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.
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.
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.
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:
MCAA/MSCA is pleased to announce the release of a new refrigerant safety training resource for members. The resource, which includes a PowerPoint safety training presentation and accompanying notes for the instructors will help you bring your service technicians and other affected workers up to speed on the most current ASHRAE refrigerant designations and safety classifications, safety concerns for new and existing refrigerants, and appropriate protective measures. Trainees will learn about the potential hazards, the potential effects of the various refrigerants on the human body, ASHRAE’s refrigerant Safety Group Classification System, classifications of the new and existing refrigerants that are used most frequently in our industry, where and how to find safety information about the refrigerants they’re using, how to protect themselves from related toxicity, flammability, and physical hazards, common symptoms of overexposure, how to respond to the symptoms, proper refrigerant storage, and more.
A limited number of 3M™ PROTECTA® Rebel Self Retracting Lifelines produced between October 14, 2019 and February 25, 2020 may have a manufacturing issue. However, the issue can be easily detected through a pre-use inspection described in detail by 3M. If after carefully following 3M’s pre-use inspection instructions the SRLs are not working properly, take them out of service immediately, and contact the 3M customer service department at 1-800-328-61446 or by e-mail at 3musfpserviceaction@mmm.com.
Please see the most-recent DEWALT Newsletter with a LinkedIn Live event scheduled for this Wednesday, September 16 in support of SAFETY WEEK.
On August 31, 2020, OSHA published a final rule revising the beryllium standard for the construction industry. Although it is exceedingly rare for the agency’s beryllium standard to affect mechanical construction employers, if there are operations on any of your jobsites where your workers could be exposed to airborne concentrations of beryllium, you will be required to comply with the standard. For example, if your workers are hanging pipe in an area on a jobsite where abrasive blasting is being performed, it’s conceivable that your workers could be exposed to beryllium, and you would be required to make inquiries, and establish protective measures.
The primary protective measures include:
The original standard took effect on May 20, 2017, but since then, OSHA has only enforced the permissible exposure limit (PEL). However, OSHA will begin enforcing the remaining provisions of the standard, including the revised provisions, which were published in the federal register on August 31, 2020, starting September 30, 2020.
If you have any questions about the standard, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org, or 301-990-2214.
MCAA believes that ergonomics should be a standard part of every company’s overall safety program. Recently MCAA partnered with The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), Washington University in St. Louis, and Best Built Plans to develop and record a webinar on Creating a Contractor Ergonomics Program to Reduce Soft Tissue Injuries Among Construction Workers. The webinar is ideal for helping viewers understand the vital components of a successful ergonomics program, and why the components are so vital.
With the recent increase in violence in America, now is a good time to revisit MCAA’s award winning video on workplace violence prevention and protection. The principles of situational awareness presented in the video apply absolutely everywhere, regardless of whether you’re in the workplace or elsewhere.
Honeywell has issued an Immediate Stop USE Notice for certain models of Miller MightEvac and MightyLite self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) manufactured within a specific time frame. The notice only affects specifically listed models, with identified manufacturing dates or re-certification dates between October 27, 2016 and October 6, 2018. Models outside of this date range, including new units, are not affected by this notice. If your company uses these SRLs check Table 1 in the attached notice to determine whether your SRLs are affected. If so, they should be removed from service immediately. Honeywell is making arrangements for their return and replacement. That information is forthcoming.
Make sure your service techs have the up-to-date safety training they need to protect themselves from arc flash and electrical shock hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The session covers all applicable OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E provisions, best practices, and real-world accident information.
The next two webinars will be presented on September 17, 2020. The first webinar will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST, and the second is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.
Take advantage of the MCAA/MSCA member discounted webinar prices below.
| # of Trainees (per company) | Cost (per person) |
| 1-5 | $200/person |
| 6-10 | $175/person |
| 11-25 | $150/person |
| 26-50 | $125/person |
| 51-100 | $ 100/person |
| 101+ | Email for Pricing |
If you can’t make it in September, the webinar will be taught again twice on October 22, 2020. Questions? Contact Pete Chaney.
MCAA partner Adele Abrams has released the Law Office of Adele Abrams Newsletter dated August 20, 2020. The latest newsleter includes articles on OSHA Use of NWS Chart for Heat Stress Invalidated and Updates Affecting Marijuana in the Workplace.
Are your company’s COVID-19 temperature and symptom screeners properly trained? To protect your company as much as possible from complaints, lawsuits, local labor issues, etc., it is critically important to:
Temperature and symptom screeners play an important role in accomplishing these objectives, so it’s a good idea to ensure that they are properly trained to take temperatures and screen for symptoms. MCAA’s new training resource, COVID-19 Temperature and Symptom Screener Training, will help you provide the proper training.
Evaluate your company’s work practices on pressure testing safety with MCAA’s recently revised Guide to Steel and Copper Piping System Pressure Testing Safety. The guide includes information on pressure testing hazards, associated injuries, primary causes of pressure testing failures, general pressure testing safety, safe work practices for hydrostatic testing, and safe work practices for pneumatic testing. The guide also provides direction on pre-test safety planning, and sample checklists to help improve safety during your company’s hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing operations.
CDC Guidelines for Discontinuing COVID-19 Isolation & Precautions – For Non-Healthcare Settings – July 2020
Recent research indicates that individuals with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 remain infectious no longer than 10 days after symptoms began; and individuals with severe illness or those who are severely immunocompromised remain infectious no longer than 20 days after symptoms began.
Based on these findings, the CDC has made changes to their guidelines regarding discontinuing COVID-19 isolation and precautions for non-healthcare settings. The highlights of these changes include the following:
These recommendations will prevent most, but cannot prevent all, instances of secondary spread.
Make sure your service techs have the up-to-date safety training they need to protect themselves from arc flash and electrical shock hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The session covers all applicable OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E provisions, best practices, and real-world accident information.
The next two webinars will be presented on August 20, 2020. The first webinar will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST, and the second is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.
Take advantage of the MCAA/MSCA member discounted webinar prices below.
| # of Trainees (per company) | Cost (per person) |
| 1-5 | $200/person |
| 6-10 | $175/person |
| 11-25 | $150/person |
| 26-50 | $125/person |
| 51-100 | $ 100/person |
| 101+ | Email for Pricing |
If you can’t make it in August, the webinar will be taught again twice on September 17, 2020. Questions? Contact Pete Chaney.
The way DeWALT works is changing, but their commitment to service isn’t. DeWALT is here to support MCAA members through evolving situations, rules, and safety requirements. They have you covered with the informative materials that will guide you through the proper way to clean and sanitize tools on the jobsite. Watch this short tutorial and review the guidelines below for the proper way to sanitize your tools.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning everyone about hand sanitizers made with methanol. The substance, which is a form of alcohol, is toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. Last month the FDA listed a number of hand sanitizers made by Eskbiochem that contain methanol. This month the agency is expanding that list to include sanitizers made by other companies.
The nation’s employment attorneys are anticipating an onslaught of lawsuits over workplace exposures to COVID-19. To help avoid these lawsuits, and mount an affirmative defense if they do occur, it is recommended that employers develop a comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control plan. A single document showing that the company is carefully following OSHA, CDC, and health department guidance, to help prevent employees from contracting and spreading the virus, would go a long way towards an affirmative defense, should a lawsuit ensue. A current comprehensive plan establishes a record showing how thoughtful and complete the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been. If you don’t have a current exposure control plan, see the MCAA Model COVID-19 Return to Work Exposure Control Plan for guidance.
Once you have established your company’s exposure control plan it is critical that you keep it updated. OSHA, CDC, health department, and local critical industries requirements change frequently due to constant COVID-19 research. Carefully monitor MCAA’s COVID-19 Resource Center to help keep your plan updated.
