Be Aware Safety Tips
OSHA’s New Era and An Important Topic for the Spring Industry By Laura Helmrich-Rhodes, CSP, Ed.D.
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s this article is being written, the presidential ballots are being counted. It looks like we will be under the leadership of the Democratic Party, which usually leads to greater regulation, oversight and enforcement of safety, health and environmental laws. As the new era begins, we can anticipate the hiring of more Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors and the filling of the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA opening quite quickly. A new agenda will emerge and will likely focus on greater enforcement since that was a frequent criticism of the Republican-run OSHA. The apparent new administration’s emphasis on limiting the spread of COVID-19 will likely be a part of the OSHA agenda for workforce protection. To date, there have been more than $2 million in citations for COVID-19 related violations, mostly in health-related work sectors and the food industry. This is likely to encompass other work sectors, streamline the employee complaint process and increase inspection priority. It is important that your company follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, OSHA respiratory protection standards and abides by the OSHA recordkeeping rules (see helpful links below for guidance). It is also important to be ready for wall-to-wall inspections should an inspector arrive for whatever reason.
Material Handling Important Regulations — All Spring Companies Can Relate
The efficient movement of materials in a company may be one of the most important decisions made for profitability, quality and employee well-being. Industrial engineering assures the most efficient set up, but it is the department supervisors and shop floor workers who keep safe and efficient products moving. There are many regulations addressing how materials are transferred into, around and out of your facility. These regulations vary by state, so be sure to look beyond the federal regulations that include, but are not limited to, walking working surfaces, cranes and hoists, forklifts, conveyors and ropes/ chains/slings. This discussion will pinpoint employers’ obligations to prevent injury due to slings as well as help to implement the management of this key operation using 6S methodology. There are regulations also which depend on specific operations. For example, if you are dipping or coating or subjecting hoist and slings to high temperatures, then you would need to consult those obligations too. The loss of raw materials and finished product are far outweighed by the loss of an employee due to crushed fingers,
caught between equipment or even struck by the load. There is not only the downtime associated with the loss, but there is an obvious moral imperative to protect employees. Prevention of loss increases efficiency and employee morale by demonstrating a culture of caring. Loss of profits to citations is another consideration. For the period October 2019 to September 2020, OSHA cited all employers more than $2 million for just the material handling general standard alone (29 CFR 1910.176) More specifically, U.S. manufacturers incurred 32 citations at 27 facilities and carried $127,466 or almost 59 percent of all the penalty cost. It is important to define what constitutes a “sling” for this discussion. According to OSHA “slings are made from alloy steel chain, wire rope, metal mesh, natural or synthetic fiber rope (conventional three strand construction), and synthetic web (nylon, polyester and polypropylene).” Examples of slings can be found on page 16 and are taken from the OSHA standards. It is easy to find information on the care, use and storage of slings. Always start with the manufacturer’s requirements then move to the OSHA standards. Never use any slings or components that are not legibly marked with the manufacturers name and capacities. Remember that repairs can only be made by the manufacturer - no bolts, splices or welds to any material handling equipment! Finding information on the “how to” of material handling safety management is more elusive. Knowing the regulations is the easy part. The day-to-day implementation of safety can be the real challenge. (I equate this to the doctor telling a patient to lose weight but doesn’t give the “how to be successful” guidance.) A formal written sling or material handling safety program is best and should look like any of your other written
Laura Helmrich-Rhodes, CSP, Ed.D., is an independent regulations compliance consultant to the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI). A former member of PA/OSHA Consultation, she is an associate professor in the Safety Sciences Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on topics such as OSHA standards, safety communications, workers’ compensation and human relations. Rhodes is available for safety advice and information. Contact SMI at 630-495-8588 or laurahrhodes@gmail.com.
SPRINGS / Winter 2021 / 13
