ANSI/ASSE Z15.1
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATIONS
The consequences of poor fleet safety management ARE DEADLY!
In 2004, transportation incidents claimed the lives of nearly 2,500 workers-and left many more injured. That is a heavy toll on both employers and employees.
To help SH & E professionals and their employers address this significant occupational hazard, ASSE announces the availability of ANSI/ASSE Z15.1 Safety Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operations.
To learn more or to order ANSI/ASSE Z15.1 today, simply visit www.asse.org or call Customer Service at 1-847-699-2929
NEW APF’S COMPLETE OSHA RESPIRATORY PROTECTION STANDARD REVISION
New Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) for respiratory protection programs have been incorporated into the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respiratory protection standard completing the revision of OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard published in 1998.
The Respiratory Protection Standard will now contain provisions necessary for a comprehensive respiratory protection program, including selection and use of respirators, training, medical evaluation and fit testing.
“This standard helps employers and employees select the right respirator for the job” said Assistant Secretary of Labor, for OSHA, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. “And with the right respirator employees will have adequate protection to be safe and healthy at work”.
For more information on the APF final rule, please visit: http://communitydispatch.com/artman/publish/article_6158.shtml.
NEW FIRE SERVICE PUBLICATION FROM OSHA
A new publication from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) focuses on increasing the safety of building occupants and emergency responders by streamlining fire service interaction with building features and fire protection systems.
Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems is the focus of a new OSHA publication that will help to increase the safety of building occupants and emergency responders by streamlining fire service interaction with building features and fire protection systems. The manual explains how different building features can influence fire service operations and offers considerations for design professionals that can help facilitate these operations.
The booklet, in PDF format is available for download at: http://www.osha.gove/Publications/fire/_features3256.pdf.
A copy of the booklet can also be obtained by calling the OSHA publications office at 1-202-693-1888.
WORKER TRAINING IN AN ERA OF NEW THREATS
FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF September 11, 2001, the nation has focused on bolstering the security and preparedness of various public and private systems in the country. Worker training is an essential element of preparedness for terrorist incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently published: WORKER TRAINING IN A NEW ERA: RESPONDING TO NEW THREATS NIOSH PUBLICATION NUMBER 2004-173. This document summarizes findings from top experts who convened to discuss this emerging threat. The group considered the core knowledge and skill requirements common to workers in many different industries who might be the targets of these types of attacks. The following is a sample of their findings: Training plans should recognize the significant difference among different workforce sectors, in the degree to which they are prepared to respond to the threat of CBRNE attacks. Some workers, particularly emergency responders, may receive considerable training, while many others receive little or no applicable training. Training for new CBRNE threats should be integrated into basic safety and health training, in a unified training plan that builds on and supplements other current training requirements. This approach simplifies training and increases the likelihood of successful implementation. Second, it will not always be clear exactly what the threat is, or whether there is one threat. A single emergency response plan would not rely solely on the nature of the threat. At all levels of response, training should reflect a high degree of coordination between the emergency response and the public health community. The key to effective response is coordination between the emergency response community, public health agencies, and the employer and the employees. Communication between the public health and emergency response organizations is especially critical. In some cases, these links are well developed and smooth. However, many public health organizations are not accustomed to the topdown incident command structure widely used by emergency responders. The greater the coordination between these entities in the pre-event phase, the better the response will be in the even of an actual attack.
Regardless of which training plan is involved, an essential element must be frequent and regular “real life” rehearsals. This practice is essential if the training is going to accomplish its goal of preparing workers to respond effectively in the event of any future events.
The complete document is available on line at the NIOSH website http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-173/. There readers will also find links to helpful emergency preparedness resources including NIOSH topic pages on Emergency Preparedness for Small Business: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/prepared/ and Personal Protective Equipment http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/ppe.html.