Safety Lines - Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

The newsletter of Minnesota OSHA • October 2008 • Number 61Safety LinesPrepare now for familiar hazard: winter drivingBy Diane Amell, MNOSHA Training OfficerWith the first snowstorm each year, the local radioand TV reporters echo the well-known refrain:Minnesotans seem to have forgotten how to drive inwinter conditions. This takes on additional meaningfor employers, because the number one cause ofworker fatalities in Minnesota – and the rest of thecountry – continues to be traffic accidents.Federal OSHA and the National HighwayTransportation Safety Administration list three "Ps" of safe winter driving: prepare for the trip, protectyourself and prevent crashes on the road. To achieve these objectives, they offer the following tips.Prepare• Maintain your car: check the battery, tire tread, antifreeze and windshield wipers; keep yourwindows clear; and put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir.• Pack your supplies: a flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive material (such as sand, kitty litter or evenspare floor mats), a shovel, a snow brush and ice scraper, warning devices (such as flares) andblankets. For long trips, add food, water, medication and a fully charged cell phone to your list.• If you're stopped, stuck or stalled: stay withyour car; don’t overexert yourself; put brightmarkers on the antenna or windows; shine thedome light; and, if you run your car, clear theexhaust pipe and run your car just enough tostay warm.• Plan your route: allow plenty of time (check theweather and leave early if necessary); befamiliar with the maps and directions; and letothers know your route and arrival time.• Practice and review cold weather driving skills:during daylight, maneuver slowly on ice or snow in an empty lot; steer into a skid; know whatyour brakes will do – stomp and hold down antilock brakes and pump non-antilock brakes;remember stopping distances are longer on water or ice; and remember not to idle for a long timewith the windows up or in an enclosed space.Familiar hazard, continues ...443 Lafayette Road N. • St. Paul, MN 55155 • (651) 284-5050 • 1-800-342-5354 • www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

Familiar hazard, continued ...Protect yourselfBuckle up. According to the Minnesota Department ofPublic Safety's Minnesota Driver's Manual, of all thesafety equipment in your vehicle, the seat belt is mostlikely to save your life. In Minnesota, motor vehiclesmust be equipped with seat belts and the use of seatbelts is mandatory. Without a seat belt, your chancesof being killed or injured in a crash are four timesgreater. It is possible to be killed in a crash whentraveling at speeds as low as 12 m.p.h.Prevent crashes• Monitor yourself: slow down and increase your following distance between the car ahead of you.• Expect the unexpected: keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road.• Avoid fatigue: get plenty of rest before long trips; stop at least every three hours; and rotatedrivers if possible.Get more informationFor more tips about driving in the winter, visitwww.osha.gov/Publications/safeDriving.html. Otherwinter-related safety information from federal OSHAincludes:• Winter storms (an emergency preparedness andresponse safety and health guide):www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/winterstorms.html;• Cold stress (an emergency preparedness andresponse safety and health guide):www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/cold.html;• Fact Sheet No. OSHA 98-55 ProtectingWorkers in Cold Environments:www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=fact_sheets&p_id=186;and• Cold Stress QuickCard:www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3156.pdf– Also available in Spanish –www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3158.pdf.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 2 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

