OSHA’s new heat safety directive and key points for cities

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implemented a National Emphasis Program (NEP) in April to reduce heat-related hazards and resulting injuries and illness caused by excessive heat in the workplace. This article will provide you with the basic information you’ll need to know and give you quick access to additional information. 

Many of you are probably already following this directive — much of it is common sense. But it’s a good reminder of how to prevent heat-related injuries and illness. Remember, heat stress can happen indoors too. 

Let’s look at the key points of the NEP.

At a glance:

• The NEP is a nationwide initiative modeled on existing Regional Emphasis Programs (REP) in southern states.
• It applies to indoor and outdoor workers where the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• There will be unannounced on-site visits by compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) who will “observe workers performing strenuous work in heat.”
• Visits may occur based on heat-related complaints, referrals, and reported heat illness. 

Employers should:

• Create a written plan to prevent heat-related illness.
• Provide awareness training to employees.
• Provide specific steps to prevent, identify, and treat heat-related illnesses.
• Identify and control heat hazards.
• Monitor workforce health and consider the current heat index and expected weather-related changes.
• Provide water, rest, and shade. For workers with two-hour or greater exposure times, fluids containing electrolytes must also be accessible.
• Recognize early symptoms of heat stress.
• Administer first aid for heat-related illnesses.
• Activate emergency medical services quickly when needed. WHEN IN DOUBT CALL 911.

Who is affected by heat exposure:

• Park and recreation employees
• Golf course employees
• Maintenance and public utility employees
• Police
• Firefighters                                        
• Roof maintenance workers (especially hot tar)
• Employees working indoors around heat-producing equipment in kitchens,
  boiler rooms, or welding
• Any employee wearing non-breathable or heavy PPE hazmat, turnout gear, etc.

A handy heat reference

Let’s summarize by saying again, most of you are already doing this: Plan your work in accordance with the weather, allow for more frequent and longer breaks in the air-conditioned truck or at least in the shade, drink extra water or a sports drink, keep an eye on each other, and if you or someone else is showing symptoms of heat stress, get help! And if in doubt, call 911.

Last thing to remember, heat-related safety is in the palm of your hand. Literally. Yep, there’s an app for that. The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool includes everything you need including current local weather, a heat index calculator, diagnosis information, and treatment steps for heat illness. Go to https://www.osha.gov/heat/heat-app or the app store of your iPhone or Android and download the “OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool.”

Resources for training and more

Overview of the standard, impact, rationale, and more (OSHA) 
Overview of prevention of heat-related illness (OSHA) 
Overview of treatment and first aid (OSHA)  
Additional resources and technical information (OSHA)
Guide for employers (OSHA) 
Upcoming public meeting info (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
Remembering Tim: A life lost to heat illness at work

Training videos (free from LMCIT via CoastalFlix):
Safety Matters: Heat Stress 
TAKE TWO...for Safety A new T.A.K.E: heat stress
Pause for Performance: Heat Stress Safety 
Heat Stress: Code Red 

Be cool. Work safe.

Submitted by:  Marc Dunker, Loss Control Consultant  

Public Works Week

It's Public Works Week, and that means around the state, cities and residents are celebrating all of the things you do to keep our cities functioning. We at the League of Minnesota Cities would like to once again than you for taking care of our streets, sidewalks, water, wastewater, and parks. Thank you for keeping our cities running smoothly day in and day out. We appreciate you!

Golf Course Readiness: Seasonal Labor

Is your seasonal golf course ready for business? How about your staff?

Some of your employees will return from last year, but some may be new hires. According to the federal Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), all employees have a right to a safe work environment. These same employees deserve to be, and are required to be, trained in the hazards associated with their job. This includes full-time, year-round employees, as well as part-time and seasonal workers. 

MNOSHA mandates training for employees in all types of work. This could be basic safety awareness training such as Employee Right-to-Know (ERTK), A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) program, or more job-specific training such as certified equipment operator training.

If your employees are handling your chemical application of herbicides, pesticides, and/or fertilizers, these folks may require additional specialized training including respiratory protection fit tests. Don’t forget to verify that your applicators have active application licensure (active and up to date). 

Often overlooked are your cooking and service staff. Best practices and certain city or county laws may require proper food handler/food safety training. In addition, employees engaged in alcohol service should be trained in alcohol server awareness.

