UNITED ASSOCIATION

S AFET Y NEWSUA GENERAL OFFICERS

GENERAL PRESIdENt

William P. Hite

GENERAL SECREtARy-tREASURER

Mark McManus

ASSIStANt GENERAL PRESIdENt

Michael A. Pleasant

ExECUtIvE vICE PRESIdENt

Rick terven

GENERAL ExECUtIvE BOARd MEMBERS

John Wende, District 1

Kenneth J. Broadbent, District 2

Kenneth Edwards, District 3

James Buchanan, District 4

Sid Stolper, District 5

John telford, District 6

AdMINIStRAtIvE ASSIStANtS

tO tHE GENERAL PRESIdENt

Larry Cann

Patrick H. Kellett

James P. Moss

t.L. Ranson

UNItEd ASSOCIAtION dIRECtORS

tom Bigley, Plumbing Services

Larry S. Bulman, Political & Legislative Affairs

tom Gross, Pipeline & Gas Distribution

James Hart, Metal Trades Department

Christopher A. Haslinger, Training

Brett C. McCoy, Organizing & Recruitment

Michael P. Mulvaney, Jurisdiction

Martin Naseef, HVACR Service

Dedicated to ensuring the safest and healthiest working environment for our members

The United Association and its local unions will apply its best

practices and resources to build the best educated and safest

workforce in all sectors of the piping industry.

United Association • Three Park Place • Annapolis, Maryland 21401 • Telephone: (410) 269-2000 • www.ua.org

Message from Laurie Shadrick,Health and SafetyNational Coordinator

Brothers and Sisters,The Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration has issued a final rulegoverning confined spaces in the con-struction industry. It has been 22 yearssince OSHA issued the 1993 ConfinedSpace Entry Standard for general in-dustry and 22 years since the agencypromised to issue a standard for con-struction. The new rule goes into ef-fect August 3, 2015. I am really excitedabout this as I sat on a panel at the De-partment of Labor in 2006, represent-ing the UA for the Building andConstruction Trades Department. At

that time we asked for this very stan-dard. A confined space has three char-acteristics: work is going on in an areathat is not designed for continuousworker occupancy, has a limitedmeans of entry and exit, and it is largeenough and so configured that an em-poyee can bodily enter it. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occu-pational Safety and Health Dr. DavidMichaels stated it best. “This rule willsave lives of construction workers.Unlike most general industry work-sites, construction sites are continu-ally evolving, with the number andcharacteristics on confined spaceschanging as work progresses. Thisrule emphasizes training, continuousworksite evaluation and communica-tion requirements to further protectworkers’ safety and health.”

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our vision

STANDARD FOR SAFETY

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UA safety newsIt is estimated that this new rule couldprotect or prevent nearly 800 seriousinjuries every year. According to OSHA,there are five main differences be-tween the “construction industry” andthe “general industry “ when it comesto confined space regulations. In theconstruction sector, the regulationmust:

1. Require continuous atmosphericmonitoring whenever possible;

2. Require continuous monitoring ofengulfment hazards;

3. Allow for the suspension of a per-mit, instead of cancellation, dueto evacuation of the confinedspace, or changes in conditions.The space must be returned tooriginal conditions before re-entry;

4. Provide more detailed provisionsrequiring coordinated activitieson multi-employer worksites, and

5. Require a competent person toevaluate the work site and iden-tify confined spaces, includingpermit spaces.

More information on this new rule canbe found at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/confinedspaces/

If you have any safety and health infor-mation or events you want to share,please send these to me atlauries@uanet.org at the UA GeneralOffice, and include as much relevant in-

formation as possible. This will allow usto see what is being achieved at thelocal level and to share with everyonewhat a safe jobsite can mean to us andto our contractors and their clients.

2015 InstructorTraining ProgramSafety CoursesThe UA Director of Training, ChrisHaslinger, has implemented new initia-tives to provide safety and health edu-cation and awareness for our members.At the 60th anniversary of the Instruc-tor Training Program, four specializedclasses were offered and upon success-ful completion of the course, the in-structors were provided with materialsto take back to their locals so theycould provide this important training totheir members. Director Haslinger hasannounced that this opportunity willagain be available at the InstructorTraining Program this year. It’s impor-tant to register early because all ofthese classes were filled to capacity.Course 236-CPR/First AidThis course will train and/or certify in-structors in conducting adult basic lifesupport. This course includes cardiopul-monary resuscitation, automated ex-ternal defibrillation and other related