MNOSHA standards update, continues ...Other revisions proposedProposed addition of Minn. Rules 5205.0720, Thermoplastic piping (PVC Pipe) – This new rule wasdeveloped to protect employees from possible hazards when PVC piping is used to transportcompressed air.Proposed addition of Minnesota Rules 5205.1310 and 5207.1100, Elevating Work PlatformEquipment – These rules were developed to prevent potential injury by requiring fall protection toemployees while occupying a boom-supported elevating work platform or a personnel elevatingplatform supported by a rough terrain forklift truck.Status of changesThe proposed revisions were published in the State Register Sept. 2, followed by a 30-day commentperiod that ended Oct. 2. No comments were received. A notice adopting these amendments will bepublished in the State Register. Both the proposal notice and adoption notice (when available) can beaccessed at www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/state_register.asp.Copies of the proposal notice were sent to those on the Minnesota OSHA standards mailing list. To beadded to the mailing list for notification of future MNOSHA standard activity or other Department ofLabor and Industry rulemaking, visit www.doli.state.mn.us/docs/rules_reqnotices.doc.Saving lives without breaking the bankEditor's note: The following is an e-mail message, reprinted with the author's permission.This morning at 6:32 a.m., while walking downward on a 4/12 sheathed roof, one of our workers stumbled and fellface fi rst toward the outside edge of the single-story roof he was working on. From the momentum of his fall, helurched over the two-by-six guard at the edge of the roof and continued over the edge.He was wearing a properly fi tting full-body harness connected to a DBI/SALA Ultra Lok SRL, which in turn wasconnected to a Super Anchor ARS 5K Surface Mounted/Fall Arrest Anchor. The SRL engaged causing him to bepulled backwards into an upright posture as he went over the edge of the roof. The SRL cable impacted with thefascia and then the worker slid approximately four feet where he stopped over a window opening. At no time did theworker contact the ground!The worker was immediately rescued by his fellow coworkers and evaluated for injuries. The worker stated hethinks he may have hit the side of the sill with his ankle, because it ached a little. He said the pain was very mildand he could walk just fi ne. He said he felt no other injuries. The momentum, combined with the direction andangle the worker was falling, would likely have resulted in a serious or deadly accident had he not been usingConventional Fall Protection. He would have fallen head fi rst to the ground or he would have gone face fi rst into theblock wall only seven feet away from the roof edge.The worker was issued a new harness and immediately returned to work. All equipment has been removed fromservice pending evaluation by a qualifi ed person.This is the third successful Conventional Fall Protection Systems outcome for LeBlanc Building Co., Inc.since implementation. We greatly appreciate the many trade partners who support us and our safety programunconditionally.From the author's second e-mail messageThe anchor point that his PFAS was connected to cost only $3.40; yes, that's right – less than $4.– Jeremy Bethancourt, Safety Director/Trainer, LeBlanc Building Co., Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 4 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

QAQAoshafrequently asked questionsanswersAs part of its continual effort to improve customer service and provide needed information to employers and employees,Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) answers the most frequently asked questions from the previous quarter.The proposed Minnesota Rules 5205.1310 and 5207.1100, Elevating Work PlatformEquipment, states that individuals standing on the specified elevating work platformsshall be protected from falling by the use of personal fall-arrest systems or positioningdevice systems (see MNOSHA standards update, page 3). Exactly how many fall-arrestsystems or positioning device systems are required to be used by each exposedemployee?In addition to any guardrails or sides the platform may have, an employee must wear either apersonal fall-arrest system (i.e., a body harness and lanyard or lifeline) that limits their freefall to no more than six feet, or a positioning device system, such as a body belt and lifeline,that limits their free fall to no more than two feet. The use of redundant systems is notrequired. See 1926.502(d) and (e) for further information about the other requirements forthese systems.It was so hot last night at work that I told my boss I was going to leave work for mypersonal safety. She said that if I did I was not to come back tomorrow, because Iwouldn't have a job. I thought that we could refuse to work if we felt it was unsafe.What does the law say?Minnesota Statutes §182.653, subd. 11, "Refusal to work under dangerous conditions," statesan employee can refuse to work only if they have "a reasonable belief" that conditions existthat "present an imminent danger of death or serious physical harm to the employee." Animminent danger is one in which a hazard could result in death or serious injury immediatelyor within a very short time. While heat-related illnesses can be serious, they do not rise to thelevel of an imminent danger. In addition, an employer may take corrective action to lessenthe risk to the employee, such as granting more frequent breaks, increasing the availability ofdrinking water, etc.QAIf the employee refuses to work and the employer offers any alternative job, the employeemust perform the alternative job assignment.Last year, the principal stated an asbestos removal project was to be completed duringthe summer. When my kids went back to school, we found the building still torn apart. Idon't want my kids exposed to asbestos. What do I do?First, talk to the principal. It may be that the asbestos abatement is complete, but the finishingwork is not. The principal should be able to direct you to the person with the projectSafety Lines, October 2008 page 5 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

