December workplace safety news and OSHA fines, plus top safety news items of 2014, including: • Top 10 Safety Articles of 2014: OSHA Rules, Confined Spaces, Safe Driving • Top 10 OSHA Fines of 2014 Total $9.2 Million • Top Safety Tip of 2014: Abrasive Blasting

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December 2014 Visit: ComplianceSigns.com | Connection blog
Top Safety News This Month
• Top 10 Safety Articles of 2014: OSHA Rules, Confined Spaces, Safe Driving
• December Safety News & Notes: Injury Rates, Ergonomics, Stress App, more
• Top 10 OSHA Fines of 2014 Total $9.2 Million
• Top Safety Tip of 2014: Abrasive Blasting
Your ComplianceSigns.com Service Team Wishes You All the Best in the New Year!
December Safety News and Notes
Here's a collection of recent workplace safety news and resources from around the web:
U.S. Workplace Injuries Declined to 3 Million in 2013
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that non-fatal workplace injuries declined significantly in
2013, and that the DART rate declined for the first time since 2009.
Significant OSHA Fines Total Just $875,000 in November 2014
OSHA announced just four significant fines in November with a proposed
total of $875,010 (compared to 10 fines totaling $1.77 million in October).
Common fines included fall and electrical hazards at a variety of locations.
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12/29/2014

2. New NIOSH Booklet Features Ergonomic Solutions for Retailers
NIOSH has published a new document detailing how devices such as
conveyors and hand carts can help with the "heavy lifting" to reduce soft
tissue injuries. The report illustrates use of various mechanical assist devices to reduce material
handling injuries in retail grocery work.
New App Targets Workplace Stress
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety worked with the Occupational Health Clinics
for Ontario Workers to develop a free smart phone app that lets users measure stress level by taking
a survey.
New NIOSH Training Helps Reduce Risks for Emergency Responders Who Work Long Hours
NIOSH’s new interim training program is for emergency workers who deploy to disaster sites caused
by weather, earthquakes and other catastrophic events like Ebola.
New Report Analyzes Trucking Industry Injuries
A report produced by Washington State’s Trucking Injury Reduction
Emphasis Through Surveillance program provides in-depth information on
trucking injuries from 2006-2012.
Recommendations to Reduce Silica Exposure When Maintaining Dirt
Roads
Road maintenance crew overexposures to respirable crystalline silica led
HHE Program investigators to recommend ways to minimize dust exposure during dust-generating
activities.
Get details on these items and more at the Connection blog.
Top 10 Workplace Safety Articles of 2014
These 10 articles generated the most interest during 2014. Not surprisingly, OSHA information takes
the top three spots. Our monthly recap of top OSHA fines is also a popular item. (See the top OSHA
fines of 2014 here.) We do our best to keep you up-to-date on new rules, tools and tips that can help
keep your workplace safe and in compliance. Use the link in each title to read more:
1. Post Your OSHA 300A Summary by Feb. 1
OSHA reminds employers to post OSHA Form 300A, which lists a summary
of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during
previous year. The form must be posted between Feb. 1 and April 30.
OSHA requires companies to post this form every year in a conspicuous
place where employee notices typically are posted - which means you'll
need to update soon!
2. OSHA Releases Small Business Hazard Training Tool
OSHA released an online, interactive game-based tool to help
employers and employees identify workplace hazards. The tool can
help employers take control of their workplaces and protect workers, and also demonstrates that
following well-established safety practices is also good for the bottom line.
3. New OSHA Guidance on Recording Temp Worker Injuries and Illnesses
OSHA released a new educational resource focusing on requirements for recording temporary worker
injuries and illnesses. The Recordkeeping Bulletin explains requirements of staffing agencies and
host employers and addresses how to identify who is responsible for recording work-related
injuries and illnesses of temporary workers on the OSHA 300 log. In the preceeding months, OSHA
had received and investigated many reports of temporary workers suffering serious or fatal injuries.
4. 5 Confined Space Myths: How Many Do You Believe?
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3. OSHA identifies more than 20 industry sectors with a variety of types of
confined spaces. Nearly any area that physically hinders worker activity
or has hazardous air can be considered a confined space. With so
many configurations, it's no wonder workers are sometimes unsure of
confined space rules. Take a look at these confined space myths and see
which ones you or your workers might believe.
5. Free Took Kit for Drive Safely Work Week
Drive Safely Work Week™ is an annual workplace safety campaign to remind employees about safe
driving practices. This year's theme, "Driving Your Safety Culture Home," was designed to help
organizations integrate elements of safe driving into their corporate safety culture. Although the
campaign is over, the free tool kit is still available with ready-made materials and low-cost ideas
to start, expand and sustain a road safety program.
6. OSHA and NIOSH Release Best Practice Guidelines For Temporary
Worker Safety
OSHA and NIOSH released a joint “best practices” document for protecting
temporary workers on the job site. Written for staffing agencies and host
employers, the document stresses that both groups need to work
together to be in compliance with the OSH Act. This article includes a list
some of those practices, with key information for each one.
7. Distracted Driving Month Resources Help Protect Your Employees
and Your Business
A National Safety Council report provided eye-opening information on employer liability and the case
for comprehensive cell phone policies. The paper includes sections with case studies, lawsuit
awards, federal and state regulations and laws, employer roles, public perceptions and
more. An employer may be held legally accountable for negligent employee actions if the employee
was acting within the scope of his or her employment at the time of a crash.
8. OSHA Issues New Reporting Rules for Severe Injuries - Effective January 1st
OSHA announced a final rule requiring employers to notify OSHA of work-
related fatalities within eight hours, and work-related in-patient
hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye within 24 hours.
Previous OSHA regulations required an employer to report only work-
related fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations of three or more employees.
The new rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2015,
9. New Signs and Labels at ComplianceSigns.com
This page shows our newest additions of US-made safety signs and labels for business, school,
industrial, retail and other uses. New items this year include signs with the "Active Accessibility"
wheelchair symbol, FEMA safe room signs, GHS wallet cards and many more.
10. CDC Flu Tips and Resources for Businesses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a vast collection
of free flu resources and information for individuals, families and
businesses. Seasonal flu contributes to some 17 million lost workdays and
200,000 hospitalizations every season. Employers can play an important role
in preventing flu, helping protect employee health and reducing losses in
productivity and revenue. A Business Toolkit and many other resources are
available for flu-fighting strategies.
Top 10 OSHA Fines of 2014 Total $9.2 Million
The top 10 OSHA fines of 2014 totaled more than $9.2 million, from January to mid December.
Significant fines (over $100,000) for the same period averaged some $2.5 million/month, and
totaled more than $28.6 million. Here's a list of the top 10 fines issued so far this year. Some are
still pending final decisions. Watch for an update in January to include December figures.
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4. 1. $2.4 million settlement with Republic Steel
The comprehensive settlement, in which the company agrees to abate all cited hazards and
implement numerous safeguards to prevent future injuries, addresses more than 100 safety and
health violations found by OSHA at company facilities during 2013 inspections.
2. $2.3 Million and SVEP for asbestos & lead exposure
at a New York worksite
A real estate development / management company exposed its employees,
and employees for 13 contractors, to asbestos and lead hazards during
cleanup operations in preparation for a tour of the site by potential
investors.
3. $1 Million for firing whistleblowers at a Michigan asphalt company
A foreman was terminated after repeatedly raising concerns that job assignments repeatedly failed to
allow for the 10-hour rest period mandated by the Department of Transportation. At least twice, the
foreman and the crew were expected to work more than 27 hours straight.
Read the rest of the list here.
TOP SAFETY TIP OF 2014:
Protect Workers from Abrasive Blasting Hazards
Abrasive blasting operations can create a variety of hazards, including high
levels of dust and noise. Abrasive materials and the surfaces being blasted
may contain toxic materials that are hazardous to workers. OSHA
information on abrasive blasting includes advice on materials, health
hazards and worker protection. Here are a few key tips:
• Before beginning work, identify hazards and work to eliminate
them.
• Train abrasive blasters and support personnel on blasting health and safety hazards and
practices.
• Use barriers and curtain walls to isolate the blasting operation from other workers.
• Do not use compressed air to clean as this will create dust in the air.
• Prohibit eating, drinking and tobacco use in blasting areas.
Check this blog post for all the information, or
Download the tip as a pdf from the our Slideshare collection.
Customer Comments
Here's what some of our customers are saying about ComplianceSigns.com this month:
• I could not ask for better service and prompt shipping and delivery. If you need any type of
signage give ComplianceSigns the chance to Wow you. Harold F. 12/16/14
• So pleased with the construction, ease of maintenance and eye-catching colors of these signs, a
year later we're ordering 6 more! I highly recommend these signs for any shop or warehouse
facility. Stevie H. 12/12/14
• I was really impressed how easy it was to find the signs I wanted and to perform the
checkout procedures. Jay B. 12/15/14
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