Confined Space Entry Refresher:

OSHA Regulations on Confined Space Entry can seem complicated and difficult to understand why they are necessary.  The following overview is an attempt to provide context to the rules and procedures. Be aware that the next time you read about a confined space fatality, at least one of these general rules was probably violated. So, do your best to ensure that it won’t ever happen at your city.

1. Monitor the atmosphere

Atmospheric monitoring is the first and most critical rule as most fatalities in confined spaces are the result of atmospheric problems. Remember your nose is not a gas detector! Some hazards will have characteristic odors, but others will not. Use a properly calibrated 4-gas meter continuously during the confined space entry.

2. Eliminate or control hazards

All hazards identified during the hazard assessment must be eliminated or controlled prior to entering the space. Elimination, the preferred method for dealing with hazards, means that a hazard has been handled in a way that it cannot possibly have an impact on the operation.

For example, a properly installed blank eliminates the hazard of material being introduced through a pipe. Ventilation can also control the build-up of a dangerous atmosphere during an entry.

3. Ventilate the space

Your approach to atmospheric problems should be to correct the condition prior to entry, and ventilation and related activities are the best options for correcting these problems. Forced-air ventilation is generally the most effective approach for confined space entry operations.

4. Use proper personal protective equipment

Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should be the last line of defense. Elimination and control of hazards should be done whenever possible, but PPE is essential when the hazards present cannot be eliminated or controlled through other means.

5. Isolate the space

Isolation of the space should eliminate the opportunity for introducing additional hazards through external connections. This includes lockout of all powered devices associated with the space, such as electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and gaseous agent fire control systems.

6. Know the attendant’s role

An outside attendant must be present to monitor the safety of the entry operation, to help during an emergency, and to call for assistance from outside if that becomes necessary. The attendant’s role is primarily to help ensure that problems do not escalate to the point where rescue is needed.

 

7. Be prepared for rescues

Any equipment required for rescue must be available to those who are designated to use it. External retrieval equipment that may be used by the attendant must be in place when appropriate. More advanced rescue equipment for entry-type rescues must be available to the designated rescue crew.

8. Use effective lighting

Lighting is important for two primary reasons: You cannot safely perform in environments where you cannot see adequately, and lighting failure can cause fear. Anyone who is uncomfortable inside a well-lit confined space may become afraid if the lighting fails, and fear can cause people to behave irrationally and injure themselves or others.

9. Emphasize constant communication

Effective communications are critical to safe operation and are the string that ties all the other activities together. Communication must be maintained between entrants and the attendant. The attendant must also be able to contact the entry supervisor and call for emergency help.

10. Eliminate the entry

The safest way to reduce the hazard of confined space entry is to not do it. Developing an alternative method where employee do not enter confined spaces at all, or as often, such as: lifting pumps out of confined space, remote grease fitting, remote meters, vacuum extractors, etc. can all help in achieving this goal.



LMCIT Model Permit Required Confined Space Entry Policy

http://www.lmc.org/media/document/1/PermitRequiredConfinedSpacesMMUA.docx

By: Joe Ingebrand

Editor's Note: Don't forget that OSHA's new crystalline silica rule is set to go into effect soon. It was originally slated to go into effect at the end of June, however enforcement was delayed to provide for employee education. It is now set to start being enforced starting September 23, 2017.

We previously published a blog back in May on the rule change should you need a brief reminder of what the new standard entails.

Parade Safety Reminder

Parades are part of what brings our Minnesota communities together. Whether your city is celebrating with a 4th of July parade or any other city-specific parade, the best parade is fun, safe, and inclusive. Unfortunately, accidents still occur as illustrated below:

July 8, 2017

Trailer runs over child during parade in central Minnesota

The patrol said a pickup, driven by a parade participant, was towing a trailer as part of the parade on the highway, also known as Main Street, and had stopped while children were picking up candy near the vehicle. The pickup began moving again when a passenger in the truck, saw a child under the rear tire of the trailer.

