Managing Worker Safety and Health OSC READINESS CONFERENCE John Ferris, Director Occupational Safety & Health Administration Office of Emergency Management February 7, 2012
Worker Safety & Health Worker Safety & Health under the NRS under the NRS • Important Principles – Each organization has a duty to provide for the safety and health of response and recovery workers. – Without responders there is no response.
40 CFR 300.150 • (a) Response actions under the NCP will comply with the provisions for response action worker safety and health in 29 CFR 1910.120. The NRS meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 concerning use of an incident command system. • (b) In a response action taken by a responsible party, the responsible party must assure that an occupational safety and health program consistent with 29 CFR 1910.120 is made available for the protection of workers at the response site. • (c) In a response taken under the NCP by a lead agency, an occupational safety and health program should be made available for the protection of workers at the response site, consistent with, and to the extent required by, 29 CFR 1910.120.
HAZWOPER • 1910.120(q)(1) – “An emergency response plan shall be developed and implemented to handle anticipated emergencies…” • Response systems, assets, plans are scalable and flexible, but what are the limits of your safety and health management system?
Restructuring to Coordinate Worker Safety and Health • On a large event, worker safety and health management must be coordinated to ensure a consistent and effective level of protection for all workers from all hazards. • When your safety and health assets are overwhelmed: – Do you have the capacity for mutual aid and the requisite interoperability? – Do you know how and when to engage responder safety and health assistance for outside organizations?
Worker Safety and Health • Identification/Assessment of worker health and safety hazards • Resource needs assessment • Expertise • Health and Safety Plans • Identifying/monitoring/managing controls • PPE Program • Data management (exposures, injury/accident) • Risk Communication • Training
Where to go for help? • Regional Resources • ERT • Seek outside assistance
When it gets to be too much … • Many injuries or illnesses, special hazards, fatalities, many subcontractors • Ask for support if within a UC – This is a pull, not a push system • Exercise and train your Worker Safety and Health Program • During a major event, ask for assistance early.
OSHA Organization • Area Offices • State Plans • Regional Offices-Members of RRTs • National Office-Member of NRT – Specialized Response Teams
OSHA and the NCP • On request, OSHA will provide advice and consultation to EPA and other NRT/RRT agencies as well as to the OSC/RPM regarding hazards to persons engaged in response activities. • OSHA may also take any other action necessary to assure that employees are properly protected at such response activities. Any questions about occupational safety and health at these sites may be referred to the OSHA Regional Office.
NRT Worker Safety and Health Subcommittee • Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance • Unified Safety Management • Testing WSH Readiness through Exercises • Operational Risk Management-215A • NRT Volunteers Guidance
For More Information www.osha.gov ferris.john@dol.gov
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