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November-2008 Issue:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BOEING STRIKE HAS ENDED AND OUR MONTHLY SAFETY SUMMITS WILL RETURN TO THE USUAL LOCATION AT THE AEROSPACE HALL
Eye on L&I
Crane rigging and fall protection rules in development
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is in the process of updating rules regarding crane rigging and fall protection. The Department is reviewing the walking and working surfaces rules with the intent of clarifying the rules and making them easier to understand. Currently, the Fall Protection project is in the process of finalizing draft rule language, hoping to file a proposed rule in 2009. If you have questions about fall protection rule updates, please contact Jamie Scibelli, L&I, at 360.902.4568 or send an email to scij235@lni.wa.gov.
For a complete list of rules and regulations that are under review for further development, please click on the following link: http://lni.wa.gov/Safety/Rules/WhatsNew/DOSHUpdateSummary.pdf
A draft timeline for crane rule-making shows the Certification of Crane Inspectors Rule going into effect on January 1, 2009, after a November 4, 2008, date of adoption. The rule will include crane operator experience and certification requirements.
According to the timeline, a Construction Crane Rule which includes general construction crane safety requirements, rigging requirements, and personnel lifting requirements, will proceed to the public hearings phase scheduled for April 2009. The rule is scheduled for adoption in September 2009 with an effective date of January 1, 2010.
To view the full draft timeline, please click on the following link:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/Cranes/files/CraneTimelineDraft.pdf
If you have questions about the crane rule making process please contact:
Cindy Ireland
Department of Labor and Industries
Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
PO Box 44620
Olympia, WA 98504-4620
Phone: (360) 902-5522
Fax: (360) 902-5619
Email: mooc235@LNI.wa.gov
Join the November 12th Safety Summit to learn more!
SMART Updates
Mark your calendar for annual retro meetings!
Please mark your calendars for the appropriate SMART Retro Group annual meeting:
- SMART Advantage Annual Meeting: November 20th, 10:30am - 1:00pm
- SMART A-Team Annual Meeting: December 3, 10:30am - 1:00pm
- SMART Dream Team Quarterly Meeting: December 9th, 10:30am - 1:00pm
All meetings will be held at the McCormick & Schmick's Harborside Restaurant and will feature guest speaker, Gary Van Cleef, from the Department of Labor and Industries. Gary will provide important details about the 2009 minimum wage rate change in addition to Experience Modification Rating (EMR) information. For questions about these events and for registration information, please contact your AMS retro coordinator or call 800.626.0846.
SHIP Grant Update: feedback needed
You may receive a questionnaire regarding the grant, Personal Protective Equipment, Its Personal! (Equipo de Proteccion Personal, Es Personal!)This grant was recently received by the SMART Association and is funded by the Safety & Health Investment Projects (SHIP) through L&I.
Project Manager, Margie Weinberg, is gathering feedback from companies that employ Hispanics in addition to seeking companies that are willing to participate in focus groups and test trainings over the next few months. The goal is to produce bilingual safety training and materials that will be made available free of charge to all employers in Washington State. If you would like to provide feedback or receive a copy of the questionnaire, please email Anne Laughlin, SMART Administrator, or call 206.459.0105.
Safety, Health and Welfare
Safety Summit highlights three-point fall protection system
At October’s Puget Sound Area Safety Summit, Steve Heist, L&I Technical Services, explained the draft language and updates of fall restraint and fall arrest amendments currently being developed by the Department. Definitions and safety specifications are undergoing modifications for simplicity. Heist covered changes to fall protection height requirements, fall arrest and restraint specifications, guardrail and other fall protection system specifications and the need for fall protection work plans and training.
According to the WAC 296-155-24517, Fall Protection Work Plan, employers must develop and implement written fall protection work plans "including each area of the work place where the employees are assigned and where fall hazards of 10 feet or more exist." The plan must address areas such as identifying all fall hazards in the work area, describing the method of fall arrest or restraint to be provided and proper procedures for the use and maintenance of fall protection systems. Employers must ensure that employees understand fully the fall protection work plan. Equipment must be inspected for compliance.
Throughout the presentation, Heist stressed a three-point fall protection system that, he said, "is based on using common sense to identify potential hazards and recognizing that employees are management's eyes and ears on-site and should communicate any concerns to their supervisors without delay." The three-point fall protection system includes:
1) Stop, check your fall protection equipment and your surroundings to make sure it is safe to proceed
2) Check your coworkers' equipment and if you see any potential hazards on site, address them before proceeding
3) Communicate any potential hazards, equipment misuse or lack of proper safety training to a supervisor and/or management
If you have any questions regarding Steve Heist's presentation or would like more information about fall restraint and fall arrest safety, please contact SMART.
Please join us for the next Safety Summit, scheduled for November 12th, 9am-12pm, at the Aerospace Machinist's Hall for the latest information on construction crane safety guidelines presented by Rob Scherbarth of Overton Safety.
Click on the following link for more information:
November 12, 2008 - Construction Crane Safety and the Latest Guidelines, Rob Scherbarth, Overton Safety
In our Safety Community
Workplace safety and a happy holiday
The holiday season is just around the corner. It is a time of family get-togethers, turkey dinners, lights strung from the eaves, and sale signs encouraging customers to finish holiday shopping early. The season invites us all to take a closer look at the importance of safety at the workplace and the not-so-obvious role it plays during the holidays.
This time of year brings family and friends together. Many of us have high-risk jobs, which require constant vigilance and awareness, constantly checking and re-checking our safety equipment, taking extra steps to ensure our safety and the safety of our coworkers. We know that a moment of complacency can cost us our lives.
So, we are using the holiday season to raise awareness of safety at the workplace once more, highlighting the role it plays during the holidays. We are requesting each SMART Association member company to send us a photo or two with a caption, mindful of the theme: A Safer Workplace Means a Happier Holiday. The photo(s) should reflect how your company’s dedication to safety is making the holiday season a joyous one for your employees.
We welcome all photos and will be sharing a few over the next several months – on our website and in our newsletters. Please use this message to remind your workforce of the importance of workplace safety. Contact Anne Laughlin at alaughlin@smartwa.org or 206.459.0105 for further information and photo submissions.
Contact Information
SMART Education Center
130 Nickerson St. #307
Seattle, WA 98109
Ph: (206) 812-3824
Email: education@smartwa.org
Website: www.smartwa.org |
