Issuu

2020 Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards Violated in FY2019 Big Top Manufacturing earns SHARP Success Cruel Summer: The Dangers of Heat Stress Job Hazard Analysis in the Workplace COVID-19 Small Business Resources

Program Director's Column

Brian L. Warrick, PhD, CSP, CIH Program Director, USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program

y heart goes out to those impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Nine months after COVID, workplaces and employees alike around the nation are anxious to re-open as quickly as possible. So too, are the many individuals who would like to get back to bars and restaurants, concerts, theater, and family gatherings. They miss getting out of the house for social interactions and exchanging ideas with friends and colleagues away from family and kids. However, these desires must be tempered by the risks that this behavior presents. As the coronavirus infections surge, company leadership and risk managers across the U.S. must navigate how to operate safely in the workplace to minimize the impact on businesses, workers, customers, and the public. Opening prematurely can result in significant legal liability, and as such employers should use a risk-based approach to re-opening and consider the following to minimize such liability: Implement /enforce safety measures to ensure compliance with all current applicable federal COVID-19 safety guidelines. These safety guidelines also include state specific standards and regulations, industryspecific guidance (meat industry, hospital, construction), COVID-19 safety related best practices and where these guidelines are not feasible alternative means for protection that provide equal or greater protection should be explored. These safety measures demonstrate the employers’ due diligence and may provide some protection against the rising trend of whistleblower complaints of inadequate worker protection from COVID-19. Improve internal safety communications. As COVID-19 is now a recognized hazard, employers have a duty to protect workers from this illness and injury in the workplace. Likewise, employees also have the right to raise a safety or health concern with their employer. As such, employers should encourage this dialogue with employees regarding safety concerns in the workplace. They should consider forming safety teams, composed of managers and employees, tasked with monitoring and ensuring that COVID-19 safety rules are followed in the workplace. Managers also need to proactively seek input from, and address, employee concerns for COVID-19 safety in the workplace and remind them of the appropriate communication method for lodging COVID-19 safety-related complaints to ensure they are handled appropriately. This open communication between employer and employee can be strengthened with verbiage of anti-retaliation written into the company’s Safety Policy and is another vital step in minimizing the potential for whistleblower complaints.

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Thorough incident investigations should be conducted where there is a claim of possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. Employers should determine the root cause of such exposure, if any, immediately. All lessons learned, efforts made for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and administrative actions taken, including disciplinary actions, safety policies enforcement and training should be properly documented and handled consistent with applicable guidance. Such documents could be critical to the employer’s defense to whistleblower complaints of retaliation related to allegations of inadequate protection against COVID-19 in the workplace. The USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program recognizes that employers in many sectors may experience challenges in complying with certain provisions of the OSHA’s standards as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been several recently issued guidelines regarding the use of certain types of PPE or provision of medical surveillance, and training to workers. We can help employers navigate through these various standards and improve their occupational safety and health management program in an effort to demonstrate their due diligence, reduce the likelihood of whistle blower complaints and legal liability, and OSHA fines/penalties. I am extremely proud of the results of our efforts. For nearly 30 years, we have served as leaders in the field of occupational health and safety and have seen a significant improvement in workplace safety due to our efforts and the relationships with small employers. This past year we have identified 1,084 hazards, removing 16,794 workers from these hazards, and avoided Florida’s Small Businesses over $13MM in potential OSHA enforcement penalties. I’d like to personally thank you for taking the time to explore our magazine and discover how together we can make Florida the safest state to work in America. We will be honored to have you as our client. Feel free to contact us any time with your questions +1.866.273.1105 (Toll-Free) or leave us a comment at usfsafetyflorida@usf.edu.

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

2020

VOL.

10.

ISSUE

table of contents 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 19 21 22 23 24

Program Director’s Column From The Editor’s Desk USF SafetyFlorida News USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center News Think SHARP Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award Features What We See USF SafetyFlorida Management Resources By the Numbers Marketing Endeavors Who We Are

Program Director:

Brian L. Warrick, PhD, CSP, CIH USF SafetyFlorida College of Public Health 13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC 56 Tampa, FL 33612-1105 1-866-273-1105 www.usfsafetyflorida.com warrickb@usf.edu

Editor:

Thalia Barber, tbarber3@usf.edu

Reading this code with your smartphone, using QR code scanning software such as http://web.scanlife.com/en/ download-application, will enable you to go directly to the USF SafetyFlorida website.

Co-Editor:

Nicholas Girod, ngirod@usf.edu Designer:

Martin Young, martin@youngdesign.us

On-Site magazine is published annually by USF SafetyFlorida, a small business safety and health consultation program funded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Workers’ Compensation. The University of South Florida College of Public Health is the academic home for USF SafetyFlorida. 2

F ro m T h e E d i t o r ’s D e s k

On-Site Safety Consultation for Florida Small Business magazine

Nicholas Girod Co-Editor, Onsite Magazine Communications & Marketing Specialist USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program

e thank you for continuing to support our annual publication On-Site Magazine. With every edition, we endeavor to inform and inspire occupational health and safety professionals across our state and beyond. It remains our pleasure to provide information and resources essential to small businesses seeking to create safer workplaces and build sustainable safety cultures. Technology today can aid employers in preventing injuries and illnesses from occurring at work sites and significantly contribute to safer workplaces overall. Technological advances have made us smarter, faster, stronger, and more connected both at work and at home. More importantly, technology lends itself to small business owners in that it affords them the ability to save more lives.

Worker protection — reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities on the job — is the primary mission of the USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program. Our safety and health consultants are your key to achieving these benefits. They follow high and consistent

Integrating Technology

standards for helping employers protect their workers.

As more data becomes available through technology, having a digital strategy is key to making sense of it all. According to software firm Accenture, companies utilizing powerful technologies that range from predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to advanced sensors and robotics can experience an improvement of 20% or more in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) reductions.

