REPEAT THE QUESTION PLEASE!
I found mold on my basement wall. Do I need to have it sampled?
In most cases, it is not necessary to sample for indoor mold.
The analysis can be costly and it cannot predict impacts to health.
There are reliable and cost-effective methods for identifying
environments that require intervention.
Once mold growth has been located, appropriate actions are needed
to correct the source and remove contamination.
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SO LONG OSHA 200 LOG
By Russ Greatorex, Health & Safety Officer
It is official, the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Record-keeping Standard is in place. The new rule was published
on January 19, 2002, with an effective date of January 1, 2002.
The Record-keeping rule can be found in 29 CFR 1904.
"Simpler and easier" are the words that OSHA used to describe the new
requirements to track workplace injuries and illnesses.
There are changes that an employer must be aware of to remain in
conformance with the Standard.
The most significant and noticeable of these changes are the reporting forms.
The OSHA 200 log has been retired. The new form is the OSHA 300 log. The form
has been simplified for easier use by employers. In addition to the changes in
the reporting log, changes were made to the OSHA Form 301 and Form 300A. The
OSHA Form 301 includes more data about how the injury or illness occurred. The
OSHA Form 300A is a new form that makes calculating incidence rates easier.
Other changes include: new definitions of medical treatment and first aid, the
counting of days away from work, restricted days and job transfer, and the
recording of needle-stick injuries. There are many more changes to the
Standard; this is just a brief overview.
So how do you know if you are required to follow the rule or if you are
exempt from the Standard? OSHA has developed a list of SIC Codes that are
exempt from the Standard. Changes were made in the exemptions for employers
in the service and retail industry. OSHA also uses the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) Code to determine which businesses must keep records.
There are significant changes to the standard, but there is no need to be
lost and confused. QEPA can assist your company in working through the new
Standard.
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THINK ABOUT IT!
Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and
are tasteless without it.
Sir W. Temple
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DID YOU KNOW?
Employees are realizing that true safety, health, and environmental value,
comes from being proactive to eliminate incidents, rather than being reactive
to events in the workplace.
American Society of Safety Engineers 1/24/02
Ironically, the time when mold spores are most likely to be released is when
someone is trying to get rid of indoor materials that are contaminated.
See details in our March issue!
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