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CONN-OSHA Quarterl y
Volume No. 53
Fall 2008
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS Be
Seen! Be Safe!
By: Ellen Burgum, Occupational Safety Officer
You may only see them for a few hours every weekday
but they have one of the most important jobs in public service. School crossing
guards ensure children safely cross the road at schools or near intersections.
School crossing guards must keep a watchful eye on traffic, their own safety,
and the safety of the school children they are protecting. Their visibility to
vehicular traffic is extremely important as roads become more congested with
vehicles hurrying to their destination. It is the responsibility of the employer
to provide appropriate training and make the crossing guards aware of their
responsibilities.
A school crossing guard may need to create a gap by
stopping traffic temporarily. The guard stops traffic with a STOP paddle then
verbally directs children to cross the street. A guard is always the first
person in the street and the last person out of the street. A school crossing
guard should not direct traffic unless specific training has been provided.
School crossing guards should possess the following
qualifications:
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Good physical condition, including sight, hearing,
and mobility
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Mental alertness
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Neat appearance
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Good character
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Dependability
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Sense of responsibility for safety of students
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or MUTCD
(2003) contains national standards for the installation and maintenance of
traffic control devices. Some MUTCD statements are considered mandatory, while
others are recommended practices, permissive practices, or simply statements of
support. Part 7 of the MUTCD addresses Traffic Controls for School Areas.
School crossing guards should wear apparel that makes
them recognizable to motorists. The MUTCD Part 7 states, “Adult crossing guards
shall wear high-visibility retro-reflective safety apparel labeled as American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) 107-1999 standard performance for Class 2 …
”
The following are safety reminders for School Crossing
Guards:
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Wear ANSI Class 2 high-visibility retroreflective
safety vests
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Proceed cautiously into the crosswalk as you alert
motorists to stop
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Do not assume a vehicle will stop just because you
are holding a STOP paddle
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Give vehicles more time to stop during wet and icy
conditions
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Watch out for passing or turning vehicles
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Hold your STOP paddle up until you and the children
have cleared the crosswalk
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Anti-Idling for School
Buses - An Update
Back in 2002, Public Act #02-56 was adopted as a
measure to reduce diesel exhaust emissions from school buses. This legislation
made it an infraction for any school bus to idle the engine for more than three
minutes. The State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP)
was given the authority to enforce and promote this policy. This legislation
also empowers any law enforcement officers with the ability to enforce this
provision. The CTDEP has anti-idling regulations for all mobile sources (cars,
trucks, construction equipment, etc.) which are enforced by the DEP Air
Management Field Staff. Since that time, more information has been gathered
which further supports the practice of “anti-idling.”
For example, children are more sensitive to air
pollution because they breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than
adults. Idling vehicles create emissions that contribute toward smog and ground
level ozone, and produce carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas). Diesel exhaust even
contains toxic air pollutants, including aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde,
acrolein), benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nationally, diesel
engines are the third largest source of fine particles, which can cause lung
damage and aggravate respiratory conditions including asthma and bronchitis. In
a letter in 2005, the Commissioner of the DEP stated, “A recent study conducted
by Yale University researchers in conjunction with Environment and Human Health,
Inc., clearly shows that idling school buses are a major contributor to the
diesel exhaust exposure of children. School bus exhaust can compromise air
quality on and around buses, including nearby sidewalks, school yards,
playgrounds, and can even lead to poor air quality inside school buildings.”
Given the current cost of operating vehicles, reducing
diesel engine idling also saves money by conserving fuel and reducing wear and
tear on engine parts. It was estimated that a diesel engines, idling for more
than ten seconds uses diesel fuel at a rate of approximately eight tenths to one
gallon per hour.
The CTDEP’s Air Management Field Staff work to ensure
compliance with Connecticut’s idling restriction through monitoring of vehicle
behavior and pursuing enforcement when idling violations are observed. Field
staff also responded to complaints of idling vehicles when citizens report
problems to the DEP’s complaint line. Enforcement questions can be directed to
the DEP Air Quality Complaint Line at (860) 424-3436, or for questions regarding
compliance call Mr. Robert Girard at (860) 424-4152.
Anti-Idling outreach is another service that the CTDEP
provides to assist public schools in reducing diesel exhaust emissions. The
CTDEP will provide free anti-idling signs upon request to public schools who
agree to post the signs.
We would like to thank the CTDEP for their assistance
in the writing of this article. If you have any questions regarding the
Anti-Idling Efforts in Connecticut, please contact Dr. Ellen Pierce at (860)
424-3027.
