News

Members of Congress met July 21 to discuss recent concerns about the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's oversight of owner/operator public awareness and education programs for pipeline safety.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing (.pdf file) was the fourth in a series of hearings scheduled in light of the Deepwater Horizon crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. It stemmed from concerns raised by the National Transportation Safety Board that even though a pipeline operator's public awareness program plan may comply with federal regulations, there is no guarantee that implementation is effective or that the operator is exercising sufficient oversight, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the committee, said during his opening statement.

PHMSA Administrator Cynthia L. Quarterman told the panel that excavation damage, although preventable, remains the leading cause of pipeline incidents involving fatalities and injuries, according to her written statement (.pdf file). She said PHMSA has made grant funding available and a number of programs are underway to increase public awareness of pipeline hazards, such as the "811 Call Before You Dig" program.

Cardiac Science Corp. recently announced it will replace approximately 24,000 automated external defibrillators used by first responders and certain medical facilities as part of a recall dating back to November 2009.

AEDs are likely to be used more frequently by first responders and medical facilities, which may increase the probability of malfunction during a rescue attempt, according to a press release from the Bothell, WA-based company. First priority will be given to police, fire and ambulance workers.

Cardiac Science said other customers affected by the recall only require the previously announced software update, which improves the AED's self-test capabilities and detection of the component issue linked to possible machine failure.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new commercial motor vehicle safety enforcement program, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, was both praised and criticized by safety advocates and trucking groups during a June 23 hearing before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

Concerns about CSA 2010 included the processes used to rate motor carriers and drivers, how different types of carriers would compare to one other, how violations would be weighted and tracked, and how the system would differentiate between citations and warnings.

FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro said a new Safety Measurement System would be used to rate and rank carriers within CSA 2010 to determine which carriers warrant an intervention and possible enforcement action by her agency. She emphasized the system would draw on all available data, including violations and positive data, such as a carrier that passes an inspection at a weight station.

After being confirmed by the Senate on June 23, Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso took over as chairman of the Chemical Safety Board, and Mark Griffon also was appointed to the board, filling the second vacancy.

An industrial hygienist with 30 years of experience in safety, Moure-Eraso most recently served as chair and head of the department of work environment at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, according to a CSB press release.

Griffon is an environmental and occupational consultant and member of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health.

Outgoing chairman John Bresland will serve as a board member for the remainder of his five-year term, which runs through March 2013.

President Barack Obama nominated Moure-Eraso and Griffon on March 22.

A new training component emphasizing worker rights has been added to OSHA's 10- and 30-hour Outreach Training Program classes as required content.

According to an OSHA press release, "Introduction to OSHA" advises workers on their rights to:

A safe workplace
Training
Make a request for an OSHA inspection
Be free from retaliation
The two-hour component is required for the 10- and 30-hour construction, general industry, and maritime outreach courses.

"We are confident that this new training will embolden workers to speak up when they find work practices that endanger their lives and the lives of their co-workers," OSHA administrator David Michaels said in a press release.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has tasked the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee with investigating ways to prevent distracted driving among commercial motor vehicle operators.

FMCSA officials are hoping for information, concepts and ideas to prevent distracted driving, particularly from in-cab technologies and activities. The task is said to be separate from a current rule that prohibits texting and a forthcoming rule concerning cell phone use.

A study (.pdf file) released in September 2009 by the Blacksburg, VA-based Virginia Tech Transportation Institute showed driver distraction was a potential contributing factor in about 82 percent of crashes.

Findings from the study, which collected naturalistic driver data from 103 CMV drivers between May 2004 and September 2005, also showed:

Drivers were engaged in non-driving-related tasks in 71 percent of crashes, 46 percent of near crashes and 60 percent of all safety-critical events.

There were 4,452 safety critical events, 21 crashes, 197 near crashes, 3,019 crash-relevant conflicts and 1,215 unintentional lane deviations.

Drivers were 23.2 times as likely to be involved in a safety-critical event if they were texting while driving.

OSHA will host a stakeholder meeting via live webchat on June 28.

To participate in the one-hour "virtual" meeting on combustible dust, stakeholders should register at dol.gov.

OSHA has hosted a series of stakeholder meetings throughout the country as it pursues a standard on combustible dust. The upcoming webchat is the latest example of OSHA using Internet-based technology to reach a broader audience.

Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to crashes than other drivers. Many crashes occur because motorcycles are hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. It is important that motorists always make a visual check for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Throughout May, the National Safety Council will encourage motorists to share the road with motorcyclists and be extra alert when they are nearby.

Fatalities involving motorists and motorcyclists increased 131 percent between 1998 and 2008. The mileage death rate for motorcyclists in 2007 was 37 times greater than for passenger car occupants.

“Throughout spring and summer the number of motorcyclists on the road will increase. It is important for both motorists and motorcyclists to be aware of one another,” said David Teater, NSC senior director of Transportation Initiatives. “To better defend themselves, motorcyclists should follow the rules of the roadway and wear protective gear, including a Department of Transportation compliant helmet.”

NSC offers these tips for motorists and motorcyclists:

Motorists

•Allow greater following distance behind a motorcycle.
•Be extra cautious in intersections. Most crashes occur when a motorist fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle.
•Give a motorcycle the full lane width – never try to share a lane.
Motorcyclists
•Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
•Position motorcycle in lane where you will be out of a motorist’s blind spot.
•Use turn signals for every turn or lane change.

Numerous public opinion surveys show most drivers believe that using cell phones while driving is dangerous. Indeed, talking on cell phones while driving is estimated to increase crash risk fourfold.

Over 50 research studies have shown that using phones while driving is risky. Each year, it results in about 1.6 million crashes, hundreds of thousands of injuries, and thousands of deaths.

The National Safety Council (NSC) aims to prevent these crashes, injuries and deaths due to cell phone use while driving. For the many ways to help make our roads safer, visit our resources dedicated to:

•Employers
•Key Research
•Public Education
•State Laws

For more information on distracted driving visit the NSC at www.nsc.org

As part of its continuing effort to combat distracted driving, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is kicking off pilot programs in Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York to test whether increased law enforcement efforts can get distracted drivers to put down their cell phones and focus on the road.

The pilot programs, which are similar to previous efforts to curb drunk driving and increase seat belt use among drivers, are the first federally funded efforts in the country to specifically focus on the effects of increased enforcement and public advertising on reducing distracted driving. Drivers caught texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone will be pulled over and ticketed. The message is simple, “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other.” “Law enforcement will be out on the roads in Syracuse, NY, and Hartford, CT, with one simple message, if a driver is caught with a cell phone in one hand, they’ll end up with a ticket in the other,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “It’s time for drivers to act responsibly, put their hands on the wheel and focus on the road.” High visibility enforcement will begin in the Syracuse metropolitan area from April 8 through 17, while the crackdown in the Hartford metropolitan area will begin on April 10 through 16. Subsequent enforcement waves in both states will take place throughout the course of the yearlong program.

The program will be also be supported by a paid advertising campaign that focuses on men and women up to the age of 49 and will air April 1 through April16 in the Hartford and Syracuse metropolitan areas. Each pilot program is supported by $200,000 in federal funds and matched by $100,000 from the state. Researchers will study changes in attitudes and behavior from beginning to end and the results will serve as a model for employing high visibility enforcement, education and outreach to reduce distracted driving behaviors in other cities and states across the country.

“There is no question that high visibility enforcement combined with effective public advertising works. We’ve seen the results first-hand with national campaigns like Click It or Ticket and Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “Distracted driving is a growing problem—the numbers tell the story of these preventable tragedies.” Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that in 2008 alone, nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than a half million people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver nationwide. Almost 20 percent of all crashes that same year involved some type of distraction. Nationwide, six states prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving and twenty-one states have enacted texting bans.
To learn more visit www.distraction.gov

Preparation for the 2010 National Safety Month campaign is well underway. This year's five weekly focal points, chosen to highlight key areas of NSC injury-prevention efforts, have been listed below.

Week 1: 6/1-6/6 Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention
Week 2: 6/7-6/13 Teen Driving Safety
Week 3: 6/14-6/20 Preventing Overexertion at Work & at Home
Week 4: 6/21-6/27 Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving
Week 5: 6/28-6/30 Summer Safety

Each June both the National Safety Council and the Oklahoma Safety Council encourage businesses to get involved and participate in National Safety Month. Each week carries a theme that brings attention to critical safety issues. More information about National Safety Month will be posted at www.nsc.org this month so your organization can plan ahead.

The Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) has announced our new Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO) program. Participants be able to take your entire CSHO program locally in Oklahoma City. The OSC will accept current CSHO credits you've completed at any other OTI in the region and credits will be applied towards the OSC CSHO program. Courses are now scheduled on the OSC website. For more information about the CSHO program, contact Rocky Waller at 405-848-8626 or by email at rwaller@oksafety.org

As an added value to our members, the Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) has negotiated a great deal on your behalf. OSHA Training Institute (OTI) courses are now available to our members at a reduced rate compared to any other OTI courses in the state. Take advantage of the convenience of not having to travel out of state as courses are now available in Oklahoma City & Tulsa. Visit our website at www.oksafety.org for a listing of upcoming courses or contact Rocky Waller at 405-848-8626.

Does your company have a great safety and health program that you would be proud to showcase? There is no better venue to acknowledge these groups or individuals than the Oklahoma Safety Council’s 2010 Safety and Health Conference. We are currently accepting nominations for Safety & Health Awards. Please call the OSC at 405-848-8626 or contact Kellie Warrior by email at kelliw@oksafety.org for details. Award nomination forms can be downloaded from the OSC website at www.oksafety.org. All applications must be submitted by the deadline of April 2, 2010.

Company Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the best
safety and health programs in Oklahoma! If you have a
great safety and/or health program or know of one, please
complete or have them complete an application for the 2010
safety and health awards. The OSC will recognize 3 winners
for the company award for small, medium and large
employers. (Yes, you can nominate your own program!)

Most Improved Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the most
improved safety and health programs in Oklahoma! If your
company has shown great improvement within the last two
years in your safety and/or health program or if you know of
a company that has, please complete or have them complete
an application for the 2010 safety and health awards.
(Yes, you can nominate your own program!) Even if your
company’s data doesn’t reflect a great program compared
to your industry peers, you may have shown great improvement
over the last two years.

Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the best
safety and health programs from Voluntary Protection Program
(VPP) sites in Oklahoma! If you have achieved this
endeavor or know of someone who has, please complete
an application for the 2010 safety awards. (Yes, you can nominate yourself!).

Washington, DC – The National Safety Council announced today that it estimates at least 28% of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year – are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of NSC’s call for a ban on all cell phone use and texting while driving.

“We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. "We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use causes many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text," she said. "That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads."

"This new estimate provides critical data for legislators, business leaders and individuals to evaluate the threat and need for legislation, business policies and personal actions to prevent cell phone use and texting while driving," Froetscher said. "There was great progress made in 2009, particularly regarding a broad recognition that texting is dangerous. We now need the same broad consensus that recognizes cell phone use while driving causes even more crashes.”

Froetscher said public support for laws banning cell phone use while driving is gaining momentum.

"Public opinion research conducted in 2009 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Nationwide Insurance show public support for total bans on cell phones at 43 and 57 percent respectively," Froetscher said. "With public support now around 50 percent, we will continue to educate people about the risks of cell phone use while driving and the value of effectively-enforced laws in changing behavior and reducing crashes.”

In constructing its estimates, NSC used widely-accepted statistical methods and analysis based on data of driver cell phone use from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and from peer-reviewed research that quantifies the risk of using a cell phone and texting while driving. NSC's statistical model and estimates were peer-reviewed by academic researchers in traffic safety and biostatistics.

The estimate of 25% of all crashes -- or 1.4 million crashes -- caused by cell phone use was derived from NHTSA data showing 11% of drivers at any one time are using cell phones and from peer-reviewed research reporting cell phone use increases crash risk by four times. The estimate of an additional minimum 3% of crashes -- or 200,000 crashes -- caused by texting was derived by NHTSA data showing 1% of drivers at any one time are manipulating their device in ways that include texting and from research reporting texting increases crash risk by 8 times. Using the highest risk for texting reported by research of 23 times results in a maximum of 1 million crashes due to texting; still less than the 1.4 million crashes caused by other cell phone use.

For more information visit the NSC at www.nsc.org

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Poisonings are easier to prevent than to treat. Every day, the Oklahoma Poison Control Center receives calls from distraught parents, grandparents, caregivers and babysitters who didn't think a poisoning could happen to their loved one. Unfortunately, children are at a greater risk for a poisoning exposure because of their natural curiosity to explore the world. Toddlers tend to touch everything and once they pick something up - it goes straight to their mouth. It can take less than a second for a child to drink or eat a poison that could be life threatening. Children's bodies are physically less able to tolerate toxic chemicals.

