NC labor ledger

              By Dolores Quesenberry
Communications Director
The Labor Department urges those who work outside or in hot environments during the summer
months to be cautious and know the signs of heat-related illnesses.
“North Carolina’s humid conditions coupled with the extreme heat make for a dangerous combination,”
Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “The department has launched a heat awareness campaign to
bring attention to this workplace hazard that last year claimed four lives. Workers who understand the
signs and symptoms of heat stress could help prevent serious injury to themselves or to a co-worker.”
The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Division has developed additional materials to
help employers and employees recognize and prevent heat-induced illnesses before the condition
escalates to the more severe heat stroke. The OSH Division—which comprises Consultative Services;
Education, Training and Technical Assistance; Agricultural Safety and Health; Compliance; and Planning,
Statistics and Information Management—will work collectively to reach farmers, factory workers,
construction workers and highway crews that are at an increased risk of exposure to heat illnesses.
Prior to last year, North Carolina had not experienced a heat-related workplace fatality since 2006.
While the Department of Labor has always stