Topics include:

• Sign design
• Sign mounting
• Additional state requirements
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (ADAAG) stipulates design standards for accessible parking spaces. Section 502.6 of ADAAG and The Department of Transportation Standard for Highway Signs (MUTCD) both address design standards for the required signs.

The post What to Know About Federal Accessible Parking Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Federal ADA regulations
• California symbol requirements
• Federal ADAAG requirements
• Sign location and installation
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

Both California and federal regulations provide a comprehensive set of standards covering areas of accessibility for persons with physical and sensory limitations. California’s regulations are found in Title 24 of the California Building Standards Code and are designed to comply with the requirements of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) as described in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (ADAAG) and California state statutes. The division of the State Architect (DSA) develops and maintains the accessibility standards and codes utilized in public and private buildings throughout California. They are detailed in the DSA Access Compliance Manual (DSA A.C.M.).

The post What to Know About California Title 24 Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Crane types
• Crane signals
• Hand signal charts
• Hand signal training aids
• OSHA/ANSI crane safety signs
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

Both the manufacturing and construction industries find it necessary to move large, heavy loads in their daily operations. The various types of “lifting” equipment used present significant safety issues to be considered, both for the operators of the devices and for workers in proximity to them.

These safety issues are addressed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “Crane Rule” which became effective on 11/8/2010. The Crane Rule regulations are found in the Code of Federal Regulations CFR 1926, Subpart CC “Cranes & Derricks in Construction.”

The post What to Know About Crane Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Three principles of static control
• Design and symbols of ESD signs and labels
• Label types
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

Static electricity and Electrostatic Discharges (ESD) have become an increasing problem in our technological environment across several industries, particularly the electronic industries.

The cost of damages caused by ESD to electronic devices has created a real concern for the industry, but also for the military. Damages can be very expensive, but also very harmful to anyone as ESD can ignite a fire or create an explosion, according to the workplace or the environment.

Following a request from the United States Department of Defense to replace MIL-STD 1686, the ESD Association published in a standard approved as an ANSI standard, the ANSI/ESD S20.20. This covers the development of an Electrostatic Discharge Control Program. This program helps to protect electric or electronic parts, equipment and assemblies sensitive to ESD damage from Human Body Model (HBM) discharges greater than or equal to 100 volts.

The post What to Know About Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Manufacturer labels
• Workplace labels and signs
• Transport labels and placards
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international system for standardizing the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. It was developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). A number of countries, including the United States, have contributed to and adopted the GHS guidelines published in what is known as the UN “Purple Book.” The GHS itself is not a regulation but provides countries with the building blocks to develop or modify existing national regulations that address the classification and communication of chemical hazards. Its goal is a global chemical safety standard for a global economy to ensure that employers, employees and the public are provided with adequate, practical, reliable, and comprehensible information on the hazards of chemicals, so that they can take effective, preventative, and protective measures for their health and safety.

With the adoption of the GHS standard by the U.S., the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is the regulatory agency responsible for implementing the required changes in chemical classification and labeling for chemical manufacturers and workplaces that utilize these chemicals in their daily operations. The application of the GHS will enhance the protection of human health and the environment by providing an internationally comprehensible system. These regulations appear in OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012).

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for implementing the GHS standards for the transport of hazardous chemicals in the United States via aircraft, rail car, marine vessels, and motor vehicles. These regulations are stipulated in the DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The HMR applies to all persons involved in the packaging, loading, and transport of hazardous materials.

The post What to Know About GHS Hazardous Chemical Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Sign requirements
• ADA compliance
• California notes
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

New York has adopted new accessibility legislation, A.8193 and S.6846, which requires the International Symbol of Accessibility to be changed to a new image showing a person seated in a wheelchair while appearing to be in motion. A.8193 and S.6846 are two separate laws both stating the same requirements for the new icon. These laws also require the removal of the word “Handicapped” on any signs, and will replace it with the word “Accessible.” This change started as a small movement, but was signed into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 25th, 2014. The effective start date was November 25, 2014.

These changes were made in order to maintain “a people first perspective, and the emphasis on the person, rather than the disability.”

Only new signs will be required to include the Dynamic Accessibility Symbol. Signs that were already in place as of November 25, 2014 will remain as is because they were grandfathered in. When it is time for old signs to be updated, they will be replaced by signs displaying the new symbol.

As of the date of this document, only one other state, Connecticut, has adopted the new Dynamic Accessibility Symbol, though there is a movement in place to expand this symbol into the other states.

The Dynamic Accessibility Symbol In Use:

The post What to Know About New York Dynamic Accessibility Symbol Laws appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Hazard severity level
• The special hazard category
• Non-standard symbols
• Determining hazard ratings
• Composite rating method
• Sign location
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

NFPA 704 is a standard maintained by the US-based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It defines a graphic system primarily used by emergency personnel to quickly identify the risks posed by the presence of hazardous materials in a certain area. Known as the NFPA “diamond,” the four section multicolor diamond shape indicates the health, flammability, instability and related hazards that are presented by short-term, acute exposure to a material during a fire, spill or other emergency-related condition. This is necessary to help emergency personnel determine what, if any, special equipment should be used, procedures followed, or precautions taken during the first moments of an emergency response.

The objectives of the system are:

• To provide an appropriate signal or alert for the protection of both public and private emergency response personnel.
• To assist in planning for effective fire and emergency control operations, including clean-up.
• To assist all designated personnel, engineers, plant, and safety personnel in evaluating hazards.

The 704 rating system is applicable to industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities that manufacture, process, use, or store hazardous materials. It is important to note that the standard is not applicable to transportation or for use by the general public. This is a relevant matter, because the NFPA 704 system is often confused with the placarding required by the Department of Transportation for hazardous materials. The standard is also not applicable to chronic exposures or to non-emergency occupational exposure.

NFPA 704 is a voluntary standard; each local jurisdiction determines whether or not it will be maintained as a requirement.

The post What to Know About NFPA 704 Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Where these requirements apply
• Specifics from the current laws
• Gender neutral offerings
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

New York City – Did you realize that as of January 1, 2017, a new signage requirement went into effect for single-occupant toilet rooms?

Pursuant to amended New York City Plumbing Code, Section 403.1.1 Single-occupant toilet rooms, “All single-occupant toilet rooms shall be made available for use by persons of any sex….”

Further, in amended Section 403.4 Signage, “Required public facilities shall be designated by a legible sign for each sex, or for a single-occupant toilet room, for all sexes. Signs shall be readily visible and located near the entrance to each toilet facility….”

We have a vast array of signs to help meet your needs for this new requirement. We have different wording and combinations of symbols to indicate the facility is available for all sexes.

The post What to Know About New York Restroom Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Hazmat signs for cargo facilities
• Hazmat labels for cargo packages
• Hazmat signs for passenger facilities
• Hazard classifications
• Label shapes and elements
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

The Department of Transportation (DOT) defines a hazardous material as any substance or material that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. The DOT administers the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) that specifies requirements for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in the United States via aircraft, rail car, marine vessels, and motor vehicles. The HMR are found in Title 49, Parts 171-180 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The HMR classifies an exhaustive list of hazmat as to the hazard risk they pose, and defines the communication standards used to convey that risk through required package labeling and placarding. The enforcement agency for the transport of cargo hazmat by air is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Hazmat also may be present in commercial passenger aircraft. Regulations for this sector of air commerce are administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the FAA.TSA regulations for civil aviation security are found in Title 49, Parts 1540-1550.

The post What to Know About Aircraft Hazmat Signs appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Topics include:

• Prohibition sign design
• Symbol foreground and backgroun
• International pictographic language
• Links to relevant regulations

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Bulletin Overview

National Recreation Symbols were created by the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD) in order to “provide a common, nonverbal language to transmit information to park visitors regardless of their native language.” There are currently 190 symbols that are in use at United State National Parks.

There are four types of symbol formats: Positive, Positive (reverse), Prohibition, and Warning. The Positive symbols are usually a dark figure and border with light background. The Positive (reverse) symbols are displayed in reverse with a brown background and white image/border. The Warning symbols are black symbol with yellow diamond background. The Prohibition symbols are a black image set on top of a red circle and slash.

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