Heat Illness and Related Symptoms

heat-strokeAs summer approaches, temperatures are going to reach dangerous levels.  Workers have to be proactive at preventing heat related illnesses.  Employers must educate workers on symptoms related to heat illness and ensure workers have the necessary tools and resources at the job site to be safe and healthy.

Heat illness can lead to death. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), thousands of workers become sick or die each year due to heat illness.  In 2011, OSHA initiated a Heat Illness Prevention Campaign to help workers and employers become aware of the hazards associated with working in hot weather.

According to Medline Plus and the Centers for Disease Control, most heat illnesses occur from staying in the heat too long.  Prolonged exposure to heat causes your body temperature to rise to dangerous levels. Heat related illnesses include heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat rash. Workers required to work outdoors should recognize the symptoms of these heat related illnesses.

  • Heatstroke- A potentially deadly illness in which body temperatures can rise above 106° F in minutes. Symptoms include dry skin, rapid strong pulse, and dizziness.
  • Heat exhaustion-An illness that occurs before heat stroke. Common symptoms include heavy sweating, rapid breathing, and a fast, weak pulse.
  • Heat cramps-Muscle pains or spasms that transpire during heavy exercise.
  • Heat rash- Skin irritation from excessive sweating.

Employers and workers can access educational and training materials related to heat illness at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) official website devoted to the topic, http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.

Tenneco Automotive Cited by OSHA For Hexavalent Chromium Hazards

hexavalent chromiumThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Tenneco Automotive of Hartwell, Georgia $79,300. This fine is the result of a February inspection that uncovered 14 safety and health violations.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, Tenneco employs nearly 25,000 employees worldwide with 80 facilities around the world. Tenneco Automotive is a global transportation component manufacturer according to the company’s official website.

Some of the serious violations involved the following:

➢ Failure to protect employees from exposure to hexavalent chromium.

➢ Neglecting to ensure that employees working with and around the toxic chemical remove their contaminated clothing and shower before leaving the facility.

➢ Lack of free medical surveillance for employees showing symptoms related to hexavalent chromium.

➢ Evidence of trip and fall hazards.

➢ Inadequate respirator usage.

The other-than-serious violation included the following.

➢ Improper record keeping in the OSHA log.

➢ Allowing temporary electrical extension cord to be used as permanent wiring.

William Fulcher of OSHA’s Atlanta-East office commented Tenneco should take proactive steps to eliminate these safety and health hazards. OSHA is committed to workplace safety.

 

Houston’s Anhueser-Busch Brewery Cited by OSHA

AnheuserBuschLogoThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Anhueser-Busch Cos. LLC in Houston with five serious violations and one willful violation.  The fines total $88, 000.  The citation stemmed from a 2012 inspection.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Anhueser-Busch has twelve breweries throughout the United States including Houston. The company was founded in 1852. Anheuser-Busch brews the world’s largest selling beers.

The willful violation involved failing to protect workers from being exposed to carbon dioxide and neglecting to identify respiratory hazards.

According to OSHA, the serious violations included:

  • Failing to verify that conditions in permit required confined spaces are acceptable throughout the duration of the entry.
  • Neglecting to ensure the entrant can communicate with the permit required confined space attendant as necessary.
  • Failure to make sure each attendant performs no other duty that might interfere with the attendant’s primary duty to monitor and protect the entrant of the permit required confined space.
  • Failing to evaluate a prospective rescuer’s ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner.
  • Anhueser-Busch did not inform each team or rescue service of the hazards they may confront when called upon to perform a rescue at the site.

David Doucet, OSHA area director of Houston’s North office insisted employers must recognize the hazards that exist in the workplace and be proactive at developing the necessary safety and health policies to protect workers.

Fertilizer Plant Explosion: A West, Texas Tragedy

texasOn Wednesday April 17,2013, the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas exploded. Fifteen people were killed including an EMT, eight local volunteer firefighters, and a Dallas firefighter. Reports have revealed more than 200 people were injured.

Located in West, Texas, West Fertilizer Company supplies chemicals to farmers. The company was founded in 1962 and is owned by Adair Grain Inc. The owner is a lifelong resident of West, Texas. The company issued a statement stating they are working with investigators to uncover facts connected to the tragedy.

When the plant exploded, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had not inspected the facility since 1985. According to news reports, the company had 270 tons of ammonium nitrate on site. Ammonium nitrate is a common fertilizer, and it is highly flammable and dangerous. Federal law requires any business holding more than a ton of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate to report their inventory to the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano has reported the West Fertilizer Company failed to follow protocol.

