Safety & Health Regulations for Public Employees

Task Force

Edwin Granberry, Jr. Region IV Govt. Affairs Chairman

Granberry & Associates, LLC

Chemical/Safety/Environmental/ Forensic Consultants Winter Park

FL 32792 Ph. 407-671-6050

$ COSTS IN FLORIDA –’07

$3,546,000,000$194 / person

2007 Florida population estimate

HISTORY OF PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA

• In 1999 the Florida Safety & Health Act was repealed by the Legislature (Bill # 699 effective July 1, 2000)

• The Florida Division of Safety was also eliminated at the same time.

• Gov. Bush issued an Executive Order # 2000-292 directing state agencies to voluntarily comply with OSHA General Industry Standards. No documentation of implementation by state agencies

Bethune Wastewater Treatment Plant Daytona

Beach Florida

January 11, 2006

A fire and explosion as a result of welding on a methanol tank – 2 died, 1 severely

injured

OSHA REGS &/OR NFPA 51 B NOT IN USE !

Hazards not recognized by the work crew

• Conditions that existed in Jan. 2006

• No Hazard Review of Job Planning performed

• No “HOT WORK PERMIT” used

• Ineffective Hazcom Program

LFL’S & UFL’S

• Acetone 2.5 / 12.8• Benzene 1.2 / 7.8• Ethyl Alcohol 3.3 / 19.0• Gasolene 1.4 / 7.6• Naptha 1.1 / 5.9• Methanol 6.0 / 36.0 (Worse than gasoline)

(Greater range of flamability)

HAZARD REVIEWContributing Cause

• Managers & Supervisors not trained in the Hazard Review process

• The City of Daytona Beach does not require the use of Hazard reviews

No Hot Work Permit Used 1 of 2 Root Causes

• The City of Daytona Beach did not

require the use of a “Hot Work Permit”• City unaware of NFPA Requirement

• Florida requires NFPA 1 • NFPA 1 Requires a “Hot Work” Permit

Program

Ineffective Hazcom Program2nd Root Cause

1. No oversight or enforcement

2. Minimal training (7 Classes in 12 yrs – one every 20 months or 1 / 600 days)

3. FAC Chptr 381 required Hazcom Training

4. FAC Chptr. 381 repealed in 2000

24 STATES DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE

COVERAGE (48%)

• Alabama Arkansas Colorado• Delaware Florida Illinois• Kansas Louisiana Maine• Mass. Mississippi Missouri• Montana Nebraska New Hamp.• N. Dakota Ohio Oklahoma• Penn. Rhode Island Texas• W. VirginiaWisconsin Georgia

CHEMICAL INCIDENTS IN FLORIDA : LAST 5 YEARS

• Two fatalities

• 10 injuries

• 23 medical evaluations for exposure

• 16 community or facility evacuations

OSHA & NFPA - REQUIREMENTS

• Both require use of “Hot Work Permits”

• 29 CFR 1910.251, 1910.252

• NFPA 51 B

CURRENT GOAL OF ASSE IN FLORIDA

• APPOINTMENTS OF FOUR ASSE PROFESSIONALS TO A STUDY TASK FORCE

• Office of the Governor – 2

• Office of the President of the Senate 1

• Office of the Speaker of the House - 1

• Report due by 01/01/2009 to above

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

• Governor: 1 Safety & Health professional1 Safety & Health professional in the educational field

• President of the Senate1 Safety & Health Professional

• Speaker of the House1 Safety & Health professional

DATA IN FL 2007

• Data available indicates:

• 195,968 State government employees

• 782,242 local government employees

Average Incidence Rates 2001 – 2006 in Florida

• Private sector: 4.93 per 100 workers

• Local government employees 7.2 per 100 workers

Estimates Using Nation Avg. Illness / Injury Rates to Florida

• Florida Local govt. employees: estimate of 5,632 reported injuries / illnesses per year

• Florida State govt. employees: estimate of 9,798 reported injuries / illnesses per year

National Government Employee Fatalities 2003 - 2006

77% of all government employee fatalities were local government employees

A 2004 Study $ Costs in FL

NON-FATAL INJURIES:

$2,566,000,000FATAL INJURIES:

$977,000,000

TOTAL $3,543,000,000

Liberty Mutual 2003 Study

Employee injuries cost US businesses nearly $1 Billion per week

OUTCOME 5/2/08

SENATE APPROVES HOUSE

BILL # 967

Chemical Safety Board – Press Conf. in

Tallahassee