OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and published it in the Federal Register in March 2012 (77 FR 17574). Two significant changes contained in the revised standard require the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). The new label elements and SDS

 

The spending/deficit/budget uproar yielded at least some benefit for those pushing for a 2013 Farm Bill, as it has been rumored that the farm package in any budget/spending reform effort could yield nearly $30 billion in budget savings.  Meanwhile, speculation continues on when House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) will name House conferees to a conference committee with the Senate.

 

Rep. Kristi Noem (R, SD), a House Agriculture Committee member, told one radio outlet she expects conferees to be named as early as today (10/11).  Sen. John Thune (R, SD) sent a letter to Boehner this week urging him to name conferees as soon as possible, saying the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is crucial to his cattlemen in the wake of the historic blizzard that devastated western South Dakota, killing an estimated 45,000 cattle. However, Boehner is expected to name conferees when the debt ceiling/spending wrangle is over with.  Rep. Collin Peterson (D, MN), House ag committee ranking member, said he expects twelve GOP and nine Democrat conferees will be named either late today, this weekend or early next week.

 

It's expected House leadership will name one Republican who is not an ag committee member.  Rep. Steve Southerland (R, FL) will reportedly be named a "leadership" conferee.  It was Southerland's Farm Bill floor amendment - with Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R, VA) blessing - to require food stamp recipients to be working or training for work that took down the entire bill, with both GOP and Democrat critics calling it a "step too far" in trying to "reform" food stamps.

 

GOP conferees will be led by House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R., OK), and will likely include the five subcommittee chairs: Reps. Michael Conaway (R., TX), Rick Crawford (R, AR), Steve King (R, IA), Austin Scott (R, GA) and Glenn Thompson (R, PA).  The list is complete with the addition of Reps. Mike Rogers (R, AL) Martha Roby (R, AL), Kristi Noem (R, SD), Rodney Davis (R, IL), Jeff Denham (R, CA) and Southerland.

 

Peterson said the naming of Southerland was a mistake because non-ag members blew up the bill in the first place.  Democrat conferees will all be committee members, he said; however, in 2008, non-ag committee member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT) sat as then Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D, CA) conferee on nutrition programs.

 

 

Aloha CGFA Members!

 

I know some of you would like to get a jump start on booking your room for the 2014 CGFA Annual Convention at the Sheraton in Maui.  The dates will be April 23-26, 2014.  Rooms can be booked directly with the reservations department at The Sheraton Maui.   Call the Resort Desk (808) 921-4645

 

Cut-off Date:  The "cut-off date" for reserving rooms in the Room Block is 5:00 p.m. local time at Hotel on March 21, 2014.  After the cut-off date, it is at Hotel's discretion whether to accept additional reservations, which will be subject to group rates, based upon availability.  

 

Rates:  We are pleased to confirm the following group rates:

 

Room	Single Rate	Double Rate
Run of House	$235.00	$235.00
Run of Ocean**	$255.00	$255.00

 

Therefore, your guests can follow the following process to book their rooms:

 

Group Code:  VMCGFA

Reservations:

Individual attendees may make reservations by calling our resorts desk at (808) 921-4645 and making reservation on their own. (The hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Hawaii Standard Time). 

 

Rates are not confidential and a deposit equal to two night's stay is required to hold each individual's reservation.  Such deposit shall serve to confirm the reservation for the date(s) indicated, and, upon check-in, shall be applied to the first and/or final night of the reserved stay.  This deposit is refundable if notice is received at least seventy-two hours (72 hours) prior to arrival and a cancellation number is obtained.  If cancellation is made within seventy-two hours (72 hours) prior to arrival, the two days deposit will be retained as a cancellation.  All deposits shall be charged at the time the reservation is made.

 

Rates listed are based on single or double occupancy.  There will be an additional charge of eighty dollars ($80.00), plus tax for any adult (eighteen years or older) in a room (for a third person).  Children under eighteen (18) may stay for free in their parent's room when using existing bedding.  The maximum number of persons per room is four (4) adults or two (2) adults and two (2) children. All room rates are quoted exclusive of applicable state and local taxes, currently 13.41%.  Taxes are subject to change.

 

The rates established for your meeting will be offered 3 days prior and 3 days after the meeting dates as indicated on the first page of this contract, subject to availability of rate and Run of House rooms at the time of reservation.

 

PLAYMORE Room Discounts: 

www.playmoreinhawaii.com/LEARNMORENOW to reserve their rooms online.

 

 

Mahalo and see you there.....

 

Combustible Dust  

 

Combustible dust is defined as a solid material composed of distinct particles which present a fire hazard when suspended in air. A dust explosion can cause catastrophic loss of life, injuries and destruction of property. 

 

Characteristics of a dust explosion:

• Definition: A dust explosion can be defined as a rapid release of high pressure gas into the environment.
• Process:

•  It commonly begins with the ignition of a fuel, such as a combustible dust, that burns  very rapidly.

•  It produces a large and sudden release of gas and does not necessarily involve a fire.

• There are often more serious secondary explosions that result from an initiating explosion which dislodges loose particulates.

• Five criteria that must be present for dust explosion conditions:

•  Heat or an ignition source

•  Oxygen, which may be in the form of oxidizer chemical

•  Dispersion of dust particles of a certain concentration and quantity

•  A confined dust cloud
• Examples of industries where combustible dusts are common:
  • Grain handling
  • Flour production
  • Industries using wood
  • Sugar manufacturing
  • Certain types of plastic
  • Coal handling
  • Textile industries using cotton, nylon, etc.
  • Metal production such as aluminum, sodium and potassium

Fighting dust accumulation:

Ensure that dust-containing systems, ducts and dust collectors are designed in a manner (i.e., with proper velocity and volumes) that prevents fugitive dusts from accumulating in the work area.

• Ensure that the working surfaces are designed in a manner to minimize dust accumulation and to facilitate cleaning.
•  Accumulations on overhead beams, joists, ducts, the tops of equipment and other surfaces should be included when assessing dust concentrations.
• Your facility must have a housekeeping program with regular cleaning frequencies established for floors and horizontal surfaces, including ducts, pipes, hoods, ledges and beams, to minimize dust accumulation within operating areas of the facility.
• Housekeeping practices must include immediate cleaning whenever a dust layer of 1/32-inch thickness accumulates over a surface area of 5% or more of the floor area of the facility or any given room.
• If the floor area exceeds 20,000 ft2, a dust layer must not exceed a 1,000 ft2 floor area.

 

Controlling heat and ignition sources:

• Electrical equipment must meet Class II requirements for explosion proof control.  This includes electrically-powered cleaning devices such as vacuum cleaners.
• An effective ignition control program must be in place.
• It should include such elements as grounding and bonding, metal detection, preventive maintenance programs and other methods.
• This will dissipate any sparks or electrostatic charge that could be generated where a combustible atmosphere may exist (e.g., in ductwork).
• Implement a Hot Work Permit Program.
• Post and enforce No Smoking areas.
• Ensure that duct systems, dust collectors and dust-producing machinery are bonded and grounded to minimize accumulation of static electrical charge and equipped with spark detection and arrest systems.
• Use industrial trucks, machinery and electrical equipment that are approved for Class II combustible dust locations.

 

 

Posted October 8, 2013 by by Cory Harris & filed under Health Care Reform |

 

We're one week into the Initial Enrollment Period of health care reform, and things are moving a bit slower than expected on our end. Here are my key takeaways from the past week:

1. Everybody's curious.
   • News broke across the nation that the State Health Exchange servers were delayed and even crashing due to the number of hits to the site. And why not? It's like telling people for 43+ months that the best and greatest device known to man will be available online on October 1, 2013.
2. Nobody is ready to jump in.
   • Many people wait for the second version of that new phone to come out so they know the bugs have been worked out before they spend their money. Similarly, people seem to want to wait for others to commit themselves to government health plans to see if they might backfire.
3. The state wasn't quite ready to launch electronic enrollment.
   • Covered California opened on October 1^st but didn't have the capability to complete transactions online. Perhaps this issue was the cause of takeaway #2? The online application should be ready to roll on November 1^st, and until then we'll do it the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper.
   • Some plan information has yet to be released. There have been talks of a plan for those under age 30 and also for those who meet certain income guidelines. This plan would be more of a Catastrophic-style plan that would have high deductibles and similar maximum out-of-pocket amounts. The plan would be more affordable than the Bronze option and designed with the intention of attracting young adults who are healthy and have the mindset of "just in case" insurance or "because I have to."
4. Covered California: as simple as buying your insurance on Amazon.com...almost.
   • Purchasing insurance isn't quite as simple as purchasing a book or the latest season of Breaking Bad. Those purchases don't have a lasting financial impact on you and your family. However, this comparison has been made.

•  Read Full Blog......