BMSA's Safety First! 
October 2016
Top 10 OSHA Citations of 2016

Every October, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration releases a preliminary list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations for the fiscal year, compiled from nearly 32,000 inspections of workplaces by federal OSHA staff.

One remarkable thing about the list is that it rarely changes. Year after year, inspectors see thousands of the same on-the-job hazards, any one of which could result in a fatality or severe injury.

More than 4,500 workers are killed on the job every year, and approximately 3 million are injured, despite the fact that by law, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their workers. If all employers simply corrected the top 10 hazards, the number of deaths, amputations and hospitalizations would drastically decline.  Consider this list a starting point for workplace safety:
  1. Fall protection
  2. Hazard communication
  3. Scaffolds
  4. Respiratory protection
  5. Lockout/tagout
  6. Powered industrial trucks
  7. Ladders
  8. Machine guarding
  9. Electrical wiring
  10. Electrical, general requirements
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 10/18/16, Galassi, Thomas)
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month 

The National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSA has grown exponentially, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation. 2016 marks the 13th year of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Cyber-security begins with a simple message everyone using the Internet can adopt: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Take security and safety precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors online and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.  We lead Internet-connected, digital lives. Even when we are not directly connected to the Internet, our critical infrastructure- the vast, worldwide connection of computers, data and websites supporting our everyday lives through financial transactions, transportation systems, healthcare records, emergency response systems, personal communications and more-impacts everyone.

No individual, business or government entity is solely responsible for securing the Internet. If each of us does our part-implementing stronger security practices, raising community awareness, educating young people or training employees- together we will be more resistant from attacks and more resilient if an attack occurs. H ere are some simple tips to follow that can increase your security:
  • Cyber-attack insurance
  • Be mindful of suspicious emails
  • Put up a firewall
  • Protect your Wi-Fi
  • Update Passwords regularly
  • Educate and train employees
  • Install antivirus software
(Source: Staysafeonline.org)
OSHA Pushes Back Enforcement Date for Anti-Retaliation Provisions Again

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has again delayed enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions included in its revised record keeping regulation, this time until Dec. 1, 2016. The delay occurs at the request of Northern District of Texas Judge Sam Lindsay, who is considering the complaint and motion for preliminary injunction filed by several industry groups challenging the anti-retaliation provisions to the extent that OSHA seeks to limit routine post-accident drug testing and incident-based safety incentive and recognition plans. 

The anti-retaliation provisions were originally slated for implementation on Aug. 10, 2016, but were delayed until Nov. 1, 2016, to provide time for developing compliance guidance clarifying the impact of the provisions on post-accident drug testing and safety incentive plans.

(Source: OSHA, 10/12/16)
Stay Connected With BMSA! 

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Forces of Nature

Natural disasters can occur anytime, anywhere and can destroy years of hard work in an instant. With proper planning, their impact on your livelihood can be minimized. If you haven't developed a disaster plan for your business, or need to update your current plan, the following steps may help.
Step 1 - Research your business's exposures and the options available to minimize them.  
Step 2 - Create a disaster recovery plan.
  • Identify risks from natural and man-made disasters.
  • Classify operations critical to your business's survival.
  • Document current employee contact information.
  • Know your key customers, suppliers, contacts, and vendors.
  • Determine your business's financial needs following a disaster.
Step 3 - Back up your plan.
  • Make it available anytime, anywhere.
  • Be sure it's accessible even when you can't enter your facility.
  • Print a copy, and also store it in a safe place. 
Step 4 - Educate employees on the plan, and keep them informed of their responsibilities.
  • Test the business continuity plan periodically.
  • Encourage employees to also prepare themselves and their families for disasters.
Step 5 - Periodically review, practice, and update your plan.

(Source: Federated Insurance, August 2016)
Calendar of Events 

November 2-4: Roundtable 7 (Morehead City, NC)

November 9: North Carolina Lien Law Webinar

November 10-11: Leadership Development Roundtable #1 (Charleston, SC)

December 7: Inventory Control Workshop (Raleigh, NC)

2017 Dates:

February 1-2: BMSA's Building Products Show (Hickory, NC)

March 1-2: Installed Sales Roundtable (Charleston, SC)

March 22-24: CFO Roundtable (Nashville, TN)

March 27-29: NLBMDA Legislative Conference (Washington, D.C.)

March 29-31: Leadership Development Roundtable #2 (TBD)

April 2-4: Roundtable 3 (High Point, NC)

April 19-21: Roundtable 1 (Asheville, NC)

April 26-28: Sales Manager Roundtable (Charlotte, NC)