It only takes a minute to educate yourself about how to prevent a poison in your home. For more information visit the Oklahoma Poison Control website at www.oklahomapoison.org

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued commonsense fact sheets that employers and workers can use to promote safety during the current H1N1 influenza outbreak.

The fact sheets inform employers and workers about ways to reduce the risk of exposure to the 2009 H1N1 virus at work. Separate fact sheets for health care workers, who carry out tasks and activities that require close contact with 2009 H1N1 patients, contain additional precautions.

"Protecting our nation's workers is OSHA's top priority," said Jordan Barab, the agency's acting assistant secretary. "These fact sheets are tools we have developed to help ensure America's workers stay healthy and our businesses remain viable. OSHA's new fact sheets will help all employers identify appropriate actions to protect their workers."

OSHA's "Workplace Safety and H1N1" Web site provides easy to understand information appropriate for all workplaces and more extensive guidance for those involved in higher risk health care activities. The fact sheets are advisory in nature and informational in content.

As new information about the 2009 H1N1 virus becomes available, these workplace fact sheets will be updated. Employers and workers should review OSHA's www.osha.gov/h1n1 site often to ensure they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about their operations and planning.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information about the agency, visit www.osha.gov.

OSHA Compliance Assistance Quick Start is a tool to introduce employers and employees, especially those at new or small businesses, to the compliance assistance resources on OSHA’s website. Quick Start currently includes modules for:

- General Industry
- Construction
- Health Care
- Hispanic Outreach

By following the step-by-step guides, you can generate an initial set of compliance assistance materials tailored to your workplace. For more information visit the OSHA webiste below.

http://osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/quickstarts/index.html

The H1N1 influenza virus not only has an impact on families at home, but also on businesses across the nation. U.S. health officials estimate H1N1 has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and caused at least 3,900 deaths in 2009. While the number of H1N1 cases is declining, it is expected to peak again. Employers should prepare now for another wave to ensure business operations run as usual.

To address H1N1, NSC encourages businesses of all sizes to promote healthy behavior by offering hand sanitizer and tissues to employees and customers. Encouraging fewer in-person meetings, offering tips on flu prevention and modifying sick leave policies to encourage employees with flu symptoms to stay home also are steps businesses can take to protect employees. While these efforts can reduce the spread of H1N1 in the workplace, additional steps can ensure businesses remain productive during a pandemic:

•Ask employees to document daily procedures.
•Train employees to cover for co-workers.
•Have an alternative plan to distribute products and services.
•Ask suppliers what steps they have taken to ensure they can continue delivering during a pandemic.

“Many companies recognize the importance of protecting the health of their workers by preventing the spread of H1N1,” said Jim Johnson, NSC Senior Director, Workplace Initiatives. “In addition to maintaining a safe and healthy workforce, these businesses understand it also contributes to the health of their business by avoiding levels of absence that adversely impact operations.”

For more H1N1 flu resources for employers, visit NSC’s Website.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Every year more than 40,000 people are killed and more than 3 million people are injured in motor vehicle crashes. Crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for all people between the ages of 3 and 33.

There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce your likelihood of getting into a motor vehicle crash.

•Drive defensively
•Never talk or text on a cell phone while driving
•Follow posted speed limits

Contact the Oklahoma Safety Council at 405-848-8626 for a listing of driver improvement courses for adults and teens.

It doesn't take any training to recognize that the world's economy has taken a significant downturn. It does take effective and proven professional development training to guide impacted organizations back to the summit.

Oklahoma Safety Council is proud to partner with Oklahoma City University to bring the Disney Keys to Excellence program, presented by the world renowned Disney Institute, to the Oklahoma City area on October 20, 2009.

A one-day local workshop, the Disney Keys to Excellence program is a rare and affordable opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders, and discover ways to easily and immediately adapt and apply those best practices to pick up the pace in these slow economic times.

Organizations from across the nation and around the world have learned proven philosophies, adapted critical lessons, and implemented effective processes to reap the rewards of improvements in leadership, management, service, and brand loyalty.

We invite your team to join thousands of professionals and discover the Disney business secrets to . . .

