Category: Safety

Need Guidance On Your Electrical Safety Lockout/Tagout Program to Comply with NFPA 70E – 2021? MCAA Has What You Need

NFPA 70E is the industry consensus standard for electrical safety in the workplace. It is part of the National Electrical Codes, and it is revised by the National Fire Protection Association every three years. The most current version is NFPA 70E – 2021. Parts of the standard help us protect our service technicians from electrical shock and arc flash hazards. One of the provisions in the standard calls for affected employers to establish a lockout/tagout program that is specific to electrical safety. MCAA’s Model Lockout/Tagout Program for Electrical Safety, which addresses work on mechanical equipment pushing 480 volts or less, was recently revised to make it consistent with NFPA 70E – 2021.

Would a Zero Injury Safety Award from NMAPC Benefit Your Company?

The National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC) is now accepting online applications for its 21st Annual Zero Injury Safety AwardsÂŽ (ZISAÂŽ), which will recognize zero-injury achievements in calendar year 2020. ZISAÂŽ celebrates the efforts of industrial business owners/clients, union contractors and building trades in achieving world-class safety performance on their projects. To be eligible, projects must be completed under the terms of the National Maintenance Agreement.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ZISAÂŽ CRITERIA

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Need to Update Your Electrical Safety Program to Comply with NFPA 70E – 2021? MCAA Has What You Need

NFPA 70E is the industry consensus standard for electrical safety in the workplace. It is part of the National Electrical Codes, and it is revised by the National Fire Protection Association every three years. The most current version is NFPA 70E – 2021. Parts of the standard help us protect our service technicians from electrical shock and arc flash hazards. One of the provisions in the standard calls for affected employers to establish an electrical safety in the workplace program. MCAA’s Model Electrical Safety in the Workplace Program, which addresses work on mechanical equipment pushing 480 volts or less, was recently revised to make it consistent with NFPA 70E – 2021.

Fluke Recalling Certain Clamp Meters

Fluke is recalling certain models of its clamp meters. The first of the two recalls addresses meters manufactured at various times throughout 2019 and 2020. The concern is a manufacturing error that may render a safety function inoperable. The error could severely limit or eliminate protection against arc explosion, burns, or electric shock. To help protect your workers, determine whether your company has any of the affected clamp meters. If so, stop use of the meters immediately and follow the instructions for repair. LEARN MORE

The second of the two recalls addresses meters manufactured at various times throughout 2010, 2011, and 2012. In this case, the concern is a circuit assembly that may not be properly fastened, which could result in inaccurate voltage readings presenting shock, electrocution, and thermal burn hazards. LEARN MORE

Scissors Lifts Load Sensing/Operation Issue

SkyJack, Genie, and possibly other brands of scissors lifts that have been outfitted with load sensors are experiencing problems. While the sensors help the user comply with the recently revised ANSI A92.20 standard’s load sensing requirements, the lifts’ new sensor systems allow the user(s) to elevate with an overload and may leave workers stranded at elevation.

This occurs when platform elevation is stopped at around 10 feet high or higher. The overload light comes on and the lift will no longer operate. Apparently, the load sensors are in the lift cylinder, so they cannot start measuring actual platform load until the main lift cylinder is almost vertical.

If your company is using these types of lifts, make sure your workers know the lifts’ load limits and have an alternative way to accurately calculate the total load (for example, their body weight(s) plus the weight of tools, materials, etc.).

It is also a good idea to have a plan to get the workers down safely if needed. This might involve proper use of the lifts’ rescue functions or use of another nearby lift. 

Need the Bottom Line on OSHA’s Recent COVID-19 Guidance? MCAA’s Summary Has It

OSHA recently released guidance to help employers protect their workers and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace. MCAA’s new summary highlights the bottom line items in the areas of COVID-19 Prevention Programs, Return to Work Criteria, Social Distancing Measures, Engineering Controls, Face Coverings and PPE, and Sanitization, Cleaning, and Disinfecting Practices.

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Congratulations to MCAA/Milwaukee Tool Safety Professional of the Year Cheryl Wiese

MCAA and Milwaukee Tool congratulate Cheryl Wiese for receiving the 2020 Safety Professional of the Year award, which was announced last month at MCAA’s 18th Annual Safety Directors’ Conference. Cheryl is the Safety Director for Modern Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She leads the extremely strong safety culture across five divisions at five different locations throughout the Midwest. Cheryl and her team recently implemented a safety down day across four office locations to provide needed reminders and training to all the crews who were working more than 30 jobs. She ensured that the company’s senior leadership and project managers were actively involved in facilitating the safety training and reinforcing the company’s positive safety culture. Warmest congratulations to Cheryl from MCAA and Milwaukee Tool!

User Safety Notice for MSA’s Latchways Standard Self-Retracting Lifelines

MSA has issued a user safety notice to inform users of received field reports for a limited number of Latchways Standard Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRL) in which some internal bolts came loose. MSA has not received any reports of injuries associated with this condition. However, it is requesting that users perform the actions outlined in the notice. Over time, the loose bolts will be identifiable by the user as extraction of the cable from the SRL housing will no longer be possible. However, MSA’s investigation has determined that this may be preceded by a window of time in which a fall may not be arrested.

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OSHA Guidance on Mitigating & Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

The recently released OSHA guidance is aimed at helping employers and workers identify risks of being exposed to and/or contracting COVID-19, and determine appropriate control measures to implement in the workplace. The guidance contains recommendations as well as descriptions of compulsory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content and intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthy workplace.

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MCAA’s COVID-19 Safety Stand Down Will Emphasize Pandemic Safety

Safety is top priority for MCAA member companies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. MCAA’s COVID-19 Safety Stand Down from February 1-5, 2021 will revisit the protective measures and MCAA safety resources associated with COVID-19. A series of resources will help you provide the necessary information about COVID-19 risks, protective measures, forthcoming vaccines, and vaccine administration phases to your workers. Also included is information to help you remind your state and local officials that mechanical construction work is both safe and essential, and must continue to be categorized that way.

Resources

  1. Two COVID-19 Toolbox Safety Talks for Mechanical Industry Workers LEARN MORE
  2. CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Essential Workers LEARN MORE
  3. CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Phases LEARN MORE
  4. Access to MCAA’s COVID-19 Safety Resources LEARN MORE
  5. COVID-19 Information for Construction Employers Concerning Keeping Construction Safe and Essential LEARN MORE

If you have questions about any of these resources, or need other safety-related assistance, please contact Pete Chaney.

MCAA’s 18th Annual Safety Directors’ Conference Scores Big

MCAA’s 18th annual Safety Directors’ Conference, which was presented virtually this year due to the pandemic, was attended by more than 400 participants, including mechanical industry safety professionals, member firm principals, MCA local affiliates, and United Association OSHA instructors.

We came together for world-class education on the safety and health topics and issues that are currently affecting the mechanical construction and service companies nationwide.

Conference participants received opportune safety messages in keynote presentations from renown disaster response physician Dr. Dan Diamond, space shuttle astronaut Mike Mullane, and safety training expert Dale Lesinski. The group also participated in educational sessions covering NFPA 70E, tool safety, Legionella, the new ANSI A92 aerial work platform standards, positive safety culture change, refrigerant safety, microlearning, asbestos, opioids and reasonable suspicion, and the biological basis of complacency. Conference sessions are available to registered attendees until February 19, 2021.

Next year’s conference will be presented January 18-20, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Mark your calendars!

Need a Fall Rescue Safety Program & Plan? MCAA’s New Model Can Help!

Quick rescue is paramount to keeping workers safe while they are suspended in fall arrest harnesses after falling from an elevation. Having a safety program and plan in place to address the needs of these workers is critical to minimizing suspension trauma and meeting OSHA requirements. MCAA’s model program and accompanying model plan can be tailored to address various project fall arrest system applications and ensure the safety of your company’s most important asset, its workers.

Ideally, suspended workers should be rescued within five minutes. Workers who are suspended longer may suffer from suspension trauma. This condition occurs when a worker is suspended in a harness long enough for the harness straps to negatively affect blood flow. When blood is not circulating properly, vital organs are deprived of oxygen. This can lead to loss of consciousness, permanent organ damage, and ultimately death if a worker is suspended too long.

Fall rescue plans are required by OSHA as referenced in the agency’s fall protection standard for construction.

MCAA’s model program and accompanying model plan will help you develop appropriate fall rescue plans which, when performed properly, will help limit the time that any worker is suspended in a fall arrest harness to less than five minutes.

MODEL PROGRAM & PLAN

CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidelines on When to Quarantine

The CDC recently updated its guidelines on when to quarantine following exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. The new guidelines indicate that people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months, should quarantine immediately. It is considered close contact when:

  • You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more;
  • You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19;
  • You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them);
  • You shared eating or drinking utensils; and/or
  • The person sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

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OSHA Provides New COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Workplace Ventilation

OSHA recently issued new guidance on how to use workplace ventilation systems to reduce exposures to the coronavirus, including efficiency targets for air filters and recommendations for fan use. The guidance calls for employers to install HVAC filters with minimum efficiency reporting value ratings of “13 or higher, where feasible,” and to “consider using” high-efficiency particulate air fan and filtration systems, “especially in higher-risk areas.”

It also urges several stems to increase the flow of outdoor air into indoor areas, including increasing HVAC systems’ outdoor air intake; taking steps to verify that exhaust air is not being pulled back into a building, such as by traveling through open windows or nearby intakes; ensuring exhaust fans in restrooms specifically are “fully functional, operating at maximum capacity, and are set to remain on”; and opening windows and “other sources of fresh air” when possible.

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CNA Shares Risk Control e-Talks on Business Resiliency

MCAA member CNA, MCAA’s long-time partner in workplace safety, loss control, and risk control, is sharing its Risk Control e-Talks series on Business Resiliency with MCAA members. The series addresses how natural and manmade catastrophes, pandemics, and civil unrest create uncertainty, complexity, and challenges that unfold in real time. The talks provide tips and resources that will help your business thrive during these environments.

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MCAA and the UA Led Development of Industry Consensus Standard on Pressure Testing Safety

MCAA, in conjunction with the UA, recently led the development of a new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) industry consensus standard on pressure testing safety. The new standard, ANSI/ASSP A10.35 Safety Requirements for Pressure Testing Steel and Copper Piping Systems, was published on October 16, 2020. The voluntary industry consensus standard is based largely on the MCAA Guide to Steel and Copper Piping System Pressure Testing Safety. The standard’s safety requirements address planning, procedures, checklists, and other items for both hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing on steel and copper piping systems.

PURCHASE THE ANSI/ASSP A10.35 STANDARD
DOWNLOAD THE MCAA GUIDE

New Research Shows that Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 Can Occur When Conditions are Right

The CDC recently reported that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can occur in rare cases under just the right circumstances. In most cases, the virus is transmitted from one person to another in droplet form, and occurs when affected individuals are less than six feet away from the source for 15 minutes or more. That’s because the “droplets” are heavy enough to fall to the ground, and do not stay suspended in air. However, new research indicates that when exposure occurs in enclosed spaces, exposure time is greater than 30 minutes, and some kind of expiratory exertion is taking place, such as shouting, singing, or exercising, the virus can be transmitted in aerosol form (smaller particles suspended in air). Social distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, surface cleaning and disinfection, ventilation, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces are effective protective measures for both forms of transmission. However, adequate ventilation and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces are especially important when work is being performed in enclosed spaces where circumstances can increase the concentration of suspended small particles carrying the infectious virus. If you believe your workers could be exposed to airborne transmission of the virus, MCAA recommends that you revise your COVID-19 Exposure Control Plan to ensure adequate ventilation and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces in affected work areas.

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New Tailgate Safety Talks for Refrigerant Work

MCAA/MSCA is pleased to announce a new set of Tailgate Safety Talks on refrigerant safety. Recent changes to ASHRAE’s refrigerant Safety Group Classification System, along with toxicity and flammability characteristics associated with some of the newer refrigerants, prompted production of the new resource. There a total of five new Tailgate Safety Talks addressing:

  1. ASHRAE’s Refrigerant Safety Group Classification System
  2. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Refrigerants
  3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Work with Refrigerants
  4. Protection from Refrigerant Toxicity & Flammability Hazards
  5. Some Common Symptoms of Overexposure to Refrigerants

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