2019

Temporary Workers: October 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What are the employer responsibilities to protect temporary workers?

Answer: There is a joint responsibility of the host employers and the staffing agency.

While the extent of responsibility under the law of staffing agencies and host employers is dependent on the specific facts of each case, staffing agencies and host employers are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for temporary workers – including, for example, ensuring that OSHA’s training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled.

OSHA could hold both the host and temporary employers responsible for the volatile condition(s) – and that can include lack of adequate training regarding workplace hazards. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the worker, and are therefore jointly responsible for temporary workers’ safety and health.

OSHA has concerns that some employers may use temporary workers to avoid meeting all their compliance obligations under the OSH Act. Therefore, it is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements.

A key concept is that each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example: staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment/hazards.

  • The key is communication
  • Staffing agencies must ensure that they are sending workers to a safe workplace. They also must verify that the host has fulfilled its responsibilities for a safe workplace.
  • Ignorance of hazards is not an excuse.
  • And, just as important: Host employers must treat temporary workers like any other workers in terms of training and safety and health protections.

OSHA has updated their page on responsibilities and temp workers

https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/communication.html

https://www.osha.gov/temp_workers/

*Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

September 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for September 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Breaking Out of the Safety Box. What is “the safety box” and how can you break out of it to improve your company’s safety performance? Join Nic & Mike as they answer these questions and chat about how to overcome common industry blinders that may be hindering your company’s safety score! (20:55)
  2. Drones: Commercial uses, Regulations and Best Practices (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on June 13, 2019. The topic was Drones: Commercial Uses, Regulations and Best Practices and it was presented by Josh Grappy, UAS Program Coordinator, Ohio BWC. (36:08)
  3. Transferring Safety Knowledge Through the Generational Gaps.Tony DeAscentis (the CEO) & Gabe King (the Millennial) of Ving!, stayed over with us after their presentation to chat about how to transfer safety knowledge through the generational gap! (15:30)
  4. September’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  5. Push & Pull Motions: September’s Safety & Hygiene Corner
  6. OSHA’s Top Workplace Safety Tips for Employers. Article by Ving!
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • 2020 Sponsorships Available! 2020 monthly luncheon sponsorships are now available! Each month is still only $125 and you get 20% off when sponsor more than one month. Contact us before they’re gone!
  • OCTOBER MEETING: Thursday, October 10, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Effective Safety & Motivational Leadership and it will be presented by a panel of local safety managers. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, October 7th.
  • DID YOU KNOW? We record the audio from most of our monthly meeting presentations and make them available for free on our website and through our podcast! That means you can access and share the presentation audio through any computer or smart device! If you enjoyed one of our guest speakers, consider sharing the audio of their presentation with your colleagues today!
  • NE Ohio Safety Expo Podcasts: We’ll be interviewing speakers and recording a few presentations at the NE Ohio Safety Expo in October! They’ll be made available for free on all of our podcast channels and website. Stay tuned for more info.

EXTERNAL TRAINING CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:

Please note that these events are not hosted by the PCSC but do qualify for one FY20 ETC. PCSC member can use up to 2 ETC in order to meet the minimum 10 Attendance Credits required to rebate eligible.

 

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

Push & Pull Motions: September 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: Our company frequently moves materials on carts and manual pallet jacks.  Should we be concerned with the amount of force that an employee must exert to push or pull these items?

Answer:  Yes, pushing and pulling tasks do present a risk of a workplace injury to the low back and shoulders.  OSU published an objective set of guidelines for pushing and pulling that was funded by BWC.  These guidelines set limits of push and pull forces and are expected to be protective of both the low back and shoulders.  BWC published this information on our website and contains a web interface to estimate biomechanical risk of a push/pull task.

All you need is a force gauge and a tape measure to get started.  If you need help, contact your BWC Ergonomist.  They will come to your worksite to measure the push/pull forces and determine if the biomechanical risk is within the guidelines to protect your workforce from a low back or shoulder injury.

To learn more and to use the web interface, go to https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/programs/safety/PushPullGuide/PushPullGuide.aspx.

 

Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

August 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for August 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Insight from the Chardon School Shooting. On February 27, 2012, Coach Frank Hall chased a gunman from the Chardon High School cafeteria just seconds after three students were mortally wounded and another three were injured from gunfire, putting his own life on the line to protect the school’s children and staff. Accompanied by his colleague Coach Snyder, Frank shared his insight & experience at our May 9, 2019, safety luncheon.
  2. Fire Safety Interview. Lt. Jeff Coffee of the Kent Fire Dept. stayed over with us after his presentation this month to chat about fire safety in the workplace!
  3. August’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  4. OSHA’s Top Workplace Safety Tips for Employers. Article by Ving!
  5. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, September 12, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be When OSHA Knocks and it will be presented by Pat McCon, Sr. Risk Engineering Consultant, Zurich North America. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, September 9th.
  • PLEASE TAKE THIS SURVEY: Help us with our new Why I Stay Safe Campaign (which will launch at the above monthly meeting) by completing this short, 4-question survey. Thanks!
  • DID YOU KNOW? That we have created & published over 20 hours of workplace safety & health content through the Portage County Safety Council Podcast!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

1st Place – May 2019 Stand Down for Safety Challenge!

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The Portage County Safety Council took 1st place in the 2019 regional safety council “Stand Down for Safety” Challenge!

23.9% of PCSC member companies participated resulting in 10,587 individuals trained in the month of May!

A special thank you to Keith Greathouse (pictured far right) from the Ohio BWC Canton Service Office and Bridgette Frank (pictured far left) from the OSHA Cleveland Area office for hosting this contest and joining us in July to celebrate!

Winner - May Stand Down Challenge 7-11-19