Workplace Safety

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Workplace Safety Health in the Solid Waste
Industry
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Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)

• Washington is a State Plan State
• Operates under WISHA
• Covers private and public employers
• Standards must be at least as effective as OSHA

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DOSH

• Compliance
• Consultation
• Outreach
• Risk Management
• Technical Services

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Rules

• Chapter 296 WAC
• Vertical and horizontal rules
• Core Rules
• Applies to most workplaces
• Safety Committee
• Accident Prevention Program
• Personal Protective Equipment

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Safe Place Standard

• WAC 296-800-11005
• Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards
• You must
• Provide your employees a workplace free from
  recognized hazards that are causing, or are
  likely to cause, serious injury or death.

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Workplace Hazard

• A hazard is recognized if it is commonly
  known in the employers industry, or if there is
  evidence that the employer knew of should have
  known of the existence of the hazard, or any
  reasonable person would have recognized the
  hazard

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DOSH Compliance

• Safety Compliance Physical hazards from tools
  machinery, flammables, falls, etc.
• Industrial Hygiene Compliance Health hazards
  from chemicals, dust, noise, microorganisms,
  heat, radiation, etc.
• Discrimination investigations Protects
  employees from retaliation

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Investigations

• Complaints
• Referrals
• Hospitalizations and deaths
• Planned

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Enforcement

• Citations
• De Minimus
• General
• Serious
• Willful
• Citations may be appealed within 15 days of
  receiving the C N

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Variances

• Permanent variance
• Allows employers to provide alternate means for
  protection
• May be revoked at any time
• Temporary variance
• Must have an effective plan in place for coming
  into compliance as soon as possible

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DOSH Consultation

• Provides no cost consultation services
• At employers request
• All operations are separate from compliance
• Program deficiencies must still be corrected

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DOSH Outreach

• Forms, outlines, videos, publications
• Training Kits online training
• Confined spaces
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Workshops
• Accident Prevention Program
• Outdoor heat exposure

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BLS Statistics

• Refuse collection is one of the most hazardous
  jobs in the country.
• In 2009 the fatality rate was 25/100,00 FTEs,
  compared to 3.3 for general industry.
• This ranks 7, with only occupations such as
  logging and commercial fishing ranking ahead.

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Compensation Claims

• Abrasions, cuts, and contusions
• Sprains and strains
• Eye injuries
• Animal or insect bite
• Burns
• Fractures
• Temperature related illness

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Recognized Hazards

• Moving vehicle injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Extreme temperatures
• Loading/unloading hazards
• Confined spaces
• Potential energy

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Standards

• Accident prevention Program
• First aid
• Personal protective equipment
• Fall protection
• Lock Out Tag Out
• Bloodborne pathogens

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DOSH Investigations

• Employee was run over by a loader while the
  loader was traveling in reverse.
• WAC 296-155-615 cited No employee shall permit
  earthmoving or compacting equipment which has an
  obstructed view to the rear to be used in reverse
  gear unless the equipment has a reverse signal
  alarm

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DOSH Investigations

• Employee was riding on the outside of disposal
  truck and not engaged in residential solid waste
  collection.
• WAC 296-865 cited - Transport all passengers
  safely, make sure all employees use seat belts
  if the vehicle is equipped with seat belts.

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DOSH Investigations

• Employees were not provided with a means to
  determine and maintain a safe and legal gross
  vehicle weight load.
• WAC 296-800-11010 cited - Provide and use safety
  devices, safeguards, and use work practices,
  methods, processes, and means that are reasonably
  adequate to make your workplace safe.

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DOSH Investigations

• The employer did not obtain written approval from
  the manufacturer to modify a PIT.
• WAC 296-863-20010 cited - Have written approval
  from the PIT manufacturer before making any
  modifications to the PIT that add extra parts
  not provided by the PIT manufacturer.

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DOSH investigations

• Employer did not assure the electronic dump
  feature was operational requiring the driver to
  exit the vehicle to manually operate.
• WAC 296-865 cited Make sure all equipment is
  and accessories are operational and safe to use.

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DOSH Investigations

• The employer did not establish a LOTO program to
  ensure protection of employees while performing
  equipment service and maintenance.
• WAC 296-803 cited - Establish a written energy
  control program to protect employees that service
  or maintain a machine or equipment from injury

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DOSH Investigations

• The employer failed to make available the
  Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all
  employees who have occupational exposure to
  bloodborne pathogens.
• WAC 296-823 cited - Make hepatitis B vaccination
  available to employees with occupational exposure
  to blood and OPIM

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DOSH Investigations

• The employer did not ensure that the conveyor
  belt was completely stopped prior to an employee
  reaching in and attempting to remove material
  from the roller.
• WAC 296-806 cited - Make sure power-driven
  machinery is completely stopped before making
  adjustments or removing materials

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DOSH Investigations

• Drivers stood on the travel step while the tail
  gate hatch was opened to dump yard waste. This
  caused a driver to fall backward into a disposal
  container.
• WAC 296-800-140 cited - Develop, supervise,
  implement, and enforce safety and health training
  programs that are effective in practice.

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Questions

• John Furman PhD, MSN
• Dept. Labor Industries
• DOSH Services
• 360-902-5666
• furk235_at_lni.wa.gov