "Early Warning Report" that will shut down a dangerous and unapproved asbestos removal method that two EPA offices have been testing for the past seven years.

The report supports what Public Justice has been arguing -- that the method both endangers public health and doesn't work.

The approved method requires all asbestos to be removed from a building by trained specialists wearing protective gear before it is demolished. Under the unapproved method, called the "Alternative Asbestos Control Method," or AACM, most of the asbestos-containing materials are left in place during demolition. Water with added surfactants is sprayed on the building to try to suppress asbestos release and contamination.

Read more about the EPA Asbestos Report:

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