Workplace Compliance

There is a lower potential for flash fires during rig-up operations and during drilling operations that have not reached gas and hydrocarbon-producing zones. The potential for flash fires increases when the drilling process hits formations or zones of hydrocarbons and gas.

While the oil and gas industry has worked to reduce the risk of flash fire incidents, these efforts have not eliminated the occurrence of flash fires, nor the resulting burn injuries and fatalities. The use of Flame Retardant Clothing (FRC )greatly improves the chance of a worker surviving and regaining quality of life after a flash fire.

A letter has been sent to about 15,000 workplaces with the highest numbers of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activities or job transfers, known as the DART rate.

One of the potential hazards faced by standup forklift operators is the crushing hazard that may arise when traveling, with the forks trailing, in a warehouse near a storage rack or similar obstruction. The risk is that a horizontal rack beam (crossbar) or similar obstruction might enter the operator’s compartment in a situation referred to as “under-ride”.

Did you know that approximately half of all businesses required to meet the ANSI standard for eyewash remain in non-compliance? That is pretty scary news and there really are no excuses when you consider just how easy it is to get your facility back into proper compliance.

It’s that time of year once again…no, it’s not income tax time, that’s coming up soon enough. It’s time to post your annual OSHA 300 log summary. You must post a copy of the annual summary in each facility in a place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently published ANSI/NEMA FL 1-2009 Flashlight Basic Performance Standard. This voluntary standard was established by a coalition of fourteen lighting tool manufacturers.

Recently, I have received several calls from customer requesting information about the clearance distances and identifying the work space around electrical equipment.

Recently OSHA provided more information regarding the maintenance of medical evaluation and fit test records as required by the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134. Listed below are several questions and answers from the OSHA interpretation letter.

High-visibility garments are required safety attire for highway and road construction workers according to a new letter of interpretation recently released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (on October 20th).