OSHA gets tougher on employers
who defy safety and health regulations

Employers who expose their workers to serious safety and health hazards and who continue to defy worker safety and health regulations will be subject to enhanced enforcement efforts by OSHA.

The new “Enhance Enforcement Policy” will focus on those employers who have received “high gravity” or extremely serious citations.

The new policy will cause increased attention in five specific areas:
1.) follow-up inspections
2.) programmed inspections
3.) public awareness
4.) settlements
5.) federal court enforcement

“This policy will focus on high gravity violators and will put more tenacity and teeth in our enforcement practices. Our goal is to assure compliance and a safe workplace for all workers,” says OSHA administrator John Henshaw.

Revised ANSI standard for air nailers
The International Staple, Nail and Tool Association (ISANTA) worked with tool manufacturers and groups to update the ANSI standard for air nailers and staplers. It means most large-sized units will now be sold as sequential-action systems. However, if users need a contact-trip mechanism, it will be available as a retrofit. Smaller nailers and staplers will still be available with contact trips.

The new 2002 ANSI SNT-101-2002 standard also requires specific messages concerning reading and understanding tool labels and manuals, that eye protection must be worn, keeping your finger off the trigger when not driving fasteners, choosing the right triggering method, never pointing the tool at anyone and never using oxygen or reactive gases to power the tools.

New health info on crystalline silica exposure
OSHA now offers a new health hazard information card on crystalline silica exposure.

Titled “Crystalline Silica Exposure”, it aims to help workers understand how they can protect themselves against silica dust exposure. They are available in English and Spanish and are free of charge or can be downloaded from the Publications link at www.osha.gov.

Published in the May/June 2003 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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