Occupational Safety

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I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to update you on the actions taken by MSHA and the mining community to improve mine safety and health, and on the results. Over the past year, MSHA has implemented several changes, continuing the transformation we have made to our agency, and to mine safety. I will share some of those with you today.

Take a moment to hold your hands out in front of you. Look at them. They are the only two hands you will ever have. It has been estimated that almost 20% of all disabling accidents on the job involve the hands. Without your fingers or hands, your ability to work would be greatly reduced

The ASSE and AIHA weigh in on OSHA’s proposed silica rule, a worker dies from heat stress and good news about air pollution in the U.S. were among this week’s top EHS-related stories as featured on ISHN.com:

Following the drowning death of an untrained worker, Lucas Marine Acquisition Co. LLC has been cited for 22 safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The employee died while doing surface supplied-air diving during underwater construction activities for the City of Fort Pierce Marina storm protection project on Aug. 6, 2013.

A volunteer firefighter and two contractors were killed Feb. 1 in the collapse of two cell phone towers in Clarksburg, West Virginia. News sources report that four workers were tethered to a 300-foot-tall tower while making repairs when the structure fell.

Percent distribution of work-related amputations and employment by industry division and selected industries, private sector, 23 States, 1977.

OSHA has released a new Fatal Fact resource on "Falls from Telecommunications Towers" (PDF*), illustrating how failure to plan, provide the right equipment, and train workers effectively can lead to worker deaths.

OSHA has cited Cooper Tank & Welding Corp., doing business as Cooper Tank Recycling, for eight serious health and safety violations following the heat-related death of a 64-year-old worker at the Brooklyn recycling facility on 222 Maspeth Ave.

“Pinch points” are present in most mechanical devices that, in its operation, might pose a risk of injury to body parts. A pinch point is defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of equipment. If a worker or any parts of the worker’s body occupies that space during the pinching movement, there is a high probability of injuries such as fractures, amputations, or even death.

The phrase “information at your fingertips” has never been truer than with today’s tablet technology.  The ability to access email and the Internet, as well as record audio and video from nearly any location has forever changed how we communicate and do our jobs.