These standards, along with their years of consultation experience, will help you build a workplace safety system that

In This Edition Employees are exposed to hazards in the workplace on a daily basis. How your organization responds can make all the difference. In this edition, University of South Florida (USF) SafetyFlorida’s own Garrick Johnson covers “Job Hazard Analysis in the Workplace” on page 14. Workers exposed to extreme heat are at greater risk of heat-related disorders like heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Employers and employees must know the signs and symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion and have a plan for first aid and emergency response. USF faculty Dr. Thomas Bernard and USF SafetyFlorida consultant David Ashman describe how to protect your workforce against heat-related hazards on page 13. As businesses begin to re-open, it is important for companies to implement disease prevention measures aggressively so that re-opening America can be done safely. On page 16, USF SafetyFlorida’s own Dr. Adam Marty discusses the necessary precautions small businesses should consider to re-open safely during this time.

unites all the elements of leadership commitment and job task procedures. With a workplace safety system in place, you can meet production goals while maintaining the health of the whole employee family. “Our experience with USF SafetyFlorida has been nothing short of positive. In fact, on-site consultation has been fully integrated into our Safety and Health Management approach. I would definitely recommend this service to small and medium-sized businesses

At USF SafetyFlorida, it is our mission to protect workers from unsafe working conditions. We remain an advocate for Florida’s small business employers operating in industries ranging from construction, general industry, maritime, and disaster site. Requesting a no-cost, on-site hazard assessment of your work site is as easy as calling us toll-free at (866) 273-1105 or visiting our website www.usfsafetyflorida.com today!

operating in high hazard industries.”

— Ian Schwartz, Vice President of Operations, Stiles Construction

USF SafetyFlorida ON-SITE

USF SafetyFlorida News

USF SafetyFlorida is open for business amid COVID-19

USF SafetyFlorida continues to make worker safety a priority The University of South Florida (USF) SafetyFlorida Consultation Program’s primary goal is to assist Florida’s small and medium-sized businesses with reducing occupational-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities through hazard identification, compliance assistance and establishing effective safety and health programs. We continue to focus on providing small and medium sized-businesses with enriched, free outreach training, educational seminars, virtual webinars, and a plethora of helpful tools and resources. The programs marketing and outreach efforts have been applied to employers and workers in multiple industries, with special attention to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) local and national emphasis programs designed to address hazards or industries that pose a particular risk to workers. We frequently partner with various other organizations to deliver state-of-the art training, provide educational resources and conduct safety and health presentations.

he Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the way we conduct consultation visits. While we are cautiously transitioning back into offering full-service visits, virtual visits have become the best option to protect our consultants and employers. Employers are looking for ways to keep their business afloat while maintaining their employees’ safety and their customers. Virtual visits, while unorthodox and with a few challenges present many benefits. In early April 2020, the USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program marketed and launched its Virtual Visit Program (VVP). This program has allowed us to continue to provide small employers the support and resources needed to protect their employees. We’ve adopted Microsoft Teams to conduct virtual visits, which has proven instrumental in reaching our client base due to its flexibility and ease of use. Convenience: Consultations can be conducted virtually anywhere with our state-of-the-art video conferencing tools. Improved safety: Consultants are better able to accommodate members of vulnerable populations by working remotely. This contributes to reduced risk of exposure for all parties involved, and follows the recommendations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Reduction of backlog: Visits conducted virtually lead to faster service and increased access to the consultant, which significantly reduces our backlog.

During fiscal year 2019-2020, USF SafetyFlorida in conjunction with its partners offered complimentary activities to high-hazard industries to help sustain stronger and healthier communities. The following activities listed highlight the program’s outreach initiatives offered in FY 2020: • Active Threat Preparedness Training • Confined Space in Construction Seminar • Florida Building Maintenance Showcase • Hurricane Preparedness Webinar • Heat Illness Awareness Webinar • National Fall Safety Stand-Down • Re-opening America during COVID-19 Webinar • Safe + Sound Week • SARS CoV2 for Health Care Workers: Qualitative Respiratory Fit Testing Webinar • Safety and Health Management & Its impact on Safety Culture Webinar • Silica in Construction Symposium • Workers’ Memorial Day Virtual Learning Experience • Workplace Ergonomics Workshop Collectively, all trainings combined yielded a total of 798 attendees. We are here to support you! Please contact Thalia Barber, USF SafetyFlorida Communications and Marketing Officer at tbarber3@usf.edu or Nicholas Girod, USF SafetyFlorida Communications and Marketing Specialist at ngirod@usf.edu via email with any training suggestions you may have.

Reduced cost: Business travel costs, which include transportation time, lodging, and meals, have been eliminated. As with all new processes, lessons continued to be learned and adaptation implemented. Our commitment to Florida’s small business community has not wavered, and we intend to use every resource available to us to help employers provide safer workplaces in Florida. We encourage you to join more than 12,000 subscribers who rely on our e-newsletter and our On-Site Magazine to receive OSHA updates and informative safety and health information. Stay up to date with our program by subscribing to our monthly emails. To subscribe, visit usfsafetyflorida.com. USF SafetyFlorida’s William Tomlin examining the dangers of Silica with attendees at the Silica in Construction Symposium. 5

USF SafetyFlorida ON-SITE

PHOTO CAPTION 2: USF SafetyFlorida’s Mylene Kellerman delving into Workp Ergonomic hazards at the Workplace Ergonomics Workshop.

Run, Hide, Fight: How to Survive an Active Shooter Scenario

USF SafetyFlorida’s Mylene Kellerman delving into Workplace Ergonomic hazards at the Workplace Ergonomics Workshop.

Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards violated in FY 2019 The cited standards for fiscal year 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019) consisted of the following: • • • • • • • • • •

Fall protection, General Requirements (29 CFR 1926.501) Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) Fall Protection – Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503) Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212) Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102)

Safety & Health Management and its Impact on Safety Culture Webinar As you know, Safety & Health Program’s (SHP) foster a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating workplace hazards. Having an effective safety program is not only beneficial to management, but also to workers. USF SafetyFlorida Consultant and Safety Supervisor along with Vergie Bain, Ft Lauderdale OSHA Area Compliance Specialist, explored best practices in management leadership, worker participation and identifying and abating hazards with small employers in Florida. The workshop was held virtually and with 89 in attendance. Participants were happy to report this webinar as a success. Even in the wake of a pandemic, USF SafetyFlorida continues support Florida’s small employers through quality virtual learning opportunities.

an delving into Workplace hop.

