The Phylmar Group Inc. Newsletter
May 2017, Issue #88
Hello,

As we look forward to the longer days of summer, it is important to get prepared for the high heat season.  Cal/OSHA recently hosted a news conference urging employers to do just that and keep outdoor workers safe from heat illness as temperatures rise.  Basic precautions and requirements from California's heat illness prevention standard as well as links to other resources are provided.

We then turn to another important safety topic, motor vehicle safety.  Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S.?  We explore some of the research-based guidance provided by the NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety to learn how to prevent motor vehicle crashes for employees.     


We hope that this information is valuable to you and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 

Mark Katchen, CIH
Managing Principal 
The Phylmar Group, Inc.

Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness
From California Department of Industrial Relations News Release , April 27, 2017

With California's heat season quickly approaching, Cal/OSHA recently hosted a news conference to remind employers that prevention is the best defense for outdoor workers against heat-related illness and death.  A key component of Cal/OSHA's prevention model includes annual trainings statewide in both English and Spanish that highlights the need to protect outdoor workers from heat illness and the requirements under California's heat illness standard.

The heat illness prevention standard and the injury and illness prevention standard require employers to take the following basic precautions:
  1. Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
  2. Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour, or four 8-ounce glasses of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
  3. Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes.  They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.  Shade structures must be in place when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or upon request.
  4. Closely observe all employees during a heat wave and any employee newly assigned to a high heat area.  Lighter work, frequent breaks or shorter hours will help employees who have not been working in high temperatures adapt to the new conditions.
  5. Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention standard, including plans on how to handle medical emergencies and steps to take if someone shows signs or symptoms of heat illness.
For additional information and resources visit Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention and OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention webpages.
Preventing Work-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes
From NIOSH Fact Sheet  , Publication Number 2015-111, March 2015

This fact sheet recommends ways employers can keep workers safe when driving or riding in a motor vehicle on the job.  It outlines components of a successful motor vehicle safety program and ends with a checklist that employers can use.  Some of the recommendations include:
  1. Making sure company leaders commit to road safety.
  2. Having written policies and procedures and share them with all workers.
  3. Letting everyone know road safety is a priority and that they are expected to drive in a safe and responsible way.
  4. Identifying the likely hazards associated with drivers, vehicles, and roads and deciding what to take to eliminate or reduce those hazards.
  5. Preventing distracted driving by banning hand-held devices and consider banning hands-free devices.
  6. Preventing drowsy driving by letting workers know they are allowed to take a nap of less than 30 minutes or stop for the night if they are too tired to continue driving.
  7. Providing driver training as soon as possible after hiring anyone whose job includes driving.
For more information visit NIOSH's Center for Motor Vehicle Safety  webpage.

Upcoming Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Events

The Conscious Company Global Leaders Forum , San Francisco, CA, June 7-9, 2017

Work, Stress and Health 2017 , Minneapolis, MN, 
June 7-10, 2017



Fleet Safety Conference , Schaumburg, IL, July 24-26, 2017


  
Did You Know?
Did you know as a PRR, AFIRM or BioPharma EHS Forum member that your benefits included access to Phylmar's global consulting network that provides concierge level service? The Phylmar Academy provides continuing EHS education and employee training. You can save up to 20% on these services through your membership. Contact Mark Katchen ( mkatchen@phylmar.com ) for more information.
About The Phylmar Group, Inc.
The Phylmar GroupĀ® is an organization that partners with best-in-class companies on their most challenging environmental, health and safety, and social responsibility issues by anticipating clients' needs from strategy to implementation. Our expert client advisors deliver innovative, responsible, efficient solutions addressing client needs and creating added value. For more information, visit  www.phylmar.com or call +1 310.474.3937.

Connect With Us