Proforma Safety Blog

OSHA Releases Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Posted by proforma on March 1, 2011  |  No Comments

OSHA has released its new Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Industry, intended to clarify what kind of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) employers must provide free to workers, such as goggles, face shields, earplugs, earmuffs and respirators.

Pipeline Owners Should Have Policies for Personal Electronic Devices

Posted by proforma on August 4, 2010  |  No Comments

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an advisory to owners and operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to develop policies governing the use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) by employees performing maintenance work. The agency advises there should be written procedures and controls governing the use of PEDs by workers performing pipeline tasks that may affect pipeline operation or integrity.

Are Your HSE Policies Written to the Literacy Level of Your Workers?

Posted by proforma on August 4, 2010  |  No Comments

The Conference Board of Canada recently published a study that found employers and their workers differ in perception of understanding HSE policies. Sixty-four percent of employers felt their workers understood their policies, while only 40 percent of workers agreed.

Literacy was seen as a primary factor: some companies are not aware their workers have literacy deficiencies. Health and safety manuals and documents that don’t match the workers’ literacy skills will not be absorbed.

The Conference Board outlined seven steps to take as an organizational action plan:

• Review past incidents through “a literacy lens”
• Review organizational health and safety policies and practices
• Examine policies and practices from the perspective of an individual with lower literacy levels
• Brainstorm solutions to help users understand health and safety documents
• Measure and track health and safety incidents and improvements
• Recognize outcomes
• Reward efforts to improve literacy skills.

OSHA Expands Existing Respiratory Protection Standard

Posted by proforma on April 2, 2009  |  No Comments

On April 1, 2009, OSHA announced that it has released a guidance document of mandatory respirator selection provisions that are being added to the existing Respiratory Protection standard, revised in 2006. To access this document, click here.

NIOSH Issues Electrical Safety Manual for Young, New Workers

Posted by proforma on April 1, 2009  |  No Comments

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently published an excellent student manual on electrical safety that is intended to be an instructional guide for young or new workers, but is informative and useful for any age or level of experience. The manual teaches the reader to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards associated with electrical work and was developed through extensive research with vocational instructors

Construction Worker at Refinery Killed by Falling Crane Ball

Posted by proforma on April 1, 2009  |  No Comments

On March 8, 2009, a contract employee died of head injuries sustained the previous day after being struck by a falling crane ball at a Port Arthur refinery construction site.

The contractor, McKinney Drilling, was installing drill shaft foundations, for which a 50-ton crane was being used. At some point, the crane ball fell, striking the employee on the head and left side of his body.

Pending investigation by OSHA and the company, workers should be reminded to remain aware at all times where they are in relation to equipment working around them. They should never become so comfortable with their surroundings or the work in progress that they drop their guard and expose themselves to danger.

Workplace Safety

Posted by proforma on February 3, 2009  |  No Comments

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