Issue No. 4 | November 2021 | 13th Volume
Caliche is here to help you and your company stay as safe as possible. Some of the service we offer are:
Industrial Hygiene
- Workplace assessment
- Air monitoring
- Noise
- NORM
- Ventilation
Maritime
- Air monitoring
- Benzene, H2S, LEL,
etc.
- Benzene, H2S, LEL,
- Respirator use
- Fit-testing and training
- Qualitative
- Quantitative
Indoor Air Quality
- Microbial
- Bacterial
- Bio aerosol
Safety
- Risk assessments
- Written program development
Asbestos
- Texas licensed consultant
- Management planners
- Project managers
- Inspectors
- Air monitors
A r t i c l e 1
US 2019 Safety and Health Statistics
A r t i c l e 2
ASHRAE Updates Building Reopening Guidance for HVAC Systems during COVID-19
A r t i c l e 3
TRENDS IN…HEAD PROTECTION:
What are some recent innovations in head protection?
A r t i c l e 4
Study Finds High PFAS Exposure Levels in Volunteer Firefighters
A r t i c l e 5
US Department of Labor Initiates Rulemaking to Protect Workers, Outdoors and Indoors, from Heat
US 2019 SAFETY AND HEALTH STATISTICS
By: Frank M. Parker, III – CIH, CSP, PE, BCEE
The US Bureau of Statistics has published its summary of injuries, illnesses and fatalities
reported by private industry for the year 2019 [bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htm#19Summary_Tables]. In summary:
- Total Fatal Injuries: 5,333, up 2% from 2018;
- Total Recordable cases: 2,814,000;
- Nonfatal injuries and illness rate: 2.8 cases per 100 employees;
- Median days away from work: 8;
- Occupational illness:
- All industry: 127,200;
- State & Local Government: 43,700;
- Skin disease or disorders: 24,900;
- Respiratory conditions: 15,100;
- Poisonings: 2,400;
- Hearing loss: 16,900; and
- All other illnesses: 9,500.
The AFL-CIO have also published their review of the Bureau’s 2019 data. Their report can be found at, https://bit.ly/3vVMDnj.
Historically, the focus has been on classic accidents. However, the data continue to indicate that occupational illnesses seriously impact our industrial and governmental organizations. All of these occupational illnesses have been with us since the beginning of the industrial age. The techniques for protecting employees, and their employers, from injury and illness are also well known by the industrial hygiene profession.
Caliche, Ltd has assisted many industrial and governmental clients anticipating, recognizing,
evaluating and controlling the work place hazards. If you need information or assistance in these health and safety issues feel free to contact us.
ASHRAE Updates Building Reopening Guidance for HVAC Systems during COVID-19
“ASHRAE Updates Building Reopening Guidance for HVAC Systems during COVID-19.” The
Synergist, May 2021, pp. 21–21.
“New updates to ASHRAE’s ‘building readiness’ document [PDF, bit.ly/ashrae-readiness]
address guidance for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning [HVAC] systems intended to help mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as buildings reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
TRENDS IN…HEAD PROTECTION: What are some recent innovations in head protection?
Yario, Jennifer. “Trends In…Head Protection.” Safety+Health, Oct. 2021, pp. 77–77.
“Construction workers are moving away from traditional hard hats to safety helmets. Most hard hats offer only top-of-head protection, while an ANSI/ISEA Type 2 safety helmet can provide both top and side protection.” – Richman (Yario, 2021)
Study Finds High PFAS Exposure Levels in Volunteer Firefighters
“Study Finds High PFAS Exposure Levels in Volunteer Firefighters.” Professional Safety Journal of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Sept. 2021, pp. 15–15.
“A study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is reportedly the first to evaluate volunteer firefighters’ exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are man-made chemicals that can accumulate over time in the human body and can cause adverse human health effects, including heart conditions, cancer, low infant birth weights, effects on the immune system and thyroid hormone disruption.”
US Department of Labor Initiates Rulemaking to Protect Workers, Outdoors and Indoors, from Heat
Mcgee, Marianne – OSHA. Email to Michael Luther. 27 October 2021
“This is your opportunity to submit comments on the recently proposed rule making process regarding a regulation on hot work environments. It’s very important you take part in providing your comments, concerns and input.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating rulemaking to protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat and is issuing Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) October 27, 2021. The ANPRM is currently up for public inspection and is accessible here. OSHA is interested in obtaining additional information about the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace, and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness. The ANPRM provides an overview of the problem of heat stress in the workplace and of measures that have been taken to prevent it, and seeks information on issues that OSHA can consider in developing the standard, including the scope of the standard and the types of controls that might be required.
Beginning October 27, 2021, submit comments at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, and refer to Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009. All comments must be submitted by Dec. 27, 2021. For more information, please see OSHA’s News Release and Federal Register Notice.”
