December 2021 Safety Update

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BWC News

Mark your calendars to join us online for the fully virtual 92nd Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC) coming March 9-10, 2022! Exhibitors are invited to apply to be included in OSC’s newly enhanced digital expo. Advance expo rates end December 15th. Also keep an eye out for the return of the Medical & Health Symposium coming virtually April 7-9, 2022! Themed “Comprehensive Care for an Injured Worker,” the online, free symposium will feature educational sessions for health care practitioners, their staff, and legal professionals. More information coming soon!   BWC Virtual Training Classes December’s virtual training classes include: Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response Refresher Dec. 1, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Wellness in the Workplace                                       Dec. 7, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Electrical Hazard Recognition and Abatement         Dec. 14-17, 2021 9:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Respirators: Do we Need Them?                             Dec. 14, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hazard Communication Half-day Workshop            Dec. 16, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. To register, visit the BWC Learning Center.   BWC Snow & Ice Safety Micro Video We have released a new micro video just in time for winter weather! This video is a review of tips and techniques to prevent slips, trips, and falls on snow and ice. Be sure to check out our entire micro training safety video series.   BWC now accepting proposals for the Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research Program The Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research Program emphasizes maximizing the impact occupational safety and health research has on the overall safety, health, productivity, and competitiveness of Ohio’s work force. This open competition for researchers in Ohio's not-for-profit higher education institutions and research organizations provides funding for research projects up to $300,000 per project with the project’s duration limited to 24 months. Learn more in this year’s request for proposals and submit your proposal by 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, 2022.   BWC Library Question of the Month       In this new section, we feature a question received by the library over the past month and our response. Question: Is there a requirement for a safety latch on a hook for slings? Answer: The use of a safety latch on a sling hook depends on the activity for which the sling is being used. OSHA answers this in their Letters of Interpretation from January 10, 2006 and October 19, 2009. Further, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.2-2016: Overhead And Gantry Cranes (Top Running Bridge, Single Or Multiple Girder, Top Running Trolley Hoist), Section 2-1.14.5 Hooks also states "Latch-equipped hooks shall be used unless the application makes the use of the latch impractical or unnecessary. When required, a latch or mousing shall be provided to bridge the throat opening of the hood for the purpose of retaining slings, chains, or other similar parts, under slack conditions (see ASME B30.10)." ASME B30.10-2019: Hooks, Section 10-1.11.1 (m) Single-Point Hooks and Section 10-1.11.2 (k) Duplex and Quad Hooks both state "The need for a latch or mousing on any hook is a function of the application of the hook and shall be determined by a qualified person." Have a question? Ask a Librarian or send an email to library@bwc.state.oh.us.

OSHA News

Comment on OSHA Heat Standard

OSHA is requesting comments on the proposed rule Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Settings. OSHA requests comments on topics such as heat stress thresholds, acclimatization planning, exposure monitoring, and the nature, types, and effectiveness of controls. Submit comments by Dec. 27, 2021. For information on how to comment read this OSHA Fact Sheet. For more information about protecting employees from heat stress, check out BWC’s Safety Bulletin and Safety Talk.

Holiday Workplace Safety

Keep retail workers safe during the upcoming holiday shopping season with this guidance from the OSHA website.

NIOSH/CDC News

Daily Forklift Inspection

A new Workplace Solutions publication from NIOSH describes the process of conducting a daily inspection of different types of powered industrial trucks. The document has links to two OSHA inspection checklists and has an inspection form included.

Other News

Leadership Principles for Building an Ideal Safety Culture Webinar Join EHS Daily Advisor on Dec. 7 at 2:00 p.m. EST for a free webinar focusing on the components of a Total Safety Culture and leadership principles for bringing about continuous improvement in safety performance. Although most employees feel leaders truly care about safety, there is still much that employees expect of management to help build an ideal safety culture.

Safe Driving in Inclement Weather Webinar Join the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry on Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. EST for a free webinar with tips on driving in bad winter weather. Learn what steps can be taken to ensure individual preparedness to enable safe vehicle operation during inclement weather, understand the methods for safe vehicle operation in different types of weather situations (such as rain, snow, ice), and more!

Incident Investigations: Finding and Eliminating Root Causes Webinar

Join Safety+Health on Dec. 14 at 1:00 p.m. EST for a free webinar addressing incident investigations. An incident or near-miss investigation shouldn’t stop when an obvious cause is found; it should continue until all underlying factors are identified. Effectively addressing the root causes should help prevent recurrence, which translates to fewer injuries.

Estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses 2020 estimates from the SOII. There was a decrease in overall non-fatal injuries of 5.7%. Total reported illness cases quadrupled due to a 4,000% increase in respiratory illnesses. Ohio-specific data for 2020 is still being compiled, but previous years’ statistics and reports can be found on our website.

Construction Safety Management during COVID-19

A recent Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Data Bulletin examines construction safety management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the key findings: nearly two-thirds (64%) of construction businesses suffered moderate to large negative impacts from COVID-19. Another discovery: small firms were less likely to increase online training due to COVID-19. BWC is here to help with free online training available through the BWC Learning Center.

New Hispanic Employment Data Dashboard

A new data dashboard from CPWR illustrates the growth in Hispanic workers in the construction industry. The charts have data from 2011 to 2019 in three categories: 1) Employment Trends, 2) Demographics, and 3) Foreign-born Hispanics. To help keep this growing part of the workforce safe, check out CPWR’s Spanish language resources or contact the BWC Library for access to hundreds of Spanish language safety videos available to borrow or stream online for free.

Winter Holiday Fire Safety

The National Fire Protection Association’s website for winter holiday safety has safety tip sheets, social media cards with holiday fire safety tips for Facebook and Twitter, winter holiday fire facts, cooking tips, and activities for kids and families. Be fire safe during the upcoming holiday season!

Keep the Holiday Joy!

The holiday season is here! Time with family and friends, good food, and happy memories are ways we often define this time of year. With all the great fun, it can be easy to forget that holidays can be challenging. We may have complex travel plans and schedules. Not to mention the tension that comes with preparing a picture-perfect meal! Whether it is mourning the loss of a loved one who will not be at a holiday dinner this year or feeling anxious about choosing the perfect present for a friend – holiday stress is bound to happen. Don't let stress overtake your holidays by planning for your health and wellbeing. Avoid late nights by making time for quality rest and relaxation. Practice moderation by watching your portion sizes at meals and limiting your intake of sweets and desserts. Be sure to keep your body moving and active. Last, try to link deep breathing with gratitude as you reflect on the good that holidays can bring. For more tips on de-stressing your holiday season, click here. #BWCWellness

The Ohio BWC Library of BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene compiles and distributes this newsletter each month.

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

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Mission: To deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day. Core Values: One Agency, Personal Connection, Innovative Leadership, Relentless Excellence.

Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio, serving 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,600 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.