EMPLOYERS PAY FOR SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYERS PAY FOR SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) clarified its position that employers,
in most cases, must, provide and nay for workers’ personal protective equipment (PPE).

In a compliance memorandum sent to field offices, OSHA noted that its general PPE standard, as well as specific standards, should be interpreted to require employers to provide and pay for personal protective equipment required by the company to do his or her job safely and in compliance with OSHA standards.

If the equipment is very personal in nature and is usable by the workers off the job, the matter of payment may be left to labor management negotiations.

Examples of personal protective equipment that would not normally be used away from the work site include, but are not limited to welding gloves, wire mesh gloves, respirators, hard hats, specialty glasses and goggles (such as those designed for laser or ultraviolet radiation protection), specialty foot protection (such as metatarsal shoes and lineman’s shoes with built in gaffs), face shields and rubber gloves, blankets, cover ups, hot sticks and other live line tools used by power generation workers.

Examples of personal protective equipment that is personal in nature and often used away from the work site include non specialty safety glasses, safety shoes and cold weather outerwear of the type worn by construction workers. However, shoes or outerwear subject to contamination by carcinogens or other toxic or hazardous substances which cannot be safely worn off site must be paid for by the employer.

Failure of the employer to pay for PPE that is not personal and not used away from the job is a violation of OSHA standards and shall be cited, the memorandum noted.

Compliance officers were advised to evaluate carefully assertions by employers that particular items of personal protective equipment should be paid for by employees.

The memorandum noted that the PPE standard does make an exception to allow employees to provide their own equipment to accommodate work situations in which it is customary for workers in a particular trade to provide their own PPE. But the standard does not specify that the practice as the norm. Instead, the standard underscores the employer’s obligation to ensure that such equipment is adequate and that it is properly maintained.

Contributor: Matthew J. Key – Sr. Safety Professional, author and publisher.  Mr. Keys articles are copy-righted.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family.

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LIVING IN A HOME WITHOUT SMOKE DETECTORS IS RISKY BUSINESS

 

LIVING IN A HOME WITHOUT
 

According to the National Safety Council’s Accident Facts 1993 Edition, “out of an annual average of 518,300 home fires, there were 4,500 civilian fatalities, and 20,000 civilian injuries identified between 1986 and 1990. Direct property damage averaged $3,784,100,000 each year. Home fire: are most often caused by heating equipment, typically a result of problems with installation, maintenance, or misuse. The leading cause of civilian fatalities is the careless handling or improper disposal of smoking material: (e.g., cigarettes). Civilian injuries in home fire: are most often the result of cooking equipment, usually involving unattended cooking. Incendiary or suspicious causes are most often involved in property damaged to homes from fire”.

When fire occurs in your lone, your chances for survival are two times better when smoke detectors are present than when they are not. Smoke detectors, when properly installed and maintained (following manufacturer’s directions), provide early warning when fires occur. Early warning increases your chances for survival and allows the fire department to save more of your property.

To help save your life and property from fire, the following safety tips from the National Fire Information Council and the U.S. Fire Administration can assist you.

• For minimum protection, install a smoke detector outside of each bedroom or sleeping area in your home and keep your bedroom doors closed while you are asleep.

• Keep your smoke detectors properly maintained. Test them at least once each month to insure that the detectors are working properly. Batteries in battery operated detectors should be changed at least once yearly. Use only the type of batteries recommended on the detector.

• If your smoke detector sounds an alarm when no smoke is present, consult with the manufacturer or with your local fire department.

• If smoke from cooking materials causes the detector to sound an alarm, do not remove the batteries or disconnect the power source. Simply fan the smoke away from the detector until the alarm stops. If this happens frequently, it may be necessary to relocate the detector or to install a different type of detector.

• Develop an escape plan and review the plan with all members of the family frequently.

• Be aware that children an elderly people may need special assistance should fire occur.

• Establish a meeting place outside the house for all members of the family to insure that everyone got out safety.

• When fire occurs, get out of the house and use a neighbor’s telephone to notify the fire department.

• Contact your local fire department or State Fire Marshall for further information on fire prevention and fire safety.

Living in a home without smoke detectors is risky and dangerous business. Making sure that your smoke detectors is working and in place will provide safety within your home.

Contributor: Matthew J. Key – Sr. Safety Professional, author and publisher.  Mr. Keys articles are copy-righted.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family. Remember this safety tip was provided by On-Target Maintenance, service clients’ facility and maintenance needs through-out the United States. Be health, be safe!

Helping Children Cope With Disaster

Helping Children Cope With Disaster – Child Safety

Disasters may strike quickly and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults and traumatic for children if they don’t know what to do. During a disaster, your family may have to leave home and daily routine. Children may become anxious, confused, or frightened.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross recommends the following to help parents to help their children cope with disaster:

• Develop And Practice A Family Disaster Plan Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office, or your local Red Cross chapter for materials that describe how your family can create a disaster plan.

• Teach Your Child How To Recognize Danger Signals Make sure your child knows what smoke detectors, fire alarms and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.

• Explain How To Call For Help Teach your child how and when to call for help. Check the telephone directory for local emergency phone numbers and post these numbers by all telephones. If you live in a 9 1 1 service area, tell your child to call 9 1 1.

• Help Your Child Memorize Important Family Information Children should memorize their family name, address, and phone number. They should also know where to meet in case of an emergency. Some children may not be old enough to memorize the information. They could carry a small index card that lists emergency information to give to an adult or baby sitter

It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce their fears. Advance education and preparation will help parents and children alike cope with disaster.

Contributor: Matthew J. Key  –  Safety Consultant, Safety National Motivational Speaker, Author and Publisher – Copyrighted 1995 by Matthew J. Key. 

 If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family.

Teach Kids Their ABCs

 

Teach Kids Their ABCs

Take a few minutes today to teach your children how to protect their personal safety. Here are a few rules for them to follow:

• Do not play alone outside or in isolated areas.

• Go straight home from school or after school activities. Follow the same route so parents or caretakers know where and when to expect you.

• Always call in advance if you plan to do something different than your normal routine.

• Avoid talking to strangers. Never get into a car or go with any adult unless you tell your parents first.

• If you are approached by a stranger who acts suspiciously, do not speak to the person and tell your parents and police immediately. Remember as much as you can about the person’s appearance, car and license plate number.

• Memorize your name, address and phone number. Know how to reach your parents at work.

• Do not tell people you are home alone. Do not open the door to anyone you don’t know well.

• Learn to say no, especially to uncomfortable touches, and tell your parents immediately.

• Know your family’s home fire escape. Routinely practice home fire drills and include your regular babysitters.

• Learn how to call the police in an emergency.

In general, you want your children to stay alert, avoid dangerous situations, take precautions and work with police.

Written by: Matthew J. Key – Safety Consultant, Safety National Motivational Speaker, Author and Publisher – Copyrighted 1995 by Matthew J. Key.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family. Be health, be safe!

Falling Down On The Job Could Be Dangerous.

Falling Down On The Job Could Be Dangerous.

Falling down on the job could be dangerous especially in the construction industry. In this industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. More injuries are the result of slipping, tripping and falling. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics, in 1991 there were 158 fatalities, and 115,000 injuries to construction workers due to falls. Many of these falls could have been eliminated if fall protection procedures and equipment were used.

Fall protection is defined as: A means of preventing workers from experiencing disastrous accidental falls from elevations. There are ways to prevent workers from falling depending on the job and equipment used. This will be explained later.

Reducing or eliminating falls requires advanced planning, training, and job site surveys. Also, maintaining good housekeeping practices are essential. This minimizes the potential of slips, trips, and falls due to unnecessary items such as cords, pipes, and clutter on the floor in the work areas.

To eliminate major problems:
• Make sure walkways are clear and equipment is easily accessible.
• When working on scaffolds use guardrails and mid rails at each working platform level where open sides and ends exist.
• Always make sure toe boards are in place. This will provide protection for employees working below from falling tools or objects.
• When using equipment such as ladders, always have level footings. This will provide the ladder with a solid stable footing foundation eliminating falling due to unevenness.
• Always secure ladders so that when it is being used there is no chance for movement.
• Ladder maintenance. Check ladders for cracks, defects, and worn rungs.
• Do not climb to elevated levels where scaffolds or platforms should be used.
• Match the ladder to the job and follow safety procedures.

When employees are required to work at the edge of’ a floor or roof, safety harnesses, lifelines, and lanyards are necessary fall protective equipment. These devices should be rigged to limit a fall to no more than six feet. Also, when using fall protection devices, they must be inspected daily before each use, and defective equipment must be replaced. Companies that supplies fall protection equipment can give you more information.