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OSHA Issues Final Rule ~
Employer-Paid Personal Protective Equipment
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a final rule on employer-paid
personal protective equipment (PPE). This rule was published in the Federal
Register on November 15, 2007. Under the new rule, employers are to pay for the
minimum level of PPE required by the standard.
The following is an overview of the changes under the
new rule:
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The employer is not required to pay for
non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or
steeltoe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that
the employer permits such items to be worn off the job-site.
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If Metatarsal guards are required and the employer
provides metatarsal guards that attach to shoes they are not required to pay
for Integrated Metatarsal guards.
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Logging boots, as required by 29 CFR
1910.226(d)(1)(v), will continue to be exempted from the employer payment
rule.
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The employer is not required to pay for ordinary
clothing items used solely for protection from weather unless unusually severe
weather conditions exist or the employee is working in an artificially
controlled hot or cold environment. This includes: winter coats, jackets,
gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats and ordinary sunglasses. Skin
creams which offer protection from the weather are also included.
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It remains the employer’s responsibility to pay for
required PPE and replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost or
intentionally damaged the PPE.
For a more complete understanding of the changes you
should refer to the final rule which can be found in the Federal Register,
number 72:64341-64430.
As of the publication date of this newsletter this
change in the PPE standard only applies to private sector employers. It is
anticipated that this new rule will be adopted by the State of Connecticut in
the near future. All employers should audit their operations on a regular basis
to be sure of compliance with all enforcement requirements.
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Hazard Corner...
A Crossing Guard Fatality
Crossing guards have a very important job. As our
children walk to and from school, it is the crossing guard that makes sure they
cross roadway intersection safely. We have to remember that their job is very
dangerous and we all have a responsibility to make sure that they also go home
safely. CONN-OSHA recently conducted an investigation to determine the cause of
a fatality involving a crossing guard and a speeding car.
The crossing guard arrived at his post at
approximately twenty minutes before he was to go on duty. He had parked his car
off the road near a stop sign and proceeded to cross the street to his post. At
the same time, a car heading southbound on the same road was traveling at
approximately 100 miles per hour. It ran a stop sign at a four way intersection
and became airborne. As the car landed on the ground, it struck the crossing
guard who was transported to the local hospital where he passed away.
Crossing guard safety training and education is very
important. These men and women put their lives on the line every time they enter
a roadway crossing zone. Crossing guards should be provided training on the
safety of vehicular traffic, the proper personal protective equipment such as
high visibility safety vests and also with safety tools such as hand paddles.
It’s also important that the employer provide training on the proper use of the
equipment that is provided.
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CONN-OSHA Training Update
Breakfast Roundtable
This discussion group meets the third Tuesday every
month from 8:15 am to 9:45 am. Pre-registration is required. To be placed on the
e-mail distribution list, contact John Able at
able.john@dol.gov.
Hazard Communication September 9
Employees will be better able to take steps to protect
themselves when they know what the hazards of chemicals are and how to avoid
exposure. This session will help attendees develop an effective Hazard
Communication Program.
Construction Site Safety September 11
This session will discuss the four major hazards of
the construction industry: Fall Protection, Scaffolding and Ladders, Electrical
Hazards, and Trench Safety. This class will be held from 8:30 to 11:30.
OSHA Recordkeeping September 12
This session will help you fill out the OSHA Log of
Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300) accurately and correctly. This
class will be held from 9:00-12:00 noon.
Safe Driving October 22
Work-related vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
occupational fatalities according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor. This session will
describe safe driving and accident prevention skills. Your awareness of the need
for and the benefits of safe driving will be greatly improved.
Classes are free and held at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT in
Conference Room A/B from 10 am - 12 noon, unless otherwise noted in the class
description. To register, contact John Able at
able.john@dol.gov. Pre-registration is
required. For more training information, visit
www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/osha.htm.
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Connecticut Department of Labor - OSHA 38 Wolcott Hill
Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 To receive the Quarterly electronically, contact
gregory.grayson@dol.gov. In the
subject line type “subscribe” and provide your e-mail address. You may also
reach us by phone at (860) 263-6900 or visit our website at
http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/osha.htm.
Fatality & Casualty Reporting State &
Town: CONN-OSHA (860) 263-6946 (local) or 1-866-241-4060 (toll-free) Private
Employers: Report to Federal OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA(6742)
OSHA-Quarterly
Index
Last Updated:
April 17, 2018
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