Safety & Health - September 2019

HYDROlite FR

UNPREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENTS.
PREDICTABLE COMFORT AND PROTECTION.

COMFORTABLE

PROTECTION

IN ANY WEATHER

WATERPROOF | WINDPROOF | BREATHABLE | ARC RATED

Visit Gore at Improve worker safety and comfort in demanding
National Safety Council Booth 1836 environments with GORE-TEX PYRAD® Products.
This lightweight fabric is engineered to counter
arc-flash and flash-fire incidents while delivering
durable waterproof, windproof, breathable protection.

National SaftVehitisynitCkNnoSusaAn.ccailot Bmooth 4635

C©ir2c0l1e94W0. Lo. GnoRree&aAdsesorcSiaetersv,iIcnce. CGOaRrEd,.GSOeReE-TuEsX,aPtYRthADe aNndSCde2si0gn1s9aCreotrnagderemsasrk&s oEf Wxp. Lo. ,GBoroeo&tAhss#o1c8ia3te6s.

Industry Beat

DOL, OSHA announce members •   Mark S. Mullins, Elevator Industry •   Cindy DePrater, Turner Construction
of construction advisory Work Preservation Fund •   Greg Sizemore, Associated Builders
committee
Washington — The Department of •   Richard Tessier, United Union of and Contractors
Labor has named the 15 members of its Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied •   Wesley L. Wheeler, National Electri-
Advisory Committee on Construction Workers Representative, Research
Safety and Health. and Education Joint Trust cal Contractors Association

The committee advises DOL and •   Christina Trahan Cain, North Ameri- Public representatives:
OSHA on upcoming standards affect- ca’s Building Trades Unions •   Christopher Fought, General Motors
ing the construction industry and “the •   R. Ronald Sokol, Safety Council of
administration of safety and health pro- Employer representatives:
visions” in the Construction Safety Act. •  Kevin Cannon, Associated General Texas City

According to a June 17 Federal Reg- Contractors of America (ACCSH chair) State representatives:
ister  notice, the committee members •   Fravel Combs, M. A. Mortenson Co. •   Christopher Mabry, North Carolina
are:
Access S+H content from your Department of Labor
Employee representatives: computer or smartphone. Visit •   Charles Stribling, Kentucky Labor
•   Palmer L. Hickman, Electrical Train- safetyandhealthmagazine.com
for news, features and more. Cabinet Department of Workplace
ing Alliance Standards
•   Randall A. Krocka, Sheet Metal
Federal representative:
Occupational Health Institute Trust •   G. Scott Earnest, NIOSH

– “Industry Beat” continues on p. 58

Powering
Your Workforce

Your employees drive safety, quality,
and productivity. Alchemy’s training and
compliance solutions empower them with the
knowledge and confidence to make the right
decisions every day.

Stop by booth 5434 at the NSC Expo!

AlchemySystems.com/Safety-Solutions
(866) 463-5117

Circle 41 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #5434. 7/24/19 11:49 AM

Print-Ad_Safety-and-Health-Magazine-September_v1.indd 1

52 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

OUR NEWEST, COOLEST CUT-PROTECTION

NOW WITH KUNG-FU GRIP!

PROFLEX® CUT-RESISTANT KNIT GLOVES

Circle 42 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #5226.

Industry Beat

Spotlight on MINING, OIL AND GAS

Appeals court sides with unions: No mine examinations during shifts

Washington — The U.S. Court of examination is completed, there is the shift starts, instead of learning about Photo: davidmariuz/iStockphoto
Appeals for the District of Columbia likelihood that miners may be exposed a safety hazard after they are already
Circuit has vacated a 2018 amend- to an adverse condition before it is dis- in the mine,” Roberts said in a June
ment to a 2017 Mine Safety and Health covered,” the ruling states. 12 press release. “All miners, whether
Administration rule that allowed a working in a metal/nonmetal mine or
competent person to inspect mines as UMWA and USW applauded the a coal mine, should celebrate this rul-
miners began work rather than prior to court’s decision. ing because it prevents MSHA from
a shift – a decision United Mine Work- rolling back critical safety and health
ers of America President Cecil Roberts “Metal and nonmetal miners can standards. If the agency had been
calls “a victory for miners everywhere.” now be more confident that their work- allowed to get away with this, there
place is as safe as it can be before their is no question that we would soon be
The court issued its judgment in looking at a host of other attempts to
favor of petitioners UMWA and United reduce safety standards in every mine
Steelworkers, among others, June 11, in America.”
ruling that the pre-amendment stan-
dard be reinstated: Examinations must The final rule amending provi-
take place before shifts begin. sions to the original rule was delayed
numerous times before taking effect
“Because the 2018 amendment allows June 2, 2018.
miners to work in an area before the

half_Layout 1 8/8/19 12:11 PM Page 1

Circle 46 on Reader Service Card

54 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Light as a feather,
tough as steel.

Weighing just 1.77 pounds, the RPB Z4️ is the lightest
welding/grinding powered air respirator in the world.
Designed with comfort as top priority, the Z4 is the optimal
choice for protection against welding fume during long shifts.
For more information on our products, call 1-866-494-4599
email [email protected] or visit rpbsafety.com
Protecting you for life’s best moments®

Circle 44 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #1637.

* From local and globally sourced components.



“Leadership is the most important need our
profession now faces.”

Wyatt Bradbury | BS Occupational Safety and Health
CSU Student

For 25 years, Columbia Southern University has been a leader in educating
the next generation of occupational safety and health professionals. Taught
by industry experts, CSU offers BCSP qualified academic programs completely
online–allowing students and aspiring leaders like Wyatt Bradbury to earn
their degree while keeping current commitments a priority.
Named CSU’s 2019 Outstanding Safety Professional, Bradbury has added several
professional accomplishments to his belt while earning his bachelor’s degree in
occupational safety and health. The current president of the National Capital
chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is also a lifeguard
instructor, member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Construction Safety
Association, recipient of multiple safety awards and active contributor to
occupational safety and health conferences and industry publications.
CSU is proud to recognize and support future leaders in the occupational
safety and health profession like Wyatt Bradbury. Learn more about how
CSU is preparing tomorrow’s safety leaders at ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Safety
or visit us at NSC Booth 2125.

ColumbiaSouthern.edu » 877.347.6050

Circle 45 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2125.

Industry Beat

– continued from p. 52 reports on safety behavior and work- increase in minor injuries and a reduc- Photo: Willowpix/iStockphoto
place injuries. tion in required and voluntary safety
‘There’s a business case’: behaviors. Among the cognitive failures:
Study of construction workers Respondents who reported more •  Not remembering correct work proce-
links poor sleep to injury risk insomnia symptoms, on average, experi-
Fort Collins, CO — Employers should enced more “cognitive failures” – such as dures or if equipment was turned off.
prioritize efforts to help workers get a lapses in attention, memory or action – •   Stopping or starting the wrong
good night’s sleep, researchers from at work. More failures were related to an
Colorado State University say after machine unintentionally.
their study of construction workers •   Daydreaming instead of listening to
found a connection between poor qual-
ity sleep and the risk of workplace inci- a co-worker.
dents and injuries. “Organizations, especially safety-
sensitive ones like construction, should
Construction workers from two pub- care about their employees’ sleep
lic works departments in Portland, because it can impact the safety of the
OR, completed three surveys over a workplace and put workers at risk,”
12-month period. The data collected, Rebecca Brossoit, study co-author, said
which was part of an Oregon Healthy in a June 5 press release. “There’s a busi-
Workforce Center study, was used ness case for caring about sleep.”
to determine the respondents’ self- The study is scheduled to be pub-
reported sleep quality and quantity. It lished online Nov. 29 in the Journal of
was then compared with subsequent Occupational Health Psychology.

GOGGLE GUARD® CLIP

Fast & Convenient Way To Stow Your Eye Protection

•FITS BOTH FULLBRIM AND CAPSTYLE HARD HATS
•ELIMINATES HAVING TO STRETCH THE GOGGLE STRAP
•SECURES GOGGLES AND SAFETY GLASSES
For more information please visit: www.GoggleGuardClip.com

CUSTOM IMPRINTING AVAILABLE
Get your logo or safety slogan imprinted here.

Don’t have one of your own? Choose from one of
our nine readily available safety slogans such as,
“Safety is a Team Effort!” For more information
please visit: www.Gloveguard.com

(888)6606133 product of: FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
[email protected]
@GLOVEGUARD

Circle 83 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #4440.

58 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

WHEN IT COMES TO
FR GARMENTS ARE

YOU COVERED?

At Aramark we have brands
like DRIFIRE®, Dickies® FR and
SteelGuard® with di erent fabric
options and protection levels to
choose from.

See if we have the flame resistant garments
that meet your company’s FR protection
coverage profile. With Aramark’s FR rental
program, your garments will be properly
cared for and processed allowing you to
concentrate on the task at hand.

Note: The customer is responsible for determining and selecting the
flame resistant merchandise that is appropriate for the intended use
of the customer and its employees.

Learn more about our FR options at
aramarkuniform.com/fr or call 800-ARAMARK

© 2019 Aramark. All rights reserved.
Circle 54 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #5939.

Circle 48 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2360.

Industry Beat

GOVERNMENT inspections of all member offices on promoting and growing the Safety
Capitol Hill. Identifying high-risk areas Recognition Award and Safety Advo-
‘Promote safe and healthful will be a key focus. OCWR plans to con- cate Award programs.
workplaces in the legislative duct targeted inspections aimed at lim-
branch’: OCWR releases iting or minimizing these risks, while OCWR was formed by the Congres-
strategic plan emphasizing member compliance with sional Accountability Act of 1995. It is
Washington — Focusing on the safety written health and safety programs. tasked with protecting more than 30,000
and health of legislative branch workers legislative branch workers nationwide.
is among the goals listed in the Office of Other actions:
Congressional Workplace Rights’ 2019- •   Provide preconstruction assessments To download the strategic plan, go to
2023 Strategic Plan, released June 5. sh-m.ag/2XauSiW.
and advice to prevent the creation of
OCWR, formerly known as the Office hazards and barriers to access. HEALTH CARE
of Compliance, enforces the Occupa- •   Provide more educational and train-
tional Safety and Health Act of 1970 in ing opportunities for stakeholders by Helping nurses get healthier:
much the same way the Department of sharing resource materials via social Researchers explore limits
Labor does for the private sector. media and other formats. of on-the-job resources
•   Increase enforcement and educa- Brisbane, Australia – Challenging
OCWR will “promote safe and health- tion efforts for employing offices that work environments make it difficult for
ful workplaces in the legislative branch have a pattern of repeat occupational nurses to adopt healthier habits – even
and fully accessible facilities for con- safety and health concerns. when wellness-centered resources are
gressional constituents and visitors,” the •   Expand its self-inspection program available, according to a recent study
document states. To start, the office will to state and district offices while from the University of Queensland.
conduct occupational safety and health

Circle 49 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2225.

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 61

Industry Beat

Spotlight on TRANSPORTATION

Lawmakers call for speed limiters, set at 65 mph, on all new large trucks

Washington — Bipartisan legisla- office states. The Department of Trans- dry van, refrigerated, flatbed and inter-
tion recently introduced in the Sen- portation, during the first days of the modal container carriers throughout
ate is aimed at limiting the speed of Trump administration, indefinitely North America, voiced its support for
heavy commercial trucks to 65 mph by delayed action on a proposed speed the bill in a July 10 press release.
requiring new trucks to be equipped limiter rule, according to a June 28
with speed-limiting devices. Associated Press report. “As an association which repre-
sents roughly 78% of freight market
Introduced June 27 by Sens. Johnny “This legislation would officially share by revenue, it is fair to say that
Isakson (R-GA) and Chris Coons enforce a long-awaited speed limit of any rule regarding speed limiters
(D-DE), the Cullum Owings Large 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the will have the greatest effect on our
Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019 number of preventable fatalities on segment of the trucking industry,”
(S. 2003) would direct the secretary of our busy roadways,” Isakson said in the association states in the release.
transportation to promulgate stan- the release. “The majority of trucks on “TCA and our members recognize
dards and regulations requiring speed our roads already have speed-limiting that traveling too fast for conditions
limiters on all new trucks heavier than technology built in, and the rest of the is one of the most prominent reasons
26,000 pounds, and would extend technologically advanced world has for accidents on our roads today.
the maximum speed requirement to already put them to use to ensure driv- We have a safety obligation to respon-
trucks that already have the technol- ers follow safe speeds.” sibly operate our vehicles at speeds
ogy installed. Older trucks without the in which we can effectively con-
devices would not be required to be The Alexandria, VA-based Truckload trol and limit the opportunity for
retroactively fitted. Carriers Association, which represents accidents.”

The bill is named in honor of Owings, In contrast, the Owner-Operator
a 22-year-old who was killed after a Independent Drivers Association
tractor-trailer rear-ended his vehicle released a video in 2017 opposing
while he was returning to college after speed limiters in large trucks, citing
the Thanksgiving holiday in 2002. It concerns about higher crash rates,
would codify a pending speed limiter congested highways and increased
rule that has “languished in the fed- pressure on drivers to make up for lost
eral bureaucratic process for 10 years,” time when encountering inclement
a June 27 press release from Isakson’s weather.

Researchers analyzed 47 nurses work- The researchers found that although programs to help them change Photo: WendellandCarolyn/iStockphoto
ing in separate metropolitan hospitals the nurses’ fruit and vegetable con- unhealthy behaviors.”
in Australia during a three-month pilot sumption increased significantly, phys-
intervention intended to promote better ical activity levels slightly decreased. The study was published in the
diet and exercise habits. Nurses reported that it was easier to November-December edition of the Jour-
change diet than become more physi- nal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Body measurements from each nurse cally active, and cited lack of time and
were taken, and participants com- lack of appeal of provided resources as MANUFACTURING
pleted questionnaires in which they possible reasons for the discrepancy.
were asked to self-relate their health EPA requests input
and interest in embracing healthier “The complexity of nurses’ work- on draft risk evaluations
behaviors and available social support. ing environment limits the number for two TSCA chemicals
Finally, the participants were asked to of workplace programs to help them Washington — The Environmental
set realistic health goals. achieve and maintain a healthy life- Protection Agency is seeking public
style,” Luciana Torquati, lead author comment on draft risk evaluations
Participants used an accelerometer and honorary fellow at the University for two chemical substances that are
for seven days and had access to pedom- of Queensland School of Human Move- among the first 10 slated for evaluation
eters, a smartphone app and a Facebook ment and Nutrition Sciences, said in a for potential health and environmental
group during the intervention period. press release. “This study’s aim was to risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg
Measurements were taken again after evaluate and understand key factors Chemical Safety for the 21st Century
three months and six months, and simi- to overcome the barriers to creating Act, according to a notice published in
lar questionnaires were completed. the July 1 Federal Register.

62 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Industry Beat

The draft for the Cyclic Aliphatic Bro- Spotlight on MANUFACTURING
mide Cluster – which includes a sub-
cluster that is used as a flame retardant Updated chemical review status tracker enhances
in extruded polystyrene foam, textiles, transparency, EPA says
and electrical and electronic appli-
ances – states that the chemical presents Washington — EPA also announced plans for fur-
“no unreasonable risks” to the general The Environmental ther updates to the tracker:
population, workers or the environment. Protection Agency •   Providing direct links to certain
recently announced
However, the draft for 1,4-dioxane, that it has updated premanufacture and significant
used in consumer products, notes that its online chemi- new use notices via ChemView – the
the substance poses “unreasonable cal review status agency’s online database for chemi-
risks” to workers in certain circum- tracker to include cals regulated under the Toxic Sub-
stances, including: active notices for stances Control Act of 1976 – later
•   Domestic manufacturing premanufacture, this year.
•   Pharmaceutical, medicine and basic significant new use •   Increasing the frequency of tracker
and microbial commercial activity for updates in 2020.
organic chemical manufacturing chemicals under EPA review. “It is important to note that this
•   Use as an adhesive and sealant tool will continue to keep confidential
•   Disposal Users can search monthly notice business information confidential,”
updates and download a spreadsheet the release states.
In the draft, EPA claims that 1,4- that lists all active cases and their status. Find the chemical review status
dioxane offers no unreasonable risk tracker at sh-m.ag/2yIrbqK.
to occupational nonusers or to the “By making this tracker available
environment. online, for the first time the public will
easily be able to learn where a particu-
“It is important to note that for the lar new chemical is in the EPA review
general population, including children, process,” EPA Administrator Andrew
environmental statutes administered by Wheeler said in an Aug. 1 press
EPA, such as the Clean Air Act, the Safe release. “With this step, the agency
Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water is following through on its commit-
Act, and the Resource Conservation ment to transparency and is providing
and Recovery Act of 1976, adequately applicants, stakeholders and the pub-
assess and effectively manage risks from lic with an easy-to-use tool to monitor
1,4-dioxane,” the agency states. the progress of new chemical safety
reviews.”
As required under the Toxic Sub-
Photo: Environmental Protection Agency stances Control Act of 1976, which was MINING, OIL AND GAS agenda in December 2017, Sens. Joe
amended by the Lautenberg Act, the Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito
draft risk evaluations underwent an in- RFI on coal dust rule study: (R-WV) and other lawmakers expressed
person peer review by the EPA Science MSHA pushes comment strong opposition to any rollback of
Advisory Committee on Chemicals. (To deadline to 2022 MSHA’s respirable coal dust rule. The
learn more about SACC, go to epa.gov/ Washington — The Mine Safety and two West Virginia senators authored
tsca-peer-review.) Health Administration is extending to separate letters to then-Secretary of
July 2022 the deadline for comment on Labor R. Alexander Acosta.
At press time, comments on the draft a Request for Information concerning
risk evaluations were due Aug. 30. a retrospective study of the agency’s MSHA administrator David Zatezalo
respirable coal mine dust rule. attempted to alleviate the senators’
EPA previously solicited comments concerns during a House Workforce
on problem formation documents for MSHA announced the extension Protections Subcommittee hearing in
the first 10 chemicals before releasing in the July 3 Federal Register, six days February 2018 and again five months
its first draft risk evaluation – for Pig- before the original comment period later, in a press release on the RFI.
ment Violet 29 – in November. A press was set to close.
release issued Nov. 14 stated that EPA “To be clear, MSHA is initiating the
planned to release draft risk evalua- The retrospective study is required study referenced in the preamble to
tions for the remaining nine chemicals under the coal dust rule, which went the final rule to determine if the rule is
“in the coming months,” and intended into effect in August 2014. meeting its intended result,” Zatezalo
to issue final risk evaluations for the said in the release. “MSHA has no
first 10 chemicals by December 2019. When the RFI first appeared on
the Department of Labor’s regulatory

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 63

Industry Beat

intention of rolling back the protec- BSEE launches text notification improvements,” BSEE Director Scott
tions afforded to coal miners under the system for offshore oil and gas Angelle said in a May 23 press release.
final dust rule.” workers “Empowering the more than 36,000
Washington — The Bureau of Safety workers on the offshore rigs and plat-
A NIOSH study published in the and Environmental Enforcement recen- forms with critical safety information is
American Journal of Public Health in tly unveiled a free text message alert sys- an important step in ensuring safe and
August 2018 found that cases of black tem that delivers the agency’s safety environmentally sustainable operations.”
lung disease, also known as coal work- alerts and bulletins to offshore oil and
ers’ pneumoconiosis, are at a 25-year gas workers on the Outer Continental The agency issued 22 safety alerts
high. Much of that rise has been attrib- Shelf. and bulletins last year.
uted to an increase in silica or quartz
dust in mines. Subscribers to “BSEE!Safe” will receive MSHA clarifies escapeway
on their cellphones links to these requirements for underground
Although OSHA’s silica dust rule is resources, which detail lessons learned mines
currently in effect, MSHA’s remains in from incidents and near misses that Washington — In response to recent
the early stages of rulemaking. An RFI occurred within the industry, as well questions from the mining community,
on the MSHA rule will focus on per- as recommendations to help prevent the Mine Safety and Health Admin-
sonal protective equipment, Zatezalo future occurrences. istration has issued a program policy
said June 20 during a hearing convened letter intended to clarify requirements
by the House Workforce Protections “Having engaged and informed off- for providing emergency escapeways
Subcommittee. shore workers on the front line is the for underground metal and nonmetal
best method to drive safety perfor- miners.
The RFI is available to read at sh-m. mance and environmental stewardship
ag/2YN1Uum.

NELOEVMAEJNATCSK™ET

ANSI 107 CAT 3, ARC 25 NFPA 70E

SEE US AT:
INT’L LINEMAN’S RODEO, OCT 16-19, BOOTH #409
IP UTILITY SHOW CONFERENCE, NOV 19-21, BOOTH #124

DRAGONWEAR.COM | [email protected] | 800-873-5725

Circle 58 on Reader Service Card

64 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Industry Beat

In a notice published in the July 29 “DRIFT is an invaluable tool for The one-hour video features various
Federal Register, MSHA states that mines that want both more control over topics critical to the industry and offers
under 30 CFR 57.11050(a): “Every mine their blasting designs and a reduced recommendations on how workers can
shall have two or more separate, prop- risk of ground falls for workers,” Jessica prevent injuries and deaths. Hazard
erly maintained escapeways to the sur- Kogel, associate director for mining at topics include falls, transportation,
face from the lowest levels which are so NIOSH, said in a July 31 press release. struck-by/caught-in/caught-between,
positioned that damage to one shall not hydrogen sulfide, and heat illness.
lessen the effectiveness of the others. Users can save, revise and print blast
A method of refuge shall be provided designs, graphs and calculations, or they Registration is required to access the
while a second opening to the surface can use a manual design option. NIOSH video. Go to sh-m.ag/2XeEKZX to do so.
is being developed. A second escape- suggests engineers complete sufficient
way is recommended, but not required, field trials and refinements “until design MSHA unveils revised
during the exploration or development objectives are met for each entry before data retrieval system
of an ore body.” blasting is undertaken.” Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and
Health Administration has revamped
In addition, a “method of refuge shall Oil and gas exploration safety: its Mine Data Retrieval System in an
be provided” for miners to safely take OSHA training institute effort to add functionality and more
shelter in the event they are unable to publishes free video intuitive navigation to the online tool.
access the areas “when using the nor- Baton Rouge, LA — The OSHA Region
mal exit” protocol. 6 Training Institute Education Centers Designed to assist miners with
released a video on recognizing and con- accessing visualizations and data,
The program policy letter notes the trolling oil and gas exploration hazards. including operator history, the updated
refuge site “should be located near the system “will simplify the process for
miners so that they promptly and reli-
ably” can enter, and encourages mine
operators to confer with MSHA district
managers on mine-specific conditions
and factors when determining escape
and evacuation plans.

At press time, comments were due
Sept. 27.

Designing safer mine blasts: Circle 52 on Reader Service Card 65
NIOSH releases software See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #5250
Washington — In an effort to mitigate
the risk of post-blast ground falls in Safety+Health | September 2019
underground mines, NIOSH has devel-
oped an online software tool intended
to help mining engineers develop safe
and efficient designs for controlled
blasting operations.

Design method to Reduce risk of
Injury from ground Falls Technique,
or DRIFT, allows engineers to coordi-
nate perimeter and buffer rows when
composing blast designs. According to
NIOSH, the technique limits the chances
of poor blast design, which may loosen
or damage rock in the roof and ribs of a
drift, or mine entry, when the blast force
surpasses the target area.

