Oregon OSHA, furnished by Mike Hill, SAIF Corp.

​ What changed?
Nothing in the Oregon OSHA Wildfire Rule changed. Oregon OSHA just added a stamp for informational purposes only to notify employers if they are using the AQI for ease in monitoring smoke levels.

Jul 02, 2024
PARK RIDGE, IL — The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the world’s oldest professional safety organization with 35,000 members around the globe, releases the following statement in response to OSHA’s proposed rule on heat injury and illness prevention. This statement is attributed to ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP:
“ASSP is a strong advocate of OSHA’s efforts to safeguard workers who face high heat and humidity hazards. While we must first analyze the proposed rule once published in the Federal Register, we know there are significant benefits to having work practice standards that help employers manage heat-related risks. That guidance includes training, rest breaks, access to shade and water, heat acclimatization and emergency response plans. Employers must have the tools and resources to identify and prevent work hazards before incidents occur. The use of standards is an effective way to implement controls that improve occupational safety and health while saving workers’ lives.

​“This past February, ASSP published the first voluntary national consensus standard addressing heat stress for workers in construction and demolition operations. ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024 offers guidance on protecting workers; explains how to acclimate workers to high heat conditions; and provides requirements for training employees and supervisors. Our guidance can be adapted to protect workers performing other outdoor jobs as well. We hope the proposed OSHA rule aligns with the industry best practices we have established to help prevent the thousands of heat-related injuries and illnesses on job sites every year.”

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
Since 1911, the American Society of Safety Professionals has helped occupational safety and health professionals protect people, property and the environment. The nonprofit society is based in Chicago’s suburbs. Its global membership of over 35,000 professionals develops safety and health management systems that prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession by providing member communities, serving as a trusted advisor, and elevating safety through workforce development. Its flagship journal, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Media contact: Blaine Krage, 630.842.0870, [email protected]
​

​It does not seem that long ago that I wrote my “incoming President article” and the Chapter year is already coming to a close.  Ten years ago I joined the Executive Committee as Treasurer thinking I could never see myself holding another position, after all, my degree is in Accounting.  I felt like an imposter honestly, as then we were the American Society of Safety Engineers.  Coming into safety from HR, even been referred to as a safety professional made me feel uncomfortable. 
 
I have grown a lot both personally and professionally since then.  Ten years ago I never saw myself as President, and now I look forward to doing it again!  I look forward to taking advantage of opportunities for deeper engagement, being a more effective leader, and refining best practices as servants to our safety community, no matter what my role.
 
This past year for me has been a juggling act, feeling overwhelmed with difficulty finding capacity for the demands of work, family, and needed self-care.  A struggle we are all familiar with.  I am grateful to be surrounded by smart, caring, and gracious safety professionals that are not just great at safety, but great at being humans.  I want to give a personal and professional shout-out to each member of the Executive Committee, for supporting me, doing their jobs exceptionally well, and exhibiting grace and commitment. 
 
While I am rolling into the Past President role, I am also on the Conference Planning Committee.  Kudos to Shyra Vaughn for bringing her energy and being the fearless leader and Conference Chair.  I have to say, the 2024 Southern Oregon Safety and Occupational Health Conference may be the best one EVER!  And that is a big statement as we have had amazing events in the past. 
 
So, I will leave you with three words as your Chapter President…GET PLUGGED IN!  We have had record-breaking attendance at our monthly meetings so come check it out!   Attend the Conference in Ashland and register for the networking mixer too.  Find small ways to volunteer.  What you give will come back to you with a huge multiplier.  Do not be afraid to ask anyone on the Executive Committee or the Conference Planning Committee, there are opportunities to volunteer that will match your capacity.  Looking forward to seeing you in Ashland in October, or sooner perhaps!

- ​Patti McGuire, Chapter President

​www.SafetyCommitteeUniversity.com training modules have been viewed by over 230 people. What was started in 2020 after the pandemic began when we were unable to hold our in-person safety conference has continued to serve safety committees needing training. This training can both satisfy Oregon OSHA training requirements for all safety committees and improve the knowledge and skills of those members. We have had great feedback and appreciation and it continues to get use all over Oregon. This self-paced training program has all of the handouts, and quizzes for employers to facilitate the training for their workers.
 
