Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standard in Effect

OSHA confirmed in a memorandum that certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry, construction, and shipyards went into effect on May 11, 2018. Those requirements included the permissible exposure limits in the general industry, construction, and shipyard standards; and the exposure assessment, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and medical removal provisions in the general industry standard.

Aside from these requirements, other ancillary provisions included in the beryllium standard for general industry will not be enforced until June 25, 2018. However, under the terms of settlement agreements with petitioners who challenged the rule, the Agency plans to issue a proposal to further extend this compliance date for the ancillary provisions to December 12, 2018.

OSHA previously proposed to remove the ancillary requirements from the beryllium standards for the construction and maritime industries. In accordance with that proposal, OSHA will enforce the permissible exposure limits, but will not enforce any other provisions for beryllium exposure in those standards unless it provides notice.

Certain compliance dates outlined in the rule remain unchanged. Enforcement of the general industry requirements for change rooms and showers will begin March 11, 2019; and requirements for engineering controls will begin March 10, 2020.

Hilton Head Hazardous Waste and DOT Hazardous Materials Training

Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Hilton Head, SC on May 22-24 and save $100 or receive an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet with electronic versions of both handbooks. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

Baton Rouge Hazardous Waste and DOT Hazardous Materials Training

Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Baton Rouge, LA on June 5-7 and save $100 or receive an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet with electronic versions of both handbooks. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

Chattanooga Hazardous Waste and DOT Hazardous Materials Training

Register for Hazardous Waste Management: The Complete Course and DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete Course in Chattanooga, TN on June 12-14 and save $100 or receive an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet with electronic versions of both handbooks. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 800-537-2372.

$222,152 in Penalties Proposed for Repeat Offender

OSHA has again cited Hua Da Construction in Philadelphia for exposing employees to dangerous workplace safety hazards. OSHA proposed penalties of $222,152.

In October 2017, OSHA responded to a complaint of imminent danger at a company work site. OSHA cited the employer for exposing workers to electrical shock, trip, fall, struck-by, and impalement hazards; obstructed egress routes; unsafe use of ladders and compressed gas cylinders; and lack of fall protection. The Agency cited the company for similar violations in 2016.

“Employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace,” said Theresa Downs, OSHA Philadelphia Area Office Director. “This employer continued to disregard OSHA standards, and put workers at risk for injury from multiple safety hazards.”

Two Colorado Companies Cited for Workplace Safety Failures After Fatal Fire

DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services, Inc. were cited by OSHA after two employees suffered fatal burns from a fire at a gas pipeline in Weld County.

Two employees of Complete Energy and one employee of DCP Midstream were clearing a blockage in a gas pipeline operated by DCP Midstream when the fire occurred. OSHA investigators determined that flammable vapors or gases from a vacuum truck leaked, igniting the pipeline. OSHA cited both companies for failing to control potential ignition sources in a work area; isolate hazardous energy sources using lockout procedures; and train employees on detecting flammable hydrocarbons in the workplace. The two companies face $79,004 in proposed penalties.

“The employer could have prevented this tragedy by taking appropriate precautions to prevent contact between flammable materials and potential ignition sources,” said OSHA Denver Area Office Director Herb Gibson.

36 Safety and Health Violations Discovered at Oldcastle Lawn and Garden Inc. 

OSHA cited Oldcastle Lawn & Garden, Inc., after a workplace safety inspection found 36 violations that put employees at risk. The Shady Dale, Georgia, manufacturer of mulch and other products faces proposed penalties of $251,108.

Inspectors cited the company for safety and health violations, including amputation, struck-by, caught-in, electrical, and fall hazards; fire hazards from accumulated combustible dust; and exposure to excessive noise levels, and hazardous energy during machine servicing and maintenance. The inspection was part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

"Employers are required to assess their workplace for potential hazards," said William Fulcher, OSHA Atlanta-East Area Office Director. "Unfortunately, this employer failed to correct a wide-range of safety deficiencies and needlessly put their employees at risk of serious injury."

Safer Electronic Cigarettes

UL, a leading global safety science organization, recently announced the publication of the ANSI/CAN/UL 8139, Standard for Electrical Systems of Electronic Cigarettes, which is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). UL aims to help manufacturers address lithium battery hazards for electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, also known as ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) through evaluation, testing, and certification.

According to the Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States (2009-2016) report by the U.S. Fire Administration, there has been an increase in e-cigarette fires and explosions resulting in personal injury and/or property damage. Poor quality and misused lithium batteries are the primary causes of e-cigarette fires and explosions.

“UL strives to help manufacturers develop and bring safer products to market and empowering consumer trust,” said Ghislain Devouge, vice president and general manager for UL’s Consumer Technology division, “UL 8139 is a collaborative effort with government agencies and standards bodies to further enhance consumer safety.”

UL 8139 covers the electrical system including batteries, chargers, as well as protection circuits and controls for battery safety, electric shock and fire hazards.

UL 8139 does not apply to the e-cigarette consumables, such as e-liquids, other aerosol substances, wicks, and other particulate matter, and also does not consider the physiological and psychological effects of any consumables used as part of the product. UL does not test e-cigarettes with removable batteries.

Tips to Prevent Tick- And Mosquito-Borne Illnesses 

As the weather warms up, ticks and mosquitoes are back. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding people about simple precautions they can take to avoid bites.

"Ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis, while mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus," said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.  "These diseases can cause anywhere from mild to severe illness, and even death in some cases.  To protect yourself from both, use insect repellent that contains DEET and follow some simple precautions."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, disease cases from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the U.S. during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016.  Reported cases from mosquito and tick bites in Illinois have increased by more than half (58%) from 2005 to 2016.

Many tick-borne diseases have similar symptoms.  The most common symptoms can include fever, chills, aches and pains, and rash.  Within two weeks following a tick bite, if you experience a rash that looks like a bull's-eye or a rash anywhere on your body, or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever, contact your doctor. Early recognition and treatment of the infection decreases the risk of serious complications.  Tell your health care provider the geographic area in which you were bitten or traveled to help identify the disease based on ticks in that region.

A fairly new virus called Bourbon virus has been associated with tick bites and has been found in a limited number of cases in the Midwest and southern U.S. People diagnosed with Bourbon virus disease have symptoms including fever, fatigue, rash, headache, other body aches, nausea, and vomiting. They also had low blood counts for cells that fight infection and help prevent bleeding. Some people who were infected later died.

Ticks are commonly found on the tips of grasses and shrubs. Ticks crawl―they cannot fly or jump. The tick will wait in the grass or shrub for a person or animal to walk by and then quickly climb aboard.  Some ticks will attach quickly and others will wander, looking for places like the ear, or other areas where the skin is thinner.

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