West Fertilizer Company has been cited twice by federal agencies since 2006. In 2012, the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration fined West Fertilizer $5,250 for storing anhydrous ammonia in tanks lacking proper warning labels. The agency originally fined West Fertilizer Company $10,000 but reduced the fine after the company took corrective action. In 2006, the EPA fined company owners $2,300 to correct issues related to failing to file a risk management program plan on time.

The explosion caused millions of dollars in damage. Homes, public schools, and other property were severely damaged. Nearly two weeks later investigators are still searching for clues regarding the source of this tragic explosion.

Tornado TRUTHS and MYTHS

TornadoA tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour however; the most violent tornadoes are capable of wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. They are often referred to as twisters or cyclones.

TRUTH:  In an average year, in the United States there are 1,200 tornadoes causing 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries nationwide.

More than 500 tornadoes typically occur in the central part of the United States (known as the Great Plains) every year and is why it is commonly known as “Tornado Alley”. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana all make up Tornado Alley.

MYTH:  Areas near lakes, rivers, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.

TRUTH:  No place is safe from tornadoes.  A tornado near Yellowstone National Park left a path of destruction up and down a 10,000-foot mountain. 

MYTH:  The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead.

TRUTH:  Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural damage.

MYTH:  Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.

TRUTH:  Leave the windows alone. The most important action is to immediately go to a safe shelter.

In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials. Be alert to changing weather conditions, and look for approaching storms.  Look for the following danger signs:

  • Dark often greenish sky
  • Large hail
  • A large dark low-lying cloud, especially if it rotating
  • Loud roar, similar to a freight train
  • If you see approaching storms r any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

 

MYTH:  If you are driving and a tornado is sighted, you should turn and drive at right angles to the storm.

TRUTH:  The best thing to do is to seek the best available shelter.  Many people are injured or killed when remaining in their vehicles.

MYTH:  People caught in the open should seek shelter under highway overpasses.

TRUTH:  Take shelter in a sturdy reinforced building if possible.  Overpasses, ditches, and culverts may provide limited protection for a tornado, but your risk will be greatly reduced by moving inside a strong building.

Tornadoes can happen at any time of the year and at any time of the day. In the southern states, peak tornado season is from March through May. Peak times for tornadoes in the northern states are during the summer. A few southern states have a second peak time for tornado outbreaks in the fall. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment: Deadly Dozen #12, Unsafe Act

Personal Protective EquipmentFirst responders, clean-up operations staff, as well as other workers face various challenges and risks at their work sites daily. It is critical workers and employers consider safety a top priority. Employers should ensure workers have access to all necessary resources to perform their jobs safely. An essential resource all workers should have access to is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure to hazards. OSHA’s standards and regulations regarding PPE can be accessed at, http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/. Failure to wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of construction’s deadly dozen. From time to time, this blog will focus on issues related to construction’s deadly dozen, unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.

Workers must realize their safety is ultimately their responsibility. Construction employees should always make certain their personal protection equipment is appropriate for their tasks. Workers should research, read, and react with inquiries regarding their concerns related to PPE. Common reasons employees tend not to wear PPE include:

➢ PPE is not comfortable.

➢ Appearance of equipment.

➢ Failure to realize the importance of PPE and its relation to job tasks.

➢ Not comfortable in weather; too hot

➢ Lack of training.

 

 

According to OSHA, employers have a responsibility to train workers on how to properly handle Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

➢ Use protective equipment properly,

➢ Be aware of when personal protective equipment is necessary,

➢ Know what kind of protective equipment is necessary,

➢ Understand the limitations of personal protective equipment in protecting workers from

injury.

➢ Train workers to put on, adjust, wear, and take off personal protective equipment, and

➢ Maintain protective equipment properly.

Common types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) include the following items listed below according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

➢ Head protection –hard hats

➢ Foot protection –safety shoes

➢ Eye/face protection –safety glasses

➢ Hearing protection -ear plugs, muffs

➢ Hand protection -gloves

➢ Respiratory protection

➢ High-visibility clothing

Resources

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/ppe-factsheet.pdf

 

Georgia Company Cited for Chemical Violations

hexavalent chromiumThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Aerospace Defense Coatings (ADC) with 3 violations including one willful and two repeat. Proposed fines total $83,160. The company has fifteen days from receipt of the violation to dispute OSHA’s claims.

Located in Macon, Georgia, Aerospace Defense Coatings has been in business for over 50 years according to the company’s official website. The company specializes in metal- finishing, testing, and painting. Approximately seventy-one people work in the company’s Georgia office.

The violations involved exposing workers to hexavalent chromium. More specifically, Aerospace Defense Coatings failed to provide change rooms for workers to change clothes after coming in contact with the chemical. In addition, workers were exposed to hexavalent chromium in break rooms where food was consumed.

