OSHA recently issued proposed citations totaling more than
$280,000 in fines against multiple contractors on a single industrial
site. I bring this to the attention of
our readers, not because of the dollar amount, but because of the citations
issued. Most of which were avoidable
citations for known hazards such as a failure to provide adequate worker
protections on the site. Most of which
were easily identifiable by the Competent Person on site at the time of these
incidents.
A link to the OSHA citation defining the specific violations
can be found here…
While Gregory Management & Consulting Services clients operate
within all sectors of the general construction industry, we want to focus on
PPE, respirators and fit testing standards as it impacts every sector of the
entire industry. As we enter the public
comment period for silica exposure and should already know the standards for
Respiratory Protection in the industry, it should go without saying that the
respirator, and related fit testing, are crucial components within every safety
program and must be taken seriously by management and the Competent Person on
every site.
More importantly, as we enter the colder months here in the
north east, our employees and members are often exposed to harsher weather; as
a result, many tend to have more facial hair.
While this doesn’t always present a problem, it most certainly does when
a worker is required to wear a respirator within the normal course of
performing their duties. In this OSHA
case, the company was “issued one willful citation, with a $49,500 fine, for
allowing a worker to wear a tight-fitting respirator over facial hair while the
worker removed lead-containing paint. Facial hair can encumber a respirator
from being properly sealed, thus exposing the worker to lead inhalation.”
More information on Personal Protective Equipment,
Respiratory Protection may be found here…
The Fit Testing Procedures appear on OSHA’s website and
should be reviewed by every Competent Person and Safety Expert as we enter these
cooler months. You may find Appendix A
to § 1910.134: Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory) here…
Let’s take a moment now to consider the importance of this
issue and to bring it up at tomorrow’s Tool Box Talk, Classroom Discussion and
or Safety Planning Meeting. Let’s ensure
that our employees not only get home safely tonight, but that they also enjoy a
healthy and happy future into retirement.
Contact Wayne Gregory at Gregory Management & Consulting
Services, wegregory@gregorymcs.com, to
learn more about this subject matter or others impacting your associations,
employers, members and our industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment