Top Safety News for September 2015, including: • Workplace fatalitites increased in 2014. Falls increased 10% • Free resources available for Drive Safely Work Week in October • Reduce welding and brazing risks • Safety Tips for employees who work alone • Top OSHA fines totaled $4.6m in August

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Top Safety News, September 2015
• Workplace fatalitites increased in 2014. Falls increased 10%
• Free resources available for Drive Safely Work Week in October
• Reduce welding and brazing risks
• Safety Tips for employees who work alone
• Top OSHA fines totaled $4.6m in August
Hello again,
September has been National Preparedness Month, which culminates in National
PrepareAthon! Day on the 30th. Next up is Drive Safely Work Week in early October. With
all this activity, workplace safety should be on everyone's mind this fall. Yet new data
shows work fatalities have increased. This month's Connection has a wealth of information
to help you and your workers stay safe on the job, including items on confined spaces,
falls, welding, working alone - even flu. Give it a read and have a safe month.
- Paul Sandefer, President.
BLS Issues Bad News: Workplace Fatalities Increased in 2014
Preliminary numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a total of 4,679
workers died on the job in 2014, an increase of 2 percent over the 2013
revised count. Mining, construction, manufacturing, law enforcement and
agriculture experienced significant increases in fatal injuries in 2014. Fatal falls,
slips and trips rose by 10 percent from the previous year. Construction
deaths rose 6 percent to 874.
See more details on the preliminary report. Browse fall protection safety signs and labels.
Free Employer Toolkit for 2015 Drive Safely Work Week, October 5-9
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has launched an online toolkit to help employers plan
ahead for Drive Safely Work Week 2015 (DSWW), the October workplace
campaign to improve the safety of employees, employee family members and their
communities. The free DSWW toolkit provides easy-to-use resources including facts
and tips, downloadable graphics and activities to help drivers be at their best behind
the wheel.
Read more at the Connection blog. Browse truck safety signs.
What's New at ComplianceSigns.com
• ComplianceSigns Grows to Reach Inc5000 List a 6th Time
For the sixth consecutive year, ComplianceSigns.com has been designated
one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., as ranked by Inc.
magazine. We rank as the fourth fastest-growing manufacturer in Illinois, 15th in
the Midwest and 105th in the U.S. Our overall rank is #3,776. Read more.
• Vertical OSHA Safety Signs
Sometimes a horizontal safety sign just won't fit the space
available. We have a great solution: OSHA signs with vertical
(portrait) orientation. We recently added more than 700
vertical versions of popular OSHA safety signs, and we'll
be adding more in the weeks ahead. Just browse or search
for signs as you normally do, and look for the new vertical
signs.
• Pesticide / Herbicide Signs
You'll find more than 250 new signs and labels addressing pesticides and herbicides at
ComplianceSigns.com. Topics include: fumigation and storage warnings, lawn applications,
First Name
Page 1 of 4ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
9/29/2015