A fatality alert from the Mine Safety
and Health Administration’s archives
details how a miner was killed in October
when conducting blasting operations.

safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Industry Beat

operators and others to obtain key data Long shifts, inexperience boost hours include lack of routine, irregular
points and compare the safety of their miners’ injury risk: study schedules, specific mining activities and
mines with industry standards,” MSHA Chicago — Long workdays and being having less than two years on the job.
administrator David Zatezalo said in a new on the job are two factors that may
June 12 press release. heighten the risk of workplace injuries “Our findings are alarming given
In addition to its familiar functions, among miners, a recent study suggests. the shift toward hiring more contract
the MDRS offers enhanced data analy- Researchers from the University of workers and the adoption of more
sis and upgraded search capabilities Illinois at Chicago analyzed nearly extended-hour workdays in the min-
while providing real-time data from 546,000 Mine Safety and Health Admin- ing industry,” Lee Friedman, study lead
MSHA statistical reports. Compliance istration Part 50 worker injury reports author and associate professor at the
assistance calculators such as Pattern filed between 1983 and 2015. They found UIC School of Public Health, said in a
of Violations, Significant and Substan- that 9.6% of the miners logged shifts of press release. “Our study should serve
tial Rate, and Violations per Inspection at least nine hours on the day they were policymakers and industry leaders who
Day are tied to the system. injured, including 5.5% of miners in need to consider the effects of longer
MSHA weighed stakeholder feedback 1983 and 13.9% of miners in 2015. Min- shifts on things like fatigue and nutri-
as it worked over the past year-plus ers involved in shifts of such length were tion, and the potential of fixed sched-
to implement changes to the system, 32% more likely to suffer work-related ules to alleviate some of the risks with
which the agency notes is the most fre- fatalities and 73% more likely to be part longer shifts.”
quently accessed page on its website. of an incident that caused injuries to
Learn more about the system at multiple miners. Risk factors associated The study was published online April
msha.gov/mine-data-retrieval-system. with injuries related to working long 12 in the journal BMJ Occupational
2019 Safety+Health Ad_with bleed+trimmarks.pdf 1 8/5/19 2:33 PM and Environmental Medicine. Read it at
oem.bmj.com/content/76/6/389.

C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K

Circle 53 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2537.

66 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

COAST
INTRINSICALLY
SAFE LIGHTS

HZ025 Headlamp

HZ040 Flashlight
HZ050 Flashlight

HZ025 Flood Flood Spot & Spot & Red
High Low Flood High Flood Low
Headlamp Spot

6 Beam Options

COAST, the industry leader in beam-shaping HZ040 High Low Flash
technology, now offers Intrinsically Safe Spot & Flood Spot & Flood Spot & Flood
(Class 1, Div 1) flashlights and headlamps Flashlight
for hazardous locations. Our multi-beam/
mode technology ensures you have the 3 Mode Options
correct beam exactly where you need it.
HZ050
Flashlight Spot Flood Side Spot & Spot &
5 Beam Options Flood Side

COASTPORTLAND.COM

Circle 47 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2652.

mcrsafety.com 800-955-6887Circle 55 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #3625.

Industry Beat

TRANSPORTATION to reduce loading, unloading and help to reduce loading, unloading
delay times? and delay times?
FMCSA requests CMV •   Is technology available that could The RFI stems from a series of
stakeholder input on driver record and delineate prompt research and reports regarding driver
‘detention time’ loading and unloading times versus detention times.
Washington — The Federal Motor the extended delays sometimes expe- In January 2011, a report released by
Carrier Safety Administration is ask- rienced by drivers? the Government Accountability Office
ing for stakeholder input on how deten- •   How can delay times be captured and concluded that excessive detention
tion – the time a commercial motor recorded in a systematic, comparable time could have an effect on drivers’
vehicle driver spends during loading manner? ability to perform within federal hours-
and unloading – affects roadway safety. •   What should FMCSA use as an of-service regulations. Almost four
estimate for reasonable loading/ years later, an FMCSA study found that
According to a Request for Informa- unloading time? drivers experienced detention times
tion published in the June 10 Federal •   How do contract arrangements during about 10% of their stops at an
Register, the agency is particularly between carriers and shippers average duration of 1.4 hours “beyond a
interested in feedback on the following: address acceptable wait times? commonly accepted two-hour loading
•   Is data currently available that can Do these arrangements include and unloading period.”
penalties for delays attributable to a A 2018 audit conducted by the
accurately record loading, unloading carrier or shipper? Department of Transportation Office of
and delay times? •   What actions by FMCSA, within its Inspector General found that detention
•   Could systematic collection and current statutory authority, would
publication of loading, unloading
and delay times be useful in driver or
carrier business decisions and help

THERE TO PROTECT byTEXTECH
IN A FLASH

Introducing CarbonX Arc Weight: 5.0 oz/yd2 ● ATPV : 9.4 ● TPP: 10.7

Professionals and enthusiasts across numerous industries have come to rely on CarbonX® to provide
superior protection in extreme conditions. CarbonX Arc is no exception. At 5.0 oz, CarbonX Arc is one
of the lightest-weight NFPA 70E Category 2 protective fabrics on the market. It is constructed of a
truly non-flammable, high-performance fiber blend that is engineered specifically to defend against arc flash
hazards and that easily exceeds the standard levels of protection required by ASTM F1506.

Visit the CarbonX booth (#2821) and New Product Showcase (Hall D) at the
2019 NSC Expo to see CarbonX Arc firsthand, and vote for CarbonX Arc for
Best in Show! Contact us at 207.756.8606 and www.carbonx.com.

Circle 56 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2821.

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 69

Industry Beat

Spotlight on MANUFACTURING The Senate on Aug. 1 voted to extend
Sumwalt’s term for three years.
Canadian safety agency spotlights workplace hazards
in craft brewing industry NTSB Vice Chair Bruce Landsberg
would have taken over as acting chair
Richmond, British Columbia — WorkSafeBC has charted craft until the Senate reconvened, but with
Responding to growth in the craft brewery expansion in British Colum- only one member, NTSB would have
brewing and distilling industry, Work- bia as well, noting that the indus- lacked a quorum of three members.
SafeBC has released health and safety try now exceeds 160 employers in
resources intended to help employers the province after standing at 54 a Sumwalt has served with NTSB since
protect workers. decade ago. August 2006 and was sworn in as its
14th chair in August 2017, succeeding
A video, poster and guide provide “Craft-beer brewing is a complex Christopher Hart.
tips for mitigating common industry process that involves multiple stages
hazards, including confined spaces, of production,” Megan Martin, Work- The Senate also reconfirmed Jennifer
slippery surfaces, working at height, SafeBC manager of industry and labor Homendy as an NTSB board member
exposure to high concentrations of services, said in a recent press release. for a term that expires Dec. 31, 2024.
carbon dioxide, hazardous and flam- “We know brewers and distillers
mable chemicals, dust, ladders, and spend a lot of time and effort focusing FMCSA seeks comment
unguarded machinery. on the quality of their products, and on definition of ‘agricultural
we want to make sure they produce commodities’ in HOS rules
According to the U.S. Bureau of them safely.” Washington — The Federal Motor
Labor Statistics, the number of brew- Carrier Safety Administration is seek-
eries in the United States more than Access the free resources at sh-m. ing input on whether it should clarify
quintupled between 2010 and 2016, ag /2EGg JU3 . or revise the definitions of “agricultural
climbing to 2,843 from 527. commodity” or “livestock” in its hours-
of-service regulations for commercial
In 2016, 58,580 workers were truck drivers.
employed by breweries, while 12,207
worked in distilleries. FMCSA made the announcement in
an advance notice of proposed rule-
Meanwhile, the nonfatal workplace making published in the July 29 Fed-
injury and illness rate among brew- eral Register. Current regulations call
ery workers ranged from a low of 3.6 for exemptions in HOS requirements
cases per 100 full-time workers in during harvesting and planting season
2009 to a high of 5.8 per 100 FTEs in in each state. Drivers are exempt in a
2014, BLS states. In distilleries, inci- 150-air-mile radius from the source of
dence rates decreased to 2.3 in 2016 that agricultural commodity.
from 7.0 in 2006.
In 49 CFR Part 395.2, FMCSA defines
times increased crash risks and recom- “Go over to regulations.gov and com- “agricultural commodity” as “any agri- Photo: WorkSafeBC
mended that FMCSA collaborate with ment in a place where that information cultural commodity, nonprocessed
industry stakeholders “to develop and could actually move the regulatory dial, food, feed, fiber or livestock.”
implement a plan to collect and ana- could actually spark a conversation
lyze reliable, accurate and representa- between us as the people in the industry The agency states that the newly pub-
tive data on the frequency and severity and the federal regulators about how we lished ANPRM “is prompted by indi-
of driver detention.” can fix this problem. This is huge!” cations that the current definitions of
these terms may not be understood
Advocacy group TruckerNation.org At press time, comments on the RFI or enforced consistently when deter-
posted a video on its Facebook page were due Sept. 9. Comment at regulations. mining whether the HOS exemption
July 8 encouraging CMV operators gov/docket?D=FMCSA-2019-0054. applies.”
to comment on the RFI. “Every single
driver out there” has got an idea about Robert Sumwalt remains At press time, the comment period
ways to curb loading, unloading and chair of NTSB was set to end Sept. 27.
delay times, spokesperson Andrea Washington — Robert Sumwalt
Marks says in the video. has been reconfirmed as chair of the To comment, go to regulations.gov/
National Transportation Safety Board, docket?D=FMCSA-2018-0348.
She added that sharing these insights days before his term was set to expire
with fellow drivers or in online forums and ahead of Congress’ five-week recess. In separate Federal Register notices
isn’t enough. published June 7, 2018, FMCSA issued
guidance intended to clarify the agri-
cultural commodities exemption and

70 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Photo © www.kalice.fr VERTEX ® VENT

For professionals who know that head
protection is more than just a helmet

With its six-point textile suspension, the VERTEX VENT helmet
is very comfortable, and it ensures excellent stability on the
head thanks to the CENTERFIT and FLIP&FIT systems. The
adjustable-strength DUAL chinstrap makes it ideal for work at
height or on the ground. It is fully customizable with a wide range
of accessories that integrate perfectly with the helmet: badge
holder, eye/face shields, headlamps, and more. ANSI and CSA
versions available. www.petzl.com

Circle 57 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #4251.

Industry Beat

the “personal conveyance” provision in on brake hoses and tubing. Inspectors For more information, go to sh-m.
HOS regulations. And in a House appro- also will be looking for other critical ag/2Kn7VWK.
priations hearing in April that year, non-brake-related violations.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine The event is part of CVSA’s Operation
Chao said she has “encouraged legisla- Last year’s event resulted in 35,080 Airbrake campaign, which began in
tion” to clarify HOS requirements. inspections and identified 4,955 vehicles 1998. For more information on the alli-
(14.1%) with out-of-service conditions. ance and upcoming inspection events,
Annual CMV brake inspection FMCSA data shows that brake-related go to cvsa.org.
event set for Sept. 15-21 violations comprised six of the 20 most
Greenbelt, MD — Commercial motor frequently cited violations issued in 2017. Lack of Positive Train Control
vehicle inspectors throughout North system a factor in fatal rail
America will perform brake system “We all know how important a incident, NTSB concludes
examinations Sept. 15-21 during the properly functioning brake system is Washington — Fully operational Pos-
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s to vehicle operation,” CVSA President itive Train Control technology “would
annual Brake Safety Week. Jay Thompson said in a June 18 press have intervened” to stop a fatal Amtrak
release. “All components of the brake passenger train derailment in which
This year’s outreach and enforce- system must always be in proper oper- crew members were inadequately
ment campaign, created in partnership ating condition. Brake systems and trained and tested on various aspects
with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety their parts and components must be of a new route, the National Transpor-
Administration and the Canadian routinely checked and carefully and tation Safety Board has concluded after
Council of Motor Transport Admin- consistently maintained to ensure its investigation into the December
istrators, will place special emphasis the health and safety of the overall 2017 incident in DuPont, WA.
vehicle.”

ELEMENTS™ CYCLONE HOODIE

CAT 3 NFPA 70E NFPA 2112

THE CLOTHES YOU LIVE IN

INT’L LINEMAN’S RODEO, OCT 16-19, BOOTH #409
IP UTILITY SHOW CONFERENCE, NOV 19-21, BOOTH #124

DRAGONWEAR.COM | [email protected] | 800-873-5725

Circle 92 on Reader Service Card

72 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Industry Beat

Spotlight on SERVICES

Food truck safety resources spotlight propane hazards

Photo: BluIz60/iStockphoto Richmond, British Columbia — •   Ensure tanks, fittings, hoses, cook- •   Keep ignition sources away from
WorkSafeBC has published a safety ing equipment and all related parts propane tanks.
bulletin and blog post intended to help satisfy established safety standards. According to data from Los Angeles-
food truck owners and workers avoid Inspect and perform maintenance
hazards associated with propane tanks. regularly. based market research firm IBIS-
World, nearly 29,000 U.S. workers are
Many food trucks use propane as •   Check for propane tank leakage employed in the food truck industry –
a fuel source for cooking and other and unlit pilot lights at least twice a a 10.8% increase from 2014.
equipment. The bulletin cautions that day during business hours. Perform
hazardous buildup can result when checks before and after each truck Read the bulletin at sh-m.ag/2Ql3PzH.
propane seeps from leaky tanks or move and tank change. Always turn
unlit pilot lights into enclosed spaces. off tanks before driving trucks.
Although propane usually is sold with
an odorant “that smells of rotten eggs •   Train workers in propane use and
to warn of a leak,” cooking smells may handling.
mask the odor, WorkSafeBC warns.
•   Equip the truck with a flammable
The bulletin includes tips to help gas detector.
reduce the risk of propane explosions.
Among them: •   Don’t use old propane tanks. Store
spare tanks in an upright position
securely outside the truck.

