Guide to Assist Employers With Trip Fall Prevention

To help employers reduce and ultimately eliminate slips, trips and falls that continue to occur in workplaces, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), recently announced the availability of a compendium including slip, trip, and fall prevention standards and a technical report from their catalogs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), floors, walkways and ground surfaces were the source of injury and illness for 18% of all days away from work cases in 2006. Also, in 2006, 770 workers died due to falls, a 5% increase since 2005. Slip, trip, and loss of balance injuries without falls accounted for 35,440 non-fatal injuries and falls on the same level accounted for 151,750 non-fatal injuries in 2006.

The compendium includes: “Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2007); “Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2006); “Technical Report for Using Variable Angle Tribometers (VAT) for Measurement of the Slip Resistance of Walkway Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE TR-A1264.3-2007); “Safety Requirements for Temporary Roof and Floor Holes, Wall Openings, Stairways and Other Unprotected Edges in Construction and Demolition Operations,” (ANSI/ASSE A10.18-2007); “Standard Practices for Safe Walking Surfaces,” (ASTM F1637-07); “Standard Guide for Composing Walkway Surface Evaluation and Incident Report Forms for Slips, Stumbles, Trips and Falls,” (ASTM F1694-96, R2004); “Standard Guide for Ranking Footwear Bottom Materials on Contaminated Walkway Surfaces According to Slip Resistance Test Results,” (ASTM F1240-01); “Standard Guide for Selection of Certain Walkway Surfaces When Considering Footwear Traction,” (ASTM F802-83, R2003); as well as ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-1955 (R2002), ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2001 and ANSI A10.18-1996 standards as historic documents.

ASSE and ASTM note that the standards included in the compendium are effective as standalone documents, their intent is to provide employers with a comprehensive package addressing the issue of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

For more information on the compendium visit this link.

Mold Clean-Up Tips

Mold grows easily in flood-related conditions, which include standing water, humid air, and wet surfaces according to American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) members. The longer these conditions remain, as in the current flooding in the Midwest, the more the mold growth can spread. To address this, ASSE offers the following tips to consider on how to clean-up mold and minimize its adverse effects. Individual circumstances are often unique so there is no one-size fits solution.

“For businesses, addressing mold and moisture after a flood disaster should be the first step to reduce the risk to others who may need to work in an affected building,” said ASSE Regional Vice President and Assistant Director of School Plant Services, Environmental & Energy Management for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools James H. Morris, III

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that "surfaces wet longer than 48 hours with 'clean water' should be considered as potentially contaminated, and any surfaces in contact with 'dirty water' should be considered contaminated." ASSE members recommend that people consult their state and local experts for more guidance regarding specific laws and regulations addressing mold.

In addition, to lessen the chances of a mold colony growing in a store/business, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that

1. the humidity level be kept below 50%;
2. an air conditioner or dehumidifier be used during humid months (depending on the climate);
3. adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans, in the kitchen and bathrooms, be used;
4. to add mold inhibitors to paints before applying them;
5. bathrooms be cleaned with mold-killing products; and,
6. not to put carpeting in bathrooms, basements, or other areas where moisture or water could be a concern.

Mold, ASSE members note, is a group of microscopic fungi, which also includes mildew and other organisms that rot materials on which they grow. Molds can often be invisible to the eye.

A blotch of black, gray, white, red, orange, yellow, blue, or violet fuzzy or slimy growth is usually the result of widespread mold growth. Besides infection and allergic reactions, excessive mold growth indoors can result in offensive, musty odors from the gases released by certain molds as they grow and die.

Morris added, “All mold cleanup operations individuals should wear proper personal protection equipment, which includes gloves, goggles and a respirator. However, the type of respirator varies on the size of the mold-affected area.”

ASSE offers the following tips for cleaning a facility/building area affected by mold:

• Avoid direct contact with affected mold areas as much as possible.
• If it can be thrown away, throw it away. Replacements may be less expensive in the long term (and short term) than attempting to decontaminate some surfaces.
• If it cannot be disposed of, decontaminate and then dry as thoroughly as possible. Moisture removal is a key factor to preventing future growth.
• Wallboard can often be cut to the point of contamination replaced with new sections.
• Clean all tools after use, or dispose if possible, and also clean tools after each shift.
• When in doubt about the structural integrity of a facility, obtain an evaluation by a licensed and qualified builder or structural engineer before entering. Medical clearance may also be necessary based upon the severity of mold in the area.
• Individuals involved in mold remediation should be aware that attempts to mix chemicals to clean surfaces can cause further damage, such as the toxic gases that can be released when ammonia and bleach are mixed. Workers need to exercise caution, so as not to create additional hazards. The power supply (circuit breakers) should be turned off in the specific damaged areas/ high levels of moisture to avoid electrical shock hazards.