In the past few months, we have updated some of the content. Here is an overview of the updated modules:
 
Welcome Message
In this opener, we hear about the importance of safety committees in Oregon. This has been edited down to 10:35 minutes to remain relevant today and includes welcome from David Hanson of SAIF and past ASSP President, Michael Wood, former Oregon OSHA administrator, Mark Hurliman also from Oregon OSHA, Pam Ahr from SAIF, John Vial formerly of Jackson County Roads and Parks, Tim Hart from Duro-Last Roofing, and others.
 
Module 1 - Safety Committee Roles and Responsibilities
This session presented by Pam Ahr teaches safety committees the roles and responsibilities necessary for a high-performing and engaged safety team. Members will learn how they fit into the bigger picture and meet the Oregon OSHA requirements.
 
Module 2 - Effective Incident Analysis
David Hanson did such a great job presenting this, we decided to leave it in the program. Effective incident analysis is an important way to prevent injuries from happening again and learning the systems approach to incident analysis will enable safety committees to understand causal factors and mitigation techniques that will get results.
 
Module 3 - Hazard Identification
Another update to our program this year is with a great presentation by Craig Hamelund, an ever popular conference presenter. This session will examine the basic types of hazards, how they interact with other variables in the workplace to create risk and how to continue developing skills to find industry specific hazards in your workplace.
 
Module 4 - Safety Committee Toolbox
Craig dazzled us with another great presentation. This special session provides a toolbox of resources that can help new safety committees understand how to excel in their effectiveness and help stagnant safety committees rejuvenate their team.
 
Module 5 - Engaging Employees
Jon Sowers delivered this high-scoring presentation and we had to include it in the program. This session provides the secret sauce of successful safety programs anywhere. Learn how to supercharge your safety teams by giving them ownership of the team and process.
 
To take advantage of this fully online training program, visit, www.safetycommitteeuniversity.com, print out the training roster and certificates and lead your team through the series of excellent trainings.
 
Eventually, our plan is to update this program and host it on a self-paced e-learning website that can keep track of where you leave off and send reminders to finish the courses. For now, we offer this valuable training content for you to take advantage of with your safety teams.
 
Please let us know how we can help by  clicking on the “Contact Us” page and we wish you the best in your safety committee training efforts!
 
Sincerely,
Michael Hill, Past ASSP Conference Chair and Safety Committee University Coordinator

Working at height is a known safety hazard. When determining the best way to protect a worker from the hazards of working at height, it’s important to consider fall prevention before fall protection.
Fall prevention is especially critical in situations where fall arrest systems or other forms of PPE are ineffective or not typically used, such as potential falls of less than 15 feet, says Rob Brauch, president of Occupational Health and Safety Solutions Inc., a longtime safety professional and member of ASSP. A fall from 15 feet can achieve a speed of impact of 21 miles per hour and hit the body with 9,000 joules of energy — the equivalent of two exploding grams of TNT.
“Many of those falls occur when a person is climbing on machines they shouldn’t have been climbing, working from a ladder that wasn’t secure or being in an area that wasn’t protected,” he says. 
These types of falls are also alarmingly common — they represent nearly half of falls that result in injuries or death, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — yet are not often the focus of fall prevention or fall protection efforts.
“These fatalities do not need to occur,” Brauch says. “Many are preventable without going through all the various steps needed to get into harness, have tie-offs and do all the different things we’d have as traditional fall protection.”
Brauch recommends tackling these situations with fall prevention.
5 Things to Consider in Fall Prevention Versus Fall Protection
When comparing fall prevention and protection controls, you should consider several factors, including some methods that address temporary work under 15 feet. 

1. Aim for Best Practices, Not Just Compliance
Fall-related issues make up four of the Top 10 OSHA citations:

• No. 1: Fall protection programs
• No. 3: Ladders
• No. 4: Scaffolding
• No. 8: Fall prevention training

To address these common hazards, many organizations use PPE, believing it is a fast, effective and affordable way to achieve compliance.
 “When compliance with OSHA regulations is the sole concern, it’s common to ‘PPE it away,’” Brauch says.
But fall protection does not always tick all those boxes.
Combined with the cost of purchase, inspection, training and replacement, “PPE also has hidden costs in terms of diminished worker mobility, decreased efficiency and less job satisfaction,” Brauch says.
By focusing on best practices instead of compliance, you can often solve the issue in a way that optimizes efficiency and quality of outcomes, he adds. 