A new Fall Protection standard entitled, “Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry”, was introduced by OSHA and became a regulation on February 6, 1995. It is now incorporated in the 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1926, in Subpart M Fall Protection. This regulation outlines the employer and employee responsibilities when it comes to Fall protection. (Contact your local OSHA Consultation Office for additional questions, and information). According to OSHA, full compliance with this standard is expected to save at least 79 lives per year and prevent 56,400 injuries a year.

Falling down on the job could be dangerous and possibly disastrous. But preparing yourself with the right type of fall protection equipment, training, and advanced planning will reduce or eliminate falls.

Written by: Matthew J. Key – Safety Consultant, Safety National Motivational Speaker, Author and Publisher – Copyrighted 1995 by Matthew J. Key.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family. Be health, be safe!

EMPLOYERS PAY FOR SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYERS PAY FOR SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) clarified its position that employers, in most cases, must, provide and nay for workers’ personal protective equipment (PPE).

In a compliance memorandum sent to field offices, OSHA noted that its general PPE standard, as well as specific standards, should be interpreted to require employers to provide and pay for personal protective equipment required by the company to do his or her job safely and in compliance with OSHA standards.

If the equipment is very personal in nature and is usable by the workers off the job, the matter of payment may be left to labor management negotiations.

Examples of personal protective equipment that would not normally be used away from the work site include, but are not limited to welding gloves, wire mesh gloves, respirators, hard hats, specialty glasses and goggles (such as those designed for laser or ultraviolet radiation protection), specialty foot protection (such as metatarsal shoes and lineman’s shoes with built-in gaffs), face shields and rubber gloves, blankets, cover ups, hot sticks and other live line tools used by power generation workers.

Examples of personal protective equipment that is personal in nature and often used away from the work site include non specialty safety glasses, safety shoes and cold weather outer-wear of the type worn by construction workers. However, shoes or outer-wear subject to contamination by carcinogens or other toxic or hazardous substances which cannot be safely worn off site must be paid for by the employer.

Failure of the employer to pay for PPE that is not personal and not used away from the job is a violation of OSHA standards and shall be cited, the memorandum noted.

Compliance officers were advised to evaluate carefully assertions by employers that particular items of personal protective equipment should be paid for by employees.

The memorandum noted that the PPE standard does make an exception to allow employees to provide their own equipment to accommodate work situations in which it is customary for workers in a particular trade to provide their own PPE. But the standard does not specify that the practice as the norm. Instead, the standard underscores the employer’s obligation to ensure that such equipment is adequate and that it is properly maintained.

Written by: Matthew J. Key – Sr. Safety Professional, author and publisher. Mr. Keys articles are copy-righted.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family. Be health, be safe!

Car Safety

Test posting to see about placement of pages and articles

Home Safety

Teach Kids Their ABCs

Take a few minutes today to teach your children how to protect their personal safety. Here are a few rules for them to follow:

• Do not play alone outside or in isolated areas.

• Go straight home from school or after school activities. Follow the same route so parents or caretakers know where and when to expect you.

• Always call in advance if you plan to do something different than your normal routine.

• Avoid talking to strangers. Never get into a car or go with any adult unless you tell your parents first.

• If you are approached by a stranger who acts suspiciously, do not speak to the person and tell your parents and police immediately. Remember as much as you can about the person’s appearance, car and license plate number.

• Memorize your name, address and phone number. Know how to reach your parents at work.

• Do not tell people you are home alone. Do not open the door to anyone you don’t know well.

• Learn to say no, especially to uncomfortable touches, and tell your parents immediately.

• Know your family’s home fire escape. Routinely practice home fire drills and include your regular babysitters.

• Learn how to call the police in an emergency.

In general, you want your children to stay alert, avoid dangerous situations, take precautions and work with police.

Written by: Matthew J. Key – Safety Consultant, Safety National Motivational Speaker, Author and Publisher – Copyrighted 1995 by Matthew J. Key.

If you like this safety article please share it with friends, work-mates and family. Be health, be safe!

Work Safety

Falling Down On The Job Could Be Dangerous.

June 15, 2010

Falling Down On The Job Could Be Dangerous. Falling down on the job could be dangerous especially in the construction industry. In this industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. More injuries are the result of slipping, tripping and falling. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics, in 1991 there […]

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Tags: on-target maintenance, admin Safety Tips fall protection, ladders, Matthew J Key, Occupational safety and Health Administration, slips trips and fall