Aerospace Defense Coatings was cited for the same violations once before. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) previously cited the company for hexavalent chromium exposure in 2010. Nadira Janack, Assistant Area Director of OSHA’s Atlanta East office stated the company neglected to protect workers from hazards connected to hexavalent chromium exposure. Janack emphasized it is imperative company management take action to eliminate these hazards for workers. Some symptoms of hexavalent chromium exposure include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and burning sensation in the throat.

OSHA Distributes New Resources for Emergency Responders

Combustible dust is a major hazardous material concern.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new informational resource for emergency responders earlier this month. The booklet, Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust highlights safe procedures for emergency responders who deal with fires and explosions caused by combustible dust.

OSHA officials believe the resource booklet will be extremely useful for emergency responders. Over the last two decades, approximately 170 workers have been killed from combustible dust explosions. Also, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports nearly 780 workers have been injured from combustible dust explosions.

The detailed informational booklet explains how combustible explosions happen and offers tips related to preventing them. According to OSHA, the book explains the preparations emergency responders can make before a response and how these preparations will affect the operational plan during a response.

Combustible dust is any fine material that has the capacity to catch fire and explode when mixed with air. Types of combustible dusts include metal such aluminum and magnesium, wood, plastic, rubber, coal, flour, sugar and paper. Additional information regarding OSHA combustible dust guidelines can be accessed this link, http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/guidance.html .

Employers, construction workers, and emergency responders can also download Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust from the following link, http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_3644.pdf.

Brenntag Northeast Cited By OSHA

Formaldehyde hazardThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Brenntag Northeast Inc. with 14 safety violations. The investigation took place September 2012 and was started as part of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on process safety management for covered chemical facilities. Proposed penalties total $64,655.

Brenntag Northeast Inc. is associated with the Brenntag North America group of companies. Headquartered in Reading, PA, Brenntag has over 400 locations in 60 countries according to the company’s official website. Brenntag Northeast is a chemical distributor established in 1919.

Some of the serious violations involved the following:

• Neglecting to protect workers from chemical hazards associated with working on a formaldehyde loading system.

• Failure to protect against fall hazards.

• Failure to complete and revalidate a process hazard analysis as well as resolve analysis recommendations in a timely manner.

• Lack of training on usage and maintenance of the formaldehyde loading system.

• Failure to conduct inspections and testing of the formaldehyde loading system.

Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA’s Harrisburg Area Office feels Brenntag Northeast put its employees in serious danger. Process safety management prevents a disastrous release of toxic liquids and gases in chemical processes. According to Kilp, the company endangered the safety of its workers by failing to initiate OSHA’s process safety management regulations.

 

Recognizing the Risks of Methyl Ethyl Ketone and Other Chemical Hazards at Your Site

Methyl ethyl Keytone chemical hazardConstruction work is extremely diverse. The health and safety of workers is a constant challenge among employers. On a daily basis, construction workers may come in contact with various chemical hazards which can result in injury, illness, or death. At construction work sites, hazardous chemicals exist in forms such as dust, fumes, liquids, gas, and vapors. Primarily, chemicals enter the body via inhalation, ingestion, and absorption.

Recently, a 53 year-old Missouri construction worker died when he was overcome by exposure to Methyl ethyl ketone. The worker was inside an 18-foot-deep manhole when he collapsed and died at the site. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited and fined the general contractor, KCI Construction as well as another Missouri company, Coatings Unlimited for this incident. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a colorless liquid solvent with an acetone-like odor. It is volatile and potentially explosive. Its main uses are in the manufacture of a number of resins, waxes, and coatings, as well as a general industrial solvent for nitrocellulose coating, vinyl film, and smokeless powder manufacture. Over 500 million pounds of it are produced each year in the United States, and probably more than three million workers are exposed to it yearly. When in enclosed or confined spaces, workers risk being exposed to excessive amounts of solvent vapors. According to OSHA, solvents tend to cause the following symptoms:

• Irritated eyes, nose or throat.

• Makes you dizzy, high, sleepy, give you headaches, or cause you to pass out.

• Affects your judgment or coordination.

• Causes internal damage to your body.

• Dry out or irritate your skin.

Exposure to solvents or other chemicals in confined spaces can be deadly. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to chemical hazards at construction sites, OSHA advises employers to follow certain precautions.

• Conduct a risk assessment. Employers should consider all possible hazards that may confront workers while at the site. All possible hazards must be identified.

• If hazards are identified, employers should take the initiative to eliminate the hazard by altering the way the job is performed or consider using substitute materials.

• Employers have a responsibility to control the risks associated with hazardous chemicals at their construction site. If the hazard cannot be eliminated, employers should ventilate the work area, reduce the amount of hazardous chemical used, and isolate the hazardous process so that workers not involved with the work being performed are not affected.

• Educate and train workers to recognize hazards chemicals and become familiar with strategies related to handling them safely.