Summer 2023 Volume 2 | Issue 12:
Sweat, Heat, Roadwork and Ticks? … The Signs of Summer
OSHA TAKES ACTION
Summer temperatures soaring outside and INSIDE! OSHA takes action
It’s hot outside and that’s not changing for the time being.
Remember, the employer has the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Heat and heat illness have become such a problem within industries that last summer, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (and by extension, the state Public Employees Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau) took on a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Activities.
The goal of this NEP is to reduce or eliminate worker exposures to heat-related hazards that result in illnesses, injuries and deaths by targeting industries and worksites, including worksites with radiant heat sources, where employees are exposed to heat-related hazards and have not been provided adequate protection that includes cool water, rest, cool areas, training and acclimatization.
- Between 2015 and 2019, environmental heat cases resulted in an average of 35 fatalities per year and an average of 2,700 cases with days away from work. However, the total number of heat-related fatalities may be underreported and improperly diagnosed. Between 2015 and 2020, OSHA conducted approximately 200 heat-related hazard inspections each year, which included approximately 15 heat-related fatality inspections annually. (Source: OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-024 pg. 4.)
- The emphasis is not just for outdoor activities. Indoor temperatures by radiant heat sources are also included.
Resources Available
CSEA has created a fact sheet on Heat Related Illness, which you can download here.
OSHA created a video to go along with the campaign about a Western New Yorker who died of a heat related illness. Watch the video.
Download OSHA’s Heat Stress App on App Store or Google Play
https://www.osha.gov/heat/heat-app
READER CONTEST
Submit an original photo or story of your unique workplace “beat the heat” initiatives and be entered into a drawing to receive a CSEA cooler bag. Please note that you must include your name and email address to coordinate prize delivery if you are the winner.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAIN THE TRAINER
Temporary Traffic Control Train the Trainer completed in Western New York
The CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Department’s nationally recognized Peer Trainer Program recently completed at our union’s Western Region office a four-day Train the Trainer course on Temporary Traffic Control. The Peer Trainer program is a labor-management cooperative effort that requires an agreement between CSEA and the employer for participation in the program.
CSEA members and management teams from Town of Orchard Park, Town of Webster, City of Lockport, Cattaraugus County, SUNY Brockport, Allegany State Parks and Niagara State Parks completed training in the unique controls and practices needed to implement a Traffic Control Plan, where abnormal conditions are the norm. The patented “AT-BAT” model for traffic control through a work zone was taught with the requirement that those trained would bring the information back to their workplaces.
Why are Traffic Control Plans important?
- Nationally, there were nearly 3 work zone fatalities per day in 2021.
- From 2012-2021, there have been 6,860 fatalities and greater than 390,000 injuries in work zones.
- There were 7 fatal work zone crashes/fatalities in New York in 2021.
- Nearly 60 CSEA members have been killed in work zones since our union started keeping track in 1983, and nearly half of these fatalities were caused by the traveling public.
Resources Available
CSEA has created a fact sheet for work zone safety, including the “AT-BAT” model. Download here.
CSEA has Occupational Safety and Health specialists across the state who can provide training to members. Contact your region’s OSH Specialist.
TICKS AND RISK OF TICKBORNE ILLNESS ON THE RISE
Record numbers of ticks have been sighted throughout New York state this year. However, there’s no need to fear when our union’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department is here! That’s right, the OSH Department has your back when you get covered in ticks, including informational resources, identification charts, signs and symptoms of disease, and even physical removal tools!
For more information, visit cseany.org/ticks.
SCHOOL DISTRICT MEMBERS
Please take part in a survey about violence in your school building. Your answers are very important!
REACH OUT TO US
What would you be interested in reading about in the Safety Net? Reach out to us!
We love hearing from you!
More importantly, readers truly enjoy and connect with member-submitted content. The Safety Net’s mission is to strengthen CSEA’s safety network and gain visibility to encourage CSEA members to take part/have a role in improving their workplace conditions. What better way to build a network and inspire each other than to hear from one another and learn in the process? What’s your story? We would love to hear it! Share your content, which could simply be a safety-related quote/slogan, meme, or photo. You may also submit your own written content; tell us about a particular experience, success story, or give a shoutout to a CSEA member/committee/local or unit that deserves some recognition! Please note that all content must be original or attributed to the original source.
*All participants receive a prize!
GET INVOLVED
Be an Advocate for Safety: Help Rebuild CSEA’s Safety Network!
Download/print the Safety Net newsletter in bulletin format: cseany.org/safetynet
Show us a photo of the newsletter bulletin posted in your workplace to receive a prize! *Send photos to bernadette.foley@cseainc.org.
We love hearing from you! More importantly, readers truly enjoy and connect with member submitted content. The Safety Net’s mission is to strengthen CSEA’s safety network and gain visibility to encourage CSEA members to take part/have a role in improving their workplace conditions. What better way to build a network and inspire each other than to hear from one another and learn in the process?
Send in your content by responding to any of the following newsletter columns: “Member Spotlight,”“Dear Bernie,” or “Readers’ Response.” *All who participate will receive a prize! Email submissions to bernadette.foley@cseainc.org
MEMBER RESOURCES: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
Materials & Publications
View/download – A-Z list of fact sheets: cseany.org/safety-resources
Request Free Prints: Publications Order Form
Workshop Trainings & Webinars
View/Watch – webinar trainings: cseany.org/osh-webinars
CSEA Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Specialists
Have a general safety concern?
Contact your OSH Specialist here: cseany.org/member-support
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Hurt at Work?
CSEA endorses the law firm of Fine, Olin and Anderman
Get started now by clicking https://www.foalaw.com/csea-members/
Or call at 855-637-1207
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
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The Safety Net is published by the Occupational Safety and Health Department of CSEA, AFSCME, Local 1000, AFL-CIO. |