According to a gun v io lence research group, 2019 yielded the highest number of mass shootings than any previous year. Tragically, there were 28 instances which resulted in 247 deaths related to active shooter scenarios according to Federal Bureau of Investigations. USF SafetyFlorida, Department of Homeland Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement proudly partnered to provide this vital training to Florida’s small business owners and the University community. Events of the past years, and even current, have called attention to the need to be better prepared for a wide range of emergencies. Throughout a series of presentations, led by Gary Warren, Protective Security Advisor U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Robert Marlowe, Assistant Emergency Planner of USF Emergency Management and Marlon Gayden, University Police Officer explored recognizing potential workplace violence indicators, the actions to take when confronted with an active shooter, how to assist responding law enforcement officials, identifying and mitigating risk factors, actions to take to prevent and prepare for potential active shooter incidents, how to execute an active shooter preparedness plan. There were 75 participants in attendance throughout the series. Form & Function: Workplace Ergonomics with William Tomlin and Michelle Gonzalez Workers in many different industries and occupations can be exposed to risk factors at work, such as lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body postures and performing the same or similar tasks repetitively. Exposure to these known risk factors for Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) increases a worker’s risk of injury. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2013, MSD cases accounted for 33% of all worker injury and illnesses. Through a joint effort, USF SafetyFlorida and Jacksonville OSHA Area Office sought to provide small business owners, employers, employees, managers, supervisors, and safety and health personnel across all industries the tools to recognize, evaluate and control musculoskeletal and nerve disorders. Through a two (2) hour presentation, USF SafetyFlorida’s William Tomlin and Jacksonville OSHA Area Office Director Michelle Gonzalez examined ergonomic principles and effective strategies to recognize, evaluate, and control workplace conditions that cause or contribute to musculoskeletal and nerve disorders as well as applicable OSHA standards, compliance policies and guidelines. Participants included small business owners, employers, employees, managers, supervisors, and safety and health personnel across all industries.

U S F O S H A Tr a i n i n g I n s t i t u t e E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r N e w s

About Us The USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center (USF OTIEC) is headquartered in Wesley Chapel, Florida, just north of beautiful Tampa Bay. As part of OSHA Region IV—comprised of the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the USF OTIEC serves the Southeast and beyond to support the overall mission of reducing workplace accidents and injuries by training workers, employers and safety professionals on hazard recognition and avoidance. Since it s inception in 2003, more than 23,500 adults have received safet y and health training from the USF OTI Education Center in a classroom setting and more than 231,500

students have attended its online courses. Our professional instructors have over professionals and their worksite safety expertise spans the construction, maritime, manufacturing and other general industries as well as disaster site work. The USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center is part of a national network of non-profit organizations authorized by OSHA to deliver occupational safety and health training to public (including military and other Federal agencies) and private sector workers, supervisors, and employers on behalf of OSHA. The USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center is the leading institution in the state of Florida authorized to deliver this training. Due to the global Coronavirus health pandemic and to protect the well-being of students, instructors and staff, USF OTIEC teaches most OSHA courses using video conferencing. Trainer courses, however, continue to be taught in-person in the classroom and the requirements for social distancing, facial coverings, temperature checks and hand sanitizer are strictly followed. USF OTIEC invites you to experience firsthand what sets Florida’s OSHA Training Institute Education Center apart from other training providers. Please visit www.usfotiec.org or email usfotiec-cards@usf.edu or phone (813) 994-1195.

Mylene Kellerman, Program Director, USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center

USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center

USF SafetyFlorida ON-SITE

Courses offered by USF OTIEC include: Construction Industry • 10 Hour Construction • 30 Hour Construction • OSHA 500 – Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry • OSHA 502 – Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers • OSHA 510 – Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry • OSHA 7845 – Recordkeeping Rule Seminar Construction Industry • 9040 – Introduction to OSHA • 9041 – OSHA Standards and Inspection Procedures • 9043 – OSHA Recordkeeping • 9044 – OSHA Health Hazards in Construction • 9048 – OSHA Welding and Cutting for Construction • 9049 – OSHA Safety Programs and Subpart C • 9050 – OSHA Rigging and Material Handling • 9051 – OSHA Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors • 9052 – OSHA Electrical for Construction • 9053 – OSHA Excavations for Construction • 9054 – OSHA Fire Prevention for Construction • 9055 – OSHA Scaffolds Course • 9056 – OSHA Personal Protective Equipment • 9057 – OSHA Fall Protection Course • 9058 – OSHA Stairways and Ladders Course • 9060 – OSHA Concrete and Masonry for Construction

General Industry • 10 Hour General Industry • 30 Hour General Industry • OSHA 501 – Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry • OSHA 503 – Update for General Industry Outreach Trainers • OSHA 511 – Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry • OSHA 521 – OSHA Guide to Industrial Hygiene • OSHA 2015 – Hazardous Materials • OSHA 2045 – Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards • OSHA 2225 – Respiratory Protection • OSHA 2255 – Principles of Ergonomics • OSHA 2264 – Permit–Required Confined Space Entry • OSHA 3015 – Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics • OSHA 3085 – Principles of Scaffolding • OSHA 3095 – Electrical Standards • OSHA 6005 – Collateral Duty Course For Other Federal Agencies • OSHA 6015 – Occupational Safety and Health Course for Other Federal Agencies • OSHA 7000 – OSHA Training Guidelines for Safe Patient Handling • OSHA 7100 – Introduction to Machinery and Machine Safeguarding (8 Hour)

• OSHA 7115 – Lockout/ Tagout – Controlling Hazardous Energy to Prevent Workplace Injury • OSHA 7120 – Introduction to Combustible Dust Hazards • OSHA 7200 – Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control for Healthcare Facilities • OSHA 7205 – Health Hazards Awareness • OSHA 7215 – Silica in Construction, Maritime, and General Industries • OSHA 7300 – Understanding OSHA’s Permit-Required Confined Space Standards • OSHA 7410 – Managing Excavation Hazards • OSHA 7415 – OSHA Construction Industry Requirements (Major Hazards and Prevention) • OSHA 7500 – Introduction to Safety and Health Management • OSHA 7505 – Introduction to Accident Investigation • OSHA 7510 – Introduction to OSHA for Small Business • 9070 – Introduction to OSHA • 9073 – Recordkeeping • 9074 – Bloodborne Pathogens • 9075 – Confined Space Entry • 9077 – Ergonomics • 9079 – Safety and Health Programs • 9081 – Machine Guarding • 9083 – Lockout and Tagout • 9085 – Walking and Working Surfaces • 9086 – Personal Protective Equipment • 9087 – Fire Detection and Protection • 9089 – OSHA GHS & Hazard Communication Course • 9092 – 4 Hour Record Keeping

Maritime Industry • OSHA 5400 – Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Maritime • OSHA 5402 – Maritime Industry Update Course • OSHA 5410 – Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Maritime Industry • 9031 – HAZWOPER – 8 hour Refresher • 9032 – HAZWOPER – 24 hour Training • OSHA 5600 - Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course • OSHA 5602 – Update Course for Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course • OSHA 7105 – Evacuation and Emergency Planning • OSHA 7600 – Disaster Site Worker Course

Disaster Site Worker • • • • •

9031 – HAZWOPER – 8 hour Refresher 9032 – HAZWOPER – 24 hour Training OSHA 5600 - Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course OSHA 5602 – Update Course for Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course OSHA 7105 – Evacuation and Emergency Planning

Contract courses are available for the General, Construction, Maritime, and Disaster-site Industries. To schedule a contract course, please email usfotioutreach@usf.edu

USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center 2612 Cypress Ridge Boulevard, Suite 101, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 www.usfotiec.org.

