Consultant's Corner

Mylene Kellerman
Safety and Health Supervisor

“One hundred million Americans broil in extreme heat.”

“Heat wave cooks much of the country.”

The personal experience of you and your employees may not need these recent news headlines to confirm that all of us are in the midst of a scorching summer.

As a member of USF SafetyFlorida’s management team, I receive a number of employer calls asking what action should be taken after receiving a letter from one of Florida’s OSHA area offices. I hear everything from …

I always pay special attention to pallet wrappers each time I see them inside a warehouse. While plastic wrappers may look like a small karaoke stage, the platform actually spins, and can make you dizzy enough to fall over if you were to step on it.

On March 26, 2012, OSHA published its revised Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

One of the satisfactions of being a USF SafetyFlorida consultant is helping employers identify hazards that could cause an illness or injury to one or more of their employees.

While driving, the very sight of orange cones, barrels and other construction signage creates a sense of dread in me. It seems as if nearly every major highway I travel has some sort of on-going project.

Most employers know that sprinkler, employee alarm, and smoke/fire detection systems are to be maintained and inspected as needed or annually. However, what employers may not realize is that portable fire extinguishers, in addition to the required annual inspection [1910.157(e)(3)], must be visually inspected monthly as well [1910.157(e)(2)]. Employers are also solely responsible for keeping all extinguishers in operable order [1910.157(c)(4)].

As an employer who is responsible for the safety and health of your employees, you need to determine if there are any occupational hazards present or likely to be present that may require employees to wear personal protective equipment (as required in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)). Personal protective equipment, such as respirators and hearing protection devices, should be selected based on the occupational exposure levels found at the workplace. Therefore, an industrial hygiene initial assessment should be conducted to determine those levels.

An Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) provides systematic policies, procedures and practices that are adequate to recognize and protect workers from occupational safety and health hazards. Employers are encouraged to establish an effective I2P2 since it can significantly reduce occupational safety and health injuries and illnesses and lead to reduced workers’ compensation insurance costs.

If your company melts or works with metal, it exposes your employees to noise, dust, heat, and fumes. Here in Florida, known for sun, citrus, and tourists, we also have many companies engaged in the smelting and refining of both ferrous and nonferrous metals. Some of our state's manufactured products include nails, spikes, insulated wires and cables, steel piping (both sheets and bars), copper and aluminum products. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in August a new National Emphasis Program aimed at reviewing the health and safety programs of companies considered to be Primary Metals Industries.