Top Safety News, February 2016 • National Safety Stand-Down is May 2-6 • Correct Rigging Procedures Help Ensure Safe Lifting • NIOSH Identifies Top Industries for Hearing Problems • January 2016 OSHA Fines Total $1.5 Million • New signs for Authorized Personnel, Acid Safety and more

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Top Safety News, February 2016
• National Safety Stand-Down is May 2-6
• Correct Rigging Procedures Help Ensure Safe Lifting
• NIOSH Identifies Top Industries for Hearing Problems
• January 2016 OSHA Fines Total $1.5 Million
• New signs for Authorized Personnel, Acid Safety and more
OSHA Announces 2016 National Safety Stand-Down May 2-6
OSHA has designated May 2-6, 2016, for the third annual National Safety Stand-
Down. The event is a nationwide effort to remind and educate employers and
workers in the construction industry of the serious dangers of falls - the cause of
the highest number of industry deaths in the construction industry. Employers are
encouraged to pause during their workday for discussions, demonstrations
and training on how to recognize hazards and prevent falls. OSHA's National
Safety Stand-Down web site has information and resources for a successful
stand-down.
Browse Ladder and Scaffold safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.
What's New at ComplianceSigns.com
ComplianceSigns.com is committed to meeting your needs for workplace safety,
regulatory compliance and identification signage. Our development team
researches new sign requirements and develops new signs every month. We
have added more than 2,500 new signs and labels to
ComplianceSigns.com this month, including Authorized Personnel notices,
Acid Safety warnings and a huge selection of signs in vertical (portrait)
format. We also make custom signs and labels to meet almost any need.
See our newest signs here.
NIOSH Shares Worker Health Resources
The NIOSH Total Worker Health blog includes a wide variety of publications
and resources employers can use to help promote worker health. Newly
added materials include:
• Podcast: Worker Health and the New Global Economy
• NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety Older Driver Fact Sheet
• Total Worker Health In-Depth Video Series: Transportation Safety
• Staff Wellness and Safety in the Child Care Setting
Browse Digital Safety Scoreboards to track days without injury.
Ensure Correct Rigging Procedures for Safe Lifting
When lifting heavy objects at a worksite, crews focus a significant amount of
attention on the crane, hoist or other device that will make the lift. Something that’s
equally important, but rarely given as much thought, is the role of proper
rigging in safe load handling. Check this article to read how crews involved with
lifts - and those working in the immediate area - can avoid rigging safety problems.
View Crane Safety signs and hand signal labels.
NIOSH Study Identifies Top Industries for Hearing Problems
A new study from NIOSH identifies industries where hearing difficulty and tinnitus
are most prevalent. Workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting had
significantly higher risk of hearing difficulty, tinnitus (“ringing in the ears”) and
combined conditions. Manufacturing workers had significantly higher risk for
Page 1 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
2/26/2016

2. tinnitus and combined tinnitus and hearing difficulty. NIOSH says this is the
first study to report tinnitus prevalence by U.S. industry sector and occupation.
Browse Hearing PPE safety signs and labels.
2015 Mining Deaths Lowest Ever, But 2016 is Off to a Bad Start
In the first three weeks of 2016, the coal industry experienced three fatalities in
three separate mining accidents. As a result, the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) plans to ramp up its targeted enforcement, education
and outreach efforts. This follows a year in which 28 miners died on the job - a 37
percent improvement from 2014. That made 2015 the first year with fewer than 30
mining deaths.
Browse Mine Safety signs.
January 2016 OSHA Fines Total $1.5 Million
OSHA proposed just 11 significant fines in January, totaling $1.53 million.
Common citations included fall hazards, machine guarding and lockout / tagout
violations. The top 3 fines on the list were:
• $188,760 and SVEP for fall hazards at a Massachusetts contractor
• $171,870 for willful amputation hazards at an Alabama auto parts
manufacturer
• $162,800 for exit route and other hazards at a Texas retail store
Find OSHA signs here.
February Safety News and Notes
Here's a collection of recent workplace safety news and resources:
Oil & Gas Industry Step Up for Safety in March
OSHA has announced a Step Up For Safety program for the upstream oil and gas industry in February
and March 2016. The Step Up for Safety website includes a variety of resources employers can use to
plan and conduct site inspections, safety training and other activities.
OSHA Introduces Improved Completion Cards for Outreach Training Program
Starting in March, OSHA safety training completion cards will be made of more durable stock - similar to a
credit card - and include student information, authorizing logos, a watermark when copied and a QR code
for authentication. Trainer cards also will be updated. Employers and workers will be able to authenticate
cards through OTI Education Centers.
NIOSH Ladder Safety App Now Includes Step Ladders
The NIOSH Ladder Safety app, first released in 2013 to provide assistance with
extension ladder selection and use, now includes step ladder safety resources and
other enhancements based on user input. The app delivers a variety of ladder
safety tools, information, reference materials, user-friendly guides and interactive
tools to prevent major causes of falls.
Distracted Driving Resources
We've all seen distracted drivers - and despite our best intentions, we've likely
been distracted ourselves at times. The CDC estimates that over a thousand people are injured every day
in accidents resulting from distracted driving. Here's a collection of distracted driving articles and
resources.
Employers Must Post 300A Injury and Illness Summaries Through April
OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA's Form 300A, which summarizes job-
related injuries and illnesses logged during 2015. The summary must be displayed between Feb. 1 and
April 30 in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted.
Interactive Map Shows OSHA Enforcement Cases by State
The map includes citations with initial penalties above $40,000 issued after January 1, 2015. Cases are
updated weekly, with a posting delay to ensure parties have been notified. Just click a state to view
enforcement cases occurring there. Data also is available in table format.
Upcoming OH&S Safety Webinars:
March 17 - 2016 Confined Space/Fall Protection Update
Page 2 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
2/26/2016

3. ComplianceSigns CONNECTION
Dave Anderson, Editor
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Browse
past issues
in the
Connection
archive
April 7 - New Tech in Lab Safety: Flame-Resistant, Chemical-Splash Protection
May 19 - Fire Drills: Changing Employee Behavior When Sounding the Alarm
Get details at the Connection safety blog.
SAFETY TIP:
Lockout / Tagout Procedures
The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
outlines practices to disable machinery or equipment to prevent release of
hazardous energy while employees perform service and maintenance activities.
We've assembled a post with tips to help keep your workers safe and in
compliance with LOTO standards. Here's an excerpt:
Before beginning machine adjustment, maintenance or servicing work, always:
• De-energize all sources of hazardous energy
• Lockout and tagout all forms of hazardous energy, including electrical breaker panels and control
valves
• Block or dissipate stored energy
Browse Lockout / Tagout safety tags at ComplianceSigns.com.
Customer Comments
Here's what customers are saying about ComplianceSigns.com this month:
• It was my first time on your site and I really enjoyed my experience. - Lavern W.
• I had them make custom signs in Spanish and they came out great. - Dennisse A.
• I am very impressed with Compliance Signs. Fast, efficient and easy. - Linda R.
• Great safety sign website with large range of size and material options. - Gordon H.
Read more ComplianceSigns.com customer reviews.
Top Safety Articles Last Month
These were the most popular articles in last month's Connection:
• Top 10 disabling workplace injuries cost employers $51 billion annually
• 2016 safety predictions: 4 trends to address
• December 2015 OSHA fines top $3.8 million
• Raising awareness of manlift safety
• Signs for the new smoking law in Oregon
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Page 3 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
2/26/2016