For more information about the USF OTI Education Center and to register for classes, visit us on the web at www.usfotiec.org or call 813-994-1195. 8

Think SHARP

Exemplary Safety and Health Equates to Prestigious SHARP Certification What is SHARP?

SHARP Renewal

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award to recognize small business owners who operate an exemplary safety and health management system (SHMS). Once SHARP certified, employers are exempt from OSHA inspections for a period up to two years, apart from a serious accident, fatality or employee complaint. Small and medium-sized businesses throughout the U.S. can earn a SHARP award, and for a Florida company the approval process begins with a recommendation to OSHA from USF SafetyFlorida.

If a company wishes to renew its SHARP certification, the application process must begin during the last six months of its exemption period. The company must also undergo a comprehensive visit by a USF SafetyFlorida consultant to ensure its SHMS has improved or maintained. Furthermore, the employer must meet all SHARP eligibility requirements, agree to conduct self-evaluations and provide a written report based on the elements of OSHA 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines and OSHA’s required injury and illness logs.

How can your company become SHARP?

SHARP Deferral

Companies interested in pursuing SHARP status must first request a safety and health consultation from USF SafetyFlorida. The on-site consultation involves a comprehensive safety and health hazard survey of the worksite(s) involved, including equipment and work processes. Other qualifying requirements for the SHARP program include: • Have at least one year of operating history at the company or worksite; • Implement, demonstrate and maintain a safety and health management system (SHMS) that, at a minimum, addresses the major elements of OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; • Lower the company’s Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate and Total Recordable Case (TRC) rate below industry national average; • Correct all hazards identified by the consultant; • Agree to notify the USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program prior to making changes in working conditions or work processes that may introduce new hazards into the workplace.

If a business meets most but not all of OSHA’s SHARP eligibility requirements, a USF SafetyFlorida consultant may recommend a business for an inspection deferral up to 18 months, provided the company has: • Completed a hazard identification survey with a USF SafetyFlorida consultant and corrected all identified hazards; • Implemented, demonstrated and maintained a SHMS that, at a minimum, addresses the major elements of OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; • Implemented an action plan with established abatement dates that completes the necessary items that prevented the company from reaching SHARP status during the original survey.

Florida’s SHARP Companies

(N) Accuform Manufacturing, Inc. (R) American Thermoplastic Extrusion Company (N) Big Top Manufacturing Company (R) Canterbury Tower (R) Class B Inc (R) Cypress Cove Care Center, LLC (R) Daws Manufacturing Company, Inc (N) Legendary Marine, LLC (R) Melitta USA, Inc (N) Metal Industries, Inc (R) Portus Stevedoring, LLC (N) New Limeco (N) Tintometer, Inc. (N) Ajax Building Corporation Construction SHARP Pilot Program (N) STILES Construction

This year 15 Florida companies qualified for OSHA’s SHARP award. SHARP Key: (N) = new (R) = renewal

USF SafetyFlorida ON-SITE

(D) = deferral

Big Top Manufacturing's Belief In Creating Safer Workplaces Leads To SHARP Recognition Since 1979, Big Top Manufacturing, located in Perry, Florida, has been designing, manufacturing, and installing custom tension fabric shelters throughout the world. The company serves customers across a broad array of industries including military, construction, aviation, marine, and mining and minerals. Each of its structures are manufactured and fabricated at the company’s facility in Perry. The structures are then disassembled and shipped to the customer’s site where Big Top’s installation crews erect the finished product. The manufacturing process occurs at a roughly 130,000 square feet facility, where steel tubing for the frames are cut, shaped, and welded; and the fabric coverings are cut and seamed with radio frequency fabric welding machines. The establishment employs approximately 120 employees in its various operations throughout the year.

and health management system, which led it to USF SafetyFlorida. Thus began a long term partnership between the company and a SafetyFlorida consultant. Over the years, the consultant made visits to the establishment, identifying hazards and suggesting training and other recommendations. The most recent visit resulted in only two hazards being identified as well as all attributes of an effective safety and health management system identified and determined to have been effectively implemented. Recognizing the steadfast commitment exhibited by management, combined with the high level of employee involvement in the establishment’s safety program, and other considerations, the consultant nominated Big Top Manufacturing for recognition under OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

As with many companies, Big Top Manufacturing has strived for many years to maintain a safe and healthful workplace for its employees, and always looking to keep its safety and health initiative fresh. The company sought a third party’s assessment and recommendations on how to improve its safety

The Administrator for OSHA’s Region IV, approved the award for the company for the period of November 30, 2019, through November 29, 2021. The award may be renewed if the company maintains its exemplary approach to managing workplace safety and health.

Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award

Commitment to Safety and Teamwork Make the Difference

sk any successful business owner involved in high-risk industries their advice on keeping incident levels low, and their answer will most likely be employers and employees working together to keep a job site safe. This employer-employee safety commitment is the reason USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program developed the Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award.

Created in 2006, the Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award commends employers and employees in all industries who proactively and routinely engage in job safety. Approximately 40 firms earn this honor annually, and it recognizes companies that have implemented good safety initiatives to better protect employees on the job. According to Keith Brown, a USF SafetyFlorida safety and health supervisor, “Commitment to safety is best demonstrated by teamwork between workers and managers in resolving workplace safety and health issues. Teamwork includes maintaining open and effective means of communication to not only identify problems, but also to achieve solutions.” To qualify, a business should request and receive a complete on-site consultation survey and employ at least one person at the worksite to be evaluated. Additionally, the business should have no willful, repeat or willful-repeat citations within 24 months of the consultation and not serious citations related to injury or exposure within 12 months of the consultation. During the consultation, a safety consultant will perform comprehensive on-site evaluation of all written programs. The consultant will also speak with workers and conduct an evaluation of the work area. The safety consultant will review: • • • • •

Administration and oversight of safety management programs Safety and health management practices Safety training and instruction Employee safety rules Internal safety inspection routines for new and existing substances, processes and equipment

If hazards are identified during the visit, an abatement of those specific hazards must take place before recognition is granted. Once initial and final consultations are complete, a safety consultant may decide to formally recommend the firm for a Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award, which is approved by USF SafetyFlorida management. A formal letter of commendation is sent to the company, recognizing the employers’ and employees’ efforts in implementing and maintaining an effective injury and illness prevention program. “Working together towards maintaining workplace safety and health is something everyone can take benefit from,” adds Brown.

