OSHA Releases PPE Guide for Electrical Arc Hazards
- OSHA has released updated personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance for those working on energized electrical equipment to provide proper protection from electrical arc hazards.
- Most arc flash burn injuries are a result of the arc igniting flammable clothing and not from the arc itself, OSHA said.
- This action is OSHA’s first arc-flash guidance update in almost 20 years. It consists of four parts, including a detailed document for employers and three one-page documents for workers.
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Federal Motor Carrier Agency Moves Ahead on Safety Measurement
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is updating the tool it uses to identify high-risk motor carriers based on stakeholder feedback.
- The agency uses the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program to rate commercial motor vehicle carriers on safe operation, primarily using as criteria the number of violations found during roadside inspections and how many accidents a carrier experiences.
- The agency then consults its Safety Measurement System (SMS) to identify carriers that may be at risk for future violations or crashes.
- The agency’s February 2023 request for comment on proposed changes generated 176 responses, most of which supported a number of recommendations, including: Reorganized and updated SMS safety categories; Improved intervention thresholds that identify carriers for possible intervention; and, Greater focus on recent violations.
- Dates for a webinar series covering enhancements to SMS will be announced in the coming months, according to a Nov. 20 statement.
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- IKEA said it has now deployed more than 400 exoskeletons suits for use in its facilities in 14 countries and is set to expand the program to operations in India, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Japan, and China.
- The wearable device was developed by a division of German-based Ottobock and is designed to reduce physical strain on workers during tasks such as lifting, carrying, and other repetitive movements.
- “Exoskeletons aim to minimize the negative impact of physical workload and fatigue on our co-workers’ health. Thus, ensuring better quality of life both in and out of work, including reducing strains and giving our co-workers more energy after shifts,” said Marcus Baumgartner, Global Head of Fulfilment & Services, for IKEA Retail (Ingka Group).
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