Dear E-Activist,

Volume III, Issue 1

Methylene Chloride Standard Review Period Extended

OSHA has extended the public comment period for its methylene chloride standard which will now remain open until March 10, 2008, according to the Occupational Hazards website.

The original OSHA Standard was issued in 1997 to protect workers from exposure to this volatile, colorless liquid.  It is used in various industrial processes and the solvent is used to manufacture some plastics, inks, ink solvent, foams and adhesives.

Exposure to this chemical increases the risk of developing cancer, experiencing skin and eye irritation and damaging the heart as well as the central nervous system and liver.  The most common exposure method is inhalation and skin contact. 

Review of this Standard will ensure employee protection while minimizing the economic burden for small employers.  We need to continue to ensure all workers are offered protection and a safe place to work.

More information on this standard can be found on the OSHA website at the following web address:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=14891

Deadline for Comments on OSHA's Construction Confined Space Standard Looms

OSHA's extended deadline for comments on the proposed Construction Confined Space Standard is set to expire on February 28th.  This proposed standard has received criticism from some safety and health advocates who say that the standard's language is confusing and seems to contradict existing construction standards that regulate steel erection. 

The standard's development began in 1994 in the wake of litigation between the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and OSHA over the agency's proposed Confined Space Standard for General Industry. That litigation produced a settlement that included an agreement by OSHA to develop a separate standard for construction while the standard for general industry was put in place.  The proposed standard was published on November 28, 2007, and the original comment period was extended from January 28, 2008, to February 28, 2008. 

According to the Occupational Safety and Health magazine, the new standard classifies construction related confined spaces into four categories: Continuous-System Permit-Required Confined Space, Permit-Required Confined Space, Controlled-Atmosphere Confined Space, and Isolated-Hazard Confined Space.  Employers are required to classify construction confined spaces according to these categories and monitor or restrict entry accordingly. 

Public comments on this standard must be submitted no later than March 10, 2008, and can be sent by regular mail to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0024, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N2625, Washington, DC 20210. Comments are also accepted electronically at www.regulations.gov or via Fax to (202) 693-1648.

OSHEP Staff Keeps Busy

The year 2008 has started off with a bang at OSHEP with numerous training commitments keeping the staff busy and on the road.  Some of these commitments include providing OSHA 10-hour training under the Safe Schools program, piloting OSHA 10-hour training for young workers, providing direct training for security awareness and preparedness for chemical companies, and last but not least, a successful 2008 OSHEP Conference held at the Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center in New Brunswick on February 21, 2008. 

As the year progresses, we continue to look forward to expanding our outreach to a variety of workplaces with a wide array of safety and health topics that address workplace hazards that continue to cause the most injuries and illnesses for our state's working men and women.  A three-day Safety and Health Train-the-Trainer class is scheduled for March 12 - 14, 2008, in Manchester with TWU Local 225, Branch 4. 

Our new Training Specialist, Laurie Hrebenak, will be attending the Train-the-Trainer for Workplace Safety and Health at the National Labor College.  We hope to be able to further expand the quality and outreach of our program with professional development programs like these.

OPEIU:153