2. agricultural use, pesticide-free areas, honey bees, trail markers for poison ivy and even
state-specific warning and application notices. Choose OSHA, ANSI or standard formats. See
them here.
OSHA Updates Amputations National Emphasis Program
Last week, OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on
Amputations. The updated NEP uses current enforcement data and Bureau of
Labor Statistics injury data to assist with site targeting. The rate of amputations
in the manufacturing sector was more than twice the rate of all private
industry in 2013, and OSHA has vowed to reduce amputations.
Read more about the update. Browse machine safety signs and labels.
Top OSHA Fines in August Total $4.6 Million
OSHA released details on 12 significant fines in August, with total proposed penalties
of $4,559,540. That's quite a jump from the $2.9 million of serious fines (over
$100,000) issued in July. Amputation hazards were a common violation. The top 3
actions:
• $1.8 million and SVEP for exposing construction workers to asbestos in
Illinois
• $861,000 and SVEP for repeat amputation, electrocution and fall hazards at an
Ohio poultry processor
• $405,000 judgement and contempt order against a Maine construction
company
See details and the rest of the list. Browse digital safety scoreboards at ComplianceSigns.com.
Reduce Risk When Welding and Brazing
Burns are the most obvious hazard associated with welding and brazing, but
there are many others. Radiant energy and flying debris are other critical
hazards, and welding fumes have been connected to nervous system and
kidney damage, as well as stomach ulcers. Fires and explosions are risks,
and don't forget to consider the safety of workers in adjacent areas. A recent
article shared by the safety experts at Safety Management Group examines
these dangers and discusses steps to reduce them.
Read more here. Browse welding safety signs.
National PrepareAthon! Day is Sept. 30
September has been National Preparedness Month, a time to plan ahead for the
unexpected emergencies that can devastate families, businesses and communities.
Everyone is invited to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and the national
day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, which culminates National
Preparedness Month on September 30.
Read more here. Browse evacuation safety signs.
September Safety News and Notes
Here's a collection of recent workplace safety news and resources from around the web:
• New App Helps Track Confined Spaces on Farms
The My Confined Spaces app sponsored by WorkSafeBC allows users to
create an inventory using a map, log information and photos for each
confined space, and record possible hazards.
• OSHA Proposes New Rule on Beryllium
OSHA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for beryllium,
which if adopted, will reduce the current PELs and include ancillary
provisions such as medical surveillance and regulated work areas to
protect workers from exposure to this toxic substance.
• New WHMIS 2015 Podcast from CCOHS
As Canada aligns the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) with the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), employers and
workers have many questions. A new podcast from CCOHS helps address the issues.
• OH&S Offers Lockout/Tagout and Arc Flash Webinars in October
Overcoming Barriers for a Successful Lockout Program is October 6 at 2 p.m. ET, and Arc Flash
101 including Key Updates to NFPA 70E 2015 Edition is October 8 at 2 p.m. ET.
Page 2 of 4ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
9/29/2015

3. ComplianceSigns CONNECTION
Dave Anderson, Editor
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Browse
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Connection
archive
• What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Flu Season
The CDC has prepared a Q&A page with everything you should know
about the upcoming flu season. It's a great way to get a jump on flu
season before it hits you, your family or workplace.
• 11 Tips to Help You Pass Your Next OSHA Inspection
Workplace HR & Safety has posted an article with some simple but
effective tips to help you pass your next OSHA inspection.
• OSHA Updates Fire Protection Systems Manual
To better protect emergency responders, OSHA has revised its manual, Fire Service Features of
Buildings and Fire Protection Systems. The revised manual addresses hazardous material
releases, emergency medical care, non-fire rescues and terrorist attacks. It explains how fire
personnel can resolve an incident sooner and in a safer manner if a building design is tailored to
meet their needs during an emergency.
Get details and more at the Connection blog.
SAFETY TIP: Stay Safe When Working Alone
Many workers are called to spend time alone in unfamiliar, potentially dangerous environments, from site
inspections to confined spaces to home healthcare to real estate open houses. The Canadian Centre for
Occupational Health and Safety has assembled some tips to help keep workers safe when they are
alone or off-site.
Tips for Employers:
• Prepare a daily work plan so everyone knows where and when off-site employees are expected
somewhere.
• Set a check-in procedure requiring off-site employees to check in periodically.
Know when and who to call for help if they do not.
• Provide training on how to recognize and avoid potentially violent situations,
as well as conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Use a "buddy system" in high risk situations - make sure employees know this
option is available to them and when to use it.
• Provide employees with information on high risk geographical areas.
Read more, including tips for employees and additional resources..
Customer Comments
Here's what some of our customers are saying about ComplianceSigns.com this month:
• Very easy to use interface and easy to navigate site, even for custom signs. - Travis C.
• Great product variety. Language choice is a big plus. - Wayne A.
• Always have what I'm looking for in stock. - Lynn R.
Read more ComplianceSigns.com customer reviews.
Top Safety Articles Last Month
These were most popular articles in last month's Connection:
• OSHA Guidance on Enforcing Revised HazCom Standard
• Arc Flash Safety Tips
• Use Vacuums to Reduce Potentially Fatal Dust at Construction Sites
• How Safe is Your State? NSC Releases Safety Data
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