Volume 2, Issue 8 January 2015 Richland is a Host Training Organization for the National Safety Education Center, an OSHA Training Institute OSHA 503 Update for General Industry Trainers January 27-29 Course Fee: $675 Register Now! 1.8 CEUs available OSHA 500 Trainer Course for Construction February 23-26 NEW! Highway Construction Training Offered at Richland A free training program will be offered through the Illinois Department of Transportation and Richland Community College to increase the number of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals who obtain employment in the Illinois highway construction industry. Participants will learn basic construction, safety, and job readiness skills. Individuals must be 18 years or older, have a driver s license, and a high school diploma or GED. For more information or to schedule an appointment for orientation, call Cindy Shupe at (217) 875-7211 ext. 321. Course Fee: $800 Register Deadline: Feb 9 2.6 CEUs available
OSHA 511 Standards for General Industry March 9-12 Course Fee: $800 Register Deadline: Feb 23 2.6 CEUs available OSHA 502 Update Course for Construction Trainers March 24-26 Course Fee: $675 Register Deadline: Mar 10 1.8 CEUs available To register for OSHA Training Institute Classes, click or visit www.niu.edu/nsec ~ Confined Spaces ~ OSHA Cites Company after Two Workers Die from Dangerous Fumes PEKIN, IL A 37-year-old worker at Agridyne LLC's Pekin facility climbed down into a rail car to clean out corn steep residue and was overcome by dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas. A 29-year-old tank inspector, who attempted to rescue the first worker, succumbed to the gas exposure as well. Neither worker made it out of the car alive. OSHA has proposed fines totaling $266,000. The OSHA investigation that followed the June 2014 tragedy led to three willful and eight serious safety violations, many involving permit-required confined space safety regulations. OSHA determined that neither victim was equipped with an emergency retrieval system before they entered the car. The primary cause of death of both employees was closed space asphyxiation and hydrogen sulfide intoxication, a byproduct of the residual organic waste contained in the tank. "Permit-required confined spaces put workers in real and immediate danger. Atmospheric conditions must be tested and monitored before workers enter," said Thomas Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "The employer must also ensure that safety equipment, such as a retrieval line, is provided to employees and used. This was a terrible incident that was completely preventable." Agridyne also failed to complete a permit-required confined spaces entry permit; did not use testing and monitoring equipment to evaluate the permit space condition prior to entry; and failed to require employees to use rescue and emergency equipment. OSHA also found the company failed to designate trained rescue employees and use a retrieval system attached to the worker to aid in rescue; train workers and place warning signs about hazards that may be encountered in confined spaces; and ensure rail tank cars had been ventilated prior to entry. Click HERE for full story
~ Fall Protection ~ OSHA Cites Roofing Company for Worker Fatality Call us for Customized Training Leadership OSHA Awareness Accident Investigation Aerial Lifts Confined Spaces Electrical Safety Ergonomics Excavation Safety Fall Protection HAZCOM HAZWOPER Mobile and Overhead Cranes PIASA, IL A 33-year-old worker fell to his death because his employer, Mid-State Construction & Roofing Inc., failed to provide fall protection. The employee was installing roofing materials at Southwest High School in Piasa on Aug. 4, 2014, when he fell 27 feet to the ground and suffered blunt force trauma. OSHA cited the roofing company for one willful and four serious safety violations with proposed penalties of $42,600. "This tragedy illustrates how quickly a worker can lose his life when fall protection is not provided, and why OSHA requires it each time an employee works at heights greater than 6 feet," said Aaron Priddy, OSHA's area director in Fairview Heights. "Falls remain the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. Hundreds of workers, including this one, won't return home as a result of falls like this." OSHA's investigation found the employee, who had been with the Beecher City-based company for 14 years, was installing wood blocking to create a finished roof edge on the perimeter of the high school gymnasium. While using a battery-powered, hand-held impact driver, the bit broke and the employee lost his balance and fell over the edge. The employer failed to provide and ensure the employee was using fall protection when the incident occurred. Click HERE for full story Powered Industrial Trucks Rigging & Signaling OSHA Recordkeeping
Train Your Employees to Save a Life! Heartsaver CPR/AED Heartsaver First Aid BLS for Healthcare Providers Provider Classes Renewal Classes Individual Training Group Training Online elearning Available Saves Time Away From Work Call (217) 875-7211 x219 for more information Safety Topic: Injury Prevention Programs Successful injury prevention programs include common sense elements that focus on finding all hazards in the workplace. Once all hazards are identified, a plan is developed for preventing and controlling those hazards. These basic elements management leadership, worker participation, and proper education and training -- are all required. Management leadership and active worker participation are essential to ensuring that all hazards are identified and addressed. Workers then need to be trained about how the program works and the program needs to be periodically evaluated to determine whether improvements need to be made. Call Richland to help you develop an effective injury prevention program. Precaution is better than cure. ~Edward Coke
Have any questions or issues you would like to discuss? Contact the professionals at Richland Community College today! Barry Schwalbe, CHMM Safety & Contract Training Coordinator Richland Community College One College Park Decatur, Illinois 62521 (217) 875-7211, ext. 219 schwalbe@richland.edu www.richland.edu/cpe Sign up for this newsletter! www.richland.edu/cpe/osha/newsletter This newsletter is a free service of Richland Community College.