Your membership in the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust provides you with resources to meet these training requirements. Whether you need assistance with bloodborne pathogens or chainsaw safety, building and walkway safety audits, or safety team materials such as toolbox talks, we can help.

Here are a few links and resources that may be helpful for your golf course staff training and licensing needs:

• Food and Beverage Service Licensing Statutes, Licenses required; Fees
• Food and Beverage Service Licensing Qualifications and Responsibilities
• Department of Health Food Safety Resource Materials (print/posters) 
• ServSafe Training and Certification
• TIPS Alcohol Server Training and Certification
• MN Dept. of Agriculture Golf Course Pesticide Applicator Requirement 
• University of Minnesota Golf Course Superintendent Phosphorus Certification

If you need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact your League representatives. 

Loss Control assistance General phone: (651) 281-1200 Toll-free: (800) 925-1122

Submit a question to HR & Benefits staff through (please include your name, title, city name, and question) hrbenefits@lmc.org.

 

Submitted by: Marc Dunker, Loss Control Consultant

Lift Station Safety and a Common Question

 “Are we required to have safety nets over our pump access hatch openings?”

This is a question I have heard several times in my short tenure with the League of Minnesota Cities. It may be phrased in several ways. 

“Really, I’m supposed to have nets over my inspections hatches?!”

Or

“Are nets required or can I use my temporary manhole guards?”

The answer to all these questions is “YES.”

According to MNOSHA standard 29 CFR1926.502(c) any opening into which a person could walk (or fall) must be guarded. The specific requirements of the guard system can be found clearly and understandably within the language of the standard. In general industry the fall height of 4 feet or more requires guarding, in construction that height (or depth) is 6 feet.

So, what constitutes “guarded”? The short answer is permanent railings, temporary railing systems, mesh net systems, or expanded steel type grates. Once again, a web search of the standard will provide details you need to be compliant.

“How about fall arrest systems? A lanyard or retractable device?” The answer is “maybe.” In this case the first thing to remember is that the pit you are guarding is a confined space, so the primary goal is to keep people out of the area, not dangling safely above it. So, if you are following the two-person method of confined space entry and you have the proper rescue equipment and an attendant, then a lanyard may meet OSHA’s standard. However, consider the risk associated. What if the lanyard is longer than the distance to the surface of the wastewater? How about air quality for the entrapped person while the attendant retrieves them? Suddenly lanyards are not an acceptable option. Preventing a person from toppling into the hole should be the goal.

So in the end, take a look at your access hatches. Are there guard rails or safety nets installed? If not, consider applying for an OSHA safety grant to update your facilities today before you or a coworker is in up to their necks!

Samples of acceptable systems:

Photos courtesy of  Hillsborough County Water Resources Department

Resources:

OSHA fall protection standard

MNOSHA Safety Grant online application

Hillsborough County Wet Well Dilemma
Article from the Florida Water Resource Journal 

Submitted by: Marc Dunker, Loss Control Consultant

Time to get your playgrounds ready for spring

As the snow melts and the puddles dry, your parks and playgrounds will become popular places once again. The League of Minnesota Insurance Trust (LMCIT) has a few tips to help you prepare for the change in seasonal use.

Safety reminders for staff   
As your employees begin clean-up duties, remind them to work safely. Consider the personal protection equipment (PPE) needs of the job. Certainly, gloves are a must to prevent hand injuries such as cuts or puncture wounds. High-visibility vests or clothing should also be worn. Talk to your folks about situational awareness on the job: oncoming vehicles, changes in walking conditions, etc. It’s also a good time to review your city’s policy on earbuds and headphones.

Make a list as you go
As employees are out and about cleaning and picking up trash, have them make a physical list of items that need attention. Using a Playground Inspection Checklist can assist in documenting your inspection and can be used by management to create a “to-do” list. High-hazard issues should be addressed and documented right away.

Focus on landing surfaces
Keep in mind that about 70% of all playground injuries are a result of ineffective or insufficient soft landing surface materials. The League of Minnesota Cities has several resources available to help you determine if your playground meets general safety and ADA standards.

ADA compliance depends on proper surface materials. Acceptable surfaces include poured-in-place rubber, tiles, engineered wood fiber, or hybrid surface systems. More information on these surfaces can be found in the U.S. Access Board’s ADA play surface guidelines (pdf). 

LMCIT endorses the use of ADA-compliant materials for playground surfaces. However, we also understand that some playgrounds are still waiting to update for various reasons. In cases where you are relying on other forms of loose fill materials, be sure that substrates are where they belong and have an adequate effective thickness (generally 12”, but this may vary depending on your equipment).

Playground and park safety should be a priority for your staff. Using the suggestions in this article and some basic best practices, you can provide safe and enjoyable recreation to your community. Your League of Minnesota Cities staff can help! Contact your loss control consultant, or call (800) 925-1122 to be connected with the loss control consultant in your area.

Additional resources:

Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pdf) 

Institute for Human Centered Design ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities (doc)  

Safe 2 Play Playground Safety Inspection Checklist (pdf)

League of Minnesota Cities Parks and Recreation Loss Control Guide

Submitted by: Marc Dunker, Loss Control Consultant

FMCSA phishing scam alert

Important message from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

FMCSA has been notified of a phishing scam that you may receive from the FMCSA “Assistant of Administration” claiming you need to “complete your most recent up-to-date membership License certificate.” If you receive any suspicious email from info@fmcsa.dot.gov or any other entity that you are not expecting or looks suspicious, please delete the email from your inbox. Once the email has been deleted, go into your deleted mail and delete it from your deleted mailbox. Doing this will limit the exposure of the phishing email.

Note that the only legitimate way to log in to the Training Provider Registry is via login.gov. Never enter your email address and password into a third-party website claiming to give you access to the Training Provider Registry. 

How can I tell if a website is an official government website? 

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Check the URL for https://
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

If you believe your city has already experienced a data breach or other cyber/privacy liability, contact LMCIT claims staff immediately at (800) 925-1122.

Can your city afford to skip a spring roof inspection?

Ahh, that sweet smell of spring! Spring brings beautiful flowers, warm weather, and potential problems with the roofs on your city buildings. The Minnesota winters of snow, rain, wind, and ice can take a toll on roofs, and you’ll want to make sure they keep you dry during summer storms. The warmer weather makes it easier and safer to inspect your roof and gutters and determine what needs to be done to get them back in good condition. Read below to find out what you should include in your spring roof maintenance.

Clean gutters and inspect downspouts

The first thing in your spring roofing inspection checklist is to get to work on your gutters and downspouts. Harsh winter weather can fill your gutter system with leaves, tree limbs, moss, and garbage. A blocked drainage system leads to overflows and structural damage, so it’s vital to clean it out each spring. Additionally, loose sections of the gutter should be secured, and damaged sections should be replaced right away.

Damaged downspouts can cause water leaks around your building. Make sure that you check your downspouts for damage from tree branches or ice dams and prune the tree branches hanging over your roof.

Inspect roof exteriors

A thorough inspection of the roof during the spring is a must. Your spring roofing inspection checklist must cover the following aspects:

• Damaged/missing shingles, cracks, tears, leaks.
  Take a note of missing, damaged, or worn-out shingles and ensure that you replace them immediately. A missing or damaged shingle can cause a water leak and, if not fixed, can damage the interiors of your building. For flat roofs, inspect scuppers, drains, penetrations, HVAC unit doors, and edge metal. Repair cracks, tears, and leaks. Make repairs to damaged portions of the roof as soon as possible to prevent them from causing even greater damage to your building.
• Mold growth.
  While doing a roofing inspection, actively look for signs of mold. If caught early, this can keep mold from seeping into the foundation of your building and save you from major issues. If you notice mold has spread over a large area, call your roofing professional for a thorough inspection.
• Damaged skylights.
  Inspect the seals around your skylights closely and make sure there is no damage to the roofing surface. If the seals are falling apart the chances of water leaks increase over time.
• General wear and tear.
  Look out for general wear and tear on your roof like loose or exposed nails, missing or damaged flashings, missing caulk, rusty metal flashings, and sagging areas. If you notice any of these conditions, make sure you get necessary repairs and replacements done so that your roof continues to protect your buildings.

Inspect roof interiors

Once you have thoroughly examined the exteriors of your roof, it is time to check the interiors for any damage, especially in the attic area. Grab a flashlight, or any other light, and inspect all the spaces in your attic for signs of water leaks or ventilation issues. In addition, look for water stains, cracks, and settling of foundation on interior walls and ceilings.

Protect your city investment by performing routine roofing maintenance and inspections. When you catch potential problems early, you prevent some bigger roof repairs and costly interior damage. You can even push roof replacements further into the future. It also gives you the opportunity to budget for big repairs or replacements early on, buying you time to save up for them.

Submitted by: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant