OSHA, National Demolition Association renew alliance

• OSHA and the National Demolition Association recently agreed to renew their alliance to improve the safety and health of workers in the demolition industry.
• During the five-year agreement, the alliance will address industry hazards by developing safety and health training resources and seminars that focus on the deconstruction and selective dismantling of building components for reuse, recycling, and waste management.
• The alliance will also work with labor organizations, contractors, and staffing associations, as needed, to share information in multiple languages and formats on a variety of topics including fall and heat illness prevention, recognizing hazardous materials, construction safety, and protecting temporary workers.
• Since July 2021, the alliance developed several products, including a document on managing predictable hazards when preparing for and implementing power plant demolition; and guidelines for signage and door hanger use when notifying residential communities that will be impacted by demolition work.
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OSHA asked to take action on liquid nitrogen issues

• The Chemical Safety Board has asked OSHA to issue a national standard addressing hazards related to the storage, use, and/or handling of liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic asphyxiants.
• CSB also recommends OSHA include liquid nitrogen in its Regional Emphasis Programs for poultry processing and food manufacturing.
• Chemical facilities that handle hazardous gasses or cryogenic asphyxiants such as liquid nitrogen should maintain atmospheric monitoring and alarm systems and educate workers on hazards.
• The recommendations are part of a recently released final report from the Chemical Safety Board on a fatal January 2021 liquid nitrogen release at the Foundation Food Group Inc. poultry processing plant in Gainesville, Ga.
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Grant to battle MSDs

• The National Safety Council is awarding up to an additional $260,000 this year through these pioneering grant programs to help uncover promising new safety solutions to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
• As a key initiative of the Council’s MSD Solutions Lab, a groundbreaking strategic program established in 2021 with funding from Amazon, a total of up to $535,000 has now been committed in grants to foster innovative, transferable methods to mitigate MSDs across a range of sectors and workplaces.
• MSDs include tendinitis, back strains and sprains, and carpal tunnel syndrome, and are often caused by exposures to repetitive, forceful exertions like heavy lifting.
• They affect people in every industry and sector and cost U.S. businesses in the private sector nearly $17 billion a year.
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OSHA seeks labor union rep for advisory committee

• OSHA is accepting nominations for a vacancy on its Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.
• A notice published on Jan. 22 states that the agency is seeking a representative from a labor organization that represents federal employees. The representative’s term will run through the end of the year.
• The deadline to submit nominations is Feb. 23.
• FACOSH members advise the labor secretary on issues relating to the occupational safety and health of federal workers. The 16-member council is made up of eight management representatives and eight labor representatives.
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