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Prepare for Winter Driving Dangers
Winter is already here in some areas, causing weather and road conditions to become more hazardous, increasing the risk of a crash. On average, 6,000 people are killed and 445,000 are injured in weather-related motor vehicle crashes each year. Help keep your employees safe on and off the job by sharing these tips.
Parking lot/garage safety:
Holiday shopping and social events can mean driving in more congested areas with street or off-street parking. Low driving speeds in parking lots and garages may make it seem safer to use cell phones or interact with the infotainment screen while driving, but these activities are not safe. In fact, parking lots are especially dangerous because distracted drivers are looking for spaces and pedestrians of all ages are walking between cars and across roadways. Always look over your shoulder before backing up, even if your car has a backup camera.
(Source: National Safety Council newsletter, December 2018)
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Fatigue: A Serious Concern Among Transportation Employers
A recent survey by the National Safety Council (NSC) found that 97 percent of transportation employers are concerned about employee fatigue, and 38 percent found an employee asleep on the job. The NSC said the results do not necessarily indicate a widespread problem, however, as that percentage includes any employer who reported even a single employee asleep on the job. The survey highlights findings from the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and utilities sectors, indicating that overall, 69 percent of employees are tired at work. It is important to note that there are differences in opinion on the matter between employers and employees. In transportation, 100 percent of employers but only 73 percent of employees consider fatigue a safety issue. According to the NSC, as much as 13 percent of workplace injuries in all industries can be attributed to fatigue. In transportation, 97 percent of employers said they feel the impact of fatigue on their operations, with 64 percent believing it leads to a productivity decline and 45 percent experiencing safety incidents as a result. Among transportation employees who reported at least one risk factor for fatigue, 48 percent cited sleep loss and 42 percent long shifts as causes. Ninety-four percent of transportation employees reported two or more risk factors for fatigue, with 86 percent noting the demands of the job and 64 percent citing high-risk hours.
(Source: NLBMDA Workplace & Safety newsletter, October 2018)
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Incentive Programs, Post-Incident Drug Testing Not Prohibited Under Electronic Record Keeping Rule, OSHA Says
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is launching a site-specific inspection program targeting employers who the agency believes should have, but did not, electronically submit Form 300A injury and illness data for calendar year 2016. The program will target high injury rate establishments in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors for inspection, but it does not include construction worksites. Employers were required to submit the calendar year 2016 Form 300A data by Dec. 15, 2017. OSHA said the calendar year 2017 deadline was July 1, 2018, but employers can still provide this information to the database.
Post-incident drug testing and safety incentive programs are not prohibited under the anti-retaliation provisions in OSHA's electronic record keeping rule, the agency has clarified in an Oct. 11 memorandum sent to regional administrators and state designees.
As part of its Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule issued in May 2016, OSHA states in 29 CFR 1904.35 (b)(1)(iv) that employers "must not discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness."
In an October 2016 memo , OSHA explains that drug testing employees who report injuries or illnesses is prohibited unless an employer has an "objectively reasonable basis." In addition, the agency will "only consider whether the drug test is capable of measuring impairment at the time the injury or illness occurred," and will "consider this factor for tests that measure alcohol use" but not tests for drug use.
(Source: Safety+Health magazine, December 2018)
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The BMSA Office will be closed at 1:00pm Monday, December 24th-Wednesday, December 26th for the Christmas Holiday and Tuesday, January 1st for New Years Day.
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Stay Connected With BMSA!
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OSHA's 'Top 10' Most-Cited Violations For Fiscal Year 2018
Imagine a roofing contractor performing a job task he or she doesn't typically do - gutter cleaning or pressure washing, perhaps.
These types of jobs call for eye and face protection, but because they often lie outside the contractor's domain, he or she may not have conducted a proper hazard assessment.
As a result, a workplace injury occurs.
The type of scenario outlined above is one possible reason for the appearance of Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment - Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) on OSHA's Top 10 list of most frequently cited violations for fiscal year 2018, said Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs. The new entry ranks No. 10, joining familiar company that includes Fall Protection - General Requirements (1926.501) at the top for the eighth consecutive year.
Read full list here.
Learn more at BMSA's Annual Learning Exchange & LBM Expo February 6-7 in Hickory, NC. BMSA's safety specialist, Barb Strickland, will talk about OSHA's Top 10 list of cited violations.
(Source: Safety+Health Manufacturing Newsletter, December 2018)
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2019
February 4:
Introduction to Building Material Sales
(Hickory, NC)
BMSA Executive Committee & Board of Directors Meetings
February 5-6:
2-Day Estimating Seminar
(Hickory, NC)
BMSA's Learning Exchange and LBM Expo
(Hickory, NC)
February 7:
Advanced Estimating Seminar & Post Expo Seminars
(Hickory, NC)
February 7:
Spruce Users Group
(Hickory, NC)
February 7-8:
Purchasing
Manager Roundtable
(Hickory, NC)
March 7-8:
Installed Sales Roundtable
(Warner Robins, GA)
March 11-15:
Yard & Delivery Manager Seminar
(Roanoke, VA)
March 11-15:
Leadership Graduates Roundtable #1
(Roanoke, VA)
March 11-15:
Leadership Development Roundtable #2
(Roanoke, VA)
March 14-15:
Operations Manager B Roundtable
(North Charleston, SC)
March 20-22:
CFO Roundtable
(Scottsdale, AZ)
March 21-22:
Operations Manager A Roundtable
(Cashiers, NC)
March 27-29:
Roundtable #3
(Greenville, SC)
March 27-29:
Sales Manager Roundtable
(Nashville, TN)
April 1-3: NLBMDA Legislative Conference
(Washington, D.C.)
April 7-9: Roundtable #1
(Charlotte, NC)
April 15-17:
2-Day Estimating Seminar
(Columbus, OH)
May 5-7: Roundtable #7
(Richmond, VA)
July 25-28:
BMSA's Summer Conference (Myrtle Beach, SC)
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