Chris Gitch, CSP

OSHA PAIN POINT #1: Let OSHA know how the proposed Emergency Response Standard will impact your department! Here is one ‘pain point’ that you can address in your comment. OSHA’s Proposed Rule: All Emergency Service Organizations shall conduct a community or facility vulnerability and risk assessment for its service area, for the purpose of establishing its standards of response and determining the ability to match the community or facility’s risks with available resources. The Pain Point: Does your fire department conduct hazard assessments (or pre-plans) to all commercial businesses? Does your department conduct hazard assessments to all vacant structures? Does your department pre-plan facilities that are subject to reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)? Does your department have an incident plan for each of the hazard assessments for an emergency incident? If not, then you will not be compliant with the OSHA Proposed Ruling. Tell OSHA: This is economically infeasible and there is no local funding for the hazard assessments of all buildings in your area. Let OSHA know what the cost would be to add one or more employees to be able to comply with conducting the yearly assessments. Be blunt – tell them you have no administrative staff to do this. Find more resources, including a template comment letter, at: www.nvfc.org/osha-standard Submit your comments before July 22 here: https://bit.ly/3KTKqTD

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🔥🚒𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬🚒🔥 We've noticed several posts circulating around social media regarding OSHA's proposed "Emergency Services" standard, which applies to fire departments in states that have an OSHA-approved state plan, and will replace OSHA's existing "Fire Brigades" standard. One topic, in particular, pertains to the "2-In, 2-Out" rule when working in environments that are considered immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). As you can see in the excerpt of the proposed rule below, OSHA is only modifying this for NON-LIFE-THREATENING SCENARIOS. If the first arriving company believes there is an imminent civilian rescue situation, then you can continue utilizing a minimum of a 2-person rapid intervention team (RIT) outside of the structure. This is what U.S. fire departments are typically using for structure fires and other IDLH environments, so there's no increased risk of civilian deaths by the implementation of this proposed OSHA standard. However, what OSHA is proposing to change from the norm is switching to a minimum of a 4-person RIT when there's NOT an imminent life-threatening situation. Yes, this COULD result in additional property loss if you have limited personnel because you'll now have to assign 2 extra personnel to serve on RIT that could otherwise be performing ventilation, fire attack, or other fireground-related tasks. "Paragraph (p)(4)(iii) of the proposed rule would require the WERE and ESO to ensure that at least 4 team members or responders are assembled before operations are initiated in an IDLH atmosphere in a structure or enclosed area, unless upon arrival at an emergency scene, the initial team member(s) or responder(s) find an imminent life-threatening situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, in which case such action would be permitted with fewer than 4 team members or responders present. The requirement in this provision of a minimum of 4 team members or responders is consistent with existing 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4), which requires at least 2 team members or responders to enter the IDLH environment and at least 2 team members or responders located outside the IDLH environment." At the end of the day, human life ALWAYS takes priority over property loss. While the fire service exists to save lives and protect property, OSHA is still allowing you to operate a two-person RIT when there is a potential civilian rescue scenario. We encourage all fire departments who are covered by this OSHA standard (those who live in a state with an OSHA-approved state plan) to review the proposed rule (link below). If you have questions pertaining to this proposed rule, feel free to reach out to us and we'll be glad to assist. OSHA's Proposed Rule: https://lnkd.in/gZYmZasS #arrowsafety #safety #safetyconsultant #safetytraining #osha #glasgowky #louisville #kentucky #training

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NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 2021 Edition,— requires existing Assisted Living Faciltities to protect rooms that are hazardous by 1 of 2 options and identifies what hazardous rooms are. (4) below ⬇️ is what I have seen over the years that facilities didn’t know or just were relaxed on and during survey they get a deficiency. The other part to (4) is that it is subjective, your AHJ may consider a room to be hazardous when you didn’t. Be prepared! 33.3.3.2 Protection from Hazards. 33.3.3.2.1 In other than buildings protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 9.7.1.1(1), rooms containing high-pressure boilers, refrigerating machinery, transformers, or other service equipment subject to possible explosion shall not be located directly under or adjacent to exits, and such rooms shall be effectively separa‐ ted from other parts of the building as specified in Section 8.7. 33.3.3.2.2 Hazardous areas, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following, shall be separated from other parts of the building by construction having a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating, with communicating openings protected by approved self-closing fire doors, or such areas shall be equipped with automatic fire-extinguishing systems: (1) Boiler and heater rooms (2) Laundries (3) Repair shops (4) Rooms or spaces used for storage of combustible supplies and equipment in quantities deemed hazardous by the authority having jurisdiction If you have any questions or need help to get you and your teams life safety ready for survey, reach out and let me help you and your team. #surveyready #lifesafety #DPC #alf #aclf #survey #lsc #hazardousrooms

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📢 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announces major and immediate changes to material safety data sheets (MSDS) requirements. SkillSignal - Safety & Compliance apps offer smart MSDS management out of the box! Read the formal announcement here: https://osha.gov/hazcom #construction #hazard #hazardcom #safety

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📢 Limited Spots Available -- register today for the CSC's OSHA #2264 - Permit-Required Confined Space course, starting on September 3rd. 📢 Gain the skills to recognize, evaluate, and mitigate confined space hazards through hands-on workshops on permit entry and program evaluation. Key takeaways from this course include: 🌟 Understanding key terms and standards for confined spaces 🔍 Identifying and proper handling of confined space hazards 👍 Accurate use of testing instruments and ventilation techniques 🚨 Emergency procedures and PPE requirements Secure your spot today by clicking the link below and boost your safety knowledge! Deadline to register is this Friday, August 23. >>> https://ow.ly/RVsw50SQtOA #ConstructionSafety #SafetyTraining #HandsOnExperience #PermitRequiredConfinedSpace #ConfinedSpace #HazardAwareness #PPE

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