Safety Sanity is shutting down
Safety Sanity is shutting down.
We plan to re-evaluate our offering in 2014 and may re-emerge with improved software and services.
In the meantime – Stay Safe!
OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs January 2012 White Paper
OSHA’s looming Injury and Illness Prevention Program requirement
This month, OSHA released a white paper that outlines their enthusiasm for the results recorded by states that require businesses to adopt an Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
Links to the document are below. Here are some highlights:
Every year, more than 4.1 million workers suffer a serious job-related injury or illness.
OSHA examined fatality rates and found that California, Hawaii and Washington, with their mandatory injury and illness prevention program requirements, had workplace fatality rates as much as 31 percent below the national average in 2009.
Currently, 34 U.S. states have established laws or regulations designed to require or encourage injury and illness prevention programs, including 15 states with mandatory regulations for all or some employers.
The basic elements – management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement – are common to almost all existing health and safety management programs.
In the four decades since the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) was signed into law, workplace deaths and reported occupational injuries have dropped by more than 60 percent.
OSHA believes that adoption of injury and illness prevention programs based on simple, sound, proven principles will help millions of U.S. businesses improve their compliance with existing laws and regulations, decrease the incidence of workplace injuries and illnesses, reduce costs (including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums) and enhance their overall business operations.
the National Academy of Social Insurance reports the total costs paid by employers for workers’ compensation increased from $60 billion in 2000 to $74 billion in 2009.
Worker participation, a fundamental element of injury and illness prevention programs, makes an important contribution to an employer’s bottom line.
Learn more:
OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs January 2012 White Paper – html
OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs January 2012 White Paper – pdf
OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs January 2012 White Paper – Overview
The deadline to post your 2011 Cal/OSHA Form 300A is Feb. 1
Reminder! You must post your 2011 Form 300A from Feb. 1 – Apr. 30, 2012.
Cal/OSHA requires employers to post a copy of Form 300A annual summary log of injuries and illnesses “…in each establishment in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted.” The annual summary must remain posted from Feb. 1 through April 30.
Companies that had no recordable injuries during 2011 must still meet these posting requirements; enter zeros for each column total.
Exceptions to the posting requirements, and more information:
California’s Employer Records of Occupational Injury and Illness Highlights
Read the complete requirement
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/recordkeeping/CaStandard/CA1430032.htm
Exempt industries
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/recordkeeping/CaStandard/CA143002.htm
Exemption for ten or fewer employees
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/recordkeeping/CaStandard/CA143001.htm
The Forms
Complete Instructions, with Fed OSHA Forms – printable .pdf
Form 300 – interactive and printable .pdf
Form 300A – interactive and printable .pdf
Forms 300, 300A, 301 – Excel .xls
Required Elements for the Cal/OSHA Form 300A
http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/DoshReg/ApndxEFinal.htm
Safety Sanity includes complete accident reporting. Learn more: www.safetysanity.com
Free Cal/OSHA Safety Programs – Week 1 Give away
Safety Sanity is giving away a free set of Cal/OSHA Safety Programs and 3 months free usage of our OSHA management software.
It is first come first serve, this promo code is good for one use:
FREE-2011-W1-8GV9
Go to https://www.safetysanity.com/signup – enter your company information and then you’ll enter the promo code during the billing step.
What do you get with the promo code? One Free sign-up, which includes customized safety documents for your business and 3 months ongoing usage of Safety Sanity.
At the end of the 3 months, the customized safety documents are yours whether or not you choose to continue with the ongoing program management.
There is only one catch, if you use the promo code we get to post the name of your company here on our blog.
We’ll be posting 2 more free signups later this month, check back next Monday!
Free Cal/OSHA Safety Programs
Safety Sanity is giving away 3 Free sign ups to its Cal/OSHA Safety Compliance program!
All the Safety Programs your business needs to comply with Cal/OSHA Title 8 regulations – for Free! Each one custom-tailored to your business. And including a completely customized IIPP!
If your business employs one or more workers, you are required by law to have and maintain a Safety Program; and it all starts with documentation – at a minimum you need the following:
- an IIPP – Illness and Injury Prevention Program (Including Code of Safe Practices)
- a Fire Prevention Plan
- an Emergency Action Plan
And depending on the type of business you run, you may need additional programs; for example,
- Do you manufacture products? If yes, there’s a good chance you’ll need both a Lock-out/Block-out Program and a Hearing Conservation Program.
- Do you employ workers who work outdoors? Then you absolutely need a Heat Illness Prevention Program.
