council

OSHA Violence Requirements: October 2017 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question:

What does OSHA require regarding violence in the workplace and active shooter programs and training?

Answer:

OSHA does not have a specific standard on violence in the workplace or active shooter/ active aggressor situations.  However, under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970, employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment that “is free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees.” An employer that has experienced acts of workplace violence, or becomes aware of threats, intimidation, or other indicators showing that the potential for violence in the workplace exists, would be on notice of the risk of workplace violence and should implement a workplace violence prevention program combined with engineering controls, administrative controls, and training.

There are many options to start on this journey.  The BWC has a half day violence in the workplace class and your BWC consultant or local law enforcement can help you create a policy.  Training can be done in-house, online or with your local law enforcement.  There are many companies that focus on security and violence in the workplace if you are interested in seeking other outside help.  Two well known training programs dealing with active shooters are:  The Department of Homeland Security’s: Run, Hide, Fight and the ALiCE method offered by the ALiCE training institute.

Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.

Aug 10, 2017 – Effective Safety Teams & Leadership Panel: How to Cultivate Safety Habits in the Workplace.

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Our next meeting is Thursday, August 10, 2017, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna. Sponsored by University Hospitals Portage Medical Center.

Effective Safety Teams & Leadership Panel: How to Cultivate Safety Habits in the Workplace.

Panel Speakers:

  • Mike Dalton, HR Manager, Permco
  • Mike O’Connor, EHS Manager, Schneller
  • Al Gordon, Operations Manager, Schneller

Have questions for the panel? Please email them to the Safety Council by Tuesday, August 8. We’ll pick the top questions to ask our panel.

This training is ideal for HR managers, safety managers, CEO’s and all staff!

Please RSVP no later than 12pm on Monday, August 7, 2017.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW

Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” If you would like to pay by credit card prior to the event, please email us for an invoice. Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members.

Insect Repellent & FR Clothing: August 2017 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question:

Spray Safe: The Rules for Insect Repellent and FR Clothing

Answer:

With every new bug season, come swarms of new questions as to how to properly use insect repellent while wearing FR garments.

DEET is the active ingredient in many well known, and often used, insect repellents (liquids, lotions, sprays, wristbands, etc.). It is used to ward off biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks – insects that may or may not be carrying far peskier diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease.

The problem for those who work where there are arc flash and flash fire hazards? DEET is HIGHLY flammable. Any flame resistant clothing sprayed with it has the potential to ignite and continue to burn if exposed to an ignition hazard.

Do not spray DEET on your FR clothing.  Ever.

Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.

2017 First Half Semi-Annual Reports Due July 15th

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Hello PCSC Members:

The time has come to submit your First Half Semi-Annual Report for the period of January 1, 2017 – June 30, 2017, by the deadline of July 15th.

ALL Safety Council members, including newly enrolled members, are required to complete the semi-annual reports to maintain a current Safety Council membership and to ensure your eligibility for the Safety Council rebate and Safety Awards programs.

Employers eligible to pursue the current FY18 safety council rebate must complete both reports for calendar year 2017.

Please take a few moments and complete the short Semi-Annual Safety Council report. It is absolutely critical that you return your report to the Safety Council by no later than July 15th.

Click here to complete the report online.

Click here to download the 2017 First Half Semi-Annual Report Form.

Click here to download the Instruction Sheet to help you complete the report.

Securing a Machine Guard: July 2017 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question:

What options do I have to secure a guard to a machine?

Answer:

You are required to attach guards to machines with bolts, screws, allen screws or other similar means requiring a tool to remove them.  Your other option is to install electrical interlocks which will cause the machine not to run if the guards are removed.  The availability of this option is dependent on the type of equipment and controls that are in place.  Keep in mind that your guard must not allow employees to reach around, under, over, or through the guard to access the hazard.  For more information, please see OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 and ANSI B11.19 – Performance Requirements for Safeguarding.

Please contact your local BWC safety consultant if you are unsure if your machine is guarded properly.  They can perform a machine guarding assessment and offer recommendations to protect your employees from equipment hazards.

Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.

 

 

 

July 13, 2017 – A Real-life Example of How to Become GHS Compliant

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Our next meeting is Thursday, July 13, 2017, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna.  This will be our FY18 Kick-off!

A Real-life Example of How to Become GHS Compliant, presented by Renee Onesti, Director of Engineering & Maintenance, Kent Elastomer Products, Inc., and Matt Mohler, Facilities Manager, Delta Systems, Inc.

This training is great for any company at any stage of GHS compliance. If you are at the beginning, middle or end of your GHS journey, we’ll give you tools to become compliant!

  1. Matt and Renée will break down GHS training into simple concepts.
  2. They’ll give a step by step process to become GHS compliant, including resources.
  3. Renée will share the journey Kent Elastomer Products has taken and discuss the issues and solutions they’ve found to work.
  4. Matt will give standard clarification and details of the standards.

This training is ideal for safety managers, supervisors, and compliance staff.

Please RSVP no later than 12pm on Monday, July 10, 2017.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW

Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” If you would like to pay by credit card prior to the event, please email us for an invoice. Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members.

                                                                    

FY17 ETC Deadline: June 22, 2017

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Hello PCSC Members!

The deadline to send me certificates of completion in order to receive up to two FY17 External Training Credits is Thursday, June 22, 2017.

You DO NOT need to send them to me if:

  1. You have already emailed them to me.
  2. You have already reached your 10 minimum Attendance Credits.
  3. You have already submitted certificates for ETC.

For more info regarding External Training Credits, click here. If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience.

OUT OF OFFICE NOTICE: I will be out of the office June 26-30 and will be returning on July 3. Any ETC submitted after June 22 are not guaranteed to be processed in time for rebate eligibility.