The vehicle backed up off the child and emergency responders were immediately on the scene. The 7 year old injured child was then air-lifted to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A favorite component of a parade is the distribution of candy, prizes, and flyers. Traditionally, these items are thrown from vehicles. The problem is the combination of excited children and large vehicles/trailers with poor visibility can lead to tragedy as the example illustrates. The solution is to have walkers handing out these items. This will reduce the temptation for children to go near the parade vehicles. Implementing this rule, and reminding participates of its importance, will help to prevent this type on tragedy!

For more information on Parade Safety please see Section VIII-D of our Parks & Recreation Loss Control Guide.

By: Joe Ingebrand

Workers feeling the heat?

Without staying hydrated and taking breaks, workers could experience anything from dehydration to death resulting from heat-related illness.

Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program. Things to consider when developing this program include:

·       Provide workers with water, rest, and shade.

·       Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize and build a tolerance for working in the heat.

·       Plan for emergencies, and train workers on prevention

·       Monitor workers for signs of illness

Drinking water and staying hydrated is crucial in preventing heat related illness.

 

To help workers combat heat stress OSHA/NIOSH has a mobile heat app available on Google Play and the iTunes app store free for download. Workers often check their phones, so this is a tech-savvy way to remind them to be healthy and stay safe. The Heat Safety Tool app first determines your location, then, it will calculate the heat index and display the risk level to outdoor workers. The app can assist workers by alerting them when to take breaks.

Prevention of heat stress in workers is important. Employers should provide training to workers so they understand what heat stress is, how it affects their health and safety, and how it can be prevented. Here is a handy fact sheet to post on signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses.

 

Submitted by: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant

Happy Public Works Week!

Thank you for keeping our streets paved, our water clean and running, and for the million other things you do to keep our cities functioning. The League of Minnesota Cities thanks you for what you do every day, and for doing it safely.

 

 

 



 

By: League of Minnesota Cities

 

 

 

OSHA New Crystalline Silica Rule

OSHA is issuing two standards to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica—one for construction, and the other for general industry and maritime. City employees would likely fall under the construction standard when engaged in activities related to streets, sidewalks, sewer, etc.

Exposure can occur during common construction tasks such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers, handheld powered chipping tools, milling, and using heavy equipment for demolition or certain other tasks.

What does the standard require?

Two Options:

I. Employers can either use a control method laid out in Table 1* of the construction standard.
(Or)
II. They can measure workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces.

Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:

• Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur.
• Designate a competent person to implement the written exposure control plan.
• Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica where feasible alternatives are available.
• Offer medical exams—including chest X-rays and lung function tests—every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year.
• Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure.
• Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams.

*Table 1 (Example) Specific Exposure Control Method for using a hand held concrete saw equipped with a continuous water feed to control dust, outside and less than four hour, no respiratory protection needed. If over four hours outdoors or in enclosed areas, respiratory protection needed.
* www.osha.gov/silica/SilicaConstructionRegText.pdf.
                                                                

                                                      (Wet method- dust control system)           

                                           (Dry method- employee likely exposed to Silica)

                          

OSHA Fact Sheet Crystalline Silica Rule:  https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3681.pdf

By Joe Ingebrand, Senior Loss Control Consultant

 

Don’t Blow Your Top! Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspection

On a recent Safety and Loss Control Visit to a member city I was asked the question: “Who is supposed to do inspections on our air compressor, and what is the criteria for which vessels need inspecting?”

Who?
Well, I told my contact that if you have your boiler coverage through LMCIT that is a service we provide. LMCIT works with representatives from FM Global who provides this service to our members.  FM Global completes over 1000, what are known as Jurisdictional Inspections for LMCIT, each year. Certain boiler and pressure vessels require regular inspections to ensure compliance with local regulations. This includes construction, installation, and operating codes and standards. The State of MN allows insurance carriers to perform these inspections. A representative from FM Global works with each LMCIT member in the property program to review operating conditions, maintenance and operating procedures, adequacy of safety devices to protect the equipment, and repairs and/or alterations to restore equipment conditions. The result is jurisdictional equipment that is both compliant and resilient.