Rack Sentry®

CONTOUR

The best way to protect racks from equipment damage.
Rack Sentry CONTOUR tested to outperform all other
energy-absorbing rack protectors.

• Exclusive Sentry cut-out
• Impact indicator
• Tapered arms

1.888.265.8660
www.sentrypro.com

Changing the face of rack protection

Circle 59 on Reader Service Card

Industry Beat

Spotlight on UTILITIES To help prevent similar incidents,
NTSB issued several recommendations.
New video for tower workers explores safe installation,
maintenance of small cell antennas Federal Railroad Administration:
•   Study the efficacy of how signs used
Watertown, SD — A new video from or bucket truck, but remember that
the National Association of Tower fall protection is still needed when in other modes of transportation may
Erectors stresses hazard awareness working at height, even in those be used in the railroad industry.
for technicians who work with small machines.” •  Prohibit the operation of passenger
cellular antenna towers on new or •   Power lines and electricity: “There trains on new, refurbished or updated
existing structures. are several pieces of equipment, territories unless PTC is used.
such as transformers, that could be
energized, so you have to be aware Amtrak:
of them at all times.” •   Ensure operating crew members
•   Exposure to radiofrequency energy:
“Wireless antennas emit RF energy demonstrate their proficiency on
during normal operation. Therefore, the physical characteristics of a
crews installing these need to know territory by using all resources
[Federal Communications Com- available to them, including in-cab
mission] guidelines and protect instruments, signage, signals and
themselves at all times.” landmarks; under daylight and
nighttime conditions; and during
The two-and-a-half-minute video Ryan Van Duzer, a travel video jour- observation rides, throttle time and
features insight from Justin Dillon, nalist, hosts the video. “With bigger written examinations.
an industry construction manager. call volumes and a bigger need for •  Revise the classroom and road
Dillon says that although small cell data, we need more antennas,” Van training program to ensure
antennas – an emerging technology – Duzer says. “Small cells are one more operating crews understand
lack the size and scope of traditional way wireless carriers are getting their locomotive operating characteristics,
communication towers, workers need signal into crowded areas where you alarms and the appropriate response
to be mindful of several hazards dur- just can’t put up a traditional, tower- to abnormal operating conditions.
ing installation and maintenance, based macro cell.” •   Require all engineers to undergo
including: simulator training before operating
•   Pedestrian and vehicle traffic: “A lot Watch the video at sh-m.ag/2ZA4elz. new or unfamiliar equipment and,
The video is the latest in NATE’s when possible, undergo simulator
of times you’re in urban areas, so “Climber Connection” series, which pro- training before operating in rev-
there’s a lot more [of it].” motes safe work practices for communi- enue service in a new territory and
•   Falls from height: “Know your sur- cation tower workers. The association experience normal and abnormal
roundings, and look for protection asks climbers and other industry stake- conditions in that territory.
anchors on the site. More often than holders to use the hashtag #Climber •  Implement a formal, systematic
not, you’ll be working from a man-lift Connection when posting the video on approach to developing training and
social media platforms. qualification programs to identify
strategies for preparing crews to oper-
In the preliminary final report issued four railcars derailed, tumbling onto ate new equipment in new territories. Photo: National Association of Tower Erectors
May 21, NTSB states that the train Interstate 5 and striking eight vehicles. •   Conduct worker training that speci-
engineer had minimal experience on fies and reinforces how each crew
the route and was traveling at more Three train passengers were killed member, including those who haven’t
than twice the speed limit when the while 65 others were injured, including received their certifications or quali-
train entered a hazardous curve dur- eight highway commuters. fications, may be used as a resource
ing its first run on a bypass between to assist in establishing and main-
Seattle and Portland, OR. According In the release, NTSB Chairman taining safe train operations.
to a corresponding press release, the Robert Sumwalt said the agency has
engineer told investigators he didn’t investigated three fatal overspeed pas- To read the preliminary report, go to
notice a speed reduction warning sign senger train derailments since 2013, sh-m.ag/2JgPalJ.
as the train approached the curve. and each could have been prevented if
Consequently, the lead locomotive and PTC systems had been in place. “Industry Beat” is written by Associate Editors
Barry Bottino, Kevin Druley and Alan Ferguson.
The federal deadline for full implemen-
tation of PTC systems is Dec. 31, 2020.

74 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

Do you know
how sharp your
edges are?

To learn more visit 3m.com/LeadingEdge.

©3M 2019. All rights reserved.
Circle 60 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #4121.

Eclipse™ Suit

Iron Eagle® Hooded
Jacket

Circle 61 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #3427.

Tingley apparel is crafted to provide durability and comfort
in the toughest of environments. Our flame resistant,

chemical resistant, waterproof and high visibility features
offer maximum protection for the toughest of environments.

Visit us at NSC Booth #3427

Shop Our Full Line of Protective Footwear & Apparel at TingleyRubber.com/tough

High Visibility Flame Resistant Protective Outdoor/Leisure Work Boots Overshoes
Rainwear

PROTECTING GENERATIONS SINCE 1896

2019

Recognizing the

heroes in our midst

To create lasting change, we need compelling ideas. Amber Joseph leads a successful slip, trip and fall reduc-
My 30-plus years in a high-consequence industry tion program as a risk control technical consultant at Lib-
taught me that acknowledging diverse viewpoints erty Mutual Insurance. She directs and trains teams of
and experiences yields stronger solutions and hazard assessment consultants across the nation as well as
better outcomes. Recognizing young professionals with a internationally, while empowering other women as a mar-
dedication to safety leadership is a powerful reminder that tial arts instructor.
great ideas are generated when we all work together.
Every single one of our 31 Rising Stars has followed their
My mission at the National Safety Council is to help passion and initiative to create great outcomes. These safety
people live their lives to the fullest by eliminating prevent- leaders aren’t afraid to take risks or try a new approach to help
able deaths. I am also a firm believer that empowering the keep their colleagues and communities safe. Our mission to
next generation to pursue their dreams can create the next eliminate preventable deaths means we need these compel-
innovation revolution. The 2019 Rising Stars of Safety dem- ling role models now more than ever. We are honored to rec-
onstrate what it looks like when we invest in people from ognize the 10th class of the Rising Stars of Safety. We hope
a variety of industries and backgrounds to reach their they will inspire the next generation of safety leaders, as they
potential. motivate all of us to identify the everyday heroes in our midst.

Since 2010, NSC has been honoring the next generation Lorraine M. Martin
of safety leaders with the Rising Stars of Safety Award, rec- President and CEO
ognizing young safety professionals whose impact extends National Safety Council
throughout and beyond the workplace. The Rising Stars
seek new ways to tackle both emerging and long-standing Brad T. Barrow
safety issues. They are pillars of their organizations. They
have what it takes to keep people around them safe with AGE: 38
hard work, ingenuity and a fresh perspective. Safety Competency Leader
The Chemours Co.
To highlight a few, Chemical Hygiene Officer Kimberly Gallatin, TN
Ann Decker boldly closed gaps in the industrial hygiene
program and policies at Corteva Agriscience, enabling “When the company began an IT project to
nearly 2,000 employees in Indianapolis to do their jobs replace myriad site EHS databases with a
safely every day. She also provides an inspiration for future corporatewide database with different
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) modules for incident investigation, correc-
leaders by working with youth off the job. tive actions, document control, etc., Brad
volunteered to lead the design and work-
Senior EHS Expertise Specialist Arul Subbarayalu flow for a first-party EHS auditing program
helped avert 35 serious incidents at Dow Chemical Inter- module. Brad solicited input from the sites,
national by spearheading a Fresh Eye Assessment concept. then created a standardized audit form and process that
The program drove down incidents and costs. He is also could both gather information on aspects of behavioral
working to improve water-saving measures in his commu- safety and examine focused safety topics through use of a set
nity, implement healthier workplace meal alternatives and of detailed auditing checklists that he created. Observations
eliminate plastic waste. can now be trended companywide.”

Master Sgt. Jeremy Nixon provides guidance for the 45,000
personnel in the Pacific Air Forces as an occupational safety
program manager. Championing a strong culture of safety
and recognizing other emerging safety leaders, his actions
have helped significantly reduce head injuries, motor vehicle-
related injuries, and other on- and off-duty hazards.

78 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

2019

Holly Bartos Jessica Brooks Laura Cerutti

AGE: 36 AGE: 31 AGE: 29

Environmental, Safety and Health Safety Specialist Project Manager

Manager FirstGroup America TransOptions

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Cincinnati, OH Cedar Knolls, NJ

Grand Prairie, TX “Jessica is responsible “Laura has led Street
for providing technical Smart campaigns in
“Holly became man- guidance and support over 10 municipalities
ager of the Dallas site for all FirstGroup in northwest New Jer-
at a time of unprece- America companies sey. While each cam-
dented growth. This across North America paign is unique, they
growth meant change (providing safety sup- have all resulted in
for areas that hadn’t port to a team of 50 positive, measurable
been modified in years. safety professionals and 100,000 employ- outcomes. Most recently, Laura incorpo-
Recognizing the risks, ees). In her 2.5 years with the company, rated a new positive reinforcement ini-
she led an effort to develop and maintain she has established herself as a tireless tiative. Complementing tickets and
open communications with those and selfless safety champion, helping ini- warnings, she secured discount cou-
affected. This included the development of tiate our root cause analysis process, pons from local businesses to distribute
a collaborative campaign with her facili- managing our incident response pro- to people engaging in safe walking and
ties counterparts, the graphics and com- cesses, monitoring front-line engagement driving behavior. This not only recog-
munications teams, and the scheduling of activity as part of our behavior-based nized those following the law, but also
work in multiple areas. Proof of this suc- safety processes, becoming a behavior- created public engagement opportuni-
cessful implementation was demon- based safety trainer, and conducting ties for the police and involved the local
strated when the roof of the second largest analysis of safety performance across all business community, building new
office building was replaced – while occu- FirstGroup companies.” safety advocates along the way.”
pied – without a single incident.”

Theresa Ciatto Kimberly Ann Decker Stanley Evans

AGE: 38 AGE: 33 AGE: 39

Director of Safety Chemical Hygiene Officer Project HS&E Director

Primus Builders Inc. Corteva Agriscience Turner Construction Co.

Woodstock, GA Indianapolis, IN Fontana, CA

“Theresa recognized “Kim was tasked with “Stanley conducted
that to engage her addressing our sites’ several trend analysis
peers effectively, she biggest gap: exposure evaluations, which
had to determine the assessments. When showed an upward
different safety train- she started to dig into trend in unsafe acts,
ing needs of three the details, she found near misses, incident
groups. She offered multiple deficiencies severity and incident
the design team Gen- in our sites’ industrial rates concerning one
eral Industry OSHA 10-hour training. hygiene programs. Kim successfully of the largest sports and entertainment
They learned how to design so that the identified and closed gaps that included projects in the country. After identify-
finished building would be compliant. lack of an SDS management system, ing these trends, he convened a
All project managers and superinten- insufficient PPE determination, gaps in cross-functional team of 60-plus safety
dents are OSHA 30-hour certified and process safety management and insuffi- managers, superintendents and fore-
first aid and CPR certified. Theresa also cient hearing surveys. During that time, men to perform daily safety observa-
offers training on topics such as fall pro- she was also tasked with implementing tion walks to identify and mitigate
tection. This includes subcontractors if the new silica standard in an agricul- hazards immediately in the field. Since
she or our onsite superintendent deter- tural, research and development, and the team’s implementation, this initia-
mines their skills need strengthening. In production setting. Kim’s ability to tive has resulted in a 65% decrease in
addition to OSHA, first aid and CPR address our issues and put in place sus- near misses, 30% decrease in total
training, the thermal envelope team tainable solutions directly impacts unsafe acts and lower severity of
receives hands-on equipment training.” about 2,000 employees’ daily ability to incidents.”
work safely.”