For ASSE’s position statement on mold in the indoor working environment go to this link. For more information and resources on mold safety and remediation, visit EPA’s Mold Resources Web page, or download the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Mold Fact Sheet. To obtain a draft of the ASSE/ANSI Z690, “Guidelines for Mold and Fungi Control and Remediation for Worker Protection in Indoor Work Environments,” visit this link.

Bush Urged to Reappoint Howard Director of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

After learning changes may be made in D.C. despite the advances in workplace safety efforts at the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the leadership of Dr. John Howard, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urges President George Bush to renew Howard’s appointment.

“ASSE has seen a significant advancement of the mission of NIOSH within the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the creative and dedicated leadership of Dr. Howard,” ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP, said in his letter to President Bush. “Dr. Howard has been instrumental in unleashing a wealth of talent at NIOSH and helping bring together the research and educational resources of NIOSH to the day-to-day practice of our members in workplaces across the nation.”

ASSE recently learned that CDC’s leadership will not renew Dr. Howard’s six-year appointment as NIOSH Director.

“We do not know why such a highly competent leader and administrator of an agency that has been, by any measure, a success in the eyes of our members and the entire safety and health community should not be reappointed,” Thompson wrote. “The very positive impact your Administration has had on occupational safety and health through Dr. Howard should be allowed to continue to the end and beyond this Administration. We can think of no more fitting legacy for your Administration’s success in providing leadership in occupational safety and health than by allowing Dr. Howard to continue in this role.”

In his letter Thompson reviewed a number of NIOSH accomplishments under Dr. Howard including:

1. Greatly improved integration of the safety and health community in setting NIOSH’s research agenda as evidenced by the significantly increased involvement of ASSE members and others in safety and health in the NORA agenda-setting process;
2. Leadership in addressing the safety and health risks of emerging technologies, most notably nanotechnology;
3. Increased accountability for NIOSH’s research programs by inviting examination through the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, thereby assuring that this nation’s investment in occupational safety and health research is well placed; and,
4. Active outreach to safety and health practitioners and bringing the research results funded through NIOSH directly to the job site where ASSE members work.

ASSE Raises Concerns Over OSHA Proposed Confined Space Rule

In a letter sent to the Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) said the proposed rule on Confined Spaces in Construction recently published by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is unduly complicated, introduces unnecessary new terminology and requirements that are burdensome, and fails to recognize current safety practices that have proven successful in practice both in general industry and in construction.

"These comments reflect the front-line experience of our members who strive to help protect workers on job sites across the country in all industries, including construction," ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP, said in the letter. "They also reflect the expertise of the members of the ANSI Z117 Accredited Standards Committee for Confined Space Entry, for which ASSE serves as the Secretariat."

ASSE is responsible for several American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Committees including the Z117 Committee for 'Confined Spaces' as well as the A10 Committee for 'Safety Requirements for Construction and Demolition Operations'.

"This rule, if adopted without significant changes, would provide for a significantly lower level of safety than what is currently required throughout the construction industry by the Z117.1-2003 standard," Thompson wrote. "Rulemaking that provides less worker protections than that provided by a widely adopted voluntary consensus standard like Z117.1 goes against OSHA’s duty established under the 'National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995'."

This Act states that all federal agencies and departments shall use technical standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies and departments.

Further, rather than adding clarity or advancing safety consistent with current industry safety practices, Thompson wrote, the changes offered in this proposed rule instead add a new level of complexity to the work of our members and employers while adding little new to the approaches already successfully being used to address confined space risks. It also fails to address important confined space topics including harmonization of confined space classifications, hazard assessment, assignment of responsibilities, and the continued allowance of a chest harness as part of a vertical confined space rescue effort.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) "Confined Space" refers to a space which by design has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants, and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include but are not limited to storage tanks, compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, silos, vats, degreasers, reaction vessels, boilers, ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers, tunnels, underground utility vaults, and pipelines.

Thompson was also concerned that this rule is not in harmony with the widely accepted Z117.1-2003 consensus standard 'Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces'. A comparison of Z117.1 to the proposed rule demonstrates that the existing General Industry regulations together with Z117.1 does have the necessary scope, breadth and detail to help employers manage successfully confined space safety matters within the construction industry. It is apparent that the standards used in OSHA’s evaluations were outdated 1977 and 1989 standards no longer affirmed by the Z117 Committee. The Committee published 1995 and 2003 editions that have been used by OSHA to support over 50 general duty clause citations issued by compliance officers to employers.

In the letter, Thompson included examples of how Z117.1 has been used by OSHA with regard to the General Duty Clause and provided comments from ASSE members that reflect the variety of misdirected conclusions and statements found in the proposed rule.

