Here are the issues that drove safety professionals on their journey to excellence throughout the year.
Industry professionals have to consider an ever-changing list of hazards in their company’s road to excellence. Building safety into a company’s culture is no easy task, as risks constantly change depending on a plethora of factors. Safety managers focused on these 10 issues throughout 2019, based on EHS Today’s website and print magazine coverage throughout the year.
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Wilmington, Del.-based Dana Railcare is facing $551,226 in penalties after a worker asphyxiated in a confined space.
In May 2019, a 29-year-old Justin Fields was servicing a rail car containing crude oil sludge in Pittston, Penn. Fields lost consciousness during the task and was pronounced dead at 3 p.m.
"This tragedy could have been prevented if the employer had followed proper safety procedures for entering and cleaning railcars," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt, in a statement. "Employers that fail to comply with the law will continue to see full and fair enforcement."
Following the accident, OSHA cited Dana Railcare for four willful and three serious violations for failing to protect employees from the hazards of entering permit-required confined spaces, and inadequate respiratory protection procedures.
The agency also placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
"Companies are legally required to test and monitor confined spaces for oxygen content before and during entry to confined spaces," said Mark Stelmack, OSHA Wilkes-Barre area director.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Area Director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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Federal OSHA administered 33,401,401 inspections in fiscal year (FY) 2019, a record number according to the agency.
The number of inspections is more than what was completed in the past three years. Final statistics indicate a record number of compliance assistance requests as well.
“OSHA’s efforts – rulemaking, enforcement, compliance assistance and training – are tools to accomplish our mission of safety and health for every worker,” Loren Sweatt, OSHA principal deputy assistant secretary of labor, said in a statement. “I am proud of the diligent, hard work of all OSHA personnel who contributed to a memorable year of protecting our nation’s workers.”
The agency's enforcement activities are a result of an increased focus addressing violations including trenching, falls, chemical exposure, silica and other hazards. Federal investigators conducted 33,401 inspections in FY 2019. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program, available at no cost to employers, identified 137,885 workplace hazards and protected an estimated 3.2 million workers from harm.
More than 1.3 million workers received training through OSHA's educational opportunities including the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, Outreach Training Program and Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.
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Preliminary Thanksgiving holiday road fatalities are estimated to fall 4% year over year, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
The organization released its annual safety reminder for those traveling during the period, which runs from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.
NSC's 2019 estimates state 417 people may be killed and another 47,500 may be seriously injured in automobile accidents. Alcohol is a "persistent factor" in these fatal crashes.
“Thanksgiving should be a time for family gatherings and good food, not the tragedy that a car crash can bring,” said Lorraine M. Martin, NSC president and CEO. “Let’s work to keep each other safe this holiday by planning ahead and avoiding impaired driving. Making smart decisions will help protect all of us as we travel for celebrations and other activities.”
According to historical data gathered by the organization, more than one-third of deaths during the Thanksgiving holiday period involve alcohol-impaired drivers.
The NSC also cautioned motorists not to drive under the influence of drugs, particularly as the decriminalization of cannabis continues in states throughout the U.S. and the widespread impact of the opioid crisis persists. Just like alcohol, the consumption of marijuana and opioid painkillers can impact judgment, reflexes and cognitive dexterity, increasing the risk of death and injury behind the wheel.
In addition to urging sober, attentive driving during the Thanksgiving holiday period – and throughout the year – the NSC advocates for all vehicle passengers to buckle up no matter what seating position they are in.
Seat belt use by vehicle occupants could save 165 lives during the 2019 holiday weekend, and an additional 97 lives could be saved if everyone were to wear safety belts, the NSC stated.
The NSC recommends the following vehicle safety precautions:
Practice defensive driving, designate a sober driver or arrange alternative transportation, get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue, and drive attentively, avoiding distractions.
Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from cannabis and opioids.
Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits; visit DriveitHOME.org for resources.
Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them; visit MyCarDoesWhat.org for information
Fix recalls immediately; visit ChecktoProtect.org to ensure your vehicle does not have an open recall
Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways; the NSC State of Safety report shows which states have the strongest and weakest traffic safety laws
Get involved in the Road to Zero Coalition, a group of more than 900 organizations across the country focused on eliminating roadway deaths by 2050; visit nsc.org/roadtozero to join
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Safety culture often is used as a buzzword or phrase.
What really defines safety culture? In actuality, safety should be part of a company’s culture, and the two shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Everyone from C-suite to HR to professionals on down should have the same core vision, values and beliefs when it comes to maintaining a safe workplace. It should be integrated into a company’s mission and everyday operations.
Carletta Ooton, Amazon’s vice president of Health, Safety, Sustainability, Security and Compliance, spoke to EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference attendees about how the world’s largest online retailer is changing the “mischaracterization” of the company in the media through changing the way its associates perceive Amazon’s safety culture.
“We decided that we needed to figure out what our associates really think about safety,” she explained. “We needed to innovate how to measure our safety culture on an ongoing basis by understanding both the safety sentiment of our associates and our frontline leaders at our sites around the world.”
Ooton stated that in her five-year tenure at the company safety has shifted from a talking point to being evident in everything Amazon associates do across their global fulfillment network. One big driver to this is Ooton’s in-house development of the Safety Leadership Index (SLI), a measurement of both Amazon leaders’ and associates’ perceptions of site leadership’s focus on creating a safe workplace.“It’s extraordinarily thoughtful, extremely simple and it’s at the heart of what we want to know,” Ooton said.
SLI is essentially a barometer of what is working and not working on a site-by-site, worker-by-worker basis. Surveys sent to employees ask questions such as:• Even if it is really busy, does your manager make time for safety?• Do you feel you work in a safe workplace?• Do you feel you have everything you need to perform your job safely?• Does the training match real-world expectations?• Do you feel encouraged to report safety issues?• Does your manager care about the safety of you and your team?
Each of these questions is followed by these possible responses: never, sometimes, often or always. Once these responses are gathered, further analysis allows Ooton and her team to determine areas of focus and changes in current initiatives. In 2018, more than 19,000 action plans were implemented as a result of data auditing and additional worker input.
Ooton’s efforts to change Amazon’s culture parallels with ISO 45001, which requires involvement from leadership and all workers.
The new international standard is going to be the basis for all safety management systems implemented globally, not because companies want to, but because customers will demand it, Ed Foulke, Fisher & Phillips partner and former head of OSHA, told SLC attendees in a packed session.
The delicate dance between safety and the bottom line is finally coming to an end as the new standard directs top management of companies to implement systems company-wide.
With ISO 45001, responsibility for safety is not tasked to a specific person such as a safety director. It does not specify performance criteria or mandate a specific system design, which means companies are able to use current frameworks to build a more robust, effective system. ISO 45001 assesses risks beforehand, rather than working backward after an injury has already occurred. In addition, safety leadership from all levels is required to make the model work.
“In the context of the organization, it will tell what we do, why do we live, what do we produce, and that will drive how we address risk,” said Steve Davis, lead consultant, Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions. “The management team and workers are involved in writing and implementing all of the procedures. This is not new. This is a quality management system.”
Publicly-traded companies such as Amazon should be interested in ISO 45001 certification from a public relations and sustainability perspective. The positive impact on corporate culture includes a transformation from correction-mode to prevention mode.
The standard will allow for improved efficiency and consistency of internal operations. In addition, companies seeking certification will see an increase in productivity and improved quality while achieving operational excellence.
“If we build a system that is clean and efficient enough, it will run itself. In fact, the employees will run it,” Davis said. “If safety and risk is managed well, it becomes a non-issue.”
Safety culture should no longer be thrown around as a buzzword, as new tools and systems make it easier to prove return on investment (ROI). With so much data and the roadmaps at our fingertips, safety professionals can now drive home the value of implementing a robust continuous improvement system, making it easier to go above and beyond compliance.
