Environmental, Health and Safety Brief for September 2017

OSHA – New Silica Standard - Reminder: 

 

Last month a reminder was sent regarding the enforcement of the new OSHA Silica standard for construction (roadway work for our industry) starting September 23, 2017, and the standard for general industry (asphalt plants for our industry) and maritime employers which won't go into effect until June 23, 2018. This date is coming up fast and for our industry, in particular for the construction side (milling, sweeping, saw cutting, blowing, etc.). You will need to develop Exposure Control Plans, train your employees via your hazard communication tools, and will likely need to do some preliminary testing to see if your operations are producing exposure levels above the action level of 25 micro grams per cubic meter. Here are a couple examples of exposure control plans that you can review and perhaps modify to fit your operations.

 

Respirable Crystalline Silica Program - click here

 

Struck-by incidents: contributed to 804 construction worker fatalities from 2011 to 2015, the most of any major industry, according to a new report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

 

• 52 percent of the fatalities involved workers struck by an object or equipment; the remaining deaths involved workers struck by vehicles, the report states. 57 percent of the struck-by vehicle fatalities occurred in work zones.

• 114 deaths were the result of being struck by a passenger vehicle, and 112 workers died after being struck by a truck.

• Highway, street and bridge workers accounted for 264 of the 804 construction fatalities during the period.

• Construction workers 65 and older experienced the highest rate of struck-by fatalities.

• Highway maintenance workers, power line installers, and excavating or loading machine operators experienced the most struck-by fatalities.

 

"Struck-by ... deaths are preventable," the report states. "Training, personal protective equipment, engineering controls, safety protocols and other solutions may be implemented to prevent struck-by injuries among construction workers." This report just confirms what our industry already knows...so that begs the question: Why are we still having these struck-by incidents?

 

EPA: If you have a spill plan-regulated site (for example asphalt plants and/or sites where fuel tanks are located), you know inspectors insist written plans and site maps reflect exactly what they see on the ground. That includes piping, tanks, exit locations, you name it. Almost all equipment and loading area changes must be reflected in your Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan and engineer-certified. But there are four exceptions where you don’t have to re-do an SPCC plan:

 

• changes to propane storage (although tanks must be marked on a site diagram)

• changing underground storage tanks (they’re regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, not SPCC)

• replacement of piping in a tank farm, so long as there’s no change in piping arrangement, and

• maintenance procedure revisions.

 

Mosquito Borne Diseases: Earlier in the year information on diseases spread by mosquitos was a topic in an EHS Brief. With the incredible amount of rain currently falling over a significant portion of the State it is prudent that we think about the potential for an increase in mosquito populations. The wet conditions coupled lead to with still warm temperatures for another two months or so lead to ideal breeding conditions. As a result it is wise that we discuss with our employees how to minimize the chance of being bitten. Here are a few things that can be done:

 

• removing, turning over, covering, or storing equipment

• removing debris from ditches

• filling in ruts and other areas that collect standing water

• removing tires, buckets, bottles, and barrels that collect water  

• wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants

• using EPA-registered insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing, as directed on the product labels