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 79

2019

Malik Ihtisham Matt Hall Hamza Hameed
Haider
AGE: 26 AGE: 31
AGE: 28 Safety Manager Process Safety Engineer
ARCO Construction Co. Fatima Fertilizer Co. Ltd.
Assistant Manager, HSE St. Louis, MO Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

Sindh Engro Coal Mining Co. “Matt visits every job “To improve emer-
with a positive and gency handling capac-
Thar, Pakistan upbeat attitude and ities, Hamza showed
excells at making extraordinary leader-
“The indigenous work- safety fun and under- ship skills. Initially he
force employed on the standable. He believes engaged government
project use motorbikes in the importance of authorities to evalu-
for commuting. Eco- educating all workers ate firefighting and
nomic activity gener- about site-specific hazards. Matt’s every- toxic release handling capacity. He then
ated by this project day goal is to make personal relation- led the team that was assigned to
resulted in a surge of ships with each of our employees, so that develop the emergency response man-
vehicles and motor- he can relate with them on a personal ual. This was followed by training and
bikes leading to more accidents. Identify- level while discussing safety. He is able validation of all fire wardens and the
ing the root cause of the accidents, Malik to discuss safety concerns with our proj- emergency response team. Later, he col-
created a weeklong road safety awareness ect teams and make realistic recommen- laborated with national disaster man-
campaign. Workers and community bik- dations to correct any issues identified.” agement authorities to arrange an
ers were trained on bike driving and safety industrial disaster handling mock drill.”
measures. Safety messages were aired on Aya Hashimoto
radio and cable networks. More than Kanella S. Hatchett
1,000 reflective bike safety helmets were AGE: 38
distributed. All of this helped us achieve a Safety Coordinator AGE: 37
reduction of 37% bike accidents over the Duncan Aviation Logistics Officer (Safety)
year.” Battle Creek, MI Marine Corps Embassy Security Group
Quantico, VA
Alan Harff “Aya drove the use of
the Intelex system for “Capt. Hatchett con-
AGE: 37 online injury report- structed and insti-
ing. The new tool tuted a Command
OSHA and Safe Operations Manager made it easier for team Unit Safety Represen-
members to report tative Program to get
PGT Trucking injuries and provided all appointed USRs
more accurate infor- properly trained. She
North Huntingdon, PA mation for the company to investigate enrolled 16 Marines in
hazardous situations. Aya has also priori- the 8-hour Initial USR course to learn the
“Early in his tenure as tized the needs of policy overview and Recreational Off-Duty Safety, Enterprise
a safe operations man- has written a bloodborne pathogens pol- Safety Application Management System,
ager, Alan was tasked icy and revised the complex respiratory Electrical, Lock-Out/Tag-Out, Safety Pro-
with updating the protection program. Her ability to under- gram Administration, Ergonomics,
company securement stand compliance requirements com- Hazard Communication, Hearing Con-
manual. With little bined with her talent to apply it has servation, and Mishaps. Once Marines
experience in market- helped her accomplish these results.” completed the course, Capt. Hatchett
ing and publishing, he required graduates to develop standard-
gathered the resources, put together a ized USR turnover binders for each of
plan and was able to produce a new man- their sections with weekly, monthly and
ual that provides our drivers with a state- quarterly responsibilities. Over the course
of-the-art resource. It is available in print of six months, Capt. Hatchet, utilizing the
and viewable on our e-log tablets. In the USR(s), completed 192 inspections.”
five months since the rollout, PGT has
seen a 71% drop in cargo claims.”

80 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

2019

Matthew F. Herron Hafiz Muhammad Amber Joseph
Umer Javed
AGE: 38 AGE: 39
AGE: 27
Senior Safety Engineer Technical Consultant, Risk Control
HSE Engineer
Southwest Research Institute Liberty Mutual Insurance
M&A Group Energy and Petroleum
San Antonio, TX Shrewsbury, PA
Services
“Matt led a new safety “Amber is leading a
initiative in 2017, titled Erbil, Iraqi-Kurdistan multiyear slips, trips
Safety 360, to foster a and falls reduction
culture that empowers “Hafiz started analyz- project by creating a
employees to proac- ing data of lower back sustainable program
tively identify, correct pain complaints and to reduce STF claims.
and report hazards. sick leaves. He found Amber created an
The Safety 360 Tenets that some employees employee perception
include everyone is responsible for work- were using chairs that survey and a hazard assessment survey,
place safety and has stop-work authority; have a higher rate of which were used to assess employee per-
situational awareness; protect yourself risk related to back ceptions of STF hazards and analyze
and those around you; and report all pain, resulting in sick leaves. He initiated associated gaps. Based on findings, a
unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. This a campaign, ‘I’m Healthy,’ to raise aware- STF Prevention Self-Assessment Guide
initiative encourages employee participa- ness about the issue through training, was developed that focuses on critical
tion by providing a simple form they can distributing brochures and flyers. As a STF risk reduction program elements.”
use to communicate the hazards they result, office chairs were replaced with
have identified, and allows them to pro- ergonomically designed ones. He also
vide their own solution. This information developed a system to report ergonomi-
is compiled in a spreadsheet for tracking cally unsafe acts.”
and data analysis.”

Crystal Lawson Benjamin Martin Meraiah L. Marvel

AGE: 38 AGE: 39 AGE: 39

HSE Division Senior Associate Safety Project Manager National Safety and Security Manager

CBRE Inc. City of Atlanta, Mayor’s Office of Parsons Corp.

Dallas, TX Workplace Safety (WorkSafe Atlanta) Washington, D.C.

“Since 2016, Crystal Atlanta, GA “Meraiah routinely
has been involved leads controversial –
with program man- “Ben has worked tire- but successful –
agement of over 200 lessly to create part- safety initiatives that
asbestos and mold nerships with key transform the perfor-
remediation projects. stakeholders within mance and the cul-
In 2018, she managed city departments and ture of her program.
over 500 IAQ com- with external part- She regularly ana-
plaints and reconciled those complaints ners. This has resulted lyzes her program and identifies desir-
through inspection and testing. She in the creation of a able and undesirable trends. She seeks
emphasizes streamlining removal and citywide Safety Culture Subcommittee advice from craft personnel and site
protecting employee safety through within WorkSafe Atlanta. In addition, leaders to understand these trends.
asbestos awareness training and vendor Ben is creating statistical analyses for Meraiah asks her peers in safety and
interaction. Crystal also manages CFR safety metrics and developing predictive security to see what’s been done else-
66 – Clean Air Act requirements for analysis methods to help focus the city’s where. She develops pilot processes and
refrigerants. She has trained all CBRE safety efforts within specific depart- deploys them on selected project sites
engineers to properly and safely log use ments and for specific injury types. This with full buy-in from project leaders and
of refrigerants by following the updated information is being used to drive deci- craft personnel. Meraiah adjusts, and
Section 608 regulations for leak detec- sion-making on training and safety then redeploys them throughout her
tion rules that effectively monitor leaks, controls. Ben is assisting with the devel- program.”
reclaim refrigerants and prevent expo- opment of citywide safety policies and
sure to asphyxiants.” procedures, and an overall safety strate-
gic plan.”

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 81

2019

Robert Moore Jessica Myeroff Jeremy Nixon

AGE: 36 AGE: 28 AGE: 37

EHS Lead Environment, Health, and Safety Occupational Safety Program Manager

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Manager Pacific Air Forces Safety

Perrysburg, OH Eaton Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI

“Bob managed a safety Moon Township, PA “As a champion for
specialist through the safety education, Mas-
process of creating “Jessica discovered a ter Sgt. Nixon has
station-specific energy critically dangerous provided personnel
control procedures for condition in an elec- at remote locations
all necessary minor trical test area. many opportunities
servicing tasks. This Working with the for training. Funding
method was bench- technician and opera- for machine guard-
marked for the company, clear and con- tions, Jessica deter- ing, control of hazardous energy, con-
cise so that all employees could easily mined a solution that fined space, and risk management
understand it. He also inspired an intern would engineer-out the risk. Jessica training road shows were secured.
to create a hands-on learning demon- showed managerial courage by working Also, he sponsored a cranial injury
stration to facilitate better PPE compli- cross-functionally with several high- reduction project by identifying the
ance, specific to hearing protection. ranking leaders. Her leadership effec- areas of high occurrence, acquiring
Finally, he created a response team to tively communicated the severity of the and distributing 500 articles of PPE,
physically review all first aid incidents problem, and also convinced these indi- and developing training and standard
that occur at the plant in order to deter- viduals to reallocate capital money to operating procedures leading to a 39%
mine proper root cause and implement remediate the risk. Jessica personally head-injury reduction.”
all recommended corrective actions.” validated the completed project onsite,
even after being transferred across-
country to a new location.”

Gabriella A. Pace Umair Shahab Shahid Arul Subbarayalu

AGE: 24 AGE: 34 AGE: 36

Associate Safety Professional Safety Engineer Senior EHS Expertise Specialist

Walt Disney World Qatar Petrochemicals Dow Chemical International Pvt. Ltd.

Orlando, FL Doha, Qatar Chennai, India

“Gabriella partnered “Umair carried out “The fresh eye assess-
with our merchandise detailed incident anal- ment program was
leadership to divide ysis of all process introduced by Arul
the location leader- safety events, which with the vision to
ship into four strate- revealed that 90% of improve and sustain
gic groups to drive leakages were related the EHS performance,
safety initiatives by to asset integrity, out identify all high-risk
focusing on the four of which 75% of leak- areas and help reduce
areas of focus: commitment, engage- ages belonged to ethylene recovery unit potential life-changing incidents. He
ment, programs and prevention. The pipelines having ethylene stream in it. He devised a plan to calibrate the outcome
team meets monthly to discuss updates marked exact leakage points with pro- of the program to identify opportunities
on strategy development, in addition to cess parameters. He collected data and for improvement and provided guidance
the monthly safety and wellness com- location of temporary repairs, their sur- for mitigation and enhanced perfor-
mittee meeting. The champions are veillance reports, inspection history of mance. He engaged and partnered with
responsible for executing their portion of pipelines and conducted detailed risk site EHS members and operational lead-
the strategy. As FY18 came to a close, assessment of the unit. He presented the ers, which helped them understand the
Gabriella partnered with merchandise deterioration graph of pipelines. It was sites better and also train themselves.
leadership to make minor tweaks to the decided to shut down the unit, replace The outcome of analysis was communi-
strategy and build on prior year momen- low thickness lines and remove tempo- cated via dashboard to leadership to fur-
tum to ensure strong returns continued rary repairs with permanent repairs.” ther prioritize focus on high-risk areas.”
into FY19.”

82 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

2019

Lynne Syer Greggory Addam Mike Watson
Vanover
AGE: 38 AGE: 34
AGE: 30
Senior EHS Leader Director of Safety, Health,
Safety Manager
Lippert Components and Environment
Clean Fuels National
Goshen, IN AECOM
Keystone, IN
“‘MAKE IT SAFE... Amissville, VA
MAKE IT HOME... “Prior to his involve-
MAKE IT PERSONAL’ ment with safety, our “Mike led a yearlong
is a newly launched program was virtually initiative supporting a
program by Lynne. nonexistent. Addam program operating a
Our daily safety mis- has rewritten the mission-critical facil-
sion is that people go safety plan, written a ity for the U.S. govern-
home in better shape safety management ment. The program
than they came to work. Not easily done plan and created our had historically poor
with 10,000 teammates. To achieve this, audit program, as well as many other safety performance.
Lynne strives to make safety the personal aspects of measurable safety perfor- Mike partnered with key operational
goal and commitment of each teammate. mance. Our warnings and violations leaders to execute a risk reduction plan.
Key portions of this program – roll out issued internally to technicians are A key strategy involved building a highly
video, pledge card and result photo – are lower than ever and continue to drop. competent safety team charged with cre-
in the additional files. In just two weeks, Our audit program has been bolstered ating a positive work environment and
a measurable increase in safety engage- due to his efforts and now covers 100% of people-centric safety culture. Through
ment has been realized.” employees quarterly – something we daily safety partnering ‘wins’ and inte-
previously did not think was possible.” grating safety into all aspects of the pro-
gram, the team reduced injury rates by
66% and achieved a milestone of 1M
hours-worked without a days-away case.”

Atif Whaeed Patrick J. Wolocko Lino Yohannan

AGE: 35 AGE: 30 AGE: 33

Assistant Manager EHS Safety Manager Senior Health and Safety Manager

BYCO Petroleum Pakistan Ltd. W. Soule & Co. WSP Middle East

Karachi, Pakistan Portage, MI Dubai, United Arab Emirates

“Atif recently bench- “Patrick identified and “Lino has successfully
marked hot work has managed a web- planned and orga-
against different stan- based audit database nized various health
dards and good engi- used by the company. and safety campaigns
neering practices. He Using the information across the projects,
conducted a thorough obtained, we can com- which have made posi-
review, highlighting municate based on tive influences. He has
significant deviations. leading indicators and involved the work-
He followed that by developing a com- have reduced our incidents rates by 20% force, authorities, and health and safety
prehensive plan to confine and eradicate over three years. He also leads our three training providers as part of the program
these deviations. He defined the steps, shop safety committees. Over the past to give a clear message to the workforce.
developed new work permits and rede- couple of years, his leadership, and the Lino finds time to consult with and men-
fined the hierarchy of approval. Higher involvement of the committee, has driven tor HSE professionals through various
level reviews and approvals were sought, the installation of two jib cranes to platforms to share the knowledge. He is
followed by training and coaching of reduce material handling; created stan- an IOSH Executive Committee member
staff. After the change, site fire incidents dard operating procedures for equip- of UAE branch. Lino also has organized a
dropped remarkably.” ment in the shops; updated inspection number of awareness programs on labor
forms for equipment; and helped engi- camps, and enhanced the near miss
neer an acid wash station to eliminate reporting significantly through trainings
some PPE requirements, making the sta- and awareness programs.”
tion safer.”

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 83



Circle 62 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #2937.

Waking up Photo: kali9/iStockphoto

to the risks of workplace fatigue

MORE THAN 1 IN 10 INJURIES
ON THE JOB MAY BE LINKED
TO INSUFFICIENT SLEEP, EXPERTS SAY

By Susan Vargas

86 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

For many people struggling to cope with the pressures workplace injuries and incidents, it’s hard for us to concep-
of life in a 24/7, on-demand world, sleep gets relegated tualize just how big the problem is.”
to the bottom of their to-do list. Sleep is sacrificed to
squeeze in an extra hour of productivity, or because rest This is your brain on too little sleep

time is equated with wasted time. Sleep is easily mistaken for time spent doing nothing, but
“In America, we have a long-standing cul- experts describe it as an active process that plays a crucial
ture of thinking, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead,’ role in our ability to function mentally and physically.
or ‘Sleep is for lazy people,’ or ‘People who “Fatigue builds up with each hour we stay awake and dis-
value rest are not as ambitious,’” said Emily sipates as we sleep,” said Indira Gurubhagavatula, associ-
Whitcomb, senior program manager, fatigue ate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
initiative, at the National Safety Council. Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and chair of the
“We have a history of incentivizing people Public Safety Committee at AASM.
Whitcomb who work long hours with extra pay, promo- Physical symptoms of fatigue include yawning, difficulty
tions and recognition.” focusing the eyes, upset stomach, headache, loss of muscle
The failure to prioritize rest is a growing concern and tak- coordination, an increased risk of dropping things, and
ing a toll on U.S. workers. stumbling and falling. Cognitive effects include impaired
“A large percentage of the U.S. workforce memory, attention, judgment and concentration; difficulty
is fatigued on the job,” said Claire Caruso, a processing complex data, making decisions and regulat-
research health scientist at NIOSH. ing emotions; and greater distractibility and risk-taking
Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep behavior.
a night, according to the National Sleep “The effects of fatigue are very similar to the impairment
Foundation and the American Academy caused by excessive alcohol,” Gurubhagavatula said. “One
of Sleep Medicine. However, data from the study has equated performance after 18 hours of being
Caruso National Health Interview Survey published awake with performance while having a blood alcohol con-

in the journal Sleep shows that about 30% of U.S. civilian work- centration of 0.05%, which is considered legally drunk in
ers got less than six hours of sleep a night in the mid-2000s – many states.”
up from 24% in the 1980s. Data from 2010 published in a Even mild, everyday fatigue can affect workplace safety
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and and performance.
Mortality Weekly Report in 2012 shows those percentages “Most employers underestimate how little sleep depriva-
were even higher in certain industries, and especially tion is necessary to result in detrimental outcomes,” said
among night shift workers: Christopher Barnes, associate professor of
•   34.1% of workers in the manufacturing industry management at the University of Washing-
•   44% of all night shift workers ton Foster School of Business, who studies
•   52.3% of night shift workers in health care and social fatigue and human sustainability in orga-
assistance nizations. “For example, my research indi-
•   69.7% of night shift workers in transportation and cates a 5.6% increase in mining injuries
warehousing following the change to daylight saving time
Barnes in the spring. That is less than an hour of

Chronic fatigue is more than just a quality-of-life issue. sleep deprivation, and it produces a meaningfully harmful
“It’s estimated that about 13% of workplace injuries can be effect on employee safety.”
attributed to employees with sleep problems, and 21% of
fatal crashes may involve a drowsy driver,” Whitcomb said. Feature at a Glance
“There’s really no shortage of research out there that shows
us a tired worker is more likely to be involved in an incident The failure to prioritize rest is a growing concern and taking a toll on
or get hurt at work.” U.S. workers.

Despite all the research, how has such a significant risk Key points
factor gotten so little attention in the workplace? One rea- • Fatigue is especially prevalent among night shift workers.
son is a simple lack of data. • Symptoms of fatigue include difficulty focusing, loss of muscle

“When employers fill out paperwork for an incident in the coordination, impaired memory and concentration, and greater
workplace, most are not asking about fatigue, how much distractibility.
sleep the person got or how many hours they worked in the • Managing fatigue is a legal responsibility under the Occupational
last couple of days,” Whitcomb said. “So, while we know Safety and Health Act of 1970, one expert says.
it’s a significant contributing factor to a good portion of

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 87

Tips for night shift workers natural order are costly. “Shift workers are expected to sleep
during times when their biological rhythm drives them to
Indira Gurubhagavatula, associate professor of medicine stay awake and work at times when they have a profound
at the University of Pennsylvania Veteran’s Administration urge to sleep,” Gurubhagavatula said. “Instead of seven
Medical Center and chair of the Public Safety Commit- hours per night, they average closer to 5.5 hours.”
tee at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, offered
the following advice for safety professionals to share with A study by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for
employees who work extended or nontraditional hours: Safety, published in the American Journal of Industrial Medi-
•   Discuss your sleep needs with your family and friends to cine in 2006, found that compared with morning shifts,
workers with afternoon shifts had a 15.2% increased risk of
ensure everyone at home is on board and supportive. injury, while those on night shifts had a 27.9% greater risk.
•   Consider breaking up your daily sleep into two periods, Gurubhagavatula pointed out that night shift workers also
have a higher incidence of car crashes (especially during
if that allows you greater flexibility to attend to personal their ride home), as well as serious long-term health out-
responsibilities. Naps can also be helpful, especially comes such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and
right before a shift, during a shift (if possible) and just cancer.
before the ride home.
•   Judicious use of caffeine can be helpful, but limit Long hours. The Liberty Mutual study also found the likeli-
or avoid caffeine consumption late in your shift so it hood of injury grows once a worker’s shift exceeds the eight-
doesn’t interfere with your ability to sleep once you hour mark, with a 13% increased risk at 10 hours and a 27.5%
arrive home. increased risk at 12 hours. Longer shifts have been linked
•   Maintain good sleep habits: to errors in decision-making and lack of attentiveness, said

•   Avoid smoking L. Casey Chosewood, director of the Office
•   Limit alcohol consumption for Total Worker Health at NIOSH. “So our
•   Exercise regularly recommendation has long been that shifts of
•   Choose healthy foods more than 10 hours should be minimized.”
•   Keep regular bed and wake-up times
•   Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. Still, about 20% of the population works
•   Keep your bedroom dark, cool, quiet and more than 48 hours a week, and roughly 7%
works more than 60 hours, Chosewood said,
comfortable Chosewood adding, “You just cannot recover adequately
•   Turn off phones and electronics before sleeping if you’re spending excessive time at work.”

Equally troubling is the likelihood that workers won’t rec- Demanding or stressful work. Physical exertion is taxing,
ognize their impairment. “Studies have shown that we are but extended mental concentration can be equally fatigu-
not good at assessing our level of fatigue,” Gurubhagavatula ing, particularly in occupations such as critical care nurs-
said, “and our awareness of the risks is clearly insufficient, ing, public safety or long-haul truck driving. “We know that
given the data about fatigue-related driving accidents alone.” the need for constant vigilance is a significant source of
stress,” Chosewood said. “We have increasing evidence that
The long-term effects on workers’ overall health and well- workplace stressors that are part and parcel of long hours
being can be just as concerning as the short-term safety and fatigue are a risk factor not only for acute injury, but
implications, she noted. These include obesity, diabetes, also for the development of chronic diseases.”
hypertension and heart disease, as well as early mortality. Finding solutions
The prevalence of fatigue may lead to the perception that
What drains workers’ batteries? it’s an inevitable part of living and working in the modern
In its 2012 guidance statement on the issue, the American Col- world. However, as awareness grows, organizations, govern-
lege of Occupational and Environmental Medicine defined ment agencies and employers are taking on this problem
fatigue as “the body’s response to sleep loss or to prolonged and finding solutions. Recommended strategies include:
physical or mental exertion.” Circumstances that lead to the
condition can usually be traced to a mix of personal factors – Establishing a fatigue risk management system. “A fatigue
family commitments (child care or elder care), medical issues risk management system is a set of policies, practices and
(sleep disorders, other chronic health disorders or certain programs that you incorporate into an existing safety
medications) or simple failure to prioritize rest – and work management system in order to effectively manage fatigue
conditions such as long commutes or multiple jobs, as well as: in the workplace,” Whitcomb said.

Shift work. Humans are biologically hardwired to be active
during the day and sleep at night, and disruptions to that

88 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

An FRMS often dovetails with existing programs, so Elements of a fatigue risk management
establishing one may be easier than it might seem. system

“Fatigue  is a predictable and manageable safety risk we According to the American College of Occupational and
identified in our business that, like other risks, had to be Environmental Medicine’s 2012 guidance statement, “Fatigue
understood and proactively managed,” said Brian Beauvais, Risk Management in the Workplace,” a fatigue risk manage-
health and safety manager at Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., ment system may include:
which has implemented an FRMS and seen safety perfor- •   A fatigue management policy
mance improve as a result. “We quickly discovered we already •   Risk management, including collecting information on
had a number of these elements in place in other programs
and only needed to align them. We made it part of things we fatigue as a hazard, analyzing its risk and creating con-
were already doing, such as our safety program, our health trols to mitigate that risk
and wellness program, and our occupational health and •   A reporting system for employees
safety program.” •   Incident investigation
Providing education and screening. “Ensure that the •   Management training and education for employees,
whole organization is aware of the need for sleep and management and even their families
the hazards, health risks and performance impairments •   Sleep disorder management
associated with fatigue,” Gurubhagavatula said. She also •   A process for the internal and external auditing and
suggests screening for sleep disorders as part of this continuous improvement of the FRMS
effort, citing the example of Schneider National, whose
program to screen and treat truck drivers for obstructive •   Avoiding permanent placement on night shift and keep-
sleep apnea helped decrease the risk of crashes and boost ing consecutive night shifts to a minimum. (The Liberty
employee retention. Mutual study found that workers’ injury risk grew with
Focusing on worker schedules. “Limiting shift work and each consecutive night shift, from 6% higher on the sec-
long hours to the extent possible is where you’re going to ond night to 17% and 36% greater on the third and fourth
get the biggest bang for your investments,” Chosewood said. nights, respectively.)
If night shifts or long hours can’t be avoided, some adjust-
ments can help lighten the burden on employees. •   Offering workers as much choice as possible. “If you need
the work done but it doesn’t matter if someone starts at
“Depending on the workload, 12-hour days may be tolera- 10 p.m. versus 2 a.m., give the worker the flexibility to pick
ble with more frequent interspersed rest days,” Caruso said. their own start and stop time,” Chosewood said.
“During the evening and night, shorter shifts are better tol-
erated than longer shifts.” •  Scheduling demanding tasks when workers are most alert,
such as during the first half of a long shift or night shift.
Other scheduling goals include:
•   Minimizing overtime – especially forced overtime. •  Giving workers adequate time between shifts – Chosewood
recommends a minimum of 18 hours – and scheduling
in rest days. “Plan one or two full days of rest to follow
five consecutive eight-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts,”

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 89

Fatigue monitoring systems: The evidence is clear that
‘Pros and cons’
”employees are maximally effective
The promise of technology to sound the alarm when
workers become fatigued is gaining attention. Originally when they get the sleep they need.
used in the mining industry, fatigue monitoring systems
are moving into other industries (such as transportation) Christopher Barnes
where vigilance is essential. Typically relying on dashcams
or wearable devices to measure eye movements or other University of Washington Foster School of Business
physiological indicators of fatigue, these systems raise sig-
nificant questions of worker privacy that will need to be assume that high motivation will offset the effects of sleep
addressed before they gain widespread use. deprivation, but that ignores the biological realities. To com-
pound the situation, employers often think in terms of the
“We see pros and cons to fatigue monitoring systems,” quantity of performance, but forget about how sleep depriva-
said L. Casey Chosewood, director of the Office for Total tion can undermine the quality of performance as well.”
Worker Health at NIOSH. “If employers choose them, work-
ers should be given a voice on what kind of monitoring is When workers are fatigued, performance and productiv-
done and how it is used.” ity can suffer a number of ways, including:
•   Higher levels of absenteeism, presenteeism and tardiness.
Caruso said. “Consider two rest days after three consecu- •   Higher rates of incidents, errors and do-overs.
tive 12-hour shifts.” •   Increased likelihood of unethical or unprofessional
•   Making sure workers take frequent breaks during each
shift – especially when they put in longer hours, work behavior.
nights or perform demanding tasks. •   Decrease in engagement and helpful behaviors.
•   Increases in the time needed to complete tasks.
If this sounds daunting, Chosewood suggests a sched-
ule design consultation with a human factors or macro- Fatigue is expensive. A study from RAND Corp., published
ergonomics specialist. “A one-time consultation would be in 2016, estimated that insufficient sleep costs the U.S.
affordable even for a small or midsized business,” he said. economy $411 billion a year. Beyond the costs of diminished
performance and productivity, experts pointed to fatigued
Addressing environmental stressors. Make sure working workers’ greater use of health care resources, as well as
conditions aren’t adding difficulty to the shift. For example, higher workers’ compensation and other insurance rates.
provide adequate lighting, maintain comfortable tempera-
tures, reduce noise and ensure workers have access to food. It may be helpful to support these points with organization-
specific data. “When you’re doing an incident report, ask ques-
Invest in rest tions about work-rest history,” Whitcomb said. “‘How many
When resources are thin or shift schedules are difficult to hours of sleep did they get in the last couple of days? How many
change, safety professionals hoping to implement these strat- hours were they working in the last couple of days? When on
egies may expect some pushback from employers. To gain the shift did the incident occur?’ I would venture to guess that
buy-in, experts suggest highlighting the following points: you’ll find a pattern that suggests these incidents and injuries
are occurring in employees who were tired.”
Managing fatigue is a legal responsibility. “Employers
must implement measures to monitor and limit worker Whitcomb also recommended NSC’s fatigue cost calcula-
exposures to health and physical hazards in the workplace, tor (available at nsc.org/tiredatwork), which allows users to
as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act,” estimate how much fatigue is costing their organization.
Caruso said. Federal and state regulators for some indus-
tries also require some form of fatigue mitigation, such as “The evidence is clear that employees are maximally
capped work hours and established minimum rest periods effective when they get the sleep they need,” Barnes said. “So
between shifts. organizations which strive to structure environments in
order to maximize the sleep and wellness of their employees
Managing fatigue is good business. It’s easy to assume that will reap the benefits.”
increasing work hours will maximize productivity. “It is
harder to envision the loss in productivity from a few hours New toolkit available
of sleep deprivation,” Barnes said. “Many employers just
The National Safety Council has developed a fatigue risk
management toolkit, including policy templates, training
materials and educational materials for the worksite. Set to
launch at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo in San Diego,
the toolkit is available for download at nsc.org/fatigue.

90 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

NEW
DYNAMIC®
HARD HATS

PROVEN PROTECTION

Engineered for TYPE I TYPE I
performance
and comfort CAP STYLE FULL BRIM

> Lightweight hi-density Whistler™ Kilimanjaro™
polyethylene shell for
reduced worker fatigue ANSI COLORS AVAILABLE

> 4-Point quick release CERTIFIED PROTECTION WHITE YELLOW ORANGE DARK GREEN
suspension with strong 01 02 03 04
textile straps and dual Meets ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 Type I
position height adjustment and non-vented styles meet NAVY BLUE GRAY DARK GRAY RED
CSA Z94.1 Type I 08 09 14 15
> Crown, brow and ratchet
foam padding for CALL (800) 262-5755 TO LEARN MORE.
all day comfort
Go to www.pipusa.com
Rugged Sure-Lock wheel ratchet
provides a secure fit

PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC.

BRINGING THE BEST OF THE WORLD TO YOU®
www.pipusa.com | (800) 262-5755

Circle 63 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #3615.

Compliance starts at the core of every AR/FR garment. That’s why GlenGuard® engineers
maximum comfort and protection into every thread of fabric – because workers who are

cool and comfortable are less likely to cheat compliance.
What’s your AR/FR made of?

GlenGuard.com

FR fabric should weigh as li le as Once saturated, FR fabrics must Higher permeability rates allow for FR fabric should maximize
possible while still providing the dry quickly to prevent reduction greater moisture evaporation and the absorption and dispersion of
of their protective properties in
necessary protection level. heat dissipation in FR fabric. moisture content.
the event of an Arc Flash.

BOOTH 3131

NSC 2019

Circle 64 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #3131.

‘You can do the impossible
when you set your mind to it’

A Q&A with NSC President and CEO Lorraine M. Martin

By Barry Bottino, associate editor target. It gave me a chance to give to a broader community
and to use the skill sets that I’ve developed.
Safety was a daily concern for Lorraine M. Martin S+H: How has your experience prepared you for your
while serving as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in the new role as president and CEO?
mid-1980s. MARTIN: At Lockheed Martin, which was an industrial
“In the service, you’re looking to make sure that the peo- company building complex systems, I got a chance to be
ple we ask to do things on behalf of our nation come home part of all different kinds of product lines. That is an orga-
safely every day to their families,” said Martin, who took nization that is centered on making sure that work is done
over as president and CEO of the National Safety Council on well with excellence and that employees have the right envi-
June 3, during a recent interview with Safety+Health. ronment to do that safely.

After serving in the military, Martin spent the next 30 That ethos was ingrained in me very early in my profes-
years at Lockheed Martin, where she oversaw thousands sional career. I really enjoyed being part of an organization
of employees working on unique projects, which called for where safety and respect for the employees was baked into
safety as a primary objective. everything we did.

“Folks who build aircraft are in very high-consequence I’ve had a lot of leadership positions, and I really enjoy
areas, sometimes on scaffolding,” said Martin, who retired working with diverse organizations with diverse expertise
from the global aerospace, defense, security and advanced and helping teams do really hard things. That’s a lot of what
technologies company in 2018. “One of the aircraft I worked we do here at the National Safety Council.
on was the C-5, and literally the tail of the aircraft is seven S+H: Describe your personal journey to understanding
stories in the sky. the importance of safety.
MARTIN: I started my career in an office environment,
“As you’re doing maintenance and other actions on it, you then very quickly it translated to helping men and women
have potentials for falls, injuries and risk. You have to make do their jobs safely.
sure everybody is watching each other’s back and that every-
thing is done in a safe way and done right every single time.” One of the experiences I had that was really eye-opening
was in pilot training and creating high-end simulators to put
Martin sat down with S+H to discuss her connection to the pilots and those who maintained the aircraft through their
council’s mission, the importance of building teamwork, the paces in a way that was going to be, by definition, injury-free.
challenges of change and her anticipation of the NSC 2019 We subjected them to emergency procedures and the things
Congress & Expo – set to take place Sept. 6-11 in San Diego. that can happen in the environment that could cause them to
have an injury or, in some cases, loss of life.
SAFETY+HEALTH: What appealed the most to you
about the NSC mission to keep each other safe at work, If you can train so your heart is racing and you really think
at home and on the roads? you’re in that condition, you can learn how to be prepared
LORRAINE M. MARTIN: I started my career in the U.S. and to avoid whatever it might be that could bring you harm.
Air Force and spent 30 years in the aerospace and defense
industry. After serving the men and women around the I saw the power of training and the power of helping
world – both in the United States and our allies – I knew I human beings go through that experience so that when
wanted to continue to give back in a way that helped people they’re in a real-life experience, they’re going to come out
live their fullest lives. I looked at where I could bring my with a better outcome.
leadership skills and my experience in serving others in
complex environments. When I thought about how I could From there, I got a chance to build aircraft. Along with
do that, the National Safety Council was squarely in that ensuring the safety of workers, it was also about making

94 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

S+H: How do you approach change?
MARTIN: Change for all of us is trying and sometimes
challenging. But it can also be exciting. I think of change as
necessary when we’re taking an organization to whatever
its next plateau is, whatever the next challenge is. Change is
something that you can actually use to help grow an organi-
zation and help an organization become something it didn’t
think it could.

I do think change can be built into your DNA. An organi-
zation that can accommodate change to meet an objective,
or for us all to band together and do something we haven’t
done before, can be extremely powerful.

sure they have the right tools for the operations they’re S+H: What do you hope to achieve at NSC?
doing. If it is ergonomically challenging, you have a leader- MARTIN: First and foremost, I hope to learn about the
ship team to look at those issues and solve the problem. mission and all the incredible work that’s going on here,
and has gone on for decades. With that learning, I want to
Any kind of change of culture or safety has to be leader bring a fresh pair of eyes.
led. You have to live it yourself, show the example and show
up where the work’s done to make sure you’re providing the Any new leader or new member of a team comes with a
right tools and procedures to enable every human being to whole new perspective. Everything’s new. Everything can be
go home the same way they came in to work. looked at for the first time.
S+H: How would you describe your leadership style?
MARTIN: I am very focused on teamwork. I’m focused on I also hope to bring leadership and my experience from
helping people come together, bringing their voice and their both the business side and the manufacturing world to
diverse backgrounds to solve problems and make things make sure we’re listening to our members and we’re bring-
happen in the world. ing the best value proposition we can that they need for
their work environments.
Teamwork is often at the core of how I look at a problem,
and making sure things are healthy, running well and that S+H: In September, you’ll be taking part in the NSC
I have a role in serving teams as the leader. I’m also very Congress & Expo, the world’s largest annual event for
focused on commitment. I have a tagline that says, “Every environmental, safety and health professionals. What
commitment, every day.” That is about the commitment are you most looking forward to at Congress?
we make to the people we work with, the commitments MARTIN: With 15,000 people coming together to talk
we make to our health and well-being, and to our families about safety, best practices and being able to learn from
and communities. That is an important piece of how I show each other, I’m thrilled to be part of that.
up, and how I hope the council will show up when we make
commitments to the people we serve. I’m looking forward to meeting those professionals and
the member companies that are a huge part of the National
It’s also important to me to make sure all voices are heard, Safety Council. I’m excited to hear our speakers talk about
and that we have an environment where the diversity of opin- how we challenge ourselves to do something we might
ion and background is included and welcomed. We’ll solve think is impossible. When I say “impossible,” I put it in the
problems differently when we have all voices at the table. realm of saying we want zero work fatalities in our nation.
We have our Work to Zero initiative. This is a challenge that
we can lay down for ourselves to understand how we make
that a reality.

It may seem impossible today, but we’re going to hear at
Congress that you can do the impossible when you set your
mind to it.

Watch the full interview

Watch a video of the interview with National Safety
Council President and CEO Lorraine M. Martin at
safetyandhealthmagazine.com.

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Safety+Health | September 2019 95

Portable gas detectors you can count on Visit our
booth #5141
at NSC Cong
& Expo 2019

MGC Simple & Simple Plus

the multi gas detectors
that you never have to charge

Our Family of Products

Test for Multi Gas Clip
combustible gases (LEL),
hcayrdbroongemnosnuolfxididee(H(C2OS)), The portable multi gas detector that can run
continuously for two months on one charge due
and oxygen (O2) to advanced infrared sensor technology. Tests
for combustible gases (LEL), H2S, CO and O2.

Multi Gas Clip Pump

Compact, light-weight, handheld/wearable multi
gas detector with internal pump draws from 75 ft.
& runs for 52 hours on a single charge. Tests for
combustible gases (LEL), H2S, CO and O2.

NEW Single Gas Clip
3 year
4 gas Eliminate downtime with our ultra-reliable
portable gas detector. Tests for H2S, CO or O2.
MGC Simple & MGC Simple Plus
Single Gas Clip Plus
uTwo or three year run time with no charging
uDetect in oxygen deficient or oxygen Hibernate mode offers extended life option
when detector is not in use. Tests for H2S or CO.
enriched environments
uLEL sensor is immune to sensor poisoning Compatible Docking Stations
uFails to safe
uSimple, one button operation Portable, durable 4-bay dock stations
uLogs data at one second intervals whenever quickly bump test, calibrate & log data
for up to four detectors at once with
gas is detected - logs tests and events
u100% Quality control tested the push of a button.
uFull two or three year warranty
MGC Simple Clip Dock,
Multi Gas Clip Dock,

MGC Pump Clip Dock & Single Gas Clip Dock

gascliptech.com • +1.972.775.7577 • 1.877.525.0808

Charging your multi-gas detector every day is
over with the 3 year run time MGC Simple Plus

Reliably test for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2) & combustible
gases (LEL) with this simple-to-use & simple-to-maintain gas detector. No charging ever!
No calibration needed! Just turn it on and have worry free assurance of gas detection 24/7
for three full years. No monthly fees for monitoring of detector or data. Simple safety.

What makes this ultra-durable detector able to perform this well for
this long even under the harshest of conditions?

Gas Clip Technologies’ continued development and refinement of advanced low-power
photometric infrared technology for LEL detection of hydrocarbon gases has made gas
detection simpler and safer than ever. Non-infrared (pellistor/catalytic bead) LEL sensors, like
those used for LEL detection in most current multi gas detectors, contain a bead with a
filament which has to heat up to detect gas. That continual heating process takes an enor-
mous amount of energy which quickly depletes the detector’s battery. By the end of a shift
the battery is drained and has to be recharged. The MGC Simple Plus uses a low-energy
infrared beam of light inside the LEL sensor to detect gas. This detection method has an
extremely low drain on the battery which allows it to last for years instead of mere hours.

How the MGC Simple Plus works in inert environments

Detectors that use pellistor/catalytic bead type LEL sensors require the presence of oxygen
to accurately detect combustible gas. The MGC Simple Plus’ infrared LEL sensor needs no
oxygen to detect gas. It detects with an infrared beam of light, so there is always an accurate
reading in oxygen enriched or oxygen depleted environments.

Other benefits of the infrared LEL sensor
Key disadvantages of the pellistor/catalytic bead LEL sensor include: the sensor’s fragile bead
and filament could break if the detector is accidentally dropped, it has a tendency to heat up
and burst when suddenly exposed to high levels of gas and it can be poisoned over time
with exposure to PtylpuiscahlassennosofrrapgoiisleonfislasmucehnatsoHr 2bSeoardsitloicobnreeas.kT,hbeuirnsftraorregdeLtEpL oseisnosnoer din.
the MGC Simple
The continuous self-test function and fail-to-safe features of the infrared LEL sensor provide
assurance that your detector is always detecting any present gas. If the infrared LEL sensor is
unable to detect gas for any reason, the detector immediately notifies you.

With the MGC Simple Plus, keeping safe from gas exposure is simple.

MGC Simple Plus by Gas Clip Technologies

Call us or visit our website for a distributor near you
gascliptech.com • +1.972.775.7577 • 1.877.525.0808

Circle 65 on Reader Service Card. See us at the NSC 2019 Congress & Expo, Booth #5141.

Succession planning
for safety

A SOLID STRATEGY CAN HELP PREVENT Planning That Works: The Critical Path of Leadership
DISRUPTION, LAPSES IN PROCESSES Development.”
AND PROGRAMS “From the organizational standpoint, there are a ton of

benefits,” Timms said. “No. 1: business continuity. When you
have a good succession plan, you can have somebody come
By Barry Bottino, associate editor
T in and hit the ground running the very next day.”
he well-respected safety director with 25 years’ of However, 75% of Safety+Health subscribers surveyed for
experience has abruptly announced his retirement. the 2019 Job Outlook said their employers don’t have a suc-
What does his employer do now? cession plan in place for their organization’s safety and
“If they just up and leave and give you two weeks’ notice, health function – up from 66% in 2015. Why is this percent-
there’s no way you’re going to capture all of their institu- age so high?
tional knowledge,” said Michael Timms, principal at Avail
Leadership, based in Vernon, British Columbia. “They know Check out the results of the 2019 Job Outlook survey at
the backstory. They know why things are the way they are. sh-m.ag/31y0NMD.

You put a job posting out and that whole process can take Hurdles to clear
three, four months to get a good safety person.” A national drop in recordable incidents, a lack of resources
This is when succession planning – the process of pro- and a misguided approach to succession planning are some
actively developing talent from within the organization of the reasons, according to experts who spoke with S+H.
to ensure a smooth transition when a worker in a key In 2017, the work-related recordable incident rate decreased
role leaves – can help, said Timms, author of “Succession for the fifth straight year to 2.8 per 100 full-time workers,

Photo: Franck-Boston/iStockphoto

98 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com

according to Injury Facts, an online database of safety and Timms noted that when leadership makes succession
health statistics created by the National Safety Council. planning a priority, “they’d better make darn sure not
to provide any negative consequences to employees who
“Companies might not be placing the emphasis they used train others to take over their role, or nobody will ever do it
to when it comes to safety,” NSC Safety Director Fernando again.”
Jimenez said. “You’re not seeing injuries, so why put resources
there? But complacency, many times, is a contributing factor In fact, some organizations Timms has worked with make
to injuries.” succession planning an incentive.

Having fewer resources to fill open positions also can “Organizations that take succession seriously will make
impede an organization when a key safety employee promotions contingent upon it,” he said. “They’ll say, ‘Look,
departs. it doesn’t make sense to promote you unless we have some-
body who can fill your position right now.’ So they provide
“Everybody is probably dealing with that,” said John Dizor, a natural incentive for individuals to develop other people
director of environmental, health, and safety improvement within their team to take over their position. That com-
and learning at The Dow Chemical Co. in Louisiana. “I don’t pletely flips the fear of preparing others to take their job
know too many companies that have extra people.” upside down.”

Additionally, the longer the hiring process, the more Among the biggest benefits Timms sees in this approach
strain it can place on workers who take on added respon- is an increase in worker engagement and lower turnover.
sibilities. To avoid this, employers can try to anticipate
turnover. “When people know there are opportunities for advance-
ment, and that the organization is looking after them and
“As hard as it is, you need to try to look down the road a is really concerned about their advancement, that’s one of
little bit and understand when it is you may be losing a per- the key drivers of employee engagement,” he said. “That also
son or two,” Dizor said. “(You must) make sure that you’ve happens to be one of the key drivers of retention.”
got those skill sets developed in other people.”

Leading the charge Succession at a cost
Although succession planning is a well-known practice Succession planning can be viewed as an insurance policy
among human resources professionals, Timms said the that keeps business humming without disruption when, for
process is most effective under the direction of senior example, a safety director departs.
leadership.
A 2016 report from Gallup Poll notes that the replace-
“One of the biggest problems organizations have with suc- ment cost of an employee can be 150% or more of that per-
cession planning is that they tackle it like it’s just a process,” son’s annual salary. Some estimates put the cost as high
he said. “Really, it’s a culture change initiative. Culture is as 200%.
about beliefs, and there are some unhelpful beliefs that
some have about succession planning.” “It can be the greatest cost, by a large margin, to an orga-
nization,” Timms said.
For example, a safety manager may be hesitant to train a
colleague out of fear that the company will replace him or Jimenez added, “It always makes sense to have a strong
her in favor of promoting the trainee to save money. safety plan, and having a succession plan is part of it. This
is going to benefit the culture of the company, make you

safetyandhealthmagazine.com Feature at a Glance

Succession planning can allow organizations to quickly and smoothly
transition an employee into a new role when another is promoted,
retires or resigns.

Key points
• Only 25% of Safety+Health subscribers surveyed for the 2019 Job

Outlook said their organization has a succession plan in place for
the safety and health function.
• A multiyear drop in recordable incident rates, limited resources
and employee concerns about succession planning can hinder the
process.
• Along with being part of a strong safety plan, succession planning
can help workers develop new skills, limit workplace injuries and
positively affect the bottom line.

Safety+Health | September 2019 99

Skipping succession planning? Dizor said the discussion intentionally takes place six Photo: alexsl/iStockphoto
It may cost you months away from performance reviews to set a unique
tone.
The Work Institute, an employee engagement and
retention firm based in Franklin, TN, looked at the costs “It’s just a different frame of mind when you’re talking
of worker turnover, which some studies put at between about hearing feedback on your performance last year and
50% and 200% of a worker’s annual salary. what you need to do better this year,” he said.

Here is the breakdown of costs: The two conversations, Timms said, are distinctly differ-
ent discussions that cover two different views of an employ-
Before departure: Includes exit interview, paperwork, ee’s work life.
vacation pay, severance and other expenses.
During vacancy: Add up the cost of temporary workers “Performance management is backward-looking, and
and overtime pay to fill an absence. career development is forward-looking,” he said. “A lot of
Recruitment: Includes search and job posting expenses, things can change in a year. A lot of things can change in
as well as overhead costs. six months. If I have specific development goals, and I’ve
Hiring: Combines costs of interviews, testing and refer- knocked off those goals in four months, am I going to be wait-
ence checks. ing around the other eight months?”
Training: Orientation and onboarding expenses.
Dizor advises managers to “spend more time listening
Source: WorkInstitute.com than talking. Let the employee tell you what’s important to
them rather than you telling them what’s important for the
more efficient, create more engagement and increase the organization.”
bottom line.”
Where to find talent
Where to start Jimenez was part of a succession plan for the safety role at
According to the Society for Human Resource Manage- NSC and is a strong believer in the process.
ment, succession planning is a 12- to 36-month process of
“identifying crucial job skills, knowledge, social relation- “It was on-the-job training, then a step up to the next
ships and organizational practices” and passing them from level,” he said. “That’s a good tradition. We encourage a con-
managers to their workers. tinuous improvement process.”

“Start by setting up some time with each of your direct Jimenez is constantly on the lookout for talent with an
reports,” said Dizor, who meets once a year with his work- interest in safety, from the company’s safety manager posi-
ers to discuss their development. tion to members of four volunteer committees under the
NSC safety team.
He stresses that the topic is not limited to one conversa-
tion. “We talk about it weekly. Then, once a year, we carve “You gauge their participation, their ability to judge
out time where all we are talking about is, ‘Where do you risk and their ability to execute the programs that need to
want to be on your development journey and how is it be executed,” he said. “We’ll continue to grow talent from
coming?’” within.”

Jimenez also promotes safety as a career choice to col-
leagues. “That’s another way of encouraging succession
planning,” he said. “One of my goals is to have the millen-
nial generation involved when it comes to safety. We want
to see diversity, and we want to see different generations
become passionate about the service part of safety.”

The rewards for safety professionals can include a seam-
less transition of talent, continuation of safety programs
without disruption and, for Dizor, the joy of seeing col-
leagues grow in their careers.

“I don’t know anybody who really gets excited about,
‘I lead a big group of people and I get to fill out all these
forms,’” Dizor said with a laugh. “The real payback for me is
in people development.

“It’s tremendously rewarding. There is such fulfillment
out of being part of the journey, seeing the employee and
what they developed into and what they’re contributing to
the organization. And to see how happy they are in their
role.”

100 Safety+Health | September 2019 safetyandhealthmagazine.com