Jan 22, 2018
Does your facility require a rescue team? What OSHA standards require some kind of emergency response procedures? If your facility needs some level of emergency response, how do you develop these capabilities? What types of procedures, equipment, and training is needed? Or should it be out sourced?
Oct 10, 2017
Fall protection equipment manufacturers are innovators. They are constantly developing new types of equipment and upgrading the capabilities of existing equipment. Self-retracting lanyards (SRLs or ‘yo-yos’) provide a great example of this innovation.
Jul 19, 2017
A client recently called me with a question. At his facility there was a confined space (a large vault) that they wanted to enter using alternate entry procedures (also known as reclassifying the space). Can you enter a space to test the air to determine if it’s safe to enter using alternate entry procedures? Or do you have to make an initial entry using all protections afforded by the confined space rules?
May 20, 2015
In both Oregon and nationally we have seen changes to the rules governing entry into confined spaces. None of the changes have anything to do with how we identify, evaluate, and safely enter into confined spaces. But there are important changes to the scope of who must comply with these rules and the types of documentation they must maintain. In addition, both sets of rules changed the reclassification process.
Mar 3, 2015
Does your facility require a rescue team? What OSHA standards require some kind of emergency response procedures? If your facility needs some level of emergency response, how do you develop these capabilities? What types of procedures, equipment, and training is needed? Or should it be out sourced?
Feb 16, 2015
After years of comments, proposals, discussions, edits, issuances, retractions, amendments, and related activities, OROSHA has issued its Confined Space Rule: OAR 437-002-0146. The permit space rules became effective for general industry on January 1, 2015 and will become effective for construction on March 1, 2015. Will your location be in compliance with Oregon’s new rules? What does it mean to Oregon employers? If you were in compliance with the Federal rules (1910.146) will you be in compliance with this one?
Oct 9, 2012
Should rescuers enter a non-IDLH confined space to observe conditions during the entry?
Jul 23, 2012
What is the required capacity for an anchor point used solely for rescue (retrieval) as opposed to fall arrest or fall restraint? It seems like a simple question, and there should be a fairly simple answer. But once you start digging, you discover that the question can be fairly complicated.
Jul 7, 2011
We spend a fair amount of time fielding questions about confined space, fall protection and excavation safety. Most of time people describe a scenario and ask us whether we would consider it safe or compliant. Generally their questions hinge on an activity that is not directly addressed by the OSHA regulations.