CoatingsPro Magazine

JUL 2016

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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24 JULY 2016 COATINGSPROMAG.COM Safety Watch H ow can workplace fatal- ities and injuries be reduced or — in a perfect world — be totally eradi- cated? Tat is precisely what standards are designed to accomplish. Standards are rules designed to provide a work environment free from known dangers or hazards. Tese standards require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and they require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. Often, these rules are trade-specifc and self-imposed by industry-related societies or commit- tees. Some standards are mandatory, but it is often difcult to discern which require compliance. Let's take a look at a few from the coatings- and construc- tion-related industries. Standard Organizations In the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. Te Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is another federal agency that is charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation. Compliance with OSHA's standards is mandatory and is stringently enforced. In 1970, Congress created both NIOSH and OSHA in an efort to secure safe and healthy working conditions by establishing and enforcing standards that designate the methods that employers must use to protect their employees. NIOSH conducts scientifc research, develops guidance and authoritative recommendations, disseminates information, and responds to requests for workplace health hazard evaluations. OSHA creates standards for companies and other organizations to follow. Requirements include providing fall protection, preventing trenching cave ins, preventing some infectious diseases, assuring that workers safely enter confned spaces, preventing exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos, putting safety guards on machines, providing respirators or other safety equipment, and providing training for certain dangerous jobs. Another driving force in the regulatory arena is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). According to its website, it is a voice of the United States standards and conformity assessment system. Its mission statement is "to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity." A working knowledge of applicable standards is critical to a company's continued success. However, under- standing your requirements to comply isn't necessarily easy. Our hopes are to If contaminants still present a hazard, you must provide appropriate respiratory protection for every employee who might be exposed to them. Photos courtesy of MSA By Dennis Capizzi, Fire Service Marketing Manager for NFPA SCBA for MSA Safety How to Comply With Respiratory Protection Standards

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