management plan. Under the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA),every school district and private school is required to designate someone to oversee allasbestos-related activities in the district or school. This person should be able to answerquestions regarding the project as well.The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Asbestos Abatement Unit can be a source ofinformation about a specific project. It can provide a parent with the identity of the licensedabatement contractor, the contractor's compliance record, the project permit number andother information, such as the project dates and the contractor's work shifts. The unit will alsobe able to tell the parent whether MDH has conducted an inspection of the project. Contactthe Asbestos Abatement Unit at (651) 201-4620 and ask to speak with the asbestos inspectoron duty. The MDH Web site also has a wealth of general information about this subject –www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/asbestos.Ask MNOSHADo you have a question for Minnesota OSHA? To get an answer, call (651) 284-5050 or sendan e-mail message to osha.compliance@state.mn.us. We may feature your question here.Injury and illness survey gearing up for new yearBy Brian Zaidman, Policy Development, Research and StatisticsAs 2008 draws to a close, the Minnesota Department of Labor andIndustry (DLI) will start work on the next round of the Bureau of LaborStatistics annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII).The SOII is a mandatory survey; employers that receive a notifi cation ofparticipation are required by federal law to respond. Each year,approximately 5,000 Minnesota employers participate in the SOII.Employers that are participating in the survey of 2008 injuries andillnesses will receive their survey notices during the fi rst few weeks ofJanuary 2009. The 2008 survey is the fi rst year the SOII will be collectedprimarily via the Internet. This will improve the effi ciency of the SOII andreduce mailing costs. Employers’ timely response to the survey is greatly appreciated and helps keep the surveycosts low.Employers that have been selected to participate in the survey of 2009 injuries and illnesses will receivenotifi cation of their participation in the second half of December 2008. Employers receiving notifi cations need tokeep OSHA log data during 2009 and will complete the survey response in 2010.It is very important for each company to review the OSHA recordkeeping requirements to make sure injuries andillnesses are correctly recorded. Staff members who are responsible for keeping the OSHA log should haverecordkeeping training. The OSHA recordkeeping requirements are online at www.doli.state.mn.us/recordkeeping.html.Links to the Recordkeeping 101 and 201 series that appeared in Safety Lines are also available on that Web page.Employers with questions about the SOII may call the DLI Policy Development, Research and Statistics unit at(651) 284-5428.The 2007 summary results, showing the incidence rates by industry, are scheduled for release Oct. 23; the caseand demographic details of the cases with days away from work are scheduled for release Nov. 20. Visit the DLIWeb site at www.doli.state.mn.us/dlistats.html to view the 2007 Minnesota tables on or after those dates.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 6 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

Minnesota's newest MNSHARP worksitesWorkplace safety and healthrepresentatives from the MinnesotaDepartment of Labor and Industryrecently recognized five companies fortheir achievement as Minnesota Safetyand Health Achievement RecognitionProgram (MNSHARP) worksites.MNSHARP is a Minnesota OSHAprogram that recognizes companieswhere managers and employeeswork together to develop safety andhealth programs that go beyond basiccompliance with all applicable OSHAstandards and result in immediate andlong-term prevention of job-relatedinjuries and illnesses.Siewert Cabinet & Fixture Manufacturing, Inc.BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises, LLCTapemarkSiewert Cabinet & Fixture Manufacturing,Inc., Minneapolis, was recognizedJuly 11. Siewert Cabinet began as aresidential kitchen cabinet supplierin 1965. Since then, it has grown toa full-service commercial supplier ofarchitectural millwork, casework anddesign services.“Together, we willensure more employeescome home safe andhealthy at the endof the workday.”– Steve Sviggum, CommissionerDepartment of Labor and IndustryBASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises,LLC, Plymouth, Minn., was recognizedJuly 15. BASF offers a wide rangeof polyurethane foam products tocontractors, consultants, architectsand owners in the residential,institutional, commercial and industrialmarket sectors.Tapemark, West St. Paul, Minn.,was recognized July 24. Tapemarkis a specialty contract manufacturerwhose integrated convertingcapabilities include coating, printing,die cutting and packaging of complexcomponents and products for thepharmaceutical, medical device andconsumer products markets.MNSHARP sites, continues ...Safety Lines, October 2008 page 7 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

Minnesota's newest MNSHARP worksites, continued ...Anderson Dahlen, Inc., Ramsey, Minn., was recognizedSept. 24. The company provides world-class custommetal fabrication for the food, dairy, pharmaceutical,chemical processing and architectural markets. It alsoprovides the engineered solutions and complete fi eldinstallation needed to solve processing concerns in thesemarkets.Anderson Dahlen, Inc.D.J. Kranz Co., Inc., Minneapolis, was recognizedSept. 18 as a MNSHARP Construction worksite at theMaple Grove Hospital. The company offers constructionservices for a variety of projects, ranging from hospitalsand medical facilities to automotive dealerships, churchesand manufacturing facilities.The Maple Grove Hospital opens December 2009 and isa partnership between North Memorial and Fairview. It willcontain 90 beds (all private patient rooms) and providea variety of services to the growing population in thenorthwest metro area.D.J. Kranz Co., Inc.MNSHARP Construction is a separate branch of theprogram recognizing major-construction companieswith safety and health programs that go beyond basiccompliance with all applicable OSHA standards. Onlycontstruction projects at least 18 months in duration areaeligible for participation. D.J. Kranz is one of three currentcertifi ed MNSHARP Construction worksites in Minnesota.Visit www.doli.state.mn.us/mnsharp.html to learn more.I-35W safety and health audits continue under the bridgeMinnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) will maintain its compliance assistance audits at the I-35W bridge project until there are no moresignifi cant serious hazards. The opening of the bridge Sept. 18 ended the work on the bridge deck, but work remains under thebridge, which includes completion of the observation deck, roads, pathways and painting. Currently, MNOSHA anticipates themajority of significant hazards will be eliminated by mid-October. At that time, Mn/DOT safety and MNOSHA will simultaneouslyconclude participation in the partnership they have formed since the bridge collapse in August 2007.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 8 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

Training seminars:Preventingcombustible-dustexplosionWorkplace Safety ConsultationDepartment ofLaborandIndustryMinnesota OSHA Compliance and Workplace SafetyConsultation, in partnership with BS&B SafetySystems, present two half-day seminars aimed ateliminating combustible-dust explosions and helpingemployers comply with the recently issued MinnesotaOSHA combustible-dust national emphasis program,CPL-03-00-008.The presentation explains key steps in effective dustexplosion risk-management, from the assessmentof risk to the implementation of practical solutionscompliant with OSHA requirements and National FireProtection Association (NFPA) industry standards.Guidance for plant owners, operators and designers ofprocess equipment will be provided. Participants willlearn how Minnesota OSHA Compliance investigatorstest for and identify hazardous qualities of dust. Anoverview of proper electrical and other equipment forareas with combustible dust will also be included.Dates and locationsOct. 22Nov. 19Cloquet, Minn.Cloquet Forestry Center175 University RoadSt. Cloud, Minn.Holiday Inn Hotel75 37th Ave. S.oshaDEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRYThe cost of each half-day seminar is $25.Pre-registration and payment by mail is required.For complete information and a registration form, visitwww.doli.state.mn.us/osheven.html or call MNOSHAWorkplace Safety Consultation at (651) 284-5060,toll-free at 1-800-657-3776.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 9 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

MINNESOTASAFETYHAZARDALERTMobile shelving systemsMinnesota Department of Labor and IndustryOccupational Safety and Health Division443 Lafayette Road N.St. Paul, MN 551551-877-470-6742InitiativeIn 2007, the Minnesota Occupational Safety andHealth Division (MNOSHA) investigated a fatalaccident due to the improper use of a mobileshelving system. This hazard alert is in response tothat investigation, as well as to anecdotal evidenceregarding the use of this type of equipment.These devices are often found where there isa need for a large amount of fi le storage, i.e.,hospitals, libraries, schools, etc. The systems oftenconsist of several large shelves that can expandand collapse to allow a larger amount of storage ina smaller space than conventional storage.The purpose of this Minnesota OSHA Safety HazardAlert is to heighten public awareness of the properuse of this equipment and the safety devices usedto prevent the units from closing unintentionally.Description of the hazardFactors that can lead to failure:• overriding safety systems through the use ofthe battery pack;• resetting the mobile unit while an aisle is inuse;• limited safety devices that will still allow thecarriages to move even though a person is inthe aisle; and• use of the equipment by someone other thana trained/competent person.Controlling and eliminating the hazardOne key method to preventing mobile shelvingsystem accidents is to have the proper safetydevices installed when the system is fi rst put in. Aphotoelectric eye that runs the length of the aisleand will stop the equipment when interrupted is notsuffi cient to protect people and objects, becauseit may still allow the carriage to move while theaisle is occupied. The aisle needs to be protectedto the point that the equipment will not operatewhile an obstruction is in the aisle. This can bedone using a photoelectric eye that detects whena person or object is present in an open aisle andautomatically locks out carriage movement. If theaisle is accessed while the carriage is closing, aphotoelectric beam must also be able to detectentry and reverse movement.A battery pack that accompanies the equipmentis only to be used in cases where the power hasgone out and fi les still need to be accessed. Properemployee training regarding the limitations of thebattery pack must be instituted. Safety devicesmay be deactivated while the battery pack is in use;thus, special training must take place to ensureemployees are familiar with its use and limitations.Employees may not enter into an aisle while thepack is being used. Also, the battery pack switchmust be guarded against unintended activation.Training regarding general use of the equipment isalso necessary, including procedures for when anaisle is already in use.Be sure to consult the operator's manual beforeuse and for additional guidance.For more informationEmployers and employees with questions orconcerns can consult the federal OSHA Web siteat www.osha.gov or contact MNOSHA Complianceat (651) 284-5050 or toll-free at 1-877-470-6742.For more information about requirements andrecommendations, refer to 29 CFR 1926.212 andMinnesota Rules 5205.0710 and 5205.0880.The principal contributor to this Minnesota OSHA Safety Hazard Alert was Dustin Privette, a senior safety investigatorwith the MNOSHA Mankato Area Offi ce.Safety Lines, October 2008 page 10 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html

Minnesota's newest MNSTAR worksiteLockheed MartinAbove left: Steve Sviggum, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry commissioner, congratulatesthe Lockheed Martin staff for its "total commitment to safety and health," at its Oct. 1, 2008, fl ag-raisingevent in Eagan, Minn. Above right: Safety and health committee members from Lockheed Martincelebrate their facility’s achievement as a Minnesota STAR (MNSTAR) worksite. Lockheed Martin is aglobal security company that is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture,integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.CareeropportunitiesThe Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health (MNOSHA)program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Laborand Industry, was established by the Minnesota Legislature in1973.Working for MNOSHA can be a very rewarding job. Minnesota’seconomy has a great variety of industries and its businessleaders are often at the forefront of new technology. Keepingup with new developments is challenging and exciting. AndMNOSHA investigators are one of the very few individuals withthe authority to affect improvements in working conditionsfor all Minnesotans.www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.htmlIf you wish to speak to someone about jobs with MinnesotaOSHA, contact a MNOSHA supervisor at:• (651) 284-5050; or• toll-free at 1-877-470-6742.oshaDEPARTMENT OF LABORAND INDUSTRYSafety Lines, October 2008 page 11 www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html