BWC Safety Update - June 2023

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BWC featured items

Safety Council enrollment promo Thousands of Ohio employers benefit from the education, resource sharing, and premium savings which result from actively participating in their local safety council. Click the image to learn why you should join in your community today.

Safety Intervention Grant Program We reopened the Safety Intervention Grant (SIG) Program in November 2022. The SIG Program is available to both private and public employers and recipients of the grant are eligible for a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to $40,000. Click the image to see how Anderson Township used the SIG Program to provide better care for patients and protect their EMS personnel from injury.

June BWC in person training, safety webinars, and virtual training classes 
The BWC has numerous safety training for you and your employees this June.

BWC Library question of the month 
A question received by the library over the past month with our response. 

Question:  
What are the requirements for providing emergency eyewashes and showers in areas where corrosive materials are present? How far do they need to be from employees who are working with these types of substances? Do we need to have eyewashes and showers in areas where small quantities of corrosives are present or just in areas where large quantities are present?

Answer: 
Regarding requirements, OSHA's 1910.151 Medical Services and First Aid standard states the following about emergency eyewashes/showers:

"1910.151(c) Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use."

Regarding location: ISEA/ANSI Z358.1-2014 Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, Appendix B.5, Placement of Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment states that "...in no instance should it take an individual longer than 10 seconds to reach the nearest facility," and "It is recognized that the average person covers a distance of approximately 55 ft. (16.8 m) in 10 seconds when walking at a normal pace." 

Regarding quantities of chemicals, there is an OSHA Letters of Interpretation (LOIs) titled "Requirement to provide accessible quick drenching and flushing facilities where there is exposure to corrosive materials" it states the following about quantities of corrosive materials present and the need for eyewashes/showers:

"Question 5: Is there a quantity of corrosive chemical that triggers the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151(c)?

"Response: No, there is no threshold quantity of corrosive material that triggers the requirement. The determining factor for the application of the standard is the possible exposure of an employee to injury from contact with a corrosive material." 

If you need help understanding requirements for access to and placement of emergency eyewashes/showers, contact BWC’s Division of Safety and Hygiene. Consultation services are no cost for those with a BWC policy. Find out more on our website. 

Other news

June is National Safety Month
The National Safety Council designates June as National Safety Month. Each week the Council focuses on a different safety topic. This year’s topics are emergency preparedness, slips, trips, and falls, heat-related illnesses, and hazard recognition.

OSHA workplace stress initiative
These resources can help you and your employees with stress at work. There is information about stress and its issues and guidance and training materials for reaching out to employees who need assistance. This blog post from the US Department of Labor describes the issues around stress at work.

Resources for young worker safety and health
Many young workers have their first jobs over the summer. View these resources with information for workers, employers, and parents about job safety and the laws that apply to youth workers.

Violence prevention for convenience store workers
Retail workers in gas stations and convenience stores may face violence on the job. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently published a Workplace Solutions document. Learn what steps employers and workers can take to prevent and reduce workplace violence incidents.

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

We want to hear from you!

Are there BWC services or programs you would like to learn more about? Do you have questions about forms or procedures? We want to hear from you about what you would like to see more of in our safety update. Send your comments to feedback@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC's Division of Safety & Hygiene provides a variety of programs, services, and resources to help Ohio employers create a safe and healthy workplace.  

Visit bwc.ohio.gov or email BWCDSH@bwc.state.oh.us or call 1-800-644-6292. 

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Vision: To transform BWC into an agile organization driven by customer success.
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 257,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,600 employees and assets of approximately $21 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.