Carbon Monoxide Poisonings at Indoor Work Places

In recent months a total of 11 employees were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) at 3 separate work places.

DOSH inspections tied the poisonings to propane- or liquid gas-powered equipment used in poorly ventilated, enclosed spaces. Built-in ventilation systems (HVACs) in these work spaces were either taken out of service (to avoid dust contamination during work activities) or not capable of removing a buildup of CO gas.  Hazard prevention starts with recognition that CO can become a danger on job sites like the ones described here. Dangerously high levels of CO built up in the air:

• After just 2 hours of pressure washing a concrete floor inside a 200 foot-long townhouse garage  
• Within 1 ½ hours of operating a power screed and two riding-power trowels inside a 12,000 sq.ft. warehouse. 
• During the work shift while using a floor-scraper machine to remove tile inside a 22,000  sq.ft. office space. 

Industrial fans and negative-pressure air machines are often not enough to stop a serious CO build up, even in large spaces. Testing the air for CO during work activities will tell you if your ventilation setup is keeping CO below regulatory limits. If high CO levels persist, you may need to add a portable ventilation system that can ensure enough contaminated air is effectively vented to the outside and replaced by fresh air.

To find help or learn more about CO hazards, rules, and regulatory limits, visit L&I’s  Carbon Monoxide topic page. This page also provides hazard prevention, training, and other resources to help you keep your employees safe and working.

Please share this bulletin with others in your industry and safety networks.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Nichole.Rose@lni.wa.gov.

Congratulations to Anne Soiza

Congratulations to Anne Soiza, Asst. Director for Washington Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) as she was recently appointed by OSHA  to the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, NACOSH has advised the secretaries of labor and health and human services for nearly 40 years on worker safety issues. The committee meets at least twice a year and members are appointed for two-year terms. The other newly appointed members are: Mark Carleson, Safety Manager for Orange County in Santa Ana, Calif and Jacqueline Agnew, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md., has been appointed as the committee's new health representative.  

They join the following members who were-appointed for additional terms:   Safety Representative Peter Dooley of LaborSafe in Dexter, Mich.; Management Representative Joseph Van Houten, Senior Director of Worldwide Environmental Health and Safety for Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J.; and Labor Representatives William Borwegen, Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the Service Employees International Union, and Margaret Seminario, Director of Safety and Health for the AFL-CIO, both in the District of Columbia. Linda Rae Murray, the Chief Medical Officer of the Cook County Department of Health in Chicago, Ill., has been re-appointed as a Public Member and as the new Chair for the committee.

Contributed by Tom Odegaard, Executive Director, Evergreen Safety Council

A Brief Safety Quiz

Here are six general workplace safety questions to get your brain working this morning.  The answers are below (no peeking) and feature helpful links for more information.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Who is responsible for a safe workplace per OSHA?

A. The sales rep

B. The manufacturer

C. The employer

D. Your coach

2. What is the definition of a confined space?

A. An open hallway

B. Any space smaller than a shower

C. A space too small for a grown man to enter standing up

D. Limited access, limited egress, not made for contentious occupancy

3. What is a MSDS?

A. Mostly Scattered Disorganized Safety

B. Must Speak and Do Something

C. Material Safety Data Sheet

D. Material Storing Document Sheet

4. What is the lowest height that triggers fall protection in Washington State?

A. 15 feet

B. 6 feet

C. 10 feet

D. 4 feet

5. Who is required to purchase PPE according to OSHA?

A. The employee

B. Carpool buddy

C. The employer

D. NIOSH

6. What state agency enforces worker protection?

A. L&I/DOSH

B. OSHA

C. EPA

D. IDLH

scroll down for the answers...

ANSWERS

C - This refers to the General Duty clause

D - This definition could save your life

C - These documents are available for your safety. A name changes is coming soon and these are going to be know as a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

D - Falls are a hazard at height as well as 4 and 10 feet

C - This rule was effective on February 13, 2008 and implemented by May 15, 2008

A - This state agency has been keeping workers safe longer than the federal agency

Contributed by Al Filmore, Trainer / Consultant, Evergreen Safety Council

Workplace safety - Respiratory Protection

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

Respirators protect the user in two basic ways. The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles; and "gas masks” which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source; and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.

Respirators should only be used when engineering control systems are not feasible. Engineering control systems, such as adequate ventilation or scrubbing of contaminants are the preferred control methods for reducing worker exposures.

If engineering controls cannot protect employees, then an employer must provide respiratory protection and develop and implement a respiratory protection program and you need to address the following:

• Selecting respirators
• Medical evaluations
• Fit testing respirators (applies if tight fitting respirators are required)
• Maintaining and caring for respirators
• Using respirators including routine and emergency use procedures
• Supplied Air quality (applies if airline or SCBAs will be used)
• Training users and supervisors
• Evaluating the Respirator Program

This can be confusing, but necessary to ensure the protection of your employees.

If you do need to develop a program there are several avenues you can take to get help. Both OSHA and DOSH have great resource pages on this topic, or you can give Evergreen a call. We can help with training, fit testing and more 800-521-0778.

Emergency Washing Facilities

News from DOSH - Eyewash and Shower
Contributed by John M Neibel, Safety Intern, Evergreen Safety Council


Example of Approved
Emergency Eyewash Equipment

 In July of 2011 DOSH (L&I ) released a new directive on emergency washing facilities DOSH Directive 13.00 , this new directive is primarily meant for the inspectors. It tells them what to look for when citing businesses for not having the correct washing for up for their location and hazards; however at the same time it provides guidance to all who are not sure if they need the emergency washing facilities.

So take a look at this directive and see if you might need to update your location and or type of emergency washing facility.

General Rules

Emergency washing facilities, WAC 296-800-15030 through -15040.

Emergency Washing Facilities (366 KB PDF) DOSH Directive 13.00.

If you have questions, we can help, give us a call 800-521-0778.