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Tampa Cooperative Safety Initiative |
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Contents 1. Locking lights on spreader frames 2. Be careful when opening container doors |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2008 CONTACT: DEP, Dee Ann Miller, (850) 245-2112 or (850) 519-2898 DOH, Susan Smith, (850) 245-4111 DEP AND DOH REMIND FLORIDIANS OF PROPER DISPOSAL METHODS FOR UNWANTED MEDICATIONS --Proper disposal helps keep pharmaceuticals out of water-- TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Department of Health (DOH) are reminding Floridians to properly dispose of unwanted medications. Disposing with household trash rather than flushing down the toilet or a drain helps reduce the amount of pharmaceutical traces in Florida’s water bodies and drinking water. “Proper disposal of unwanted medications helps protect Florida’s residents and visitors as well as our natural resources,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “Florida's drinking water utilities have an exemplary track record in delivering safe, affordable, high-quality, drinking water. We will continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey to study emerging chemicals and develop new criteria so that we can continue to ensure safe water for generations to come." Many medications contain compounds, also known as micro constituents, that are used to enhance our quality of life by protecting human health, enhancing consumer goods, and optimizing agricultural production. Micro constituents may be found in very low concentrations in surface water, ground water, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, reclaimed water, and other waters. “While the issue of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water is not new, current media coverage on the topic may prompt concern among consumers,” said State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, MD, MPH. “So far, these chemicals have been found at extremely low concentrations and current research has not demonstrated an impact on human health at the trace levels at which they have been found.” The amount of micro constituents can be reduced by properly disposing of unwanted medications. While flushing them down the toilet or a drain prevents immediate accidental ingestion, it can impact our environment because many wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, are not designed to remove many of these medications. To properly dispose of unwanted household medications: 1. Keep the medicines in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested. 2. Mark out your name and prescription number for safety. 3. For pills, add water or soda to start dissolving them. For liquids, add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper. 4. Close the lid and secure with duct or packing tape. 5. Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle. 6. Tape that container closed. 7. Hide the container in the trash. Do not put in the recycle bin. Disposal of unwanted medications from commercial facilities such as pharmacies, medical facilities and veterinary operations are subject to different regulations than those that apply to medications from household uses. Those commercial facilities should contact DEP’s Division of Waste Management for guidance. For more information on the proper disposal of unwanted medications, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm |
OSHA now has ruled that employers must pay for virtually all workers’ Personal Protective Equipment
· 29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915, 1917, 1918 and 1926
· Effective on February 13, 2008
· Must be implemented by May 15, 2008
· Employers required to pay for the PPE provided, with exceptions for specific items
· Codifies a 1994 Agency-wide Policy on employer payment for PPE
· If an employee asks to use different PPE than what the employer provides at no cost, the employer is not required to pay for the item
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1. Locking lights on spreader frames When ICHCA International in its International Safety Panel (ISP) recently considered the situation regarding locking lights on spreader frames, it became apparent that a variety of different color combinations are in use. In order to ensure safe operations and to avoid confusion, it is clear that the color combinations (whatever they are) should be the same wherever a driver operates and whatever equipment is being used with such spreaders. Consequently, the International Safety Panel has adopted the following simple statement: This Panel considers that the colors of spreader frame locking lights on container lifting frames of cargo handling equipment should be standardized throughout a terminal. If drivers are liable to operate such equipment in more than one terminal, the colors of spreader frame locking lights should be standardized throughout all those terminals. The ultimate aim should be to internationally standardize the colors of all spreader frame locking lights. The ICHCA International Safety Panel invites those concerned to consider this statement and to take the actions they consider necessary. 2. Be careful when opening container doors Amongst a container's weakest parts are its doors. The exposure to rain, condensation and a salty atmosphere causes the container door hinges to corrode. Such rust is not always visible, because repainting of the door hinge welds can conceal metal fatigue corrosion. Containers also sustain damage during carriage or handling when they collide with other containers or objects. Eventually, when workers open a defective container door, it comes off its hinges and can fall on anybody who is standing nearby. Moreover, cargo and dunnage in the container can become unstable during the carriage or handling and end up exerting pressure against the container door. When the door is being opened, the cargo comes crushing down onto the worker. In one case, a huge paper reel, which had not been securely fastened, rolled out of the container and injured a stevedore fatally. Safety requires that containers are regularly inspected and maintained. Workers who de-stuff containers must be properly trained on container handling and fully equipped with personal protective equipment ('PPE') such as a hard hat, high visibility jacket and safety boots. The workers should be aware of the nature and possible hazards of the goods. If the cargo includes chemicals, special equipment such as a breathing apparatus might be necessary. A container door that is jammed or blocked should not be opened with brute force. A worker, who attempted to open a container with a crow bar, suffered serious injuries. A retaining strap on the outside of the container door prevents the container door from being forced open by cargo that presses against the inside of the door. The retaining strap is being fastened around the door latches while the container door is still shut. After that the container door is being opened and the retaining strap slowly released and eventually removed. Some workers have used equipment such as fork-lift trucks to brace the container doors, but such makeshift practices are not recommended without a full risk assessment. Naturally, site instructions and safety procedures must be in place at the location of the container de-stuffing operations. The unloading area must be clearly marked. The surface of the location should be even (or descending slightly from the door end) without any slopes, debris or pot holes, in which case the container doors are less likely to fall open when released and any pressure on the doors from any contents inside will be reduced. The container doors should only be opened right before de-stuffing commences. If machinery is used, everyone must keep a safe distance. A third party trucker who delivers the container to the unloading site should not be asked to help de-stuff the container, because he is unlikely to be properly trained, equipped or insured. If he has to at the unloading site, he is best placed and safest in his driver's cabin. The safety of every worker who opens and de-stuffs containers is markedly increased by established safety procedures and their rigorous enforcement. |
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Safety Bulletins |
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Fri 7/18/2008 12:55 PM The Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) is announcing the launch of its website at www.ethanolresponse.com. The EERC was formed to support safety concerns with the transportation and handling of renewable fuels-specifically ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels. Partner organizations include: |
NIOSH Publication No. 86-112:
Working in Hot Environments
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Safety Problems
Certain safety problems are common to hot environments. Heat tends to promote accidents due to the slipperiness of sweaty palms, dizziness, or the fogging of safety glasses. Wherever there exists molten metal hot surfaces, steam, etc., the possibility of burns from accidental contact also exists. Aside from these obvious dangers, the frequency of accidents, in general appears to be higher in hot environments than in more moderate environmental conditions. One reason is that working in a hot environment lowers the mental alertness and physical performance of an individual. Increased body temperature and physical discomfort promote irritability, anger, and other emotional states which sometimes cause workers to overlook safety procedures or to divert attention from hazardous tasks. Awareness is Important
The key to preventing excessive heat stress is educating the employer and worker on the hazards of working in heat and the benefits of implementing proper controls and work practices. The employer should establish a program designed to acclimatize workers who must be exposed to hot environments and provide necessary work-rest cycles and water to minimize heat stress. Lessening Stressful Conditions
Many industries have attempted to reduce the hazards of heat stress by introducing engineering controls, training workers in the recognition and prevention of heat stress, and implementing work-rest cycles. Heat stress depends, in part, on the amount of heat the worker's body produces while a job is being performed. The amount of heat produced during hard, steady work is much higher than that produced during intermittent or light work. Therefore, one way of reducing the potential for heat stress is to make the job easier or lessen its duration by providing adequate rest time. Mechanization of work procedures can often make it possible to isolate workers from the heat sources (perhaps in an air-conditioned booth) and increase overall productivity by decreasing the time needed for rest. Another approach to reducing the level of heat stress is the use of engineering controls which include ventilation and heat shielding. Number and Duration of Exposures
Rather than be exposed to heat for extended periods of time during the course of a job, workers should, wherever possible, be permitted to distribute the workload evenly over the day and incorporate work-rest cycles. Work-rest cycles give the body an opportunity to get rid of excess heat, slow down the production of internal body heat, and provide greater blood flow to the skin. Workers employed outdoors are especially subject to weather changes. A hot spell or a rise in humidity can create overly stressful conditions. The following practices can help to reduce heat stress: · Postponement of nonessential tasks, · Permit only those workers acclimatized to heat to perform the more strenuous tasks · Provide additional workers to perform the tasks keeping in mind that all workers should have the physical capacity to perform the task and that they should be accustomed to the heat. Thermal Conditions in the Workplace
A variety of engineering controls can be introduced to minimize exposure to heat. For instance, improving the insulation on a furnace wall can reduce its surface temperature and the temperature of the area around it. In general the simplest and least expensive methods of reducing heat and humidity can be accomplished by: · Opening windows in hot work areas, · Using fans, or Using other methods of creating airflow such as exhaust ventilation or air blowers. Rest Areas
Providing cool rest areas in hot work environments considerably reduces the stress of working in those environments. There is no conclusive information available on the ideal temperature for a rest area. However, a rest area with a temperature near 76/F appears to be adequate and may even feel chilly to a hot, sweating worker, until acclimated to the cooler environment. The rest area should be as close to the workplace as possible. Individual work periods should not be lengthened in favor of prolonged rest periods. Shorter but frequent work-rest cycles are the greatest benefit to the worker. Drinking Water
In the course of a day's work in the heat, a worker may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat. Because so many heat disorders involve excessive dehydration of the body, it is essential that water intake during the workday be about equal to the amount of sweat produced. Most workers exposed to hot conditions drink less fluids than needed because of an insufficient thirst drive. A worker, therefore, should not depend on thirst to signal when and how much to drink. Instead, the worker should drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish the necessary fluids in the body. There is no optimum temperature of drinking water, but most people tend not to drink warm or very cold fluids as readily as they will cool ones. Whatever the temperature of the water, it must be palatable and readily available to the worker. Individual drinking cups should be provided--never use a common drinking cup. Heat acclimatized workers lose much less salt in their sweat than do workers who are not adjusted to the heat. The average American diet contains sufficient salt for acclimatized workers even when sweat production is high. If, for some reason, salt replacement is required, the best way to compensate for the loss is to add a little extra salt to the food. Salt tablets should not be used. Special Considerations during Prolonged Heat Spells
During unusually hot weather conditions lasting longer than 2 days, the number of heat illnesses usually increases. This is due to several factors, such as progressive body fluid deficit, loss of appetite (and possible salt deficit), buildup of heat in living and work areas, and breakdown of air-conditioning equipment. Therefore, it is advisable to make a special effort to adhere rigorously to the above preventive measures during these extended hot spells and to avoid any unnecessary or unusual stressful activity. Sufficient sleep and good nutrition are important for maintaining a high level of heat tolerance. Workers who may be at a greater risk of heat illnesses are the obese, the chronically ill, and older individuals. When feasible, the most stressful tasks should be performed during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or at night). Double shifts and overtime should be avoided whenever possible. Rest periods should be extended to alleviate the increase in the body heat load. |