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November Quiz
| Think you know Confined Space?
Click here to test your knowledge!
Be sure to read December's Inside Safety to see how you compare! October Poll Results October was a busy month for everyone. Get on board this month, fill in your name and email information and be eligible for a cool gift! |
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Safety Forums
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The Safety Forum of the Inland Empire meets on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meetings are November 22 and December 20, 2011. Visit their website, call (909) 625-9650 or email for more info.
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| Contact Info | 
Sacramento Campus 3909 Bradshaw Road Sacramento CA 95827 (800) 825-7262 (916) 366-1230 FAX email: workplacesafety@safetycenter.org website  
Claremont Campus 109 S Spring Street Claremont CA 91711 (909) 625-9650 (909) 625-9652 FAX email: workplacesafetysc@safetycenter.org website
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Vol 11, Issue 11
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November 2011
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Greetings!
This month we are introducing a new feature to Inside Safety. Points to Ponder is a monthly feature written especially for safety managers and collateral duty safety people by Bob Lapidus, CSP, to help strengthen and inform your safety programs.
This issue is also packed full of confined space information and tools. Thanks to Dr. Mike Estep for lending his expertise to the subject. The safety tool box has a case study, identification checklist and more. Make sure to test your confined space knowledge by taking our November quiz. The correct answers will be in December's newletter.
Don't miss an issue, subscribe! You may also sign up to receive our other mailings including class updates and information on the Sacramento Regional Safety Forum and the Safety Forum of the Inland Empire. Save on your next training at Safety Center with the discount coupon below.
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POINTS TO PONDER
| | 3 Points to Ponder for Safety Management Specialists
1. Integrate Safety into Each and Every Task What if all employees performed every task they did with safety in mind, with safety as an integral part of each step taken? What a difference that would make. Safety is not something we put on top of what we do. Safety is what we do. We incorporate safety, quality, efficiency, and productivity into everything we do and the job is done right the first time. Is it a miracle? Not at all. It takes intense work to create a work environment where everything done is done right every time. There is no other way. 2. The Dose Makes the ExposureOur employees deal with a variety of risks in their work environment, everything from minor (low dosage) to major (high dosage). The higher the dose, the greater the chance of being hurt. Reducing the risk, the dose, using a variety of techniques will make a positive impact on the safety effort. Techniques include:
- eliminating the risk
- substituting the risk for something less harmful
- engineering out the danger
- instituting administrative controls
- and using personal protective equipment
Seeking out the hazards in the workplace, evaluating how these hazards may harm employees, and then taking action to deal with these hazards is an ongoing process. Lessening the amount of risk (the dose) prevents loss. 3. Time is Precious. DO IT NOW!Writing in Daily Guideposts, Samantha McGarrity stated, "It may take a great deal of courage, but unless we are willing to commit our actions to our beliefs, we may never realize how great an impact our efforts might make in improving the quality of life for others." That's the amazing thing about being in the field of safety. Our mission is to help our fellow employees prevent accidents; truly a high calling and a helping profession. Working with others, we seek to make the work environment safe. Safety Center's Core Safety Certificate is the first series of classes in the Safety Management Specialist Certificate program. This course gives students get-going knowledge that will enhance whatever they are doing in the field of safety. Sign up for the Core Safety Certificate. |
Confined Space
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Why is Confined Space Safety Important?
 Confined spaces have unique hazards caused by the configuration or the contents of the space. The difficulty in entering and exiting the sites limits options for rescuing employees trapped inside a confined space area. Restricted air circulation can reduce the availability of oxygen and lead to the accumulation of gasses that create a toxic atmosphere. The confined space may require employees to work closer to hazards than would otherwise be the case.
What is a Confined Space?
Many workplaces contain spaces that are "confined." They are spaces that are large enough for an employee to perform assigned work. However, their configuration make it difficult to enter and exit the site. Confined spaces are not for continuous employee occupancy and, because of limited maneuverability, they do not allow for easy movement.
What is a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)? Permit-required confined spaces fit the definition of a confined space and, in addition: - contain or have the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere and/or
- contain a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant, and/or
- have internal configurations such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a small cross section and/or
- contain any other recognized serious safety or health hazard
It is safer to consider ALL confined spaces as permit-required confined spaces until all testing is finished and employees can safely enter the site. What is a Non Permit-Required Confined Space (NPRCS)? NPRCSs are confined spaces that would not normally present hazards that are likely to cause death or serious injury, i.e. dropped ceilings, electrical closets, or mechanical rooms. A serious injury is defined as "substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes which have been adopted or are in use."
What are Confined Space Permits? Confined Space Permits are not something that an employer must apply for to a governmental or regulatory agency. Confined Space Permits are the safety plan that identifies: - Hazards
- Hazard controls
- Personal protective equipment
- Entry team members
- Air monitoring criteria
- Emergency plan
- Plan for removal of entrants
- and the ventilation requirements for the space
It answers the questions: What are we doing? What are the hazards? What controls are we using to control the hazards? How are we protecting employees? What is our plan of action in the event of an emergency? When are Permits needed? Permits are required when the space meets the criteria for a permit-required confined space. The permit outlines the safety procedures, the measures that will be taken to make entry safe, as well as identify the existing hazards and special equipment needed to protect the employees who will be making entry. Atmospheric conditions and other hazards are identified on the permit, which is posted outside the point of entry.
I think I have confined spaces at my worksite, what do I do now? There are many resources available for help in creating, maintaining and strengthening your organization's Confined Space Program. All California employers can contact CalOSHA Consultation Service for direction. You may also contact Safety Center Incorporated for training and our access to some of the best confined space experts in the field. We can help identify and create a Confined Space Program for your facility. Safety Center also conducts onsite confined space training at the awareness level, entry/rescue, and awareness train the trainer courses. Give us a call or email to book your training today. To contact the Sacramento office, call (916) 366-7233 x 219 or email workplacesafety@safetycenter.org. To contact the Claremont/Inland Empire office, please call (909) 625-9650 or email workplacesafetysc@safetycenter.org. The Safety Toolbox below contains some additional resources to help you conduct competent confined space awareness safety meetings at your facility. |
Regulatory Updates
| |  Patrick Kapust, Deputy Director of Enforcement Programs at OSHA, presented a first chance look at the top 10 most frequently cited standards for 2011 on November 1st at the National Safety Council Congress and Expo. As with most years, the items are perennial favorites, but ladder safety training seems to be having an impact, moving down from number four in 2010 to number seven for 2011.
Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards for FY2011 - Fall protection, construction (1926.501)- 7,139
- Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (1926.451) - 7,069
- Hazard communication standard, general industry (1910.1200) - 6,538
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (1910.147) -3,639
- Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (1910.305) - 3,584
- Powered industrial trucks, general industry (1910.178) - 3,432
- Ladders, construction (1926.1053) 3,244
- Electrical system design, general requirements, general industry (1910.303) - 2,863
- Machines, general requirements, general industry (1910.212) - 2,728
"A lot of these hazards have been around a long time and are easily preventable," Kapust said during the presentation.
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| SAFETY TOOLBOX |
|  Use this month's video and resources to educate yourself on confined spaces, identify confined spaces at your work-site and train your employees on the basics of confined space awareness.
Video of the Month
W7 408 Whose Job is it Anyway?
Confined spaces pose many hazards to entrants, as well as to would-be rescuers. It's important that all affected employees: entry supervisors, entrants, and attendants know, in advance, what is expected of them at any given time and situation.
VHS (5min).
If you would like more information about renting safety training videos or would like the most current catalog, view the catalog online or contact our librarian at (800) 825-7262 x 250 or by email. |
Member Updates
| |  Welcome New Members!
WPS Entertainment
Lisa Calvey - Simplex Grinnell
Member of the Month
Tuolumne Utilities District
For more about membership with Safety Center and its benefits, visit our membership pages online or contact our Membership Coordinator at (800) 825-7262 x 214 or by email.
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Thank you for your commitment to workplace safety and health!
Sincerely,
Safety Center Workplace Safety & Health |
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