"Taken as a whole, they point to rulemaking that is not complete and that has not been undertaken with the purpose of finding a way to work with those who are experts in confined space safety in order to advance properly this nation’s commitment to protecting workers," Thompson said. "ASSE is deeply concerned that OSHA decided against using terminology and definitions in its proposed standard that have existed for decades, are widely used in the safety and health community and in industry when addressing confined space risks to workers. Creating a new lexicon for this very particular safety area can only result in confusion and add to the potential for risk, not limit it.

"Nevertheless, rulemaking that is not consistent with current industry practices, especially when a widely respected voluntary consensus standard reflects those practices, does not advance workplace safety and health in a way we know OSHA wants its standards to do," Thompson concluded. "We look forward to working with you and to the revision of this proposed rule that affects the many workers in this country."

For more information on the Z117 Committee and the Z117.1-2003 standard please go to www.asse.org.

Safety Homework Suggested for Teens Entering Summer Job Market

Last year, more than 5700 people died and millions more suffered injuries and illnesses from on-the-job accidents, including thousands of teen workers. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and its 32,000+ occupational safety, health, and environmental professional members urge teens and their parents to be aware of workplace safety prevention measures before they go to work this summer, whether for a part-time job or their first full-time position.

"Teens don't often think of safety when they step into their first job, but they should. We're offering teens, parents, and employers the resources they need to help them stay safe at work," ASSE member Cindy Lewis, co-chair of the annual Houston YouthRules! Rally, Job and Career Fair, said. "We work to educate this audience...by providing free resources such as our free brochures, safety tips for teens handout, the teen safety Web page, the safety suitcase for young children, and the annual ASSE safety-on-the-job poster contest for those aged 5-14. But more needs to be done."

Approximately 80% of U.S. teens work annually at some time during their high school years, many during the summer. While they earn extra money and gain valuable work experience, the risk of serious injury or even a fatal injury is present.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, in 2004 alone, more than 38,000 teen workers were injured on the job, and 134 were fatally injured. Workers aged 15 to 17 spend most of their work hours in food preparation and service jobs, handling stock or in labor jobs, farming, forestry or in fishing. Common injuries sustained among teens include sprains, strains, contusions, lacerations, and fractures. Some injuries can affect a teen for their lifetime.

There are many workplace risks and laws young workers should know. For instance, the most common job-related injury for first time workers under 18 is muscle sprain or strain; trips and falls, eye strain, and excessive noise are just some of the hazards teens face at work.

By law, an employer must provide protective clothing and equipment necessary for each job, payment for medical expenses if a worker is injured at work, on-the-job safety training, and, that on a school day, a 15-year-old is only permitted to work up to three hours a day. Sixteen year-olds are limited to the type of work they can do. For instance, out of these jobs -- operating a meat slicing machine at a deli counter, driving a forklift at a warehouse, waiting tables at a restaurant, or performing demolition work at a construction site -- a 16 year-old is legally only allowed to work waiting tables.

“Teens and their parents should be aware that newly hired teens miss work most often because they are suffering from on-the-job muscle sprains, strains, or tears; that fatigue from trying to balance work and school may contribute to injuries among young workers; that nearly 70% of 14- to 16-year-olds injured on the job miss work, school, and other activities for at least a day,” Lewis said. “A quarter of those injured teens are sidelined for more than a week. About a third of fatal injuries to young workers occur in family businesses, such as on a farm, according to federal officials.”

Teens are not allowed to work in mining, logging, meatpacking, roofing, excavation, or demolition, according to labor laws. They cannot drive a car or forklift or work with saws, explosives, radioactive materials, or most machines.

The U.S. Department of Labor has established two laws to protect the safety and health of teens -- the Fair Labor Standards Act restricts the types of jobs teens under 18 can hold and the hours they can work. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide safe and healthful work environments for all workers. Employers must comply with occupational safety and health standards.

It is important to ask safety questions before starting a job such as: What are the physical demands of my job? What are my hours? Will I be working alone or with others? What kind of safety gear will I need to wear? What workplace hazards should I be aware of (noise, chemicals, etc.)? What safety training will I receive and when will I receive it? Where are the first-aid supplies and fire extinguishers kept? Do you have a worker safety policy and an emergency plan? Is there an occupational safety and health professional on staff?

For a free copy of the ASSE “Important Workplace Safety Guide for Young Workers” and other youth workplace safety tips contact ASSE customer service at 847-699-2929.

Groups Unite to Support Employer Right to Determine Workplace Safety Rules

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) joined with ASIS International and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in recently filing an amici curiae brief urging the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm a 2007 federal district court ruling that found two so-called “forced entry laws” in Oklahoma unconstitutional. The Oklahoma laws would have prevented employers from setting workplace safety rules barring guns to be brought on employer property in a locked vehicle.