All Points Boats of Ft. Lauderdale

USF SafetyFlorida ON-SITE

The 2019-2020 Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award recipients include: Alcro Metals Service Centers All Points Boats Ann Chery Fajas USA Inc APG Electric, Inc. – Advent Health Celebration - Patient Tower ARCO National Construction Company, Inc. – UF Student Housing Construction Jobsite Chris-Tel Company of Southwest Florida, Inc. – 17069-C - Estero Blvd Improvements Phase 2 Project Coastal Construction – Casa Armani Coastal Construction – Palace at Weston EMJ Construction – St. Cloud Medical Office Building EMJ Corporation – Public Storage of Davie, FL First Florida Building Corporation – Flagler Village Hotel First Florida Building Corporation – Meres Crossing GT Supplies Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River KAST Construction Company, LLC – Alexan Doral KVC Constructors, Inc – Care Resource Community Health Center Moss & Associates – 600 Brickell Project NV2A Group, LLC – Baptist Hospital ER Coral Way NV2A Group, LLC – Baptist Hospital ER Doral NV2A Group, LLC – St. Thomas University Sacyr Construction USA, LLC – I-75 Sacyr Seawood Builders, LLC – Cambria Hotel & Suites Stiles Construction – Belmont Project Stiles Construction – 201 Project Stiles Construction – 212 Project Stiles Construction – Port Everglades Straticon, LLC – Hamilton on the Bay Willis Smith Construction – Waterside Town Center Project Winmar Construction – Ivory 214

Sacyr Construction USA, LLC of Sarasota

EMJ Corporation of Davie

USF SafetyFlorida developed the Sunshine State Safety Recognition Award to motivate and support employers who demonstrate a commitment to continuously improve their workplace safety and health management system.

ARCO National Construction Company Inc of Gainesville

Feature I

Dr. Thomas Bernard, USF Faculty

David Ashman, Safety Consultant

Cruel Summer: The Dangers of Heat Stress

lthough summer has officially ended and autumn is here, the hot weather has been relentless in the sunshine state, especially in the southern region. The blistering heat has broken record highs this year alone. Those working outside in construction or agriculture are especially at risk. Workers’ exposed to extreme heat are at greater risk of heat-related disorders like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Employers and employees must know the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and have a plan for first aid and emergency response (please refer to the Heat Illness Guideline.) Another concern is heat fainting (called syncope), which occurs when an employee is standing for long periods of time or standing up quickly after sitting or lying down for long periods. During a recent site visit with an employer, as we began to discuss prevention strategies related to this particular risk, the employer recalled one summer in particular in which the company faced four different instances. Two of which were recordable. He was relieved to see that as a result of training; his employees were now capable of responding in a manner that reduced the severity of injuries in all of these accounts. Employees immediately sprang into action, offering additional water sources and

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moving the affected to cool rooms on-site. I would venture to say that proper training and effective emergency planning helped keep those employees alive that day. Failure to implement an effective injury and illness program can result in monetary fines from OSHA enforcement. Under General Duty Clause 5a1 OSHA can fine an employer for items discovered in an inspection that are known hazards (see OSHA and NIOSH websites). Additionally, loss of consciousness, regardless of the duration, is a recordable injury that would need to be included in your OSHA logs. Any injury or illness could result in a workers’ compensation claim that could potentially increase an employer’s modification rate and increase insurance premiums. It is imperative to ensure that employees are properly trained on what to expect and what signs to look for. Prevention of heat stress in workers is key. Adequate training should be provided so that employees are familiar with what heat stress is, how it can impact their safety, and how it can be prevented. Providing water, rest and shade is necessary to allow employees sufficient time to cool down. More importantly, employees need to be granted the ability to stop any processes necessary to prevent

a more serious injury from occurring. According to the National Safety Council, workplace injuries and illnesses cost our economy $198.2 billion per day. Employers who invest in injury and illness prevention programs can expect to see significant cost savings in addition to reducing fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. USF SafetyFlorida, the state of Florida’s official small business consultation program provides employers with a FREE web-based tool known as the SafetyWriter. SafetyWriter allows employers to customize an injury and illness prevention program specific to their industry. To access the free tool or to request a complimentary consultation, visit www.usfsafetyflorida.com or call 1.866.273.1105. For more information regarding heat stress: https://www.osha.gov/heat/index.html https://www.osha.gov/ Publications/osha3154.pdf https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ heatstress/heat_illnesses.html https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_ Hurricane_Facts/heat_stress.html Tags: cruel summer, Heat Index, heat stress, USF Health, USF SafetyFlorida

Feature II

Job Hazard Analysis in the Workplace

mployees are exposed to hazards in the workplace on a daily basis and employers have the responsibility of protecting employees from these hazards. Some hazards can lead to worse outcomes than others and some jobs are inherently more hazardous than others, but one thing they all have in common is that there are ways to reduce or possibly eliminate hazards using one of several control methods that are outlined in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) hierarchy of controls. In order of preference and effectiveness, they are as follows: Elimination – removing the hazard so employees are not exposed to the hazard. An example of this would be to move a noisy piece of machinery to another area where no one works or outside the building. Substitution – substituting a hazard with something less hazardous. A common example of this is substituting a less toxic chemical for a more toxic chemical when both chemicals work equally as effectively. Engineering controls – reducing the hazard through physical means such as barriers, ventilation, isolation, and enclosures. An example of this would be installing a spray booth for spraying solvent-based liquids. Administrative controls – reducing the hazard through work practices or policies. An example of this would be having a policy that requires two employees to lift objects that weigh more than 50 lbs. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – when no other controls are available the last line of protection is PPE. Common PPE are gloves, welding masks, respirators, ear protection, safety glasses, etc.

