The Safety Brief

New rule on confined spaces in construction gets a 60 day delay with no citations from OSHA, if there's good faith.Employers have until Oct. 2nd to train employees in confined space hazards and acquire equipment needed to implement the new confined spaces in construction standard set to go in effect Aug. 3rd, 2015.OSHA, in May, announced the new standard. Employers requested a reprieve from full implementation to allow preparation time. The government agency agreed, but with the requirement that employers show a good-faith effort to comply during the 60 day period.

Safety apps can help prevent worker injuries. Paul Colangelo, a safety expert, describes his 10 favorites. Paul reviewed 150 apps, picking 10 based on size, content, cost and if it would work without internet access. Paul described five apps in our previous podcast, five in this one. See transcript for links to iOS, Android and Windows downloads: https://www.thesafetybrief.com/10-awesome-workplace-safety-apps-pt-2/

Safety apps can help prevent worker injuries. Paul Colangelo, a safety expert, describes his 10 favorites. Paul put 150 apps to the test, considering cost, size, content and if it would work without carrier service or wifi. Paul describes five apps in this podcast, five in the next podcast. See transcript for links to iOS, Android and Windows downloads: https://www.thesafetybrief.com/10-awesome-workplace-safety-apps-pt-1/

July 4th safety is just as important as safety at work. Use your head, and follow these seven common sense tips for using fireworks. In this podcast, Dan Clark reminds workers to follow safety procedures away from the jobsite, whether at the company picnic, while camping or at home. Fire season has come early in many parts of the country. This year, be extra careful with flames and fireworks.

A transparent truck can allow cars to pass safely. Video screens on the back of the big rig show the view from a camera on the truck's front bumper. Samsung outfitted an 18 wheeler, dubbed The Safety Truck, with TVs mounted on the rear trailer doors.  A live image from the front-view camera lets following drivers know when it’s safe to overtake the truck. In this podcast, Dan Clark describes Samsung’s test in Argentina. The truck is not expected in the US anytime soon, but there is always hope.

An airbag recall involving 11 automakers is happening now. Hear about the lethal makes, models and years affected, and the VIN Lookup Tool. Faulty airbags by manufacturer Takata are exploding. Flying metal shards have killed eight and injured many. In this podcast, Dan Clark gives details about the full list of 34 million trucks, pickups, vans and passenger cars. The list is linked in this podcast's transcript: https://www.thesafetybrief.com/airbag-recall-list-for-trucks-and-pickups/Also see the VIN Lookup Tool in the transcript.

Temporary workers aren’t getting the training they need. They tend to be younger. 37% of all temp workers have jobs in manufacturing and other dangerous industries. These factors are the main reasons for such an alarming injury rate. The National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health, NIOSH, points out this trend is expected to continue. Employers and temp agencies share the responsibility of training workers, but often, neither do. This puts the temporary worker in a hazardous situation. Dan Clark reviews NIOSH's recent statement. See the transcript to this podcast for a link to NIOSH's full text at www.thesafetybrief.com/temp-workers-suffer-twice-the-injuries/

Survive a work vehicle crash with 11 tips. If you drive a company truck, car, or van listen for ways to avoid an accident, and what to do if you’re in one. Did you know many vehicle engines shut down when airbags deploy? Knowing how to reset the system is important if you need to move a vehicle after an accident. In this podcast, Dan Clark discusses important safety tips for driving or riding in any company vehicle.

Hearing protection for workers comes in two varieties, earmuffs and earplugs. Hear selection tips for both, including their Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). In this podcast, Dan Clark outlines the benefits of both muffs and plugs. Dan also explains the NRR, the EPA ratings label on all hearing protection. Th label indicates noise reduction in decibels (dB). However, it’s misleading! Hear how you should actually apply the Noise Reduction Rating.

Eye protection should ramp up in summer, when outdoor workers are exposed to more hazards. Hear how cheap sunglasses may actually be ok. In this podcast, Dan Clark says that UVA and UVB protected eyewear does not have to cost a lot. But beware, lens color is not an indicator of protection. Also, Dan tells how to guard against dust, chemicals and other things flying through the outdoor air during summer.