Respiratory Protection - Tool Box Talks

OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard was effective April 8, 1998.

It is estimated that the new rule will prevent more than 4,000 injuries and illnesses annually. With the new rule, in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries and illnesses, employers will realize up to $94 million a year in savings on injury and illness-related costs. The new standard reflects current respirator technology and better ways to ensure they fit.

The revised standard requires:
- A written plan with worksite-specific procedures to tailor your employers program to each worksite.
- A hazard evaluation to characterize respiratory hazards and conditions of work to assist employers in selecting appropriate respirators.
- A medical evaluation to determine ability of workers to wear the respirator selected.
- Fit testing of tight-fitting respirators to reduce faceseal leakage and ensure that the respirators provide adequate protection.
- A training program to ensure that your employees use respirators safely.
- A periodic program evaluation to ensure that respirator use continues to be effective.

Why use respirators?
- Respirators protect you against hazardous atmospheres containing:
- Particulates/dusts (silica).
- Vapors and gases (carbon monoxide).
- Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmospheres (oxygen deficiency).
- Physical agents (radioactive particles).
- Biological agents (mold spores).

When are respirators required?
Exposure to any material or substance at a concentration above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) specified in Appendix A to 1926.55 must be avoided. Compliance must be achieved by using administrative (i.e., employee shift changes) or engineering (i.e., ventilation) controls first. When these controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment must be used to keep the exposure within the PELs prescribed.

Whenever respirators are used, their use must comply with 1926.103—Respiratory protection. Various airborne contaminants in Appendix A of 1926.55 do not list PELs but instead send you to another portion of the construction regulations. These contaminants are called OSHA specific contaminants. Examples are: Asbestos (1926.1101), alpha-Naphthylamine (1926.1104), and lead (1926.62). There are approximately 27 of these substances. These OSHA specific contaminants have their own PELs and specific requirements. When you are required to use respirators, then all requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 apply.


This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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Violence in the workplace - tool box talks

Overview
Violence in the workplace is a growing threat for businesses of all sizes and all over.
What constitutes violence at work?

Common acts of violence in the workplace can include:
• insubordination
• verbal bullying
• threats
• harassment
• sexual assault and rape
• theft
• make fists and beatings
• stabbings and shooting
• suicides
• vandalism and arson
• kidnapping or hostage-taking

What should I do?
Violence in the workplace affects not only the victims, but coworkers and the company also. It is important that employees cooperate with the company to limit or eliminate the violence at work through controls of the methods of work.

What should my employer do?
Your employer will review the plan of the company for the prevention of violence at work and controls the working methods.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency 

Feel Good About Ergonomics

Every year, thousands of American workers are disabled by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Jobs that expose workers to excessive repetitive motion, force, awkward postures, contact stress, or vibration are a major cause of this problem.

Ergonomics concentrates on making the job fit the employee, rather than forcing the employee to fit the job. It involves accommodating workers through design of tasks, work schedules, work stations, controls, tools, and equipment. In addition, it involves engineering and designing equipment that reduces a job’s MSD risk.

How Ergonomics Affects You
Every day, your body is subject to tasks which could cause it harm. Some types of tasks or work conditions which may affect you include:

• Regular repetitive tasks.
  Forceful exertions.
  Inappropriate tools.
  Vibrations from power tools.
  Poor body mechanics.
  Restrictive work stations.
  Awkward postures.
  Lifting heavy or awkward objects.

Exposure Effects
Being exposed to ergonomic hazards can cause a variety of disorders and illnesses.
MSDs are injuries and disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. Examples of MSDs include:

• Tendinitis.
  Tenosynovitis.
  De Quervain’s disease.
  Trigger finger.
  Raynaud’s syndrome.
  Carpal tunnel syndrome.
  Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
  Carpet layers knee.
  Rotator cuff syndrome.
  Epicondylitis.
  Sciatica.
  Herniated spinal disc.
  Low back pain.

The symptoms of MSDs can include a dull aching sensation, discomfort with specific movements, tenderness to the touch, a burning sensation, pain, tingling, cramping, or stiffness. Symptoms often appear gradually and may disappear during rest. Symptoms usually become more severe as exposure continues (for example, tingling continues after work ends, numbness makes it difficult to perform the job, and finally, pain becomes is so severe that the employee can no longer perform the job).

Back disorders can result from heavy, awkward, overexerted lifting, and by twisting, reaching, bending, and remaining in one position for an extended period of time.

This information provided by: Assurance Agency

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