The primary means to identifying and controlling hazards is to conduct a job hazard analysis (JHA). In OSHA Publication No. 3071 titled Job Hazard Analysis, a JHA is defined as “a technique that focuses on job tasks to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment.” Or more simply put: every step of a specific task is evaluated for potential hazards, control methods are identified to eliminate or reduce the hazards, and if no controls are available then identify what PPE is needed. JHA’s are thought exercises that attempt to identify what can go wrong, what the consequences are if something went wrong, the scenarios in which potential hazards lie along with their respective contributing factors, and how likely would it be to occur. A JHA need not be overly complex, but it does need to be effective. The task of conducting JHA often falls on the employees in positions of authority, such as the safety manager/coordinator or a supervisor/foreman; however, the best resource for completing JHAs is often overlooked – the employees themselves. Involving employees engaged in the job task or exposed to its unique hazards utilizes knowledge that can often be gained only by performing that job task. It also has the added benefit of having employees actively participate in the safety and health program, which is key in having them “buyin” to the safety and health program. Ideally, JHAs are completed before a job task or process is introduced into the workplace. Conducting JHAs beforehand maximizes the opportunity to consider all types of controls and is more cost-effective as it allows hazards to be controlled before they can even occur, rather than modifying a job task or process that is already active. More often, though, JHAs are conducted well after a job task or process has been implemented and if an employer has several job tasks, all with varying types of equipment and hazards, conducting JHAs can seem overwhelming and employers may not

Garrick Johnson, MSPH, CIH Health Consultant

even know where to begin. In this situation, JHAs can be prioritized based on: • Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates; • Jobs with the potential to cause severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no history of previous accidents; • Jobs in which one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury; • Jobs that are new to your operation or have undergone changes in processes and procedures; andJobs complex enough to require written instructions. JHAs are included in OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs and employers are not required to conduct JHAs, but all employers should strongly consider conducting JHAs as they can help reduce injuries and illnesses, which in turn corresponds to reduced worker’s compensation costs and increased productivity. The exception to the requirement for conducting JHAs is if employees are being provided PPE. Since PPE’s effectiveness lies in its suitability for use in the specific application, OSHA’s PPE general requirements standard 1910.132 explicitly states employers need to have a written certification that a JHA has been performed, and that the proper PPE is being provided. Now that the concept and process of conducting a JHA has been described, let’s look at a simple example I use when talking to employers about JHAs.

Feature II: (cont'd)

Example: Conducting a JHA for making a pot of coffee

Now obviously this is overkill for a task as simple and relatively low hazard as making a pot of coffee, but it is illustrative of a comprehensive JHA. Now back to the question of effectiveness. How do you know if a JHA is effective? Simply put: if an employer has conducted a JHA on a job task or process, implemented controls, and employees are still sustaining injuries while engaged in that job task; then the JHA has overlooked something or identified improper PPE, and is not effective. In the coffee making example above, let’s imagine that only a very specific type of glass carafe can be used, the only source of water is from a 5 gallon dispenser due to the coffee maker being in a remote location, and that a carafe breaks which 15

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leads to an employee suffering a laceration. In this scenario, substituting the glass carafe is not an option, nor is eliminating the need to fill the carafe since it must be filled from a 5-gallon dispenser. The original JHA would show that the only option to protect employees from lacerations is to provide them with cut-resistant gloves; but since they are still being injured (assuming that they are actually wearing the gloves), the gloves identified are not effective. In this case, a new JHA would have to be performed and a different type of glove evaluated. A properly conducted and effective JHA is a powerful tool in eliminating or reducing hazards in the workplace and can provide

big returns in terms of cost savings and increased productivity. I would encourage all employers to download a copy of OSHA’s guidebook Job Hazard Analysis from https:// www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071.pdf for further information. Consultants with the USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program are readily available to help employers navigate the ins and outs of OSHA standards, and to assist employers provide a safe and healthy working environment for their workers. Call toll-free at 1-866-2731105 or visit www.usfsafetyflorida.com to request a free and confidential consultation visit.

Feature III

COVID-19 Small Business Resources

anuary 2020 started with news of a novel disease in a country half way around the world. This novel disease would become what is known as COVID-19. Six months later, the United States has experienced over 1.8 million cases of COVID-19, over 100,000 fatalities attributed to the disease, led to stay-at-home orders, and shuttered non-essential businesses across the country. Indeed, this new disease has impacted virtually every aspect of American life. COVID-19 and public health have been a constant part of the news cycle since the outbreak began. Social distancing has become a household term. And wearing a face mask in public has become the norm. The public health practices that have been implemented over the last few months have helped to turn the tide on the disease. Disease rates have stabilized or declined in many parts of the country. Many governors are beginning to lift their stay-athome orders. As businesses begin to re-open, it is important for companies to implement disease prevention measures aggressively so that re-opening America can be done safely. Such measures could include establishing and implementing a COVID-19 prevention plan. Although not specifically required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), implementing a COVID-19 prevention plan could be required under the OSHA general duty clause. The OSHA general duty clause requires that each employer provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees. Surely COVID-19 is

a recognized hazard likely to cause serious physical harm to employees in many industries. But establishing a prevention plan for a new, previously unrecognized disease may seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are resources available to assist a business in establishing a COVID-19 prevention plan. Every business should be, or become, familiar with the OSHA 3990-03 2020 booklet “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19”. The document contains a wealth of information about COVID-19, how an outbreak could affect the workplace, and steps employers can take to reduce workers’ risk of exposure to the disease. The steps include measures that all employers can take such as implementing basic infection prevention measures, developing policies and procedures for COVID-19, and implementing basic workplace controls. The document is especially useful in that it provides an employer a means to classify their workers’ risk of exposure to the disease and also provides specific workplace controls based on that risk classification. The OSHA booklet can serve as the basis for developing a workplace specific COVID-19 prevention plan. Also, every business should be, or become, familiar with the OSHA safety and health topics on the dedicated COVID-19 webpage. The webpage also has good information that can be used in developing a COVID-19 prevention plan. The webpage contains OSHA “Alerts” that are industry-specific designed to keep workers safe. The webpage provides guidance and resources for employers and workers on the control and prevention of COVID-19 in specific industries such as construction, dentistry, healthcare, and

Adam Marty, PhD, CIH Health Consultant retail operations, to name a few. An employer doing business within a listed industry would be wise to consider those industry specific control and prevention measures and incorporate them into their plan. The webpage also has useful posters and videos in the “News and Updates” tab to assist with employee training. Lastly, the webpage contains links to additional resources including worker training tools, webinars, and presentations about COVID-19. Every business has a responsibility to take the precautions necessary to re-open America’s businesses safely. Every business should first implement a COVID-19 prevention plan and then use the “Workplace Decision Tool” developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist in making re-opening decisions. Taking the necessary precautions will minimize employees’ risk of exposure to the disease and keep workers, their families, and their friends safe and healthy. Taking the necessary precautions will also reduce the chances of having painful re-instatements of stay-at-home orders due to an upswing in infection rates. If your business needs assistance in developing a COVID-19 prevention plan or understanding what may be required by OSHA, the University of South Florida (USF) SafetyFlorida Consultation Program can provide free assistance. USF SafetyFlorida can provide a sample prevention plan, training materials, and resources. If there are questions about COVID-19 or if assistance is needed in developing a plan, please contact USF SafetyFlorida Consultation, www. usfsafetyflorida.com, for a free review and evaluation.