The U.S. Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, in a suit filed against Oklahoma by ConocoPhillips and other employer plaintiffs (ConocoPhillips v. Henry), held that the Oklahoma’s “forced entry laws” conflicted with the general duty clause of the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. The general duty clause requires employers to protect their employees against avoidable and recognizable hazards that may not be addressed by specific workplace safety and health standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since federal laws preempt state law, the OSH Act preempted the Oklahoma laws.

“We are pleased to be able to support employers’ most fundamental right, which is to determine how best to run their businesses and keep their employees and property safe,” said ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP. “Employers hire our member safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) professionals to determine just how best to protect workers. Whether, in their best judgment, protecting workers and property means keeping guns out of parking lots or not, that decision must be made by an employer and an SH&E professional. Those sometimes difficult decisions cannot be made by a state governor or legislature substituting political decisions for professional judgment about how best to protect workers under duties employers have under the OSH Act’s general duty clause.

“Preventing violence is just one of many workplace safety, health, and environmental issues our members work hard each day with employers to address so that workers are able to go home safe and healthy from their jobs each day,” added Thompson. “A law such as Oklahoma’s forced entry laws, if reinstated, would undermine our members’ professional ability to give advice to Oklahoma employers on workplace safety and it means that Oklahoma workplaces would be less safe.”

The cost of workplace violence to employers alone has been estimated at $4 billion a year, which is supported by ASSE’s “2004 Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper.”

According to the Department of Labor’s BLS National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2006, workplace homicides ranked as the fourth cause of on-the-job deaths, claiming the lives of 516 workers with more than 80% of those workers being shot.

OSHA Rule Standardizes Distribution of Employer Paid Personal Protective Equipment

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has recognized the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) efforts in publishing a standard for employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE).

“ASSE is pleased that OSHA issued its long awaited standard addressing employer payment for PPE,” said ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP. “ASSE’s member safety, health, and environmental professionals view the provisions of the standard as a realistic reflection of how they see this issue dealt with on the job each day and as an appropriate balance between the several interests that determine who should pay for PPE.”

Thompson added, “ASSE hopes that the publication of this standard signals a renewed commitment from OSHA to continue to advance appropriate standard setting.”

According to OSHA, under the final rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, will be provided to employees at no cost. The few exceptions include ordinary safety-toed footwear and ordinary prescription safety eyewear the employer allows to be worn off the job site, logging boots, and ordinary clothing and weather related gear. Employers also must pay for replacement PPE unless the employee loses or intentionally damages the PPE.

OSHA estimates that the final rule, which was published in the Federal Register today, will lead to more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year. The standard is available at this link.

ANSI Offers New Voluntary Safety Standard

To prevent injuries and illness among construction workers exposed to hazards associated with the installation and extraction of piles during construction and demolition operations, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the new voluntary consensus standard “Safety Requirements for Pile Installation and Extraction Operations” (ANSI/ASSE A10.19-2008).

According to the standard, a pile refers to a concrete, steel, or wood column which is driven or otherwise introduced into the soil, usually to carry a vertical load or to provide lateral support. The ANSI/ASSE A10.19-2008 standard is one of a series of voluntary consensus standards that focus on construction and demolition operations. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved the standard on March 24, 2008.

“Preventing injuries and illnesses among construction and demolition workers is the goal of the A10 standard committee,” said A10 Committee Chair Richard F. King, CSP, CRSP. “Voluntary national consensus standards, such as the A10.19, offer a balanced perspective based on the insights of the final users and the opinions of professionals who work at all levels of public and private sectors in technology development, safety and health, manufacturing, training, financial analysis, personnel, and academia.

“The value of workplace safety to workers in the construction industry and their families can not be overstated,” said A10.19 Subcommittee Chair Philip Colleran, CSP. “The new A10.19 consensus standard establishes the necessary safety requirements to prevent injuries that are associated with pile installation and extraction hazards, helping construction and demolition workers to return home safely every day.”

According to the 2006 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary (CFOI), construction accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries, the most of any industry sector. In addition the CFOI indicated that the two occupational groups, construction and extraction occupations and transportation and material moving occupations, together made up almost half of all fatal work injuries in 2006. Also, construction and extraction worker fatalities rose 6% in 2006.

The A10.19-2008 standard applies to employment and places of employment where workers may be exposed to pile installation and extraction operation hazards during construction and demolition operations. The piles referred to in the standard include piles made of hot and cold rolled steel, concrete, wood and composite materials. This standard does not apply to structural steel erection covered in ANSI/ASSE A10.13 or ANSI/ASSE A10.16 voluntary consensus standards.

ASSE serves as the secretariat for the A10 Accredited Standards Committee on construction and demolition operations. The A10 standards serve as guides to contractors, labor and equipment manufacturers in the construction and demolition industry.

The A10.19-2008 standard will be available soon in both print and electronic format. For more information on A10.19 or other ANSI/ASSE construction and demolition related safety standards, contact ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929.