VSRA News

The latest OSHA Safety and Health Injury Prevention Sheets (SHIPS) on Shipfitting is available online. Please click the below link for details and to download the document.

http://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/sltc/ships/shipfitting/index.html

The Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklift) eTool is the latest Web-based training tool unveiled by OSHA. This eTool, which identifies forklifts commonly used in general industry, provides a review of potential hazards and a summary of key OSHA requirements and industry-recommended practices for forklift operations. It includes four modules examining the types of forklifts, safe operating practices, workplace conditions affecting operation, and operator training. OSHA offers other eTools on occupational safety and health topics on its Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/index.html

The Naval Shipbuilding Research Panel (NSRP) has released its  NSRP Hexavalent Chromium Exposures Report.  This industry wide survey was collected from shipyard operations and should be of interest to all in the ship repair industry.

The preliminary FY-10 NAVSEA Standard Items, SSRAC-responsible Standard Work Templates, and Appendix 4-E to the Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual (JFMM) Volume VII, Chapter 4, have been posted on the SSRAC web site for review and comment in accordance with SSRAC milestones.  Visit http://www.sermc.surfor.navy.mil/ssrac1/whatsnew.htm and follow the links to view the items.  If you do not see the files, "refresh" your browser and try again.  Please note thatthe new 009-01 Attachment A (FY 10) was inadvertantly left off the SSRAC website.  Follow the link to obtain the new attachment. 

Changes or additions are identified by showing added or changed verbiage in bold Italics.  Deletions are identified by a vertical line in the right-hand margin beside the deletion.  New or completely revised SIs are identified by a vertical line in the right-hand margin beside the ITEM NO, DATE, and CATEGORY lines.  Note:  An item with a 01 AUG 2008 date but no visible changes indicates that the item was reviewed but no changes were made.

These results are PRELIMINARY and are not intended for immediate distribution or invocation.

Please review these products carefully and provide any comments you may have NLT 26 SEP 2008, using the 2008 SSRAC Preliminary Review Comment Form (also available on the web site).

NOTE:  Comments relating to subjects that were not reviewed by the subcommittees at the 2008 SSRAC Meeting will be deferred for consideration at the 2009 SSRAC Meeting.

Please attach and e-mail forms to linda.mayle@navy.mil or ssrac@supship.navy.mil.

Linda D. Mayle
Asst NAVSEA SSRAC Coordinator
SERMC Business Office Code 1220/Standards Coordinator
Ph:  904-270-5593
FAX:  904-270-5729
linda.mayle@navy.mil

OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center at the University of South Florida will offer the #5400 Maritime Train-the-Trainer course from Oct. 6-9, 2008, in Charleston, S.C., and the #5600 Disaster Train-the-Trainer course from Nov. 10-13, 2008, in Miami, Fla. These programs are designed for individuals who want to become OSHA-authorized 10- and 30-hour maritime course trainers and #7600 Disaster Site Employee course trainers respectively. For more information and registration details, please visit www.usfoticenter.org or email dray@health.usf.edu. This fall, the Eastern Kentucky University OTI Education Center is offering OSHA training opportunities including Outreach Trainer and update courses in Louisville, Ky. Course descriptions and registration details are available at http://www.ceo.eku.edu/osha/doc /Louisville_2008.pdf. For more information, contact Kathy Murphy at 859-622-2961 or kathy.murphy@eku.edu.

As part of our efforts through the Alliance Program to share information on OSHA compliance assistance and outreach resources, I want to make you aware that OSHA has released several public service announcements (PSAs) to help protect employees from hazards during hurricane cleanup and recovery operations.

The PSAs, read by Assistant Secretary Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., and available in both English and Spanish, can be downloaded from the Audio News Release Web page on the Department of Labor’s Web site and from the OSHA Hurricane Recovery Web page on the Agency Web site. These messages inform listeners about hazards including falls from heights, carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, electrocution from fallen power lines, lacerations from tree trimming and automobile injuries from working around roadways.

The OSHA Hurricane Recovery Web page also includes a number of fact sheets and QuickCards designed to provide employers and employees with quick information on the leading hazards that workers face during recovery operations.  The fact sheets include Flood Cleanup, Working Safely With Chainsaws (English, Spanish), Working Safely Around Downed Electrical Wires, Heat Stress, and more.  Many of the QuickCards are also available in Spanish. 

Through National Alliance of the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) and OSHA, and in coordination with ASA, ASSE, AIHA, and NSRP, we are pleased to share the recently approved Safety Alert for Control of Hazardous Energy. This Alert is the next in a series of Alerts being developed on electrocution hazards in shipyard employment. We hope that you find this useful.

On August 19th,OSHA proposed adding language clarifying that noncompliance with PPE and training requirements may expose employers to liability on a per-employee basis. The amendments consist of new paragraphs added to the introductory sections and changes to the language of existing respirator and training requirements of Parts 1910 and 1915, among others.

IMPORTANT- This proposed action only affects the Agency's ability to treat an employer's failure to provide PPE or training to each covered employee as a separate violation. The amendments add no new compliance obligations. Employers are not required to provide any new type of PPE or training, to provide PPE or training to any employee not already covered by the existing requirements, or to provide PPE or training in a different manner than that already required. The amendments simply clarify the remedy for violations of these requirements.

What you need to know about this rule…

• OSHA is proposing to add a new section to subpart A of parts 1910, 1915, 1917 and 1918, and to subpart C of part 1926. These new sections contain general information about the scope and applicability of the standards in each part.
• Each new section will contain two new paragraphs, identical for each Part.
• The first new paragraph states that standards in the part requiring employers to provide PPE, including respirators, impose a separate compliance duty to each employee required to use the PPE, and that each failure to provide PPE to an employee may be considered a separate violation.
• The second new paragraph expressly states that standards in the part requiring training on hazards and related matters, such as standards requiring that employees receive training or that the employer train employees, provide training to employees or institute or implement a training program, impose a separate compliance duty to each employee covered by the requirement. Each failure to train an employee may be considered a separate violation.
• The proposed rule also includes revisions to specific respirator paragraphs including language explicitly stating that employers must provide an appropriate respirator and implement a respiratory protection program for each such employee. The affected standards include the general respirator standard, most general industry toxic-substance health standards in Subpart Z of 1910, as well as the shipyard employment asbestos standard 1915.1101 and 1915.1026, Chromium (IV).
  

All proposed language and additional information can be viewed in Respirator Enforcement language.

On a sunny day in June, family gathered to watch Ann Howell, VSRA Administrative Assistant, participate in the graduation of her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Leo University.  It was a proud day for her family, as it was for the VSRA staff.   But there was one thing that had to be accomplished for the degree - a comprehensive exam that was scheduled for late July.  After a bit of "angst" as the date grew near, Ann was fully prepared when the exam day arrived.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!  She has finally learned that she successfully passed the comprehensive.  She is now the elated recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Ann set her goal of completing her bachelor's degree while she was serving as a Religious Speicialist in the U.S. Navy.  With a steady strain and dedication, she continued her quest after leaving the Navy and joining the VSRA Team in late 2006.

Congratulations go to Ann from all the VSRA member companies who have the fortune of being served by Ann.  She is well known for her customer focus within the association.  BRAVO, Ann!