What’s the Criteria for Inspection? The criteria listed below will help you determine if an inspection should be taking place.

 

 

Your boiler does not have to be inspected if it is:

1. Located on a farm, or under federal control
2. Located in a residence purposes for not more than 5 families
3. A hot water heating boiler with a heat input not exceeding 750,000 Btu/Hr
4. A railroad boiler used for transportation purposes
5. A manually fired boiler for model locomotives, tractors. Boats or antique vehicles providing the inside diameter does not exceed 12 inches, and the grate area does not exceed 2 square feet.

 

Your hot water heater does not have to be inspected if it:

1. Has a capacity of 120 gallons or less
2. Has a heat input of 500,000 btu/hr or less
3. Operates at a pressure of 160 psi of less
4. Operates at a temperature of 210 F or less

 

Your pressure vessel does not have to be inspected if:

1. It is an air tank less than 5 cubic feet in volume (37.5 gallons) and a safety valve set at 100 psi.
2. It is an air tank installed on a right of way railroad.
3. It has an inside diameter of less than 6 inches, and a length not exceeding 36 inches.
4. It is a vessel containing water at a pressure not exceeding 300psi and temperature not exceeding 210 F
5. It has a maximum working pressure of 15 psi.
6. It contains liquefied petroleum gasses, or located in a petroleum refinery
7. It is an air tank installed on a passenger bus, truck or trailer
8. Is located on a farm
9. It is a laundry or dry cleaning presser under 5 cubic feet (37.5 gallons)

All information for pressure, volume, and capacity will be located on the nameplate of the object.

If your boiler, hot water heater, or pressure vessel is not excluded, and should be getting inspected, please contact: DLI.Boiler.ETrakit@state.mn.us or your LMCIT Underwriter.

By: Joe Ingebrand, CSP, Senior Loss Control Consultant

March is Ladder Safety Month!

Are you putting your best foot forward? March 2017 is the first-ever National Ladder Safety Month! In the United States, more than 164,000 people are treated from ladder injuries in the emergency room and more than 300 die from falls from ladders. National Ladder Safety Month is the only movement dedicated exclusively to the promotion of ladder safety, at home and at work.


There are five major causes for ladder fall incidents:

1. Incorrect extension ladder setup angle — In approximately 40% of cases, the leading cause of ladder-related injuries is a ladder sliding out at the base due to an incorrect setup angle. Ladder users tend to set extension ladders at shallower angles than the optimal desired angle (75 degrees).
2. Inappropriate ladder selection — Selection of a ladder with the proper duty-rating is also important to avoid structural failure. However, many ladder users lack knowledge of proper ladder selection.
3. Insufficient ladder inspection — You can reduce the likelihood of ladder structural failure by practicing regular inspection and maintenance.
4. Improper ladder use — Activities such as overreaching, carrying objects, applying excessive force, slips, and missteps are also frequent causes of ladder-related fall injuries.
5. Lack of access to ladder safety tools and information — Small companies that account for up to 80% of all construction companies, and individual ladder users, such as homeowners, do not typically receive the required training for safe use of portable ladders. Such ladder users are difficult to reach, often do not have access to safety information, and generally lack the resources to develop or follow an effective ladder safety program.

Picture taken from the OSHA Quick Card on
Portable Ladder Safety

Yes, there is an app for that!

Download NIOSH's free, award-winning Ladder Safety app from the Apple Store or Google Play to improve extension and step ladder safety with user-friendly guides and interactive tools to prevent ladder-related fall injuries and deaths.

Stay tuned for an upcoming blog on new OSHA requirements for fixed ladders. OSHA has revised its Walking-Working Surfaces & Fall Prevention requirements in 2017, creating new definitions, rules, and responsibilities for employers.

Submitted by: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant