AUGUST SAFETY AND HEALTH NEWS AND UPDATES


August Featured Program 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 11:30 AM

The Role of the Local Emergency Planning Committee


Michelle Sowers
Emergency Management Specialist
Ohio Emergency Management Agency


Ohio's Emergency Management system was established under Ohio Revised Code, which provides for a state emergency management agency, requiring an emergency management director or coordinator and an emergency operations plan for each county. This law also establishes the legal protection and authority of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to work in times of disaster. In this presentation, you will learn:

  • The Role of the LEPC
  • The Role of the SERC
  • Ohio EMA and LEPC Partnership

Michelle Sowers is an emergency management professional who currently works as a Regional Liaison for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA). She provides assistance to eighteen counties in Northeast Ohio to coordinate emergency planning and exercise development between the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) and the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Her role with OEMA also allows her to provide support for a variety of state and county emergency management operations such as Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), public outreach and training, and on-scene incident response.

Prior to her employment with OEMA, Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Penn State University and a Master's of Public Administration degree with a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management from Florida State University. She was previously employed as a meteorologist and natural hazards planner with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
 
 If you're not pre-paid



Thanks to This Month's Sponsor





Cari's Safety Corner

Cari Gray
BWC Safety Consultant Specialist

Question: 

Spray Safe: The Rules for Insect Repellent and FR Clothing
 
Answer: 

With every new bug season, come swarms of new questions as to how to properly use insect repellent while wearing FR garments.

DEET is the active ingredient in many well known, and often used, insect repellents (liquids, lotions, sprays, wristbands, etc.). It is used to ward off biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks - insects that may or may not be carrying far peskier diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease.

The problem for those who work where there are arc flash and flash fire hazards? DEET is HIGHLY flammable. Any flame resistant clothing sprayed with it has the potential to ignite and continue to burn if exposed to an ignition hazard. 

Do not spray DEET on your FR clothing.  Ever.
 



Form For Electronically Submitting Injury, Illness Data Available  Aug. 1

On Aug. 1, OSHA will launch a   web-based form that will allow employers to electronically submit required injury and illness data from their completed 2016 OSHA Form 300A. The webpage will offer three options for submitting data, and includes information on reporting requirements, a list of frequently asked questions, and a link to request assistance with completing the form.

OSHA published a  notice of proposed rulemaking last month to extend the deadline for electronically submitting the data to Dec. 1, 2017. The proposed extension gives those affected sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the electronic reporting system, and provides the new administration an opportunity to review the new electronic reporting requirements prior to their implementation. For more information, read the  news release.
 


Distracted Driving





While April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month, distracted driving is an issue all year round. This NIOSH website provides information on the main types of distractions, what we know about distracted driving and how to prevent distracted driving at your workplace. It also includes a distracted driving gif file that you can download and display on your website.



New Regulations for Silica Exposure 


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule on exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule has two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime. Compliance for the Construction standard begins Sept. 23, 2017, the General Industry and Maritime compliance begins June 23, 2018. BWC's industrial hygienists can assist you with compliance. They provide air sampling in accordance with Appendix A of the standard to measure respirable crystalline silica levels in your workplace. Based on the results of that sampling, they can recommend control measures to reduce exposures and help you develop a written exposure control plan. For an introduction to silica and the changes to the OSHA standard, see BWC's new video, Respirable Silica in the Workplace.



Workzone Safety Training


Workzonesafety.org has a webpage dedicated to safety training for highway workzone workers and planners. Find links to federal grant products, courses and programs, training videos, and toolbox talks.





Walking to a Healthier Summit County


The SCSC Wellness Committee invites you to participate in our third quarter Walking Challenge. This is a group walking challenge of 2,500 miles, equivalent to traveling from Akron, OH to San Francisco, CA! To participate go t https://www.inkin.com and join the SCSC Walking Challenge or contact Sally Cox for more details.



While Your Walking... 


Weight control is part of general wellness. You may not think that your beverage choices have an impact on your weight, but they do. This website gives the calorie counts for many common beverages and add-ins, presents alternate choices to consider that have lower calories and discusses the various types of sweeteners that you might find in the ingredients lists for your beverage of choice.


 
SCSC Training/Seminar Schedule



Air  Pollution, Asbestos and Dust, Oh My!

August 8, 2017 (8:30 AM to 11:30 AM)

Cost $10.00 (includes breakfast)




Aerial Lift Training

August 30, 2017 (8:00 AM to Noon)

SCSC Member Cost $25.00
Non member cost $100.00

Class limited to 15 participants




Fighting the Opiate Epidemic

September 12, 2017 (8:30 AM to 11:30 AM)

Cost $10.00 (includes breakfast)




CPR, First Aid, AED and Bloodborne Pathogen Training

September 26, 2017 (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM)

SCSC Member cost $20  (includes lunch) 
Non member cost $70.00 (includes lunch)




Powered Industrial Truck: Train the Trainer

October 11, 2017 (8:30 AM to 11:00 AM)

Cost $10.00 (includes breakfast)




Upcoming BWC Class Schedule (North Canton)

339 E. Maple St., Suite 200
North Canton, OH 44720

Register at


**Free** BWC Classes at the North Canton office:

Safety Series Workshop Module 1- August 14 - PM
Machine Guarding Basics - August 29 AM
Lockout/Tagout and Safety-related Work Practices - August 29 PM.
Industry Safety Elements (OSHA 10) - Sept 11-12
Basic Construction Safety (OSHA 30) - Sept 18-22

 
**Free** BWC Classes at the Cambridge office:
 
First Aid in the Workplace - September 20


Submit a Safety Innovation Awards Application 

BWC is accepting applications from Ohio employers for the 2018 Safety Innovation Awards. Innovations must demonstrate reduction in safety or ergonomic risk factors, or occupational health exposures. Eligibility requirements and application instructions are available on the
Safety Innovation Awards webpage. Please submit applications by Sept. 30, 2017.
 


FY 18 Safety Council Rebate Program Requirements

The FY 18 Safety Council Program year began 7/1/17.   

For those members who are eligible to participate in BWC's Safety Council Rebate Program this year, the following requirements must be met between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18:
  • Enrollment with safety council by 7/31/17.
  • Attendance at 10 Safety council meetings/events. At least 8 thru the local safety council. You can get credit for up to two meetings at BWC's safety training courses or other offsite industry-specific training courses./seminars. Certificates must be submitted to safety council no later than 6/30/18.
  • CEO attendance at one safety council sponsored meeting.
  • Submit semi-annual reports for the 2017 calendar year.
Check your company's participation  here


Sally Cox | Summit County Safety Council | 330-806-1676 | summitcountysafetycouncil@gmail.com| www.thesummitcountysafetycouncil.org
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