12 Déc Which of the following Are the Minimum Osha Requirements for an Eap
Workplaces with the following standards may require an EAP: Here are some of the important steps employers should take with emergency and recovery workers regarding PPE: Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the other planning frameworks described above within which it operates, OSHA can provide coordination, technical assistance and support from the national office in Washington, DC, regional offices and regional offices across the country. In addition, OSHA has a Specialized Response Team (SRT) that quickly maintains and deploys specialized response equipment and incident management capabilities, and provides technical expertise to protect employees in the event of an incident. SRT`s specific technical expertise and support capabilities include: toxic chemicals (including chemical warfare agents), biological agents, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, collapsed structures, demolition and other construction activities. Brochure to help employers and employees plan evacuations after an emergency or disaster. The plan must include, but is not limited to, at least the following [29 CFR 1910.38(c)]: Some companies may be required to create emergency action plans that meet certain requirements (see 29 CFR 1910.38 and OSHA`s compliance policy for emergency action plans and fire protection plans, CPL 2-1.037, for more information). Typical site locations and workers at those sites are constantly changing, presenting unique challenges in emergency evacuations. In this section, you will find some specific emergency evacuation procedures for construction sites. An evacuation plan must meet the requirements of the OSHA Employee Emergency Plan of Action (29 CFR 1926.35). Operations involving worker exposure to harmful particles, chemical vapours, biological agents and other air contaminants require the implementation of a comprehensive respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of the respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134).
Respiratory protection may also be necessary when workers must or may encounter toxic atmospheres (such as dust, mists, gases or fumes) or areas of lack of oxygen, including during rescue operations and evacuations. Respiratory protection programs require fit testing and employee training, medical assessment and surveillance, and the selection of appropriate respirators (and cartridges, if required). There are twenty-eight OSHA-approved state plans that implement national occupational health and safety programs. Government plans must have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA`s and may have different or more stringent requirements. Depending on the specific work task, attitude, and exposure to various hazards, additional OSHA standards may also apply. The following list contains common industry standards that generally apply to emergency and recovery measures. Construction Industry Employers (29 CFR 1926); shipyard, seagoing ship and shoring (29 CFR 1915, 1917 and 1918); and Agriculture (29 CFR 1928) Industries should be aware of OSHA standards that cover their workers, including those related to HAZWOPER, PPE, and respiratory protection. In particular, standards for the construction industry are likely to apply during demolition, reconstruction and other aspects of recovery after a disaster or other emergency event. Some important OSHA emergency requirements can be found in the following sections of the General Industry Standards (29 CFR 1910), Construction (29 CFR 1926), and Marine (29 CFR 1915, 1917, and 1918).
The table may not list all standards that apply to all situations. An emergency plan at a construction site must be developed, but may also need to be modified if conditions on the site change. All workers should receive adequate training on the importance of effective communication in the event of emergencies, including those involving workplace evacuations. Training should be provided when workers are assigned to the site and when there is a change at the site that would affect the plan. Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970 (OSH), often referred to as a general duty clause, requires employers to « provide to each of their employees employment and a workplace free from recognized hazards which cause or may cause death or serious bodily injury to their employees. » This section can be used to address hazards for which there are no specific standards (for example, exposure to certain biological or chemical agents). Several OSHA standards address emergency planning requirements, including 29 CFR 1910.38; 29 CFR 1926.35; Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120(q)); firefighters (29 CFR 1910,156); and confined spaces subject to approval (29 CFR 1910.146(k), 29 CFR 1926.1211). OSHA Publication 3122, Principal Emergency Response and Preparedness Requirements in OSHA Standards and Guidance for Safety and Health Problems, provides a comprehensive overview of emergency planning requirements in OSHA standards. Employers should also be aware of the consensus standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and other standards bodies such as the International Code Council (ICC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These organizations provide additional recommendations and requirements for evacuations and contingency planning. In addition, there may be additional fire and construction safety codes that employers must follow. Visit their websites for more information. Most organizations find it beneficial to involve a diverse group of representatives (management, workers, local health departments and agencies, and public safety officials) in this planning process and meet frequently to review progress and assign development tasks.
External representatives from federal, state, and local agencies can help organizations integrate different requirements or policies into their EAPs. The commitment and support of all workers and employers is essential to the success of the plan in an emergency. Ask employees for feedback on the development and implementation of an EAP. For small organizations with 10 or fewer employees, the plan does not need to be in writing and may be communicated orally (General Industry Standard – 29 CFR 1910.38 (b), Construction Industry Standard – 29 CFR 1926.35 (e) (3)). During an emergency where a hazardous substance is released, emergency responders who conduct operations outside of contaminated areas, but who are likely to come into contact with contaminated victims, require Level C or D PPE. The choice of PPE may depend on a worker`s intended proximity to the perimeter of the contamination area as well as the expected contact with other potential sources of contamination (e.g., victims, other workers, or materials and equipment from contaminated areas). These workers may include health care professionals in hospitals or clinics who receive and treat patients at the scene of an emergency or in surrounding contaminated areas. OSHA`s Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims provides guidance in this area.
Appendix B of HAZCOOPER (29 CFR 1910.120) also provides information on PPE levels and compliance with PPE requirements in emergency response. An emergency plan (EAP) should address emergencies that the employer can reasonably expect in the workplace.
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