When doing business in California, there are 20 possible safety programs that you may be required to have. Safety Sanity is an online program that walks you through your company’s set up and then generates complete safety documents. And not just boilerplate documents with your name at the top – each Safety Sanity safety program is written specifically for your business.
Check back here each of the next 3 Mondays. Each day, at 7:00am PST, we’ll be posting a promo code for one Free sign-up and 3 months ongoing usage of Safety Sanity. At the end of the 3 months, the customized safety documents are yours whether or not you choose to continue with the ongoing program management. The promo codes are good for one use each, so first come gets it, no strings attached (except we get to post the name of your company here on our blog).
See you next week!
Safety Sanity is a step-by-step online application that delivers the tools you need to manage OSHA compliance in your workplace. Learn more at http://www.safetysanity.com/
It’s Grape Harvest time & time for Heat Illness Training
If your business is wine grapes, you need to know Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Training requirements
T8CCR 3395(f) Training states the following:
(1) Employee training. Effective training in the following topics shall be provided to each supervisory and non-supervisory employee before the employee begins work that should reasonably be anticipated to result in exposure to the risk of heat illness:
- The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness, as well as the added burden of heat load on the body caused by exertion, clothing, and personal protective equipment.
- The employer’s procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard.
- The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water, up to 4 cups per hour, when the work environment is hot and employees are likely to be sweating more than usual in the performance of their duties.
- The importance of acclimatization.
- The different types of heat illness and the common signs and symptoms of heat illness.
- The importance to employees of immediately reporting to the employer, directly or through the employee’s supervisor, symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves, or in co-workers.
- The employer’s procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including how emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary.
- The employer’s procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider.
- The employer’s procedures for ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. These procedures shall include designating a person to be available to ensure that emergency procedures are invoked when appropriate.
(2) Supervisor training. Prior to supervising employees performing work that should reasonably be anticipated to result in exposure to the risk of heat illness effective training on the following topics shall be provided to the supervisor:
- The information required to be provided by section (f)(1) above.
- The procedures the supervisor is to follow to implement the applicable provisions in this section.
- The procedures the supervisor is to follow when an employee exhibits symptoms consistent with possible heat illness, including emergency response procedures.
- How to monitor weather reports and how to respond to hot weather advisories.
(3) The employer’s procedures for complying with each requirement of this standard required by subsections (f)(1)(B), (G), (H), and (I) shall be in writing and shall be made available to employees and to representatives of the Division upon request.
Learn more:
Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention etool
Cal/OSHA’s Title 8 Regulation Article 3395.Heat Illness Prevention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OSHA Compliance Web-Based Software for Small to Mid-Sized California Businesses Launches
SAN FRANCISCO, California – August 4, 2011 – Safety Sanity, an OSHA compliance web-based software company, has announced the release of their comprehensive online safety management solution for small to mid-sized California companies.
Safety Sanity is an online application that delivers businesses the tools needed to manage OSHA compliance and includes:
– Customized Safety Program Generation
– Inspection and Training Checklists
– Regulation Updates & Email Alerts
– Accident Tracking and OSHA 300 Log
Safety Sanity is the first online service that is tailored to each specific business and their personal Cal/OSHA requirements. The software covers all Cal/OSHA regulations. “Let us take the worry and confusion out of creating and managing your safety programs. All for pennies compared to a bad visit from Cal/OSHA.” Todd Trask, CEO Safety Sanity.
Safety Sanity launches at a great time for California businesses, who will now have to comply with California’s Assembly Bill 2774. The bill states that as of Jan. 1, 2011 the OSHA violation appeals process will be much stricter, and Cal/OSHA inspectors will have more leniency in classifying violations as ‘serious’ offenses. For more information on this bill please refer to http://e-lobbyist.com/gaits/text/59959.
Safety Sanity kicked off the release by attending the 2011 AgSafe Conference in Monterey, and plan to attend more Safety Conferences in a wide range of industries. For specific dates please refer to www.safetysanity.com.
Safety Sanity was developed by actual safety and technology professionals. These individuals have over 30 years of hands-on safety experience working with companies of all sizes. The technology group has more than 40 years of experience in building online applications used by Fortune 100 companies.