Strengthening loyalty and retaining valuable customers
Expanding their brand and generating greater profits
Building team involvement and ownership
Creating a service culture and motivating employees
Maintaining a competitive edge in a sluggish economy

TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER GO TO: www.KeysOklahomaCity.com

Seasonal flu in the workplace can halt operations in any size company. Worker absences, decreases in productivity and increased healthcare expenditures all impact the bottom line. This year, the pandemic H1N1 flu strain may circulate with traditional seasonal flu viruses—potentially doubling the impact of the flu season on employers.

The best way to prevent the flu in your workplace is to provide employees with the annual seasonal influenza vaccination. Employees, especially those with underlying health conditions, also should plan to receive the pandemic H1N1 vaccination (to be distributed later this fall).

The vaccine can prevent the flu or reduce severity and duration in a person with flu symptoms. Additionally, the flu vaccine reduces the risk of employees developing serious complications. All employees should be educated about the importance of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine, especially older workers and those with pre-existing, chronic conditions.

If your company has not previously held a seasonal flu vaccine clinic for employees, this is the year to do so. NSC’s Prescription for the Flu guide outlines how to plan a worksite flu vaccine clinic. Employers should begin planning now during the summer months, as public health officials encourage people to be vaccinated as soon as the seasonal flu vaccine is available in their community.

When planning your clinic, also consider offering the pneumococcal vaccine to employees. Pneumonia is a frequent and serious complication of both seasonal flu and the H1N1 strain of the flu. The pneumococcal vaccine can be offered at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine.

For more information, read NSC’s tip sheets on how to protect families, employees and businesses from the flu.

YouTube Site Surpasses 21,000 Hits!! Since its posting on YouTube just two months ago, the NSC’s “Death by Cell Phone” video has surpassed 21,000 hits. Please post the NSC YouTube link on any Facebook or social networking page you have. Right now the video has extra support from our “Death by Cell Phone” billboard advertisements, visible in 67 markets thanks to Nationwide Insurance Co. and Lamar Advertising. This campaign supports the NSC’s commitment to transportation safety.

For more information visit the National Safety Council website at http://www.nsc.org/news/death_by_cellphone.aspx

The Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 12 released a compendium of detailed data that analyzes its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for the period 1992-2006.

The document shows a high of 6,632 worker deaths in 1994 and a low of 5,534 in 2002. In another analysis, the report charts the rising number of Hispanic worker deaths, from 533 in 1994 to 990 in 2006. Other categories analyzed include selected fatal transportation events, multiple-fatality incidents, employment and fatalities by worker gender, and fatal occupational injuries by major occupation group.

As part of an ongoing national effort to identify workplace combustible dust hazards, OSHA said June 18 that its compliance officers identified 3,662 violations during 813 inspections in a wide range of industries during the past 16 months.

The enforcement visits are part of a National Emphasis Program intended to reduce worker exposure to combustible dust hazards. The program was created in response to a number of high-profile incidents.

OSHA said it made more than 100 visits to targeted facilities in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and issued 667 citations.

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE

Each year the Oklahoma Safety Council hosts the largest Safety & Health Conference in the state. The 2009 Safety & Health Conference will be held at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond on June 3-5, 2009. On behalf of the Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) we encourage you to join us at the 2009 Safety & Health Conference, “Safety: Get in the Game.” Our program provides you with a path to maintain focus on your interests as well as great networking opportunities with vendors and people in your own field. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you can take back to your work and enhance productivity. So come join us – see and hear what’s new – network with the vendors – and meet new contacts.

If you would like further information about this great event, download the 2009 Safety & Health Conference program for complete details. Don’t forget, early bird registration deadline is March 31, 2009.

On average, eight people die from home structure fires every day, according to a new report from the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. In addition, home structure fires are responsible for 13,600 injuries and $7.4 billion in property damage, the report found. Other findings:

Children younger than 5 and adults older than 65 are at the greatest risk of home fire-related death.
Almost two-thirds of fatal home fires occurred in homes with no working smoke alarm.
Approximately one-third of home fires and home fire deaths occurred in winter months.
Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home fires. Approximately 41 percent began in the kitchen or cooking area.
Smoking was the leading cause of home structure fire deaths, followed by heating equipment.

In an 80-17 vote, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed Hilda L. Solis as secretary of labor.

The nomination was stalled for several weeks after questions surfaced regarding Solis' husband's tax liens and her role as a board member and treasurer of a nonprofit, pro-labor union organization.

Labor unions hailed the confirmation shortly after the vote. Among them was the Washington-based Service Employees International Union, which said in a press release that Solis understands challenges confronting workers in the global economy.