2. Focus on the “Sweet Spot” in the Hierarchy of Controls
The hierarchy of controls presents the ideal prioritization of hazard controls to address a safety issue, starting at elimination, then flowing down to substitution, engineering controls and administrative controls, with PPE as the solution of last resort. 
But since working from height is often an integral part completing the job, it may not be possible to eliminate the hazard, and substitution is rarely practical. So, while PPE can be effective, it presents associated trade-offs, costs and movement restrictions.
That’s why Brauch recommends engineering and administrative controls, which he calls the “sweet spot” of the hierarchy.

 3. Determine Whether Fixed or Temporary Fall Prevention Controls Will Work
“Alternative and technical solutions exist in the form of fixed or temporary engineering controls for fall prevention . . . where other accepted fall protection methods may be too complex, restrictive or impossible,” Brauch says. 
Fixed engineering controls that remove the worker from the hazard include permanent elevated walkways, platforms and other structures, Brauch explains. However, since much of the work performed at height is nonroutine, often involving maintenance or repair, a fixed solution may be impractical. 

4. Assess Whether the Situation Warrants Temporary Controls
Any constraint on permanent fall prevention solutions may require temporary controls. For example, temporary controls may be preferable in these situations:

• Non-routine task
• Short-duration task where bringing in scaffolding contractors may cause project delays and increase costs
• Task that requires workers to have mobility while staying safe
• Task involving older machinery installed without safe access at height
• Work from a permanent walkway or elevated platform that restricts normal operator access needed for production
• Work involving a machine around which you can’t install guardrails

5. Explore Engineering Controls for Fall Prevention 

1. Scaffolds or scissor lifts: These devices are proven and widely accepted for intended applications, but are subject to detailed, comprehensive OSHA regulations. Training is critical, Brauch says, because incidents do still occur.
2. Mobile ladder stands: While these devices have limitations — for example, they can’t cantilever out, they require a large footprint — mobile ladder stands are an effective solution to safer work at height when used in accordance with American Ladder Institute standards.
3. User-configurable elevated platforms and walkways: These look similar to scaffolds, but they are pre-engineered by a trained and certified assembler so they don’t require intensive scaffold certification training. They can also be assembled without special tools, offer reconfigurability options and fit into tight spaces. When using these devices, it’s important to understand working load limits and ensure that handrails and guardrails are installed at the proper height, Brauch says.
4. Specialized mobile device with a cantilever deck: Using counterweights or other means, these devices allow for greater reach through specialized ascent platforms without sacrificing rated load. With locking wheels, their footprint can be minimized and the device can be cantilevered in various directions and set to heights from 9 to 12 feet. 

​
What’s Next? A Focus on Fall Prevention 
Brauch recommends all safety professionals familiarize themselves with the ANSI/ASSP Z359.1-2020 Fall Protection Code and consider a range of solutions.
“Using temporary deployment of engineering controls can be both safe and more cost-effective,” Brauch says, but warns: “Training and correct use of any fall prevention devices are just as important as they are for PPE.”

​- ASSP 2024

 Students! You could earn $500 by creating your own “ad” for our O[yes] Online Safety Awareness training!  
 
This year’s O[yes] Media Contest is all about YOU! You come up with the theme. You create the catchy tagline. You draw the audience in with your creativity and get them to take action.

What action? Get teens to take the O[yes] online Safety Awareness Training!

Your target audience: Teen workers or teens who are preparing to work for the first time.

How: through a compelling Graphic Design or a video message (90-seconds or less)

Key message, theme, or tagline: You choose! (But choose wisely! Pick positive messages and language. See our rules for complete guidance..)

We’re asking you to think creatively about the kinds of posters, designs, or videos that would catch the attention of your peers and convince them to take the O[yes] online Safety Awareness Training as a great way to learn how to stay safe and healthy on the job (whether you already have a job or you’re planning to be working soon).

We’ll use the best-of-the-best submissions we receive as “ads” in our efforts to help better protect teen workers. And the best-of-the-best will also receive some great awards:

A first, second, and third place will be awarded in each of the two categories: video and graphic design. In each category, the first-place winner's school or sanctioning club or organization will receive a matching award.

