Protection Update - April 2009

In this Issue:
>> Being Visible Makes Sense
Workers need to be seen. Today, there are more solutions available than ever before to help protect our workers. One of the easiest ways to keep workers safe is to make them visible. Low visibility is one of the most serious dangers on a jobsite with workers sometimes standing less than 10 feet away from highspeed traffic, and other workers operating heavy equipment.

>> Hey Construction Pros — Find solutions to your specific needs at a new Web site.
Safety professionals now have a place to find solutions to their worker-protection needs. The opportunity is offered through a new Web site geared to construction practitioners. The site, Construction Solutions, enables contractors, foremen and other construction professionals to identify hazards, then find work practices and commercially available products that reduce or eliminate those hazards.

>> Who’s Looking Out for You? ISEA will ask OSHA to bar silica for blasting.
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Board of Trustees has approved a petition to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that will ask the agency to amend regulations at 29 CFR 1910.94 to prohibit using silica (sand) for abrasive blasting.

>> Make your job easier — Seven ISEA members offer new PPE resources.
The following new services and innovations from International Safety Equipment Association member companies will help make workers safer...

>> Hazmat help — 26 chlorine safety pubs free online, more coming.
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) – www.apic.org – has expanded its successful Targeting Zero initiative for 2009 to offer comprehensive education and guidance to prevent the most common and fatal healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

>> Neglect PPE? — Face possible $1 million-plus fine.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties of $100,000 or more for the following recent alleged failures to protect workers from potential hazards, including many that could have been avoided or mitigated by personal protective equipment (PPE).

To read the entire April 2008 Protection Update, click here .