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WORK I T S AFE OSHA'S NEW "STRUCK-BY" CAMPAIGN OSHA has launched a regional outreach initiative in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska about the need to prevent "struck- by" vehicle accidents in the workplace. "Struck-by" injuries and fatalities are caused by conventional traffic/passenger vehicles, forklifts, cranes, and other moving powered industrial equip- ment. Causes typically involve reverse vehicle movement into a pedestrian outside the driver's field of vision or vehicles falling off ramps, inclines, or unstable ground. OSHA has developed educational materials called "Evaluate Your Entire Surroundings," or E.Y.E.S., which are available in both English and Spanish. The materials include a one-page fact sheet with accident data and prevention strategies; "OSHA Region 7 Informational Guide for Preventing Struck-by Accidents," a brochure that covers risk assessment steps, common operator errors, and safety tips; and a laminated poster. For more information, visit: OSHA, www.osha.gov. WORKING IN PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACES A confined space is defined as a space with limited openings for entry or exit; it is large enough for entering and working; and it is not designed for continuous worker occupancy. Confined spaces include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, underground utility vaults, and pipelines. OSHA defines permit-required confined spaces as confined spaces that: t May contain a hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere; t May contain a material that can engulf an entrant; t May contain walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area, which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; t May contain other serious physical hazards, such as unguarded machines or exposed live wires; t Must be identified by the employer, who must inform exposed employees of the existence and location of such spaces and their hazards. What To Do When Working In A Permit-Required Confined Space: t Do not enter permit-required confined spaces without being trained and without having a permit to enter. t Review, understand, and follow the employer's procedures before entering permit-required confined spaces and know how and when to exit. t Before entry, identify any physical hazards. t Before and during entry, test and monitor for oxygen content, flammability, toxicity, or explosive hazards as necessary. t Use employer's fall protection, rescue, air-monitoring, venti- lation, lighting, and communication equipment according to entry procedures. t Maintain contact at all times with a trained attendant either visually, via phone, or by two-way radio. This monitoring system enables the attendant and entry supervisor to order you to evacuate and to alert appropriately trained rescue personnel to rescue entrants when needed. For more information about permit-required confined spaces, visit: OSHA, (800) 321-6742, www.osha.gov. IS YOUR SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM AN OSHA VIOLATION? Richard Fairfax, deputy assistant secretary for OSHA, has issued a memo outlining how disciplining an employee for reporting an injury can violate whistleblower laws and record- keeping rules. Specifically, Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee for reporting an injury or illness. When an employee feels intimidated by managers who discourage reporting, safety for the entire workforce is at risk, the memo explains. Employers don't have the information they need to improve safety condi- tions, and workers don't receive the proper medical care and workers' compensation benefits. OSHA's memo cites common policies that discourage injury reporting. t Programs that tie manager bonuses to reduced injury rates. t Safety programs requiring disciplinary action against injured employees are a violation of federal laws and contradict the employer's obligation to establish methods for reporting injuries. t Disciplining an employee or eliminating a reward for report- ing/not reporting an injury by established methods may be a violation. t Enforcing a rule more stringently for an injured employee than for workers who were engaged in the same activity but weren't injured may point to discrimination. t Safety incentive programs may discourage employees from reporting injuries, whether the employer intends to do that or not. In general, safety incentive programs could be called into question if they discourage employees from reporting an injury because the rest of the team would not receive an incen- tive. According to Fairfax, employers should also evaluate if the incentive is so desirable that it deters proper reporting of injuries and illnesses. For more information or to view the OSHA memo, visit: http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/whistle- blowermemo.html. NEW RULES FOR CHEMICAL LABELING OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system. The revisions to the Hazard Communication Standard will be fully implemented in 2016 and will benefit workers by reducing confusion about chemical hazards in the workplace, by facilitating safety training, and by improving understand- ing of hazards, especially for low literacy workers. OSHA's standard will classify chemicals according to their health and physical hazards and will establish consistent labels and safety data sheets for all chemicals made in the United States and imported from abroad. During the transition period to the effective completion dates noted in the standard, chemi- cal manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers may comply with either 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1200 (the final standard), the current standard, or both. The final rule revising the standard is available at http://s.dol.gov/P1. Further information for workers, employers, and users of hazardous chemicals can be reviewed at OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health topics at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html. July 2012 J www.coatingspromag.com 29