The Communicator

Dinner Meeting - Thursday, October 14th

Everything safety professionals need to know about noise but were afraid to ask. Learn about the principal requirements needed to ensure you have implemented the most effective hearing conservation program in your workplace.

(213-484-1265).

Take the 101 Freeway to the Alvarado exit. then head North on Alvarado to Sunset Blvd., then right on Sunset Blvd. and it's 2 blocks down on your left.

network of interest and information to succeed in reaching across the language and cultural divides that keep Latino workers from being fully engaged in workplace safety.

SPEAKERS:

Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH. Dr. Howard is a both a physician and a lawyer

and has been Chief, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial

Relations for the State of California since 1991.

Mr. Hank Cherpick, Field Fatality Investigator—CDC/ NIOSH .

Hector Escarcega, Chair ASSE Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce.

Additional Community Leaders and Educators - To be announced

ASSE - LA

It’s time to put our ideas regarding SPALW into action. There is a great need out there to help the Latino workforce, and our association can make a positive difference. As you know, there are many safety and health related challenges in protecting the ever increasing and valuable Spanish- speaking workforce. As a result the National ASSE SPAWL group has decided to initially tackle these challenges by forming focused task groups.

Contact Hector Escarcega if you would like to know more about any of the following sub-committee projects:

1. Mentoring Sub-Committee.

2. Safety Terms & Vocabulary Sub-Committee.

3. Translation Sub-Committee.

4. Latino Cultural & Traditional Issues Sub-Committee .

5. Training Techniques and the Latino Workforce Sub-Committee .

Interest in our November LA-ASSE SPALW meeting has been outstanding. Make sure to register early !!!!

November 18th - "Safety & The Latino Workforce"

half day seminar.

Thurs. Dec. 9th, Dinner Meeting, Magic Castle. Attendance will be limited so stay tuned for details in the November Newsletter.

The California Industrial Hygiene Council, in cooperation with American Society of Safety Engineers, is

hosting the 14th Annual CIHC Conference in Southern California.

This three-day event entitled "Health and Safety: New Beginnings" will take place from December 1st through the 3rd, at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel, located at 300 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

Event information and registration materials can be found at: http://www.cihconline.com/events.html

The Orange County Chapter of ASSE will be hosting an "Affordable Continuing Education Seminar" on October 20th, including the following 3 presentations:

• "Managing the Top 3 Hazards on Construction Sites";

• "Round Table Discussions on Construction Hygiene,

Construction Safety & Construction Ergonomics"; and

• "Expert Witnessing in Safety and Health" (Jay Preston will be speaking).

We’re off to a fast start ! As expected, our first meeting in September was well attended and the speakers were exceptional. Thank you to everyone that attended… Among our goals this year, is to reinforce our chapter’s standing as the premier networking and learning organization for Safety and Health Professionals. Innovative new programs such as the development of common interest groups, along with our organizations efforts to place greater emphasis on learning programs, will better serve our membership in the coming year.

To meet our goals, we will need everyone’s participation. There are always opportunities for members to become more involved with ASSE and your ideas and involvement are always welcome.

I look forward to meeting all of you at our meetings, beginning with our upcoming session on October 14th.

Sincerely,

Patrick Williams

TITLE 8: HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SAFETY ORDERS

Chapter 4, Subchapter 5, Article 36 Section 2940.1 - Voltage Determination

California’s existing High Voltage Electrical Safety Orders (HVESO) do not address the issue of requiring the employer to determine whether there are any concealed, energized, high voltage conductors present prior to having employees perform work to prevent inadvertent contact between the conductor and the employee, tool or machine being operated.

The Division’s Form 9 describes an accident involving a construction industry employee who was killed

(electrocuted) while attempting to demolish a concrete pad with a jackhammer. Unbeknownst to the employee, an energized, 5000-volt electrical conductor (wire) was buried in the ground beneath the pad. Following the accident, the Division determined that California does not have a standard comparable to federal OSHA’s standard contained in 29 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 1926.416(a)(3), which specifically requires employers to ascertain the presence of exposed or concealed electrical conductors which could pose a threat to the safety of employees working in the area by either direct, or indirect contact via tools, equipment, or machinery used/operated by the employee. This determination is required to be made, and made known to employees, prior to the work being performed.

In making its determination that California’s standard was not at least as effective as the federal counterpart, the Division evaluated existing Title 8 standards, such as but not limited to, Sections 2941 through 2944, and trenching and excavation standards contained in Sections 1539 through 1541. The Division found that these standards do not specifically address ascertaining the location of concealed high voltage power lines when employees used powered tools to dig subterraneously (below ground). The Division concluded that California’s HVESO is deficient in comparison to 29 CFR 1926.416(a)(3). Consequently, this rulemaking action will ensure that California’s HVESO standards are at least as effective as those contained in 29 CFR 1926.416(a)(3), as required by California Labor Code Section 142.3(a)(2). Existing Section 2940.1 requires the operating voltage of equipment to be determined before working on or near energized parts.

An amendment is proposed to add a new subsection (b), which would require that before work is begun, the employer shall (1) ascertain by inquiry, direct observation or by instruments, whether any part of an energized electric power circuit, exposed or concealed, is so located that the performance of the work may bring any person, tool, or machine into physical or electrical contact with the electric power circuit, (2) post and maintain a warning sign(s) where such a circuit exists, and (3) advise employees of the location of such lines, the hazards involved, and the protective measures to be taken. The proposal would require employers to ascertain whether any part of an energized electric power circuit, exposed or concealed, is located within the work area prior to having employees begin their work, train employees of the potential hazards, and post signs stating the presence of the energized conductors.

The proposal would also have the effect of rendering California’s standard at least as effective as corresponding federal standards as mandated by Labor Code Section 142.3(a)(2). In light of the proposed new subsection, it is also proposed to revise the section title to read, ‘‘Voltage Determination and Location.’’ The amendment is necessary to more accurately reflect the revised contents of the section, and would have the effect of clarifying that the section now also pertains to voltage location.

Regulations filed with the Secretary of State

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD

Tree Climbing and Access

The regulatory action is the emergency readoption of the emergency amendment that dealt with safe work procedures for tree climbing and access. Title 8 AMEND: 3427 - Effective 08/26/04

Elevating Employees with Industrial Trucks

In this regulatory action, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board amends a General Industry Safety Order regulation pertaining to ‘‘Elevating Employees with Lift Trucks.’’  Title 8 AMEND: 3657 - Effective 09/26/04

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