subjects. Upon completion of thiscourse, the instructor receives DVD’s,two manikins for hands-on training, anAutomated External Defibrillator (AED),and an AED trainer, along with all itemsnecessary to teach this course.Course 328-ARC Flash Safety NFPA 70EThis class covers NFPA safety require-ments and procedures. Topics includedhazardous energy isolation, electricalsafety and arc flash safety. Upon com-pletion, the instructor receives an arcflash hazard category two kit that con-tains all the necessary gear to instructa class at the local, along with an in-structor DVD, PowerPoints®, and an in-structor and student manual for thecourse. Course 470-The OSHA 500This train-the-trainer course certifies ourinstructors to teach the OSHA 10-hourand 30-hour safety and health pro-grams. Upon completion the instructorreceives a Standard for Safety duffle bagfilled with hands-on tools for teachingthese courses.Course 472-Confined SpaceThis train-the-trainer course is a com-bination of OSHA’s (#2260) three-dayconfined space course and CPWR’stwo-day, hands-on, simulated entrytraining. Participants who completethis course will receive an OSHA 2260Certificate, CPWR 16-hour ConfinedSpace and the Train-the-Trainer certifi-cate. Air monitoring equipment will beshipped to your training center for youruse in the classroom.

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UA safety news s tandard for safety

Honoring New York’sWorkers on Workers’Memorial Day

On April 28, 2015at New York City’sSt. Patrick’s Cathe-dral, a specialHardhat Mass washeld in honor ofWorkers’ Memo-rial Day. At theHardhat Mass, all

those killed working on constructionsites in New York City are remembered.Chairs are placed in front of the altarwith a hardhat and a rose to signifyeach construction worker who diedfrom April 28 of2014 through April28 of 2015. At theend of the Mass, ahardhat and roseare given to thefamily members ofthe deceased.

The Cathedral ispacked not onlywith union con-struction workers,but also with allthose from theconstruction in-dustry who areunited on that day

to honor our dead. They include familymembers and friends of the deceased,employers such as contractors, devel-opers, and key government agencies.The Annual Hardhat Mass is normallycelebrated on or near the date of April28th in recognition of the establish-ment of OSHA.

This year we remembered 18 construc-tion workers killed on the job sinceApril 28, 2014.

At this Annual Hardhat Mass, all the de-ceased are remembered regardless oftheir union status. This Memorial Massemphasizes the dignity of each humanperson. They are not forgotten, for allhuman life is precious. They remind usthat the struggle for a safe workplace isongoing.

Free MCAA VideosThe Mechanical Contractors Associa-tion of America has now made it possi-ble for the UA to access their library ofsafety and health videos. We appreci-ate this generous opportunity. This en-tire library consists of mechanicalconstruction, service, plumbing, andwelding safety videos—and all of this isfree. You can easily download thesevideos using an iPad, iPhone, or An-droid device. You can find these bysearching Apple’s App Store or AndroidPlay Store under “MCAA Video.” Theusername is “UA Training” and thepassword is “Safety.” You will find morethan 35 valuable training videos, 22 ofwhich are now also in Spanish. Thesevideos are approximately 12-14 min-utes long, and are up to date. The mostrecently added videos are an ElectricalArc Welding Safety, and a Fall Restraintand Arrest Systems video. If you havealready downloaded the App in thepast and are unable to access it nowbecause of a failure notice, delete theApp and then reload, as Apple haschanged a few things on its server.

May 2015 SAFETY NEWS 3

Some of the attending officers and members of UA Plumbers Local 1 assemblingon the steps of the Cathedral before the ceremony.

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UA safety news

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It’s The Law!To help ensure that workers have a voice intheir workplaces and the protection they de-serve, the Occupational Safety and Health Ad-ministration has unveiled a new version of its“Job Safety and Health – It’s The Law!” poster.The poster informs workers of their rights,and employers of their responsibilities.“This poster emphasizes a very importantprinciple when it comes to prevention –that every worker has a voice,” said Assis-tant Secretary of Labor for OccupationalSafety and Health Dr. David Michaels.“Workers need to know their rights and beable to use their rights, without fear of re-taliation, when they believe that theirsafety or health is at risk.”The newly designed poster informs workersof their right to request an OSHA inspectionof their workplaces, receive informationand training on job hazards, report a work-related injury or illness, and raise safety andhealth concerns with their employer orOSHA without being retaliated against. The poster informs employers of their legalobligation to provide a safe workplace. In ad-dition, it has been updated to include the newreporting obligations for employers, whomust now report every fatality and every hos-pitalization, amputation and loss of an eye. Italso informs employers of their responsibili-ties to train all workers in a language and vo-cabulary they can understand, comply withOSHA standards, and post citations at or nearthe place of an alleged violation.OSHA’s “It’s the Law” poster is free and can bedownloaded at https://www.osha.gov/Publi-cations/poster.html. Employers must displaythe poster in a conspicuous place where work-ers can see it. Previous versions of the posterdo not need to be replaced.

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UA safety news

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s tandard for safety

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MCAA/CNA 2014 SafetyExcellence Awards The Mechanical Contractors Association ofAmerica (MCAA) is pleased to announce thewinners of the Mechanical Contractors As-sociation of America/CNA ConstructionGroup Safety Excellence winners for 2014.The fourth annual awards were presentedin March 2015 at the MCAA’s annual con-vention to member firms demonstrating thehighest level of safety excellence in 2014.

MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell congratu-lated the award winners. He also thankedthe hard-working members of the Safetyand Health Committee, including ChairmanTom Skaggs of the Murphy Company andPete Chaney of the MCAA staff, who servesas the committee liaison.

Category One, 100,000 work hours andunder: MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell,Stephen Affanato (the Executive Vice Pres-ident of New England MCA/MSCA, who ac-cepted the award on behalf of J. F. WhiteContracting Company – Mechanical Divi-sion of Framingham, Massachusetts) andMichael G. Farrington, Program Underwrit-ing Director for CNA’s Construction Group.

Category Two, 100,000 to 250,000 workhours: MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell,Project Manager Scott Tower and Vice Pres-ident Ed Marks (who accepted on behalf ofBeacon Piping Company of Canton, Massa-chusetts), and Michael G. Farrington, Pro-gram Underwriting Director for CNA’sConstruction Group.

Category Three, 250,000 to 400,000 workhours: MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell,CFO Robert P. Armistead (who accepted onbehalf of Armistead Mechanical, Incorpo-rated of Waldwick, New Jersey) andMichael G. Farrington, Program Underwrit-ing Director for CNA’s Construction Group.

Category Four, 400,000 to 1 million workhours: MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell, Ex-ecutive Vice President Mark Webster (whoaccepted on behalf of MacDonald-MillerFacility Solutions of Seattle, Washington)and Michael G. Farrington, Program Under-writing Director for CNA’s ConstructionGroup.

Category Five, over 1,000,000 work hours:MCAA 2014 President Chuck Fell, PresidentKollin Knox and Vice President for SafetyDon Campbell (who accepted on behalf ofP1 Group Inc. of Lenexa, Kansas) andMichael G. Farrington, Program Underwrit-ing Director for CNA’s Construction Group.

United Association • Three Park Place • Annapolis, Maryland 21401 • Telephone: (410) 269-2000 • www.ua.org

STANDARD FOR SAFETY

Below is a list of websites andlinks to help you with yourhealth and safety program.Many of these sites havePowerPoints® and picturesthat are free to download foryour use. Please take thetime to look at a few of thesevaluable resources.

The Department of Laborhttp://www.dol.gov

OSHA Occupational Safety andHealthhttp://www.osha.gov

Electronic Library of ConstructionSafety and Healthhttp://www.elcosh.org

Center of Disease Control and Pre-ventionhttp://www.cdc.gov

NIOSH-National Institute Occupa-tional Safety and Healthhttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh

Safety Toolbox Talkshttp://www.Safetytoolboxtalks.com

EPA-Environmental ProtectionAgencyhttp://www.epa.gov

CPWR-Center for Construction Re-search and Traininghttp://www.cpwr.comhttp://esmartmark.org

In Canada, the above safety regulations fallunder either the Workers CompensationBoard or the Provincial Safety Authority.

resources

2015 ITP Safety CoursesGrant Opportunities The International Training Fund will covercourse equipment and materials for thefollowing safety courses:

236 Adult Basic Life Support/First AidAdult and Child AMBU, Manikin, Car-diac AED Trainer, Automated Exter-nal Defibrillator, and a set of twotraining DVDs

298 Interactive Teaching Tools (NEW) lap-top computer and the Mobi/CPS Kit

328 ARC Flash Safety – NFPA 70E arc-flash personal protection kit, whichincludes coveralls, gloves, leatherprotectors, safety glasses, hardhatand the carrying bag

470 OSHA 500

472 Confined Space – Train the Trainer

The locals will be granted the materi-als/equipment when the instructor at-tending these courses successfullycompletes the course. More than oneinstructor per local may be permitted insome of the courses; however, grantedequipment/materials will be limited toone per local. Locals that were grantedthe equipment or materials from theITP in 2013 and 2014 will not be eligiblefor the equipment.

Course #328 OSHA / NFPA 70E - ARC Flash SafetyAugust 8 - 14, 2015 ............................................Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, MichiganCourse #470 OSHA 500 Trainer Course for the Construction Industry(p)November 2 - 6, 2015 ..........................................UA Great Lakes Training Center

Ann Arbor, MichiganCourse #471 OSHA 510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Con-struction IndustryAugust 4 - 7, 2015 ...............................................UA Great Lakes Training Center

Ann Arbor, MichiganOctober 5 - 8, 2015..............................................UA Great Lakes Training Center

Ann Arbor, MichiganCourse #474 OSHA 502 Update for Construction Industry Outreach TrainerJune 9 - 11, 2015...................................................................Louisville, KentuckyDecember 8 - 10, 2015 ........................................UA Great Lakes Training Center

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Course descriptions for these classes can be found in the Regional TrainingCourse Catalog on uanet.org at https://uanet.org/regional_training.asp

2015 sa

fety classes