Join the Annual OSHA Stand Down for Falls in the Workplace this week. “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2018 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.” [OSHA]
Get training materials and videos at OSHA’s site here.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to travel to West Virginia for a Training Resources Applied to Mining (TRAM) conference the pandemic may be making it easier, not harder to finally attend. The meeting will be virtual on October 14 & 15. No travel involved!
Stay tuned! We’re anxious to see if there will be any virtual social exchanges as well, and if not, Safe Miners and Complete Safety Solutions will be providing some. You can let us know you’re interested by completing a short form here.
Register with MSHA below.”See you there!”
Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe.
Why Participate?
Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started, energize an existing one, or provide a chance to recognize your safety successes.
Click on the graphic above to go to the Safe + Sound page or HERE to go directly to the resources available.
The National Fire Protection Association has its usual warnings and safety materials available here this year, but they are even more relevant this year. The public display in my town and many others are canceled which may motivate even more people to create their own. The usual gang of fools in the emergency room each year is bad enough, but with extra precautions and in some case extra burdens on emergency and healthcare professionals just isn’t needed.
Find a great video and printable materials here.
SafeMiners.com now provides a live chat feature! Click on the lower right of your screen and say hi! I will keep some regular hours but you can also catch me by chance. If it says I’m online I can answer. If it says I’m offline you can still click on it and send me a message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m finished mowing the lawn or whatever else is keeping me from being available. The new Office Hours page will show you when I expect to be around along with other training and event dates and links.
MSHA Training both from Complete Safety Solutions and Eduwhere will also appear on the calendar with links to more information and registration.
Training has been difficult or impossible due to restrictions placed on areas due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Because of that the National Safety Council has stated that companies have the option to extend the expiration date on First Aid and CPR certificates for 120 days. The policy will be re-examined on May 31.
Meanwhile the largest portion of training can be completed online. Skills testing will be required in addition to the online portion but NSC has also extended the deadline for completing that portion to within 90 days of doing the online portion. Complete Safety Solutions and other NSC Certified Trainers conduct the skills testing portion for an additional fee. Be sure to check out the availability with one before taking the online portion.
Part 46 New Miner training requires 4 hours minimum of mining related training, First Aid training, and additional training to equal a total of 24 hours. This new live class takes care of the first part as well as providing some ideas on conducting the remainder with a competent trainer from your own company.
MSHA is NOT granting any exceptions to those who have not completed mine safety training before, so if you need to get some employees ready to hit the ground running when things open up here is your opportunity. I have been providing live online classes for ten years and other MSHA training materials for fifteen.
Check it out here or email randy@completesafetysolutions.com with any questions.
For whatever reasons it has become increasingly difficult to continue the traditional listing of fatalities by relating what number it is for the year. Those numbers keep changing as fatalities are added months after they occur. I’ve been managing this site “by the numbers” for 10 years now and the past two have been totally irregular in reporting compared to even those decades previous to even the last ten. I have decided to change the way I list them to merely calling them by Coal or MNM and the date they occurred. Please understand that if they are listed many months after the fact it is more likely due to reporting lapses by MSHA rather than my own. I will continue to do my best to bring accurate and timely announcements with the hope of preventing other injuries and deaths by sharing information widely and quickly.
INTERIM GUIDANCE for Critical Infrastructure Workers including:
This important guideline is online here. The page includes pdf flyers to print out and post or share with workers. Note: this is provided for critical jobs where workers are needed to report to work and we salute them for their dedication. Other workers should support them by staying home as directed by their state and local governments.
Keep up to date with the latest accurate information on the Coronavirus HERE.