the Dreaded OSHA

[yardsmith]

A friend in the biz told me last yr. that OSHA was out checking various lawn care co's. in our area & seeing if they were up to code. Told me one guy got fined $7000 for improper gas cans/containers, guards missing on mowers (no duh), & other stuff. Anyone have info on what exactly they look for, or where to find out what exactly you have to do to be up to code? That's the last thing someone needs is to have OSHA force them into bankruptcy because of their overkill way of suffocating the little guy. <br>He said the 'approved gas cans' cost about $75 each! Gimme a break! I know alot of under the table guys are out there with some horrendous type of setups & stuff, but alot of us are trying to do things right & can still get nailed for just about anything they want to look for, esp. if they're having a bad day.<br>Any suggestions/info?<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[paul]

It can happen,the right gas cans are just the start, how about safety glasses, shoes,hearing protection, fuel spill clean-up. Then there is no MSD sheets on the job, no safety plan.......<br>The fines can get quite high<p>----------<br>paul<br>

[Green Acres]

Does anyone have an example MSD or job safety manual? Also where do you get a list from OHSA that stats everything that you need? Thanks.

[paul]

Go to WWW.cch.com<br>This site has many books and much information. They can also help you start a saftey program, some services are expensive(but cheap compared to a OSHA fine).<br>Also look to see if the local construction industry trade group has OHSA saftey classes they have a 10 hr course, 40 hour course and one on excavations. <p>----------<br>paul<br>

[Scraper]

An MSDS is short for material safety data sheet. All hazardous substances have one which lists the formulation, first aid and precautions as well as contact information. These sheets are product specific and would be found with herbicides, pesticides etc.... In most cases, the bottle may come with a &quot;mini&quot; MSDS, but a full official copy can be obtained from the manucfaturer of the product. Not a bad idea to keep them in a binder in your truck.

[Lee Homan]

$7000.00!!!!!!<p>Give me a break. In my home town a young guy was chewed up to his waist in a pallet shredder working for a major container company and they only fined them $10,000.<br>They fine a little ole lawncare company $7,000.00? Talk about injustice.

[thelawnguy]

Like the IRS, its a persons financial inability to defend themselves which determines the fine(unofficially of course). OSHA levies huge fines on those with limited resources to hire an attorney to help defend themselves, and the IRS audits the same people (little guys like all of us here).<p>Bill

[paul]

Quote from the OSHA book 29 CRF PART 1926 amended Feburary 1, 1999 page 1926.151 &quot;Only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used for storage and handleing of flameable and combustibule liquids. Approved metal saftey cans shall be used for the handleing and use of flammable liquids in quantities greater than one gallon, except that this shall not apply to those flammable liquid materials that are highly viscid (extremely hard to pour) which may be used and handled in origianl shipping containers. For quantities of one gallon or less, only the original container or approved metal saftey cans shall be used for storage, use, and handeling of flammable liquids&quot;<p>----------<br>paul<p>sorry if i miss spelled anything but the print in my book is about 4point.<p>

[paul]

Lee they might not have fine him for the accident, But for other safety problems, Operator error or the operator might have had the training but was careless or foolish they know the company can't stop all accidents. I think they had enough saftey rules in place to cover their *ss. <p>----------<br>paul<br>

[cjcland]

what if i am the only one working, i have no employees do i still need to worry about osha<p>----------<br>CJC Landscape Management<br>Winter Haven, Florida

[paul]

Yes, they look for safety violations<p>----------<br>paul<br>

[Lee Homan]

That could be true Paul. I believe the way the story went the kid was down in the machine cleaning it out when another operator came by and turned the machine on. I'm sure there was some safety rule in place requiring operators to indicate they were in their or to disconnect power or something like that.

[yardsmith]

Thanks for the info so far-<br>do you need MSDS for gas? Also with the shredder accident, just like in the factory- if someone is going to work on equip & they have to get near or in moving parts, they are required to lock out & tag out the machine. The employer is req. to have all emp.'s trained in operator safety & how to lock out/tag out. They are supposed to furnish the locks & tags too for the emp.'s.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[Doug406]

Funny this post came up because I just got a letter in the mail from the Poster Compliance Center, Telling me I MUST PURCHACE about a dozen regulation posters. They have a 3 poster set 1 federal and 2 state, 18&quot; x 24&quot; with mini posters on them that I can buy for $36, Posters included are the Federal Min. Wage notice, Ocupational saft. family medical leave act, etc. <br> I was just going to throw the letter away, but it sounds like I will have a couple of nice posters hanging in the trailer.<br> These are for Michigan and Federal, the number is 1-800-322-3636, maybe they can direct you to other states as well.<br>

[paul]

About the poster just call up your local labor board (should be in the phone book0 they have them for awhole lot less( like free)<p>----------<br>paul<br>

[fireball]

Yes, you need a MSDS for gas. also for grease and motor oil. By law you need a MSDS for everything that you purchase and an employee may come in contac with. By law, the company that you purchase it from, must supply you with the MSDS but only with one copy. Most legimate suppliers like Exxon and Lesco will supply them with smiles on their faces. Places like Pep Boys and Sears give you a harder time because they claim that their packaging is for the retail trade and therefore they don't have to comply with the OSHA regulations. The problem is, they don't have to comply but you do.

[Stonehenge]

I know this will sound ridiculous, but my wife works for a fortune 500 tissue and diaper manufacturer, and in their labs and everywhere else they need MSDS sheets for everything - INCLUDING SOAP! <p>Does God provide MSDS sheets on water? If so, do you get them at church, or at the body of water ;) ?

[fireball]

NO God doesn't provide MSDS on water but are available from your water company. Our water company adds flouride and a touch of chlorine, not the same product as GODS. Also prolonged submersion leads to drowning

[GroundKprs]

When you put together your MSDS catalogue, don't forget to get one for BRICKS. Really, OSHA decided years ago that since bricks can give off fumes (dust) when cut or broken, that they must have a MSDS.<p>----------<br>Jim<br>North central Indiana

[steveair]

If you want some good information, look up ALCA. The association has a ton of stuff for this sort of thing. When I joined, they sent books and real nice manuals on everting you need to do.

[fireball]

How right you are steveair. ALCA has put together a wonderful program, well worth the membership fee