Feature IV

Holiday Safety: Seasonal and Temporary Workers

s the holiday season quickly approaches employer s should focus on their responsibility to protect all employees, to include full time, part-time and temporary employees during the busy holiday season. Whether employees are stocking shelves, packing boxes, delivering products, or selling merchandise, temporary or seasonal employees hired to provide additional help have the right to a safe workplace. During this time of year, hiring seasonal workers increases and more employees are in unversed job settings. With increased merchandise sales, employees are expected to meet high demands. It is important to focus on employees who may not be as familiar with their new scope of work. Additionally, employers need to understand the different rules that involve seasonal/temporary workers. Industries such as retail employers should take precautions to keep workers safe while managing large crowds during sales events. Shopping increases during this time of year dramatically which directly impacts worker safety. It is important to address potential workplace safety hazards by implementing safety guidelines, such as using trained security personnel and barricades or rope lines for pedestrians and implementing crowd control measures and emergency procedures. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2018” the retail trade was the only private industry sector where the TRC (Total Recordable Cases) rate increased in 2018, rising from 3.3 cases to 3.5 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. This was the first increase in the TRC rate in retail trade since the series began in 2003. Retail trade accounted for 14 percent of all injuries and illnesses in private industry in 2018. OSHA offers many resources that provide information and guidance for protecting those employed in various aspects of the retail industry, including warehousing, tractor trailer drivers, forklift safety, and crowd management.

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Please visit https://www.osha.gov/holidaysafety. html and https://www.osha.gov/temp_workers/ for additional information. I personally urge you to be prepared and take special care to ensure your employees are trained and ready for the fast approaching holiday season. Communication is vital to everyone’s safety and the success of your business. Katlyn Thomas, BS, Health Consultant

Consulting • Training • Education USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program’s primary purpose is to help your company prevent work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses. In the short term, we do that by emphasizing hazard identification. In the long term, we do that by helping you develop a safety management program. Our strategies give you the results you’re looking for. If you are ready to take the next step towards safety in your business, contact us today to request a free and confidential safety consultation.

On-site Consultation USF SafetyFlorida offers free and confidential safety and occupational health advice to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Our consultants work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs.

Training & Education The OTI Education Center provides training and education on occupational safety and health subjects for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, other federal agency personnel, and the private sector.

Online Management Tool SafetyWriter, an online safety management tool developed by USF SafetyFlorida helps companies customize a written safety and health management program without the guesswork.

Award Programs USF SafetyFlorida rewards small businesses who demonstrate strong, effective safety cultures with the opportunity to receive either the SHARP (from the OSHA national office) or the Sunshine State Safety Award (exclusively for Florida’s small businesses).

What We See

Noel McCatty Jr.

ach day, our consultants are out in the field visiting small employers in high-hazard industries. From a hazard standpoint, we see it all. On this page are photos of hazards we have identified this year. More importantly, our consultants assisted these companies with correcting the hazards so their employees can work safely.

Adam Marty, PhD, CIH

It is a requirement of OSHA that employees be given a safe and healthy workplace that is reasonably free of occupational hazards. However, it is unrealistic to expect accidents not to happen. Therefore, employers are required to provide medical and first aid personnel and supplies commensurate with the hazards of the workplace. In this instance, there were no supplies available.

Michael Tartal

Winfred Marrero Pagan

Adding additional counterweights to increase the lifting capacity of the forklift shifts the center gravity outside of the stability triangle of the forklift.Â This modification can result in decreased stability, handling, and steering ability, resulting in the forklift tipping over, the operator losing control of the forklift, the forklift dropping the load, and ultimately struck by and crushing injuries and fatal accidents.

All respirators should be stored to prevent damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals. It is important that employers ensure that employees clean, inspect, and properly store all respirators after each and every use.

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If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service until repairs and the equipment is rendered safe.

Adam Marty, PhD, CIH Gabe Garcia

A one-gallon plastic juice container that contained acetone, a category 2 flammable liquid, was observed in a production area. The container had become brittle and was breaking apart at the top. Many flammable liquids are solvents which can degrade certain types of plastics causing the plastic to become brittle or soft. If the container fails, this can increase the risk of a fire or explosion resulting in employee burns, traumatic injuries, and/or fatalities.

Keith Brown

Garrick Johnson, MSPH, CIH

Electric equipment should be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Do a hazard assessment, remove the water cooler and or the electrical outlet; provide single service cups and ensure the cooler cover is locked and secured.

It is important for employer to ensure that each container of hazardous chemical in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of its contents and hazards associated with exposure to those materials. Worker(s) may unknowingly be exposed to diesel, with potential for fire resulting in burns, smoke inhalation, or fatality.

General purpose wiring and electrical equipment can cause explosions and fires in areas where flammable vapors and liquids are present. These areas require special electrical equipment which is designed for the specific hazard involved. Many electrical components arc, spark, or produce heat under normal operating conditions. In designing equipment for hazardous locations, these components are either replaced by lower powered substitutes or shielded from contact with the atmosphere or the equipment chassis.

SafetyWriter is good for you, and great for business! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of December 17, 2019, 5,250 workers were killed on the job in 2018 (3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) — on average, more than 100 a week or more than 14 deaths per day. “Employers who invest in injury and illness prevention programs can expect significant cost savings in addition to reducing fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Workplace safety is not only the right thing to do for your workers; it’s the right thing to do for your business.” (osha.gov, 2016)

SafetyWriter Illness and injury Prevention Plan The SafetyWriter program enables small businesses to select safety plan components from a list of different menu options to customize a site-specific safety plan for their business. The plan is downloadable as a word document so that employers can add details specific to their company and save it to their desktop, or upload the tailored plan back into the system where it may be accessed at any time, from any location. Furthermore, SafetyWriter is fast, quick and free to use. Many countries have benefited from using the USF SafetyFlorida’s SafetyWriter program. Join them to build or update a customized safety plan for your company today! For more information or to request a complimentary consultation, visit www.usfsafetyflorida.com or call toll-free (866) 273-1105.

