Monthly Archives: February 2012

Oberon Develops New Arc-Rated Coverall for Electrical & Instrumentation Workers

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Macron Safety is now offering the coverall for Electrical & Instrumentation workers, that Oberon has recently developed. Oberon has been manufacturing arc flash PPE since the 1980′s and started with designing arc flash suits before coveralls, not the other way around. The majority of arc rated FR coverall manufactures started with FR garments and revised the garment label to sell into the arc flash market, keeping all of the design deficiencies that could contribute to the resulting injuries from electrical hazards including arc flash, shock and arc blast. Oberon’s new design has reduced the potential of the worker’s coverall features from further contributing to an E/I worker injury in the event of an electrical accident.

Features:

  1. CSA Z96 day/night high visibility striping
  2. Non-conductive zippers and snaps
  3. Secure pass through pocket openings
  4. Improved sizing and neck opening for full body coverage
  5. Continuous front zipper closure
  6. Radio loops
  7. FR mesh overpocket for gas monitor
  8. Tab wrist closures
  9. Leg zippers with safety gusset
  10. Available in 10 different fabric options

New Oberon FR Dailywear Clothing

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The new line of flame resistant Dailywear from Oberon offers solutions for the greater industrial marketplace, not just the NFPA 70E Arc Flash solutions where Oberon is famous.

The new line consists of an expanded number of garment models…shirts, pants, cargos…underwear, t-shirts and knit Henley’s…as well as more coverall choices and shop coats.

An Expanded number of fabrics from a simple & economical FRT Cotton and FRT Cotton/Nylon blend…to the industry leading flash fire fabric, Dupont Nomex IIIA. Oberon also has its own line of proprietary fabrics, including its FR Denim. In between, it includes the popular Dupont Protera, Tencate Tecasafe Plus (TSP) and GlenGuard flame resistant fabrics. There are  more choices with a full spectrum of features and benefits that set each of them apart from the other. One size does not fit all. There is a solution for your needs and hazards. If you have questions as to which are the best for your needs and application, give us a call (916) 905-6535. One of our technical support team will be happy to answer your questions.

Still made in the USA and not out-sourced manufacturing to offshore facilities.

As the authorities are increasingly focused upon clothing worn in the industrial market, they are looking for applications and sites where there is the potential for not just arc flash, but other sources of ignition, including flammable dust and vapors. Any of these sources could ignite standard industrial uniforms or street clothing that are not flame resistant. As we often point out in our presentation, it is often not the ???? that contributes to the greater portion of the injury. A small spark or low energy arc flash could generate sufficient energy to ignite the non-FR clothing, like nylon jackets, street clothing or cotton-poly uniforms. FR clothing can dramatically improve the likelihood of the worker not only surviving, but thriving. Instead of days and weeks in a hospital burn ward, the worker may be home for dinner and return to work within days. The right choice of FR PPE will reduce the percentage of body burned and increase the chances of survival. That is the upside of an FR Dailywear program.

Talk to Macron Safety, together we can make the workplace a safer place for your workers.

I Know the Voltage…What Arc Clothing Should I get? Unfortunately that is not sufficient information to select the correct PPE. Knowing the voltage is only one piece of the information needed to determine the Arc Flash PPE that would be appropriate for your specific needs. In order to determine the potential Arc Flash exposure level and the required PPE we would also need to know  the available fault current, the working distance between the worker and the equipment, the clearing time of the circuit protection device, the spacing between conductor or from a conductor to ground, the number of phases, whether the conductors are in an enclosure, and the equipment configuration.

How do Arc Flash and Flash Fire hazards differ? A flash fire is a low intensity fire (~2 calories per second) that can last a prolonged period of time (a couple seconds or longer). An electric arc flash incident last a far shorter period of time (typically less than a second) while generating more heat energy (200+ calories per second).

Flame Retardant Treated (FRT) Fabric such as cotton, has been treated with a flame retardant chemical – a chemical that has been applied to the surface of the fabric so that it becomes resistant to flame. However the flame retardant chemical may be washed out if improperly laundered.

Inherently Flame Resistant (IFR) Fabric has a permanent flame resistant quality built right into the fibers in the fabric. The resistance to flame is a fundamental (inherent) characteristic or quality of the fabric. It cannot be removed or washed out.

Clear Faceshields or Clear Hood Windows do not offer effective protection against the incident heat energy from an arc flash exposure. As the incident energy increases, the creation of an opaque char on the shield window surface decreases the percentage of transmitted energy, but at these higher exposure levels, there is still more than sufficient heat energy transmitted to cause a predicted second-degree burn injury.

Kalamazoo Man Electrocuted at Pulverdryer Plant

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SPRINGFIELD — Kalamazoo man died December 13, 2011 due to an apparent electrical  incident at the Pulverdryer plant near Battle Creek, MI, according to the Springfield Department of Public Safety.

Employee, Aaron Lankford, 31, was taken to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after arrival, according to police.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an official investigation into the cause of the accident, said Adrian Roeskay, a director at MIOSHA.

Pulverdryer is a manufacturer of technology for pulverizing and drying systems based in Springfield, near Battle Creek.

Construction Accident in Valenzuela, 1 dead, 6 hurt

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One worker died and six others were injured in Valenzuela City. A metallic round bar they were trying to attach to a wooden structure in a construction site hit a high-voltage transmission wire. Police named the fatality as Larry Ortega, 23, of Quezon province.

Those who were injured were identified as Jonathan Valenzuela, Jimmy Monares, Charlito Mepieza, Marlon Asidillo, Basilio Sedorio and Noli Patag.

The accident happened at Cowloon Compound in Tatalon, Barangay (village) Ugong.

According to the police report, the contact between the high-voltage wire and the metallic bar sent electric shocks to six workers who were holding the bar.

Upon seeing this, Ortega rushed to help Valenzuela, the person nearest him, but he was electrocuted in the process.

“Of the victims, only Ortega’s body did not release the electric currents trapped inside. That’s why he died. When you get electrocuted, your body has to release the currents,” he explained.

 

Northeast Hospital Corp has been cited by OSHA for alleged repeat and serious electrical safety violations of at its facility in Beverly, MA.

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Northeast Hospital Corp has been cited by OSHA for alleged repeat and serious electrical safety violations of at its facility in Beverly, MA. The employer faces a total of $63,000 in proposed fines following an OSHA inspection prompted by a worker complaint.

OSHA  determined that some hospital employees were exposed to potential electric shock, burns, arc flash events and electrocution while changing circuit breakers on live electrical panels.  The employees  did not have or did not use personal protective equipment while working with energized electrical equipment. It was also determined that electrical protective equipment was not periodically tested; electrical safety related work practices were not used; and specific procedures were not developed for the control of hazardous energy while replacing electrical breakers.

$28,000 in citations were issued by OHSA. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Because the hospital failed to ensure that unused openings in the electrical panels and control centers were closed, OSHA issued a $35,000 (repeat) fine.. The citation was classified as repeat because OSHA had cited the hospital in May 2010 for a similar condition. A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

“Electricity can kill or severely injure workers, literally in a flash. There is no margin for error here,” said Jeffrey Erskine, OSHA’s area director for Essex and Middlesex counties. “That’s why it is vitally important for the safety and well-being of employees working with electricity that they be properly trained and equipped with effective protective equipment.”

New Zealand Taylor’s Electrical Employee Electrocuted

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Cafe staff and customers rushed to perform CPR on a young electrician after he was seriously injured while working at a Masterton cafe in New Zealand

The 22-year-old Taylor’s Electrical employee was working on a power socket in Strada Cafe’s kitchen when he was electrocuted. Someone nearby immediately shut off the main power while others rushed to perform CPR.

“It was really touch and go, to be honest, my gut feeling was that he was gone,” Mr Lethbridge said.

The man had been with Taylor’s Electrical for several years and yesterday was his first day back at work after a summer break. The quick actions of those around him had probably saved his life.

A Wairarapa Hospital spokeswoman said the electrician had been in a critical condition when he arrived at the emergency department.

The Department of Labour is investigating.

US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Ringo Drilling for safety violations
following electrocution of worker near Ozona, Texas

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OZONA, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Ringo Drilling I LP, headquartered in Tye, with seven safety violations after an employee performing repair work on an oil drilling rig was electrocuted at the company’s worksite near Ozona in June.

“Exposing workers to electrocution hazards without proper safeguards and training is inexcusable. This is not the first time the same employer has jeopardized the safety of its workers by failing to follow OSHA standards,” said Jeff Funke, the agency’s area director in San Antonio. “It is the employer’s responsibility to create a safe and healthful workplace where preventable hazards don’t cost workers their lives.”

Proposed penalties total $130,200.

How selecting Personal Protective Equipment can save your employees lives

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How you select Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your employees may save their lives.

Employers are responsible for protecting their workers from the catastrophic results of an arc flash event. How you chose the correct PPE is based on the type(s) of electrical exposure your workers may come into contact with.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include hard hats, gloves, hot sticks, or a full bodied arc flash suit with face shield. Many employers use NFPA 70E 2004: table 130.7 (C)(9)(A) as their guide to selecting the correct equipment. Or one could conduct an arc flash analysis. We find that this type of analysis far exceeds trying to use just the tables. In fact, using only the tables often results in improper protection for your worker. The tables (http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/CodesStandards/TIAErrataFI/TIA70E-04-1.pdf)  are based on certain jobs and divided into eight equipment- and voltage-specific sections. The tables are extremely limited in that they only cover eight specific types of equipment. Although the equipment l they list may cover most situations, it may not cover yours. If your equipment, voltage, or task is not listed then 70E requires an arc flash analysis.

Another concern about relying on the tables for your PPE requirements is that they only cover situations up to Category 4. Some equipment is higher than Category 4 and this is what is known as the dangerous level. This level means the arc flash will be so catastrophic and that one cannot work on the panel live.

As you study the table you will see that it is based on a predetermined current and clearing time. Obviously the problem with this scenario is that your facility may have a higher current or a lower current and both can result in an increased thermal hazard. This would mean you could have the incorrect PPE protection which would make the difference between life and death for your worker(s). The best way to protect your employees from injury or death, and your company from devastating law suits is simple: Have an Arc Flash Analysis conducted at your facility. Not only will you save lives, but you will have fulfilled OSHA mandates for training your employees and you will be assured that they are properly protected when the unexpected does happen. Macron Safety is your Safety Solutions Partner and we pride ourselves on education, prevention and safe work environments.

OSHA fines small business over $50,000 for safety violations

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Perry’s Ice Cream Co. Inc. was cited for eight alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards following an inspection at its Akron, N.Y., manufacturing plant. The ice cream manufacturer faces a total of $51,000 in proposed penalties.

Most business owners are unaware that OSHA mandates a detailed set of requirements and procedures employers must follow to proactively address hazards associated with processes and equipment.  The violations for this company  involve uncorrected deficiencies in ammonia processing equipment, not developing and implementing safe work practices for all mechanical and maintenance tasks, incomplete written standard operating procedures and failure to provide process safety management training to employees at least every three years.

According to the OSHA’s area director for western New York, Arthur Dube,

“The purpose of process safety management is to prevent catastrophic incidents such as fires, explosions and uncontrolled releases of highly hazardous chemicals, including ammonia,”  “Employers must ensure that their process safety management programs and training are up-to-date and ready for any contingency.”

Most companies who believe they are presently in compliance are unaware of changes in OSHA requirements for 2012, and in fact will be out of compliance as of January 1, 2012.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Inspectors also found deficiencies in the Perry’s Ice Cream company plant’s hazardous energy control program, which involves powering down and locking out machines’ power sources to prevent their unintended start up during maintenance. Specifically, lockout procedures were not developed for tasks that resulted in recordable worker injuries, all lockout procedures were not inspected periodically and employees were not trained on lockout procedures. Additionally, unapproved electrical wiring and equipment was used in a Class I, Division 2 hazardous location.

“One means of preventing hazards such as these is for an employer to develop and implement an illness and injury prevention program in which management and workers proactively identify and eliminate hazardous conditions on a continual basis,”

said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional director in New York.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov

Electrical Worker Dies in On-Job Accident

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Brian David Gillis, 39, of Virginia Beach died after he was electrocuted while working in the 400 block of W. Bayfront Road in Lothian.

Witnesses on scene told officials that Gillis had climbed an electrical pole with his pole-climbing gear and began work on a portion of the pole near the wires. Gillis then came into contact with a live wire. Workers began a rescue effort and brought Gillis down from the pole.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department personnel began CPR. Resuscitation efforts were eventually discontinued and Gillis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are treating the incident as an accident.

Is your company up to date on OSHA standards for 2012? Are your employees safety-trained according to OSHA requirements? Are you fully aware of your company’s liabilities if one of your employees is injured or killed and OSHA’s training and safety standards were not in place?

Macron Safety is your safety solutions partner. Our goal is to not only save lives; but to help you and your company avoid injuries along with massive lawsuits and fines. OSHA regulations are federally mandated; so any violation can result in massive fines and lawsuits.