**NEW HANDS-ON TRAINING FACILITY**

Participants in this workshop will learn to identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings of an open trench, proper set-up of work sites, gain knowledge of current safety orders, soil analysis and classification, design and use of protective systems, and learn how to recognize and test for hazardous atmospheres. This training meets the requirements of Cal-OSHA Construction Safety Orders §1539-1543. Students will be working in an open LIVE trench for hands on training of the proper shoring procedures.

>>> TO REGISTER CLICK HERE <<<

For questions or information, contact:
Rudy Schroeder, President and Lead Instructor, Western Safety Institute at 916-910-0200 or rudy@westernsafetyinstitute.com
Or contact: Jim Neely, Safety Coordinator, SRBX at 916-442-8991 or jneely@sbxchange.net

To view all SRBX safety workshops, visit: www.srbxsafety.com

Ten-Foot Excavation, No Shoring = Fatality

A worker was buried in loose soil in a deep excavation at a Beverly Hills residential project on May 10, killing the worker. Although details are sparse on the incident at the moment, Cal/OSHA has determined that the sizable trench had no shoring.

The worker’s employer has not yet been determined, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health notes, and “the homeowners were accompanied by a defense lawyer at the site,” according to the agency.

The deceased worker has been identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office as Baron DeJesus Lopez-Orozco, 23, of Los Angeles.

The fatality occurred at about 2 p.m. at the Benedict Canyon house owned by Isaac Musighi, president of a diamond wholesaling company. The worker was excavating inside the 10-feet-deep, 16-feet-long, 22-inch-wide trench to install a French drain system, according to Cal/OSHA. “The trench was unshored and the excavation collapsed, burying the worker,” DOSH says. He was pronounced dead at the scene. One newspaper report said that the worker might have been buried as long as 20 minutes. Only the tips of his fingers were above the soil, the report said.

Mr. Musighi could not be reached for comment at press time. A representative at his company, Pacific M International, said he was traveling overseas

Source: Cal-OSHA Reporter Newsdesk [newsdesk@cal-osha.com]

The Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange is offering a Excavation/Trenching Competent Person class May 29 this would be a great opportunity to sharpen your safety tools on the subject. www.SRBXsafety.com to register.

Participants in this workshop will learn to identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings of an open trench, proper set-up of work sites, gain knowledge of current safety orders, soil analysis and classification, design and use of protective systems, and learn how to recognize and test for hazardous atmospheres. This training meets the requirements of Cal-OSHA Construction Safety Orders §1539-1543. Students will be working in an open LIVE trench for hands on training of the proper shoring procedures.

In a medical emergency, the immediate response should be to call 911, then the physician/clinic on call and the emergency first aid personnel. Finally, the employee’s emergency contact should be notified.

If /when emergency personnel arrive and the employee decides they don’t want treatment, the employer should have the employee sign a waiver or affidavit that expressly states that the employer should be held harmless for that decision.

Employees should not be driving other employees to the emergency room, unless it a simple first aid situation. If the medical issue is really unknown, it places both of the employees at risk and the employer should not allow that to happen.

How Should Health & Safety Policies Be Communicated? An employee handbook is one of the most essential communication tools between a company and its employees. An HR policy manual or employee handbook includes information on general work policies, employee classification, workplace harassment, compensation & benefits, attendance, personal conduct, termination of employment and more.
Employee handbooks should address health and safety policies, even if it is as simple as: “ABC Company is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. We have established safety procedures and have designated a safety committee [or point of contact]. Our response to medical emergencies is to immediately contact emergency medical professionals to assess the situation. Our procedures for medical emergencies as well as safety evacuations can be found [state the place where this is posted – online portal, break room, etc.] or you can talk with your manager or a member of the safety committee for more information.”

Source: GSBE News to Use, April – June 2012 Quarterly Edition; from CEA’s exclusive Payroll Partner – PrimePay (www.primepay.com)

Click Here To Register

Only 3 weeks left to Regsiter!

Vicky Heza, Program Manager, Cal/OSHA was the lead-off speaker at the Voluntary Protection Program – Construction (VPP-C) meeting hosted by Brown Construction and facilitated by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange.  With twenty-four in attendance Vicky opened her remarks with the current Cal/OSHA hierarchy starting with the newly appointed Ellen Widess, Cal/OSHA Chief (awaiting approval vote), Deborah Gold, Deputy Chief Health and Chis Lee, Deputy Chief Enforcement and finished with comments about the fact that John Ford is now the single Senior Engineer dedicated to the VPP-C group for all of California.  She stressed that although there are constant modifications in the overall mandate the VPP-C program remains committed toward a comprehensive injury and illness prevention program’s consistent implementation. In brief, the California Voluntary Protection Program (Cal/VPP) Star is a labor-management-government cooperative program designed to recognize workplaces that manage outstanding health and safety management systems for protection of workers and go beyond minimal compliance with the Cal/OSHA Title 8 California Code of Regulations. The sites with Cal/VPP culture have knowledgeable employees and management who work together in partnership with Cal-OSHA to systematically identify and correct hazards. The program requires continuous improvement of health and safety program at the site.

