News and Updates Regarding OSHA and National Consensus Standards
OSHA Regulations
National Consensus Standards
Final Rule on Respirable Silica Dust
The final rule is written as two standards, one for construction and one for general industry and maritime. In addition to reducing the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica, the rule includes employer requirements such as limiting worker exposure through work practices and engineering controls; providing respiratory protection when controls are insufficient; training workers; limiting their access to high exposure areas and providing medical exams to highly exposed workers. Both standards take effect on June 23, 2016., after which industries have one to five years to comply with most requirements:
Construction – Full compliance by June 23, 2017
General Industry – Full compliance by June 23, 2018
POSTED 3/29/16
OSHA Injury Reporting Webpage simplified, online filing now available
To help employers comply with new requirements to report severe worker injuries, within 24 hours – defined as an amputation, hospitalization or loss of an eye, OSHA has created a reporting webpage and now offers the option of reporting incidents online.
POSTED 2/3/16
OSHA seeks comment on updated Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
OSHA is seeking public comment on an updated version of its voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, first published in 1989. The guidelines are intended to help employers establish safety and health plans at their workplaces. Key principles include finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury or illness, and making sure that workers have a voice in safety and health. The updated guidelines*, which include illustrations, tools and resources, should be particularly helpful to small- and medium-sized businesses. The guidelines also address ways in which multiple employers at the same work site can coordinate efforts to make sure all workers are protected equally. Public comments will be accepted until Feb. 15. For more information, see the news release.
POSTED 12/1/15
OSHA issues proposed rulemaking clarifying the ongoing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses
OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the July 29 Federal Register that clarifies an employer’s continuing obligation to make and maintain an accurate record of each recordable injury and illness throughout the five-year period during which the employer is required to keep the records.
OSHA issued this proposed rule to clarify the agency’s long-standing position that the duty to record an injury or illness continues for as long as the employer must keep records of the recordable injury or illness. The proposed amendments add no new compliance obligations; the proposal would not require employers to make records of any injuries or illnesses for which records are not already required.
Members of the public can submit written comments on the proposed rule at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Comments must be submitted by Sept. 27
POSTED 9/1/15
Updated comprehensive guide to OSHA training requirements available
OSHA has posted a fully updated version of its guide to all agency training requirements to help employers, safety and health professionals, training directors and others comply with the law and keep workers safe. Training Requirements in OSHA Standards* organizes the training requirements into five categories: General Industry, Maritime, Construction, Agriculture and Federal Employee Programs.
POSTED 9/1/15
OSHA Heat App surpasses 200K downloads
More than 200,000 users have downloaded the OSHA Heat Safety Tool since its launch in 2011. This spring, OSHA released a new version of the app for Apple devices, with full-screen color alerts, improved navigation and accessibility options.
This improved version lets you know instantly if you are in a high-risk zone due to heat and humidity and precautions that need to be taken to prevent heat-related illness. The recently updated app gives users important safety information when and where they need it on their mobile phones. This App can be downloaded from OSHA’s website here.
POSTED 7/9/15
29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA includes several standards regarding confined space work. The new set of standard, which is similar to 29CFR1910.146 which covers general industry, covers all construction employers whose employees may be subject to confined space hazards, with the exception of specialized construction activities (excavations, underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, compressed air and diving) which are separately regulated. It differs from the General Industry Standard in that it incorporates construction specific provisions, reflects advances in technology, and improved enforceability of the requirements. The new standard emphasizes training, monitoring/evaluating, and communications when working in confined spaces.
POSTED 7/21/15
June 1st Compliance date for revised Hazard Communication Requirements
June 1, 2015 is the date by which compliance with all modified provisions of the final rule is required, except that chemical distributors have a 6 month grace period for shipping containers labeled with the appropriate HCS label. June 1 marks the requirement for compliant SDSs and labels on all chemical shipments (except for the grace period for distributors noted)
June 1, 2016 is the final implementation date when all employers must have completed updating of alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
POSTED 5/20/15
OSHA Letters of Interpretation in 29 CFR Part 1904 – Recording & Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
December 12, 2014
… You ask if kinesiology tape is considered medical treatment for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. – We consulted with physicians in OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and they inform us that kinesiology taping is designed to relieve pain through physical and neurological mechanisms. The lifting action of the tape purportedly relieves pressure on pain receptors directly under the skin, allowing for relief from acute injuries. The use of kinesiology tape is akin to physical therapy and is considered medical treatment beyond first aid for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. (See section 1904.7(b)(5)(ii)(M)).
October 20, 2014
… you state that an employee was bitten by a deer tick in the work environment. The employee does not contract Lyme disease or any other illness as a result of the bite, does not exhibit any signs of illness, and does not miss any time at work. In an abundance of caution, a physician prescribes antibiotics as a prophylactic measure. …
POSTED 2/12/15
The issuance of prescription antibiotics is considered medical treatment beyond first aid for OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping purposes. The scenario described above is a work-related injury involving medical treatment and must be entered on the OSHA Form 300. The Agency believes that the use of prescription medications is not first aid… See, the preamble to the final rule revising OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, 66 Fed. Reg. 5986 (January 19, 2001)
Updated ANSI/ISEA 105-2016, Hand Protection Classification
ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 addresses the classification and testing of hand protection for specific performance properties related to mechanical protection (cut-resistance, puncture resistance and abrasion resistance), chemical protection (permeation resistance, degradation) and other performance characteristics such as ignition resistance and vibration reductions.
Gloves are classified to a performance level ranging from 0 to 6 based upon their performance when evaluated against defined industry test methods. Such ratings can assist users to select appropriate hand protection for known specific hazards in the workplace.
One of the major changes in ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 surrounds the determination of classification for cut-resistance, including the use of a single test method for testing in an effort to provide consistent meaning of the ratings from the end-user perspective. Classification levels have been expanded to address the disparate gap among certain levels seen in earlier versions and to model the approach used in similar international standards.
Additional updates include the incorporation of a needlestick puncture test, recognizing that this is a common potential exposure for the medical, sanitation and recycling industries.
POSTED 3/4/2016
Updated ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015, American National Standard – Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies
ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 establishes minimum performance requirements for first aid kits and their supplies that are intended for use in various work environments. Classification of first aid kits, designating the assortment of items and quantity of each item, is based on the anticipated number of users intended to be served by each first aid kit, as well as the complexity of the work environment and level of hazards. First aid kit containers are classified by portability, ability to be mounted, resistance to water and corrosion and impact resistance
ANSI makes available numerous standards related to workplace safety in its directory of safety standards, including the recently updated American National Standard (ANS) ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015, Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies, which introduces two classes of first aid kits. The Class A kits include contents designed for the most common types of workplace injuries, while Class B kits include a broader range and quantity of supplies to deal with injuries in more complex or high-risk environments. By expanding the items on the basic first aid kit, employees have greater access to items needed to treat common workplace injuries. ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 was developed by ANSI member and accredited standards developer the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA).
POSTED 7/4/2015
Updated ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014, Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment
January 8th saw the approval of the 2014 edition of the ANSI Standard specifying the locating, installation, performance, and inspections for eyewash stations and safety showers. This new edition supersedes the previous 2009 edition.
POSTED 2/4/2015
NFPA 70E-2015 Now Available
The 2015 edition of NFPA 70E is now available for purchase from NFPA. There are a number of changes from the 2012 edition which may impact your electrical safety program. We strongly advise you familiarize yourself with the new standard.
POSTED 10/20/2014
NFPA 70E-2105 Available October 10th
The 2015 edition of the NFPA-70E standard is now available from NFPA for October 10, 2014 shipping. This edition revises the 2012 edition. Key changes include;
- Replacing the phrase “hazard analysis” with “risk assessment” to enable a shift in awareness on the potential for failure
- Revisions to enhance usability; such as the division of requirements in former 110.4. (C)(2) into new sections separating construction and maintenance work from outdoor work
- Updated tables to add clarity to requirements, such as the restricted approach boundary dimensions Table 130.4 (D)(a).
- New requirement 320.3 (A)(1) covering risk assessment associated with battery work.
- New subsection in 130.2 (A)(4) providing requirements where normal operation of electric equipment is permitted.
- Updated text in Informative Annex E to correlate with the redefined terminology associated with hazard and risk. This annex provides clarity and consistency about definitions as well as risk management principles vital to electrical safety.
POSTED 8/26/2014
Updated ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection.
This standard was prepared by members of ISEA’s Head Protection Group as a revision to the 2009 edition and approved by a consensus review panel of technical experts, unions, construction industry and other user groups, test labs, certification agencies, and government agencies. The ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 standard (the “Standard”) provides performance and testing requirements for industrial hard hats. Taking into account the type of hazard a worker may face, the Standard establishes the types and classes of protective helmets to provide employers with hard hat options that provide appropriate protection fort the hazards present in their specific workplaces.
The Standard addresses the following:
- Specifications for helmets by Type (based on location of impact force) and Class (based on electrical insulation);
- Impact in occupational settings under normal temperature conditions and, optionally, at high and low temperatures;
- Safety recommendations for hard hats worn in the reversed position;
- Requirements for high-visibility helmets;
- Test methods for evaluating all requirements; and
- User cautions and recommendations regarding helmet care.
POSTED 7/1/2014
ASTM F2675-13, Test Method For Determining Arc Ratings of Hand Protective Products Developed and Used for Electrical Arc Flash Protection, is published
ASTM F2675-13 is a new ASTM International standard with an approval date of June 1, 2013. The standard will be used to determine the arc rating of hand protective products in the form of gloves, glove materials, glove material systems, or other protective products designed to fit on the hand and specifically intended for electric arc flash protection. It is important to note that gloves meeting this standard may not be designed for shock. Only ASTM D120-compliant gloves are currently approved for use for protection from shock, but some ASTM D120 gloves, all of which are made of rubber, have been tested by this method and could begin be labeled as such in the near future for the information of the end user.
POSTED 7/16/2013
