Meeting Safety Management Challenges To manage effectively, management needs information which tells them in real time how well the organizational systems are meeting business challenges, customer needs, innovation and growth. By Peter FurstNov 24, 2020 Generally, prior to 1992 all businesses measured their success based on financial (outcome) metrics alone. Kaplan & Norton wrote an article for the Jan-Feb 1992 issue of the Harvard Business Review magazine titled “The Balanced Scorecard – Measures That Drive Performance” which revolutionized how businesses manage performance and measure outcomes. Now, just about every business uses some form of the Balanced Scorecard. As discussed in a previous article, there are problems with safety management. Another impediment is in the area of safety metrics. Management is responsible for efficient and effective operations. Information is required to accomplish this. The traditional financial measures used were historical outcome metrics, which tell you how you have done, but not much else. To manage effectively, management needs information which tells them in real time how well the organizational and operational systems are meeting business challenges, customer needs, innovation and growth. These are process metrics. Management also needs information on how quickly things are improving, which are also progress metrics. All three metrics are required to manage effectively. Safety Metrics Organizations are required by law to keep track of their recordable accidents, with some exceptions. They are also required to provide that information to the Department of Labor, which issues annual average injury and fatality metrics for various industries. Organizations can use this to gauge their comparative performance. Doing better than the industry average is a rather poor target to strive to outperform. Insurance companies who offer workers compensation policies track their insured’s accident losses by total number (frequency) and how costly they are (severity). This determines the premium they will charge for that policy in the upcoming year. Usually their loss control department (or the broker) will review the losses on an annual basis with their insured. They may offer suggested interventions so as to reduce the losses and therefore control the cost of the insurance policies going forward. Let's block ads! (Why?)

OSHA Highlights Importance of Worker Safety During The Holidays OSHA provides resources for employers and employees to defer to for the upcoming holiday season. By Nikki Johnson-BoldenNov 23, 2020 OSHA and its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued a reminder on November 20 to employers to emphasize their responsibility to protect worker safety during the holiday season. OSHA advises employers to train workers to recognize potential job hazards and implement safety practices to stop the spread of COVID-19. There is also a focus on temporary or seasonal workers, who should also be properly trained and made aware of workplace procedures despite not being long term employees. “Throughout the holiday season, all employees, including seasonal workers, should be trained not only on how to perform their jobs safely, but also on how to stay safe from the coronavirus.” said Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. OSHA also advocates for workers to receive “rightful wages” while working during the holidays. More information on OSHA’s regulations for employers to follow can be found at osha.gov. About the Author Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety. Let's block ads! (Why?)

U.S. Companies Pivot to Meet Demand for PPE During COVID-19 Crisis The pandemic led several companies to begin producing PPE in order to fill a large void in availability. By Lisa BriggsNov 20, 2020 What began as an outbreak of serious illness caused by a novel coronavirus in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, quickly spread around the world and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. In the United States, the first laboratory-confirmed case was diagnosed in the state of Washington on January 20, 2020. Within two months, hospitals in numerous states were overwhelmed with cases of critically ill COVID-19 patients. There was a huge surge in demand for PPE like gowns and masks, but supply chains were disrupted and stockpiles were quickly depleted. The situation became dire. Medical isolation gowns and masks were in such short supply that healthcare professionals were re-using these single-use items for days or even weeks at a time, putting themselves at increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Rising to the Challenge Driven by a common desire to do whatever it would take to supply the necessary PPE to protect frontline workers exposed to this deadly virus, many companies—including materials suppliers, convertors and garment manufacturers—quickly acted to find solutions. Some of the companies had no prior experience supplying PPE but saw the critical need and rose to meet the challenge. They pivoted from their usual business, adapted their expertise, collaborated with materials suppliers and convertors they had never worked with before, innovated designs and processes and began supplying medical isolation gowns and masks in record time. From Fashion Apparel to PPE Located in New York City’s historic Fashion District, Ferrara Manufacturing has been producing Olympic uniforms for Team USA, runway garments and formal suiting for several major luxury brands since 1987. In March 2020, however, Ferrara Manufacturing shifted its garment production from high-end fashion to medical isolation gowns for frontline workers. Let's block ads! (Why?)