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Between 2011 and 2015, heating equipment caused 54,030 home fires and 480 fatalities.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is reminding everyone to practice home safety to prevent household fires caused by improper cooking and heating practices, especially as the holiday season approaches.
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December and February is a peak season for home fires, with 30% of all home fires and 4 in 10 home deaths taking place during the winter. Nearly 900 people die in home fires each year during the season, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
“Entertaining during the holidays can be stressful, but statistics suggest simple cooking and heating safety practices can ensure everyone enjoys the celebration,” said ESFI President Brett Brenner. “This includes taking proactive measures to make sure our homes are free of electrical hazards, as well as making sure we follow basic safety guidelines during our holiday celebrations.”
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"[ISO 45001] is the future of safety," Ed Foulke, Fisher Phillips partner, told a packed room of attendees at the 2019 Safety Leadership Conference in Dallas.
The new international standard is going to be the basis for all safety management systems implemented globally, not because companies want to, but because customers will demand it.
The delicate dance between safety and the bottom line is finally coming to an end as the new standard directs top management of companies to implement systems company-wide.
"We wanted to take the safety profession and get them to the C-suite," Foulke, who worked on the ISO 45001 committee, explained.
With ISO 45001, responsibility for safety is not tasked to a specific person such as a safety director. It does not specify performance criteria or mandate a specific system design, which means companies are able to use current frameworks to build a more robust, effective system.
So, why should a company care about the new international standard? Because ISO 45001 assesses risks beforehand, rather than working backward after an injury has already occurred. In addition, safety leadership from all levels is required to make the model work. With this involvement, safety professionals now are able to prove return on investment (ROI) to top-level executives.
"This will allow companies to go from good to great to world-class," Foulke said. "There's not way you're not going to get there because it is a continuous improvement model."
The global economy will be impacted as companies work to become ISO 45001 certified. Because there is now a single set of standards that can be understood on a global scale, domestic and international trade has the potential to improve. Global supply networks will be able to use this certification as a selling point to obtain new contracts and business relationships and meet the requirements of existing clients.
In addition, ISO 45001 replacing OHSA’S 18001 in March 2021. European governments already have a jumpstart on the new international standard. As foreign-owned companies direct its American plants to reach ISO 45001 certification, other vendors, suppliers and contractors will be pushed to comply.
"In the context of the organization, it will tell what we do, why do we live, what do we produce, and that will drive how we address risk," Steve Davis lead consultant, Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions. "The management team and workers are involved in writing and implementing all of the procedures. This is not new. This is a quality management system."
Publicly-traded companies should be interested in ISO 45001 from a public relations and sustainability perspective as well. The positive impact on corporate culture includes a transformation from correction-mode to prevention mode. ISO 45001 allows for improved management oversight, addition of a measurable Key Performance Indicator (KPI), demonstration of due diligence and demonstrations of achieving key initiatives in continuous improvement.
Overall, cost benefits of ISO 45001 include:
Lower probability of potential civil and criminal liability
Creation of new tools to provide significant ROI
Positive impact on corporate culture
Improved production and quality
Increased profitability resulting in enhanced competitiveness
Increased ability to meet legal and regulatory requirements and avoid governmental penalties
Lastly, ISO45001 allows companies to demonstrate in writing and in practice their commitment to the welfare of workers and the community. It will allow for improved efficiency and consistency of internal operations. In addition, companies seeking certification will see an increase in productivity and improved quality while achieving operational excellence.
"If we build a system that is clean and efficient enough, it will run itself. In fact, the employees will run it," Davis said. "If safety and risk is managed well, it becomes a non-issue."
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Environmental consciousness is at the forefront of workers' minds, and your company's culture could be affected by it.
A new survey by UK commercial property agents Savoy Stewart asked 1,703 office workers about their opinions on their company's green initiatives.
Respondents scored their current offices in terms of eco-friendliness, and most answers averaged at only 2.1 out of 5 (1 = not eco-friendly at all and 5 = very eco-friendly).
In addition, survey results indicated that employers aren't implementing enough in terms of eco-incentive office features, which Savoy Stewart listed as:
Energy efficient utilities/devices (42%)
Office challenges and green policies (32%)
Eco-friendly office design and architecture (31%)
Abundance of plant-life (27%)
In-office sustainability team (14%)
Chemical-free washing/cleaning products (12%)
Workers who took the survey said changing the use of utilities and devices will have the most environmental impact in the office, followed by a change in office designs, mindsets, and lastly materials and supplies.
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On May 3, 2019, an explosion at AB Specialty Silicones plant in Waukegan, Ill. decimated the entire facility, shook homes and scattered debris for miles. It also killed four of the nine workers in the building at the time.
Although investigators never were able to determine the cause of the deadly blast, OSHA did discover 12 willful federal safety violations.
"Employers must employ hazard recognition to protect workers from harm, especially in high hazard industries," said Loren Sweatt, principal deputy assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "By ignoring safety and health requirements, this employer created an unsafe work environment with deadly consequences."
The four workers killed at the silicon chemical products manufacturer were 53-year-old Byron Biehn, the company's owner; 29-year-old Allen Stevens, owner and chemical operator; 57-year-old Jeff Cummings, production supervisor; and 24-year-old Daniel Nicklas, quality control chemist.
“We are shocked and heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred in our plant on May 3rd," General Manager Mac Penman posted on the company's website following the incident. "We are trying our best to support all of the members of our AB family as we attempt to process this terrible loss together.”
OSHA investigators found AB Specialty Silicones failed to ensure that electrical equipment and installations in the production area of the plant complied with OSHA electrical standards and were approved for hazardous locations. The company also used forklifts powered by liquid propane to transport volatile flammable liquids, and operated these forklifts in areas where employees handled and processed volatile flammable liquids and gases, creating the potential for ignition.
"An employer's adherence to safety and health standards, including the proper use of electrical equipment and forklifts when handling flammable liquids, is critical to preventing fire, explosions and other incidents that can seriously or fatally injure workers," said Nancy Hauter, OSHA acting regional administrator in Chicago.
AB Specialty Silicones faces $1,591,176 in penalties and has been placed the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
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When strained, relationships are like a rubber band. They stretch until the snap.
Lee Shelby told attendees of the 2019 Safety Leadership Conference about the workplace accident that changed his and his family's lives.
“All [children] know is that their mom and dad walked out of the house and came back home, and they weren’t the same...Families will remember this for the rest of their lives," the former power lineman explained.
On August 12, 1991, Shelby was working for a utility company in Memphis, Tenn. He had just left a safety meeting and set out to work on distribution power lines. Shortly after, a line Shelby cut made contact with his body, causing 13,000 volts of electricity to enter his body.
"If you can imagine what it was like, it was chaos," he said. "At the blink of an eye, all it took was a split second for that accident to happen."
Shelby's coworkers rushed to save his life, which had been altered at that time forever. The decision he made to not wear rubber gloves and to use a shortcut, or to break a safety rule, cost him his hands. The lineman had six surgeries in five days. Participating in occupational therapy to relearn essential functions was his new job. He was now a bilateral below-the-elbow amputee.
For that point on, Shelby would never be able to feel his wife's face. His daughter never knew her father with hands and faced questions from kids at school. This i
"I gave [my hands] up because I made a conscious decision to break a safety rule," he said.
Safety leaders need to educate workers to understand the impact of workplace injuries and why they need to do it themselves because safety leaders cannot be standing over their shoulders. It's about making employees listen for the right reasons and committing to participating in safe practices no matter what.
Families don't ask for the additional responsibilities that come with an injured or disabled worker. Shelby told the audience that it's unfair to them and the effects of a workplace injury should not be thrown on children.
"I never want to see this happen to another person," Shelby said.
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