• First place: $500
• Second place: $400
• Third place: $300

 

Author Heather Ashwill
​​ 
As the calendar rolls over to 2024, it is a good time for businesses and organizations to revisit and refresh their safety programs. New Years is typically the time when individuals make new commitments or resolutions to themselves, their families, and at work. As a safety professional, you can extend your commitment to those you serve by kicking off the New Year focused on employee well-being.
 
Here are a few ideas you can implement after (or before!) the ball drops:

1. Year-End or New Year Safety Audits:

Conducting a comprehensive safety audit at the end of the year (or the beginning) is a crucial step toward identifying potential hazards and taking action to correct them. Checking equipment, emergency exits, fire safety measures, ergonomic setups, etc. are all great places to start. Sometimes focusing on at a time is the best way to follow the project or audit through to the end.

1. Employee Training and Refreshers:

• Emergency Procedures: Ensure all employees are familiar with emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, assembly points, and the location of emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers.
• First Aid Training: Provide or refresh first aid training for those designated employees.
  • Safety Protocols: Have a toolbox meeting or other training to remind employees of safety protocols relevant to their roles.

 

1. Communication and Awareness:
   • Safety Reminders: Use email or other methods to regularly remind employees of safety protocols, guidelines or procedures.
   • Anonymous Reporting: Establish an anonymous reporting system for employees to raise safety concerns.
   • Training Programs: Invest in ongoing safety training programs to keep employees informed about the latest safety practices, procedures and protocols.

Prioritizing workplace safety at the beginning of the New Year sets a positive tone for the year ahead. By conducting audits, planning to provide relevant training, and fostering a culture of safety, businesses can help create an environment that promotes the well-being of employees. A commitment to safety not only helps with compliance, but contributes to a more productive and positive workplace.
 
Here’s to a safe and successful New Year!

On October 19th, millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school and home as part of the Great ShakeOut.
At 10:19 am (local time), you can join people across Oregon practicing earthquake safety.
The actions to practice are simple: Drop, cover and hold on!

Hello from the conference planning committee chair!
 
Can you believe it have been four years since we held a fully in-person safety and health conference? We have had to make do with virtual and blended options the last three conferences. These were phenomenal world-class events (in my opinion), and our chapter should be proud of what we were able to accomplish. But this October, let’s meet in person and celebrate just a little. When you enroll in our conference, sign up for our Wednesday evening networking mixer and we can get caught up after so many years!
 
Safety is part of your job. We have breakout sessions, keynotes and workshops that apply in some way to the work you do. Whether you are a safety committee member, HR manager, supervisor or a safety manager there is plenty for you choose from. Even if you are none of those things, we have something you can take advantage of. Topics like leadership, hazards, trending topics, OSHA compliance, management and more. 
 
We have been working on this conference for the last ten months. We have so many dedicated committee members that have been working hard to bring you the best conference possible. It’s been four years since we held a full in-person conference like this. We are determined to bring you a conference to match and probably exceed your hopes and expectations.
 
I still believe that this is the premier safety conference of its kind in our region, regularly drawing attendees from all over the northwest. The Professional Development Workshop on Tuesday, October 17th, will taught by Bob Edwards author, trainer and consultant on “Operational Learning and Practical Application of Human Organizational Performance Principles.” Wednesday morning Bob will kick off the day with a keynote message about, “How to think like an Organizational Performance Coach.” Our Thursday morning keynote will be presented by author, trainer and consultant, Libby Gill on “Leading Through Change, Challenge, and Chaos.” Throughout the conference, we have 27 breakout sessions for you to choose from. No matter what industry you are in, we have something for you at this conference: manufacturing, healthcare, construction, agricultural, etc. No matter your role in your organization, we have something for you: management, frontline employee, safety committee, HR, supervisor, etc.
 
Also, don’t forget the pre-conference CPR and Flagging certification workshops on Tuesday or the award ceremony on Thursday. Between the education and networking opportunities and the great food catered by Ashland Hills Hotel, this may be the best opportunity in the region for anyone with safety responsibilities at your organization. Please join us and celebrate safety in Southern Oregon!
 
Sincerely,
David Hanson, Conference Chair