From CalOsha Reporter - 7/3/14
DOSH is seeking more than $82,000 in penalties against Shafter's Shar-Craft, Inc., in a Dec. 17 incident that seriously burned a painter in a large steel tank. The worker was spraying flammable coating on the inside wall of the tank and it ignited because of a portable halogen light he was using for illumination.

Cal/OSHA says the employer “knowingly” allowed the use of the unauthorized electric lamp. It also says the employer did not have a permit for confined-space work and did not have proper ventilation or protective equipment for the operation.

The 37-year-old worker spent three days in a burn unit following the incident. DOSH cited Shar-Craft for an alleged willful-serious violation, three serious violations and 12 other violations, including failure to report the incident within eight hours. The employer reported it four days later.

What is the Ladder Safety app?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released its first smart phone application (app), which is aimed at improving extension ladder safety.  The Ladder Safety app addresses the major causes of ladder falls by placing a number of interactive and easy-to-use graphic-oriented tools into the hands of the ladder users upon demand.

The app features an angle of inclination indicator which uses visual, sound, and vibration signals making it easier for workers and other users to set an extension ladder at the proper angle of approximately 75.5 degrees. The app also includes a “Selection” tool which provides an interactive and easy-to-use procedure to select the minimum required ladder duty-rating corresponding to the user characteristics and task.

Furthermore, the app features an “Inspection” tool which provides a comprehensive, graphic-based, interactive and easy-to-use checklist for ladder mechanical inspection. OSHA regulations and ANSI A14 standards include a set of rules for safe ladder use – the app’s “Proper Use” tool presents these rules in a clear graphic format, which is both informative and easy to understand.

Using smart phone technology, the NIOSH Ladder Safety app delivers free and easy-to-use ladder safety tools and information, reference materials, and training resources into the hands of individual ladder users wherever and when they are needed. The application is available in English and Spanish as a free download for Apple iPhone/iPad and Google Android devices.

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