Lean Manufacturing and the Environment

I came across an article about Kaizen on the EPA web site that is excellent. It provides a good overview of Kaizen and includes some details, such as the "Five Whys", that I've not seen other other overview articles.

Although the article is relating Kaizen to the environment, the principles and approach is the same. This article concludes by saying something similar to this:

"At its core, kaizen represents a process of continuous improvement that creates a sustained focus on eliminating all forms of waste from a targeted process. The resulting continual improvement culture and process is typically very similar to those sought under environmental management systems (EMS), ISO 14001, and pollution prevention programs. An advantage of kaizen is that it involves workers from multiple functions who may have a role in a given process, and strongly encourages them to participate in waste reduction activities."

This article serves as a good introduction to Kaizen, and is also worth a quick read by those who have some experience with Kaizen. You'll find the article at: http://www.epa.gov/lean/thinking/kaizen.htm

Another Trench Related OSHA Fine

Just last week we reprinted a press release from OSHA about a fine related to trench hazards. Total there was another press release and another fine for the same hazard.

Region 4 News Release
Monday, November 13, 2006

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA Cites Trenching Company for Alleged Safety Hazards at Covington, Ga., Work Site
ATLANTA -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hall's Trenching and proposed penalties totaling $40,100, for allegedly exposing workers to trenching hazards at a Covington, Ga., work site where water lines were being installed.

"Fortunately, this work site was inspected and hazards abated before a tragedy occurred," said Gei-Thae Breezley, OSHA's Atlanta-East area director. "Too often, employers focus on finishing a job quickly instead of finishing a job safely. Employers must protect employees working in this hazardous industry."

OSHA issued one willful citation to the company, with a proposed penalty of $35,000, for allowing employees to work in a trench over seven feet deep without a cave-in protection system. OSHA issues a willful citation when an employer has shown an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

The May 31 inspection also resulted in the company receiving four serious citations, with proposed penalties totaling $5,100, for failing to provide workers with a safe means of entering and exiting the trench; allowing excavated material to accumulate at the edge of the trench wall; and for lacking a safety and health program and employee training. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

OSHA has an alliance with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia businesses across the state to promote trench safety through training and education efforts. The agency also has a separate special emphasis program to reduce trenching hazards through strong enforcement. Cave-ins are a leading cause of worker death and injury in the state.

Hall's Trenching, based in Mansfield, Ga., has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Atlanta-East area office located at LaVista Perimeter Office Park, Bldg. 7, Suite 110, Tucker, Ga, phone: (770) 493-6644.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information about trenching safety and other safe work practices, visit www.osha.gov

Trench Cave-In Danger

In monitoring OSHA press releases I've noticed several types of situations that regularly result in injury or death. One of the leading ones are trench cave-ins. This is such an obvious danger which can easily be addressed that we should not be seeing press releases such a this one.

OSHA Press Release: November 1, 2006

Unguarded 21-foot Deep Trench in Coventry Leads to $41,000 in Fines from U.S. Labor Department's OSHA for Warwick Contractor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Warwick contractor faces $41,000 in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly allowing employees to work in a 21-foot deep trench that lacked protection against cave-ins. RICO Corp. was cited for a total of five alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards following a June 8 OSHA inspection of a sewer-installation work site on Hopkins Hill Rd. in Coventry.

"Effective cave-in protection is essential since the walls of a trench can collapse without warning, crushing and burying workers beneath tons of soil and debris before they can react or escape," said Patrick Griffin, OSHA's area director in Rhode Island. "While it's fortunate that no cave-in occurred, safety should never be a matter of luck. The potential for death or serious injury was clear and present."

OSHA also found that the trench lacked a safe means of exit, excavated materials were stored less than two feet away from its edge and an employee working inside the trench lacked a helmet to protect against falling debris. In addition, employees were exposed to injuries from a severely damaged trench box that had been used earlier at the jobsite.

OSHA issued a willful citation with a $35,000 fine for the lack of cave-in protection and four serious citations, carrying $6,000 in fines, for the other items. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA standards require that all excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse. Detailed information on excavation safety, including a trenching "Quick Card," is available for employers and workers on OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Providence area office at (401) 528-4669.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.