OSHA Updates FAQ to Include Comment on Cloth Face Masks The updated FAQ addresses the question of whether cloth face masks qualify as PPE. By Nikki Johnson-BoldenNov 19, 2020 OSHA published an update to its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on November 18 to answer the question of whether it considers cloth face coverings to be PPE. This update arrives after the CDC determined that some cloth face coverings protect the wearers as well as people around them. The FAQ states that OSHA doesn’t believe it has enough information to determine if certain face coverings provide enough protection to be considered PPE under OSHA’s standard. This determination is in line with the CDC’s sentiment on cloth face masks, which also states that more research is needed on the scope of their protection and filtration levels. More information on OSHA’s recommendations regarding face masks, visit osha.gov. About the Author Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Construction Company Fined Over $90,000 After Fall Protection and Safety Violations A Washington state construction company was fined $92,000 after failing to enforce fall protection use among employees. By Nikki Johnson-BoldenNov 18, 2020 Washington construction company Cloise & Mike Construction was fined $92,000 by the Department of Labor & Industries for serious safety violations, according to Insurance Journal. Cloise & Mike Construction was cited for failing to enforce the use of fall protection after the Department of Labor & Industries received an anonymous report containing photos of employees doing roofing work without proper protection in May. During the inspection that followed, it was discovered that employees also failed to practice social distancing or wear masks. The May incident resulted in eight citations. These recent violations are not the company’s first issues with workplace safety—Cloise & Mike had received over 24 citations since 2001. The construction company is appealing the citations that resulted from the May 2020 inspection. More information on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries’ safety rules can be found at lni.wa.gov. About the Author Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Maintaining Sustainable Practices Is Possible Amid The Growing Demand for PPE Sustainability is a hot topic, but does it have any real meaning for industrial PPE? By Rodney TaylorNov 18, 2020 Total sales of sustainable products are expected to pass $150 billion next year, and the demand for sustainable products is only expected to continue. Sustainable product sales have increased 40% since 2014, representing a gain of $43 billion USD. Sustainable product growth is not limited to just one market sector. An assessment of companies by market sector revealed that a wide range of companies are claiming added profits from sustainable products and offerings. For example, the consumer products sector ranks high—as expected. But we also see companies from diverse, core industrial sectors such as industrial goods, energy and utilities, chemicals, automobiles all claiming differentiated profits from sustainable products and offerings. Increased focus on sustainability for core industrial markets puts industrial PPE in the mix. For perhaps some more meaningful examples of corporate sustainability focus, all you have to do is visit websites of your customers (or their customers, depending on where you are positioned in the value chain.) Websites across every market sector and company, regardless of size, are putting sustainability front and center. Even candidates are looking to join companies with a sustainable footprint—this is regarded as one of the top values job seekers are highlighting as important to their core values when looking for an organization to join. What does all this mean? An increasing number of companies are making and publicizing sustainability goals. Achieving these sustainability targets will take significant effort and expense. At the same time, internal and external stakeholders are expected to trim operating costs. This means customers are looking for sustainability wins that will not bust budgets. There has been a lot of media coverage around disposable nitrile gloves as essential PPE for COVID-19 response. It is estimated that COVID-19 response has generated a 45% spike in demand, representing increased consumption of almost 140 billion single-use gloves. These gloves will eventually make their way into a landfill and be combined with the almost 15 billion pounds of rubber waste. From a sustainability standpoint, this is a massive issue, as rubber is a contaminant in current recycling streams. A typical nitrile glove will take potentially hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Department of Labor Proposes Rule To Clarify Independent Contractor Conundrum An employee who is mischaracterized as an independent contractor may expose the employer to sizable claims under federal and state laws. By Jim EvansNov 16, 2020 Is she an independent contractor or an employee? The distinction is critical because independent contractors are not entitled to be paid minimum wage, do not receive overtime and typically receive none of the benefits that employees are entitled to. The distinction is equally critical to companies. An employee who is mischaracterized as an independent contractor may expose the employer to sizable claims under federal and state laws—the distinction matters! State legislatures, courts and government agencies continue to struggle with how to determine whether someone is an independent contractor or employee. In turn, employers are left with the uncertainties created by a minefield of state and federal laws and regulations that often conflict with one another. The Department of Labor (DOL) recently proposed a rule intended to create greater certainty on the matter under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Depending on if the new presidential administration changes things, the proposed rule would establish an “economic reality” test to determine a worker’s status as an employee or independent contractor. The proposed rule is undoubtedly intended to make it easier for companies to treat workers as independent contractors under the FLSA. The new rule won’t affect state laws or regulations, so beware! The Economic Reality Test of the New Rule Under the proposed “economic reality” test, the DOL would consider whether or not an individual is in business for herself, in which case she would likely be properly classified as an independent contractor. In contrast, if she is “economically dependent” on the company for work, she would most likely be treated as an employee. To make this determination, the DOL proposes to consider two primary issues: 1. The extent of the worker’s control over the work 2. The worker’s opportunity for profit or loss based on initiative or investment Let's block ads! (Why?)

OSHA Issues Guidance For Workplace Ventilation Employees that are working in person during the pandemic should be working in offices with adequate ventilation to minimize their risk of infection. By Nikki Johnson-BoldenNov 13, 2020 OSHA released a guidance directing workplaces to set up proper ventilation in offices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on November 5, according to Business Insider. It is recommended that offices open windows and utilize air conditioning and ventilation professionals to maximize air flow in the building, as enclosed spaces with poor ventilation put employees at risk for infection. Infected droplets can travel farther in areas that are not well ventilated. Workplaces should also have filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value rating of 13 on their HVAC systems. Increasing the office HVAC’s outdoor air intake is another way to mitigate the amount of harmful particles inside the room. “In such a tightly enclosed space without vigorous air movement for a short period of time, I’m afraid you might be exposed,” said William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. For more information on OSHA’s ventilation guidance, visit osha.gov. About the Author Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety. Let's block ads! (Why?)