Look for the “+” on protective eyewear
Eyewear that protects against impacts will now bear the Z87+ marking, according to a recent rule change of ANSI Z87.1-2003. The requirement is performance-based instead of design-based as it was in the past. Ten years in the making, the new standard limits mandated design restrictions.

To select the appropriate eyewear, get the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) guide, “Use and Selection Guide for Eye and Face Protection”. Contact them at www.safetyequipment.org or by calling the association at 703-528-1695.

OSHA releases new 
work-related injury and illness form
The revised OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, is now available on OSHA’s Website, www.osha.gov. The forms, which are required for recording injuries and illnesses, have changed in several important ways for 2004.

The biggest change is the addition of an occupational hearing loss column to OSHA's Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

Other changes include:
• “days away from work” column now comes before the days “on job transfer or restriction”;
• clearer formulas for calculating incidence rates;
• new recording criteria for occupational hearing loss in the “Overview” section;
• more prominent column heading “Classify the Case” so it is clearer to employers to mark only one selection among the four columns offered.

These changes were made in response to public suggestions on ways to make the form easier to use.

Employers must begin using the new OSHA Form 300 on Jan. 1, 2004. The new form has the date of revision (rev. 1/2004) located on the form next to the form number.

Injuries and illnesses for years prior to 2004 should continue to be recorded on the appropriate form for that year (2003 and 2002 injuries and illnesses should be recorded on the forms for those years). Employers should use the old OSHA 300A Summary Form (without the hearing loss column) to post as required in February 2004. The new 300A form that includes the hearing loss column should be used to post work-related injuries and illnesses in February 2005.

Hard copies of the new OSHA 300 form will be available in November and can be obtained using OSHA's online order form or by calling 1-800-321-OSHA.

Published in the November/December 2003 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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