Newsletter 19th Edition

Good morning! This week we take a look into new research coming out of Australia on Silicosis, examine the food industry and of course cover fresh OSHA news from this week. Hope your ready to dive in to this weeks edition!

THIS WEEK’S TIPS

This week’s safety upgrades:

• How to protect employee hearing

• New Silicosis Research

• “Ramp Health”, holistic workplace health strategy

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This Weeks Professional Development Tip

• 7 Ways to Avoid “Othering” Your Employees.

SAFETY KNIGHTS COMMUNITY
Looking to hire?

OSHA
Get the lead out!

California workplace safety regulators are set to vote on the nation's toughest rules for on-the-job lead exposure, which would significantly reduce allowable airborne lead levels and blood lead thresholds. If approved, the mandates would likely take effect on July 1, with enforcement starting six months later. The proposed changes, long advocated for by worker and public health advocates, aim to align state regulations with updated scientific evidence and public health recommendations. Chronic overexposure to lead can lead to severe health issues, prompting the need for stricter workplace protections. The proposed rules would impact a wide range of industries where lead exposure is prevalent, requiring employers to implement measures such as ventilation systems, personal respirators, and frequent cleaning to reduce exposure. Despite objections from some companies, the proposed regulations represent a significant step towards safeguarding worker health and safety in California.

OSHA Fire

OSHA has proposed a comprehensive update to the Fire Brigades standard, transforming it into an Emergency Response standard covering firefighting, emergency medical services, and tactical rescue. The proposed rule aims to modernize regulations that have remained largely unchanged for over forty years, with comments due by May 6, 2024. The proposed changes encompass various standards related to hazardous waste operations, respiratory protection, portable fire extinguishers, and more. The new standard outlines requirements for organizing emergency response teams, establishing emergency plans, conducting risk management, providing training, and ensuring equipment readiness. Additionally, it incorporates twenty-two National Fire Protection Association standards and categorizes subject employers as Emergency Service Organizations or Workplace Emergency Response Employers. The proposal addresses vehicle preparedness, operation, and coverage of volunteer services, with a focus on responders' physical and mental health. If adopted, the rule would have significant implications for subject employers, requiring massive compliance efforts.

PRESENTED BY SOUNDTRACE
Is your hearing conservation program effective?

Since OSHA introduced the hearing conservation program in the late 80s, hearing loss in the occupational setting has worsened. NIOSH highlights that approximately 22 million workers face harmful noise levels at their workplaces each year. This exposure contributes to hearing loss, ranking as the third most prevalent chronic physical condition in the United States, surpassing conditions like diabetes or cancer. According to OSHA, the economic impact of this issue is significant, with businesses spending around $242 million annually on workers' compensation for disability related to hearing loss.

So, is your company compliant with OSHA requirements but still experiencing recordable hearing loss injuries each year? How do you identify employees whose hearing is declining at a concerning rate? These are questions that EHS teams struggle to answer.

Learn more about the necessity for change in a recent interview with Soundtrace's Chief Medical Officer and Director of Audiology.

Find out more about how Soundtrace can help, here.

FOOD MANUFACTURING
Welcome to, “The Jungle”.

Workers in fresh food manufacturing plants in Illinois have experienced a concerning rate of injuries, prompting a special program by OSHA to address the issue. Over a period from 2016 to 2020, there were 20 broken bones and 126 amputations reported among these workers. One victim, Oscar Gonzalez Malave, “filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of failing to protect him at work. As part of the lawsuit, Malave gave sworn deposition testimony. It began with Oscar being told to raise his right hand and swear to tell the truth. He had to raise his left hand, because he no longer has a right hand to raise.”

Malave, lost his arm in an industrial pasta machine accident at Rana Meal Solutions, leading to a federal investigation and citations for safety violations. Malave's lawyers argue that the company failed to adequately train him and ensure machine safety. Malave's case is not isolated; previous incidents at the company include an arm amputation in 2015, a fingertip amputation in 2019, and a finger amputation investigated by OSHA in 2023. Despite previous violations and fines, Rana Meal Solutions claims to prioritize employee safety and is implementing safety enhancements in collaboration with OSHA.

Chick-Fil-A’s Supplier Issues

Mar-Jac Poultry, a supplier for Chick-fil-A, has been cited by OSHA for serious violations following the death of a 16-year-old worker, Duvan Pérez, was tragically pulled into equipment at their Mississippi slaughterhouse. OSHA proposed fines exceeding $200,000, attributing the accident to the company's failure to implement adequate safety measures.

“Mar-Jac Poultry is aware of how dangerous the machinery they use can be when safety standards are not in place to prevent serious injury and death. The company’s inaction has directly led to this terrible tragedy, which has left so many to mourn this child’s preventable death,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer.

Pérez's death was the second of its kind at the plant in two years. While Mar-Jac Poultry declined to comment on the findings, they previously asserted adherence to safety protocols. Investigations into Pérez's hiring, which involved the use of a false identity, are ongoing. The Labor Department has appealed to witnesses to aid in the child labor investigation.

RESEARCH
New Silicosis Research.

A year ago, Australian work health and safety (WHS) government ministers convened to address the urgent need for a ban on engineered stone due to the alarming rise in cases of silicosis, a fatal lung disease caused by silica dust exposure. SafeWork Australia's extensive research concluded that there is no safe threshold for silica exposure, prompting the decision to implement a national ban, effective from July of the current year. This ban, particularly in Victoria, prohibits various activities related to engineered stone, including manufacturing, supply, processing, or installation, to safeguard workers from the hazards of crystalline silica, often referred to as the new asbestos due to its health risks.

However, the ban represents just the beginning of a comprehensive approach to addressing silicosis and workplace safety concerns. Researchers at Monash University, notably Associate Professor Jane Bourke and her team, are at the forefront of pioneering research programs aimed at early detection and treatment of silicosis. Their efforts extend beyond the engineered stone industry to encompass other dust-prone sectors such as construction, mining, quarrying, and manufacturing.

Despite the ban and ongoing research initiatives, challenges persist. Recent cases, such as those reported at the Cadia gold mine in New South Wales, underscore the continued threat of silicosis in various industries. Traditional screening methods, like CT scans, are impractical for large-scale screening efforts, prompting the need for more cost-effective and convenient screening methods to detect potential cases of silicosis among workers.

Monash's Bourke Laboratory is leading efforts in this regard, pioneering "breathomics" to identify chemical markers in the breath associated with silicosis. This non-invasive approach holds promise for widespread screening of workers across different industries. Additionally, research endeavors focus on identifying therapeutic targets for silicosis treatment, offering hope for affected individuals.

Patient advocate Joanna McNeill's firsthand experience with silicosis underscores the importance of raising awareness and implementing robust safety measures across industries. She emphasizes the need for comprehensive education and awareness campaigns to ensure that workers are informed about the risks associated with silica exposure.

Australia's proactive stance in addressing silicosis contrasts with global gaps in screening and awareness efforts. While Australia has taken significant strides, challenges remain, requiring sustained vigilance and collaborative efforts from policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and advocacy groups to mitigate the impact of silicosis and improve workplace safety standards.

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NEWS
Your Virtual Water Cooler

• Creating a 'single source of truth' for safety leaders in manufacturing.

• Labor Department cites meatpacking cleaning company for 'oppressive child labor' practices.

• Have an idea for a new PPE safety standard?

• OSHA Will Host Week of Events Leading Up to Workers Memorial Day 2024.

• ELLWOOD earns OSHA recertification.

• Construction worker suicide: New video talks about mental health, stigma.

• Ramp Health: A New Dimension in Employee Wellness.

• Safety Topics for Meetings: Top 10 in 2024.

• MAKING THESE 9 DANGEROUS MISTAKES IN THE WORKPLACE COULD PROVE FATAL

• Redefining the importance of workplace health beyond crises.

• Webinar: Workplace Safety and Employment Law Compliance in ESG Programs.

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