2011 California Safety, Health & Environmental Conference
April 13th and 14th, 2011 – Anaheim, CA
Highlights:
Dr. John C. Howard – Director, NIOSH – Keynote Speaker, April 13
Len Welsh – Chief, California DOSH – Lunch Speaker, April 13
James Spigener – Sr. VP, Behavioral Science Technology – Keynote Speaker, April 14
John C. Duncan – Director, California DIR – Lunch Speaker, April 14
Terrie S. Norris – President Elect, ASSE – Closing, April 14
Steve Witt – Director, Fed OSHA – Closing, April 14
Track 1: Manufacturing / Oil & Gas
Track 2: Agriculture / Construction
Track 3: General Industrial Hygiene & Environmental
Track 4: Trucking / Warehousing
Learn more: 2011 Event Schedule – Cal Safety, Health & Environmental Conference
Heat Illness Prevention – new ‘Shade’ requirements
In addition to a new subsection that specifically addresses ‘High-heat procedures’ for employers in certain industries (see yesterday’s blog entry), Cal/OSHA’s Title 8 Regulation Article 3395.Heat Illness Prevention, as of Nov. 4, 2010, includes new and more explicit requirements for providing shade that applies to all outdoor places of employment.
The old requirement, prior to Nov. 4, 2010:
(d) Access to shade. Employees suffering from heat illness or believing a preventative recovery period is needed, shall be provided access to an area with shade that is either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling for a period of no less than five minutes. Such access to shade shall be permitted at all times. Except for employers in the agricultural industry, cooling measures other than shade (e.g., use of misting machines) may be provided in lieu of shade if the employer can demonstrate that these measures are at least as effective as shade in allowing employees to cool.
The updated requirement, as of Nov. 4, 2010
(d) Access to shade.
(1) Shade required to be present when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. When the outdoor temperature in the work area exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the employer shall have and maintain one or more areas with shade at all times while employees are present that are either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling. The amount of shade present shall be at least enough to accommodate 25% of the employees on the shift at any time, so that they can sit in a normal posture fully in the shade without having to be in physical contact with each other. The shaded area shall be located as close as practicable to the areas where employees are working.
(2) Shade required to be available when the temperature does not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. When the outdoor temperature in the work area does not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit employers shall either provide shade as per subsection (d)(1) or provide timely access to shade upon an employee’s request.
(3) Employees shall be allowed and encouraged to take a cool-down rest in the shade for a period of no less than five minutes at a time when they feel the need to do so to protect themselves from overheating. Such access to shade shall be permitted at all times.
Exceptions to subsection (d):
(1) Where the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or unsafe to have a shade structure, or otherwise to have shade present on a continuous basis, the employer may utilize alternative procedures for providing access to shade if the alternative procedures provide equivalent protection.
(2) Except for employers in the agricultural industry, cooling measures other than shade (e.g., use of misting machines) may be provided in lieu of shade if the employer can demonstrate that these measures are at least as effective as shade in allowing employees to cool.
Learn more: Read the entire Heat Illness Prevention Regulation at Cal/OSHA’s website
Heat Illness Prevention – Cal/OSHA’s updated Article 3395 regulation
It’s Spring!
And although recent rains make Summer’s heat feels more like a distant memory than a coming certainty, it’s on its way, and employers must update their Heat Illness Prevention Programs to include Cal/OSHA’s recent revisions to the regulation.
Cal/OSHA’s Title 8 Regulation Article 3395.Heat Illness Prevention applies to all outdoor places of employment, but as of Nov. 4, 2010, it includes a new subsection that specifically addresses the ‘High-heat procedures’ that employers in the following industries must implement when the temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit:
(A) Agriculture
(B) Construction
(C) Landscaping
(D) Oil and gas extraction
(E) Transportation or delivery of agricultural products, construction materials or other heavy materials (e.g. furniture, lumber, freight, cargo, cabinets, industrial or commercial materials), except for employment that consists of operating an air-conditioned vehicle and does not include loading or unloading.
The new subsection specifies that employers’ high-heat procedures must include the following to the extent practicable:
(1) Ensuring that effective communication by voice, observation, or electronic means is maintained so that employees at the work site can contact a supervisor when necessary. An electronic device, such as a cell phone or text messaging device, may be used for this purpose only if reception in the area is reliable.
(2) Observing employees for alertness and signs or symptoms of heat illness.
(3) Reminding employees throughout the work shift to drink plenty of water.
(4) Close supervision of a new employee by a supervisor or designee for the first 14 days of the employee’s employment by the employer, unless the employee indicates at the time of hire that he or she has been doing similar outdoor work for at least 10 of the past 30 days for 4 or more hours per day.
Learn more: Read the entire Heat Illness Prevention Regulation at Cal/OSHA’s website
…more blog information soon about Cal/OSHA’s updated Heat Illness Prevention regulation
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