Richard DaRosa, Cal/OSHA Senior Engineer, presented a detailed analysis on Article 108 Confined Space, §5156 and §5157 accompanied by an excellent PowerPoint defining Confined Space, pre-Entry definitions and requirements, working in confined spaces, and rescue.  DaRosa gave numerous illustrations and examples of confined spaces and solutions to meeting the new safety standards.

John Ford, Senior Engineer, Cal/OSHA and VPP-C service representative presented a Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Update for 2012 which included who are the current participants in the program, scheduled re-certifications and re-evaluations, received applications, and expressions of interest from general contractors to join.  John Ford’s presentation included the new Crane standards, the new Ladder changes, and some very interesting proposed changes relative to All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) and All Terrain Utility Vehicles (ATUV’s).  Just a few of the proposals have to do with seat belts, helmets, gloves, lights, and probably most important a complete training program for those designated to operate such vehicles.  This new ATV standard is only one hearing away from approval and could require implantation in a matter of months.  There is an excellent item in the March 9 Cal/OSHA Reporter Electronic Summary Version discussing issues with this proposed standard.  A final item John Ford addressed was fire extinguisher training, extinguisher placement, and anchoring.

Those in attendance included: Lacey Harston—Bovis Lend Lease, Jerry Shupe—Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Gino Cesario—Corporate & Strategic Services, Nick Cloud—McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Jim Day—S.D. Deacon Corp. of California, Dale Jackson and Tim Fitzpatrick—Overaa Construction, Jim Wathen—C.W. Driver, Steven Hooper—Unger Construction Co.,  Add Kennon—S.J. Amoroso Construction, Dennis Bell–Otto Construction, and host Brown Construction—Ron Brown, Terry Shelby, Matt DeFazio, Liz McCapes, and Debbie Meyers.  Cal/OSHA was well represented with Vicky Heza, John Ford and Richard DeRosa.

It was announced that the next VPP-C meeting would be held in southern California at a to be determined location and date.

Each year as the annual Safety Expo event moves closer the registration numbers are kept track of in order to see which sessions are near reaching capacity.  There are a number of sessions that have capacity limits because of certification requirements or limits of time or equipment.  As always it is best to register early for many of the most popular classes, the 2012 Safety Expo is no different than year’s past.

The CPR classes naturally have limits because of the hands-on nature of the training and requirement limits.  Again for 2012 the CPR classes are filling quickly.  Due to the fact the OSHA 10 sessions are such a great bargain and the fact that both the Fed OSHA 10 as well as the Cal/OSHA 10 are so popular we are seeing those two sessions drawing numerous early registrations.  Andy Bull’s Ladder Safety and Fall Protection sessions are perennial favorites as well as the Heat Illness, Accident Investigation, Excavation, and Confined Space sessions.

When Richard DaRosa, Senior Safety Engineer suggested a specific Cal/OSHA Regulatory  track for the 2012 Expo because this is a critical year for compliance issues, his intuition has proved correct.  All of the Cal/OSHA focused training sessions are seeing strong registration numbers.  Every year we see the number one citation involving the IIPP Program it is therefore no surprise that David Harrington and David Strickler’s session called “Elements of an Effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program” has drawn a large registration.

With one-hundred sessions stuffed  into three days there are too many to individually cite at this point other than to say this is the best time to register your employees for the April 3 – 5 Safety Expo.  There are still many excellent sessions open and available for registration.  For the most up-to-date class listings and course descriptions go to www.sacsafetyexpo.com and take a look.  If you have specific questions about group discounts or bulk registrations please call Jim Neely or Heidi Hughes at 916-442-8991 or by e-mail Heidi@sbxchange.net or Jneely@sbxchange.net.

4 Key Recommendations to Keep Your Workforce Safer

Strains and sprains account for a major portion of injuries suffered in the construction industry. These injuries are often caused by lifting, pushing, twisting, prolonged bending or overreaching and normally affect the back, shoulders, and arms. A sprain or strain can happen in a moment, but can take days or months to heal.  Strains and sprains can be costly both in lost time and money.

Help your employees avoid sprains and strains by following these four key recommendations:

1.  Practice proper lifting techniques – Lifting items that weigh too much or lifting incorrectly accounts for many strains and sprains. Prior to lifting, have the worker(s) consider the weight, size, and shape of a load. Even when utilizing proper lifting techniques there are limits to the weight and amount of materials a person can safely carry. Workers need to test the load before attempting to lift.  If they’re not sure they can handle the load, they should get help from another worker or break the load down into smaller parts. If they can’t break it down, have mechanical assist devices available for use.

2.  Carry the load correctly – Even moderate loads can cause injury if handled using poor technique. Train workers to carry a load close to their bodies.  When carrying a load, they should know to avoid bending at the waist or twisting. To lower a load or set it down, bend at the knees, not the waist.  And to turn while carrying a load, turn using their feet, not twisting at the waist.

3.  Avoid awkward positions/overreaching – Working for long periods of time in an awkward, bent-over, or twisted position can strain or sprain body parts.  Because strain increases in proportion to the distance of the work from the body, workers should try to keep their bodies close enough to their work such that they are not reaching, or hunching over.  There’s less strain on the body if the work is positioned between the shoulders and waist, with a waist-high level being the most neutral and comfortable.  They may also need to raise or lower themselves for better positioning.

4.  Keep physically fit – Encourage your employees to get plenty of exercise and make healthy food choices. If muscles or ligaments have weakened over time from lack of exercise or age, they’re more likely to strain or sprain than if they’re physically fit.

Employee training in proper lifting techniques and working postures should be an important component of your Injury and Illness and Prevention Program. During an employee’s initial job orientation meeting, make it clear that safe work practices and employee well-being are an integral part of the job.

If employees understand why it’s in their best interest to practice correct lifting techniques and working postures and how an injury can negatively impact their quality of life, they may become more conscious of practicing those techniques and postures to avoid injury.

© 2012 State Compensation Insurance Fund

Established in 1914 by the state legislature, State Fund is California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance and a vital asset to California businesses. Completely self supporting, State Fund plays a stabilizing role in California’s economy by maintaining an open door policy that ensures all employers have a strong and stable option for their workers’ compensation needs.

If you work on buildings built before 1978 where children may be present, you must be EPA Lead RRP Certified. The EPA requires that all contractors must register for Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Certification by September 30, 2010 in order to perform renovation, repair and painting projects in homes, rentals, child-occupied facilities and schools built before 1978.

Under the new rules, contractors and workers must have documented training and practice lead-safe work practices to reduce potential lead exposures during renovation and repair activities. The requirements apply to anyone, such as painters, plumbers, electricians and contractors, who could potentially expose children to lead dust while performing their work.

For any contractor performing this work without the Lead RRP Certification, the EPA may seek penalties of up to $37,500 per violation, per day.

Become Lead RRP Certified in just 8 hours.

The EPA mandates training to prepare workers for lead handling best practices. With this course, you receive:
◦Comprehensive on-line training
◦Lead RRP certification exam
◦Certificate of Completion
◦Course workbook
◦Reporting templates for your firm and much more..

Click Here To Register!

Who Needs to be Lead-RRP Certified?

All contractors who work with homes, schools and day care centers built prior to 1978 need to become EPA certified in Lead-Safe work practices. Renovators, electricians, HVAC specialists, plumbers, painters and maintenance staff who disrupt more than six square feet of lead paint in pre-1978 homes, schools, day care centers and other places where children spend time must have this certifcation, or face fines of thousands of dollars.

EPA Requirements

Common renovation activities like demolition, sanding and cutting demolition can create hazardous lead dust by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. On April 22, 2008, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning September 30, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Individuals can become certified renovators by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider.

Urgent alert for CALPASC members regarding a Cal/OSHA
special emphasis program on Confined Spaces!In response to 7 fatalities in 2011 due to confined spaces, Cal/OSHA is pursuing a focused effort to reduce these fatalities to zero. Much of the time the tragedy with confined spaces is multiplied by rescuers dying trying to save a fellow worker. The ultimate tragedy was a 22 year old Bakersfield worker dying in an attempt to save his brother, who also died in the confined space. Cal/OSHA is holding a webinar on Thursday, February 23rd, at 10 am; in order to promote greater awareness and understanding of the issue. You can register at this link.Cal/OSHA has also issued a Hazard alert on Confined Spaces, you can link to it here.The list of confined spaces includes attics, crawl spaces, pipes, vaults, manholes, trenches, and many more. All Cal/OSHA inspections from here forward will include an inspection of the worksite for any possible confined spaces; and a review of the employer’s compliance with the confined space regulations if any confined spaces are found. Cal/OSHA is not considering changing the regulations, only strongly enforcing the regulations that are in place.

If you have any questions regarding this special alert, please contact Bruce Wick, Director of Risk Management with CALPASC @ (909) 793.9932 | bwick@calpasc.org.