Safety Video Borrowing System The USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program prides itself on making small businesses safer and more productive. Our borrowing system now includes a live streaming feature, which means you can view safety videos anywhere, at any time. The system is available for public and private sector employers/ employees as well as Florida State Agencies, counties, municipalities, K-12 and higher education units. Our video borrowing system will aid workers in gaining a better understanding of OSHA requirements and standards, provide effective training and education, and provide access to more beneficial resources. The knowledge gained and information received cost you nothing, but the benefits are priceless. Our program has more than 2,000 safety and health titles, offered in multiple languages. Visit https:// usfsafetyflorida.force.com/s/video-library to peruse our catalog.

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USF SafetyFlorida continues to create and develop new partnerships to bring you – our most valued customer’s new and fresh occupational safety and health related training and education opportunities, events and activities. To stay in the loop and learn more about what we are doing to help Florida’s small businesses, please be sure to like us on Facebook @USFSafetyFlorida. Like us on LinkedIn.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter Did you know? USF SafetyFlorida issues an electronic newsletter once a month. The newsletter is as awesome online resource for learning about new OSHA initiatives, enforcement activities, safety training class schedules, and much, much more.

6 Easy steps to create your Injury and Illness Prevention Plan Step One

Step Four

Choose a safety plan language

Select work area

Step Two

Step Five

Select industry type (i.e. – General, Construction, Maritime industry)

Add-on to plan by selecting safety guidelines from a checklist

Step Three

Step Six

Choose applicable plan

Preview and/or save safety plan

With the reduced amount of time that it takes to complete, you can get back to what’s really important, protecting your workers!

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is Silva

Visit www.usfsafetyflorida. com and sign up to receive our monthly newsletter covering the latest in OSHA updates and occupational safety. For more information or to request a free consultation, call toll-free 1-866-273-1105.

By The Numbers

16,794 A total of 16,794 employees were removed from hazardous environments.

1,000+

Identified over 1,080 occupationally related serious hazards in FY 2020.

$13MM

Approximately 13 million in potential OSHA enforcement penalties avoided by small businesses with the assistance of the consultation program.

The number of companies that received the USF SafetyFlorida Sunshine State Safety Award. This award is given to Florida employers and employees in all industries who proactively and routinely engage in job safety.

12,400 Marketed our USF SafetyFloridaâ€™s consultative services through our electronic newsletter to more than 12,400 subscribers.

9,800+

Facilitated training to more than 9,800 workers through DVDs, streaming videos and informal training during the consultation

$40MM

Total Economic Value to FL Small Business, including in/direct cost of injuries prevented and the workers compensation value of injuries prevented.

The number of Florida establishments that have earned the prestigious Safety and Health Achievement Recognition (SHARP).

New Marketing Endeavors

USF SafetyFloridaâ€™s New Media Strategy: The OOH Initiative USF SafetyFlorida has partnered with Outfront Media to embark on a new marketing campaign. Out-of-Home Advertising (OOH) is a key component in marketing strategies focused on building brand awareness. We are constantly evolving in the way we consume media and communicate. Having a design that integrates an eye-catching aesthetic with an impactful message is what drives success both on and offline. Our billboards also incorporate proximity based mobile technology to expand our reach. This technology allows us to maintain a digital presence in local communities, whether they are at home, on the go running essential errands, while on their way to work, or even out for exercise. Below you will see a sample one of our billboard advertisements.

Did you know? 86% of listeners consider NPR personally important to them and 83% of listeners take action in response to something heard on NPR. These levels of engagement make it clear that our message will be heard.

COVID-19 Small Business Resource Guide The University of South Florida (USF) SafetyFlorida Consultation Program has developed a small business resource guide to provide business owners and employees with information regarding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), signs and symptoms to be cognizant of, sources of information, workplace best practices, and a risk assessment plan to aid in the identification of risk levels in workplace settings. Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 conditions continuously change, and as new information about the virus becomes available. This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. To receive your free copy, please visit: bit.ly/USFSFCOVID19Guide

The billboard units are located off US-19 and State Road 54 in Pasco County, US-19 and Belleair Road in Clearwater, next to frontage road in Pinellas County, and US-19 and SR-52 in Pasco County.

Over the Air Waves The importance of safety permeates all industries, as danger does not discriminate. At USF SafetyFlorida, we keep that top of mind by executing campaigns with an omnichannel approach, thereby, allowing us to achieve that goal. Often, marketing practitioners are challenged with reaching their target audience without indirectly excluding other demographics. With over 1.6 million radio listeners per week, we could not ignore the opportunity to reach our target audience, small-to-medium sized business owners through a media channel that informs and inspires. Through our partnership with NPR Radio stations, we are able to reach a diverse audience across the state in metro areas in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, as well as through educational centers in Tallahassee, Gainesville and beyond.

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Who We Are

Consultation Staff

1: Brian Warrick, PhD, CSP, CIH – USF SafetyFlorida Program

3: David Ashman, PCG, PCC – Safety Consultant 4: Keila Ashman – Technology & Systems Manager 5: Thalia Barber, BS – Marketing & Communications Officer 6: Keith Brown – Safety Supervisor 7: Alex Fernandez – Staff Assistant 8: Amal Forbes – Training Support Specialist 9: Gabe Garcia, PCG, PCC, PCM – Safety Supervisor 10: Nicholas Girod – Marketing & Communications Specialist 11: Margaret Hennis, BA, CIH, ASP - Safety Consultant

2: Mylene Kellerman – USF SafetyFlorida Assistant Director

Management Director

12: Garrick Johnson, MSPH, CIH - Health Consultant 13: Winfred Marrero Págan, Sr., BCS – Health Consultant 14: Adam Marty, PhD, CIH – Health Consultant 15: Noel McCatty, Jr. – Safety Consultant 16: Luis Silva – Health Consultant 17: Pat Stark, CHST, PCC, PCG – Safety Consultant 18: Katlyn Thomas, BS – Health Consultant 19: William Tomlin – Health Supervisor 24

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13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612

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Toll-free: 1-866-273-1105 Phone: 813-974-9962 Fax: 813-974-8270 www.usfsafetyflorida.com

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Reading this code with your smartphone, using QR code scanning software such as http://web.scanlife.com/en/downloadapplication, will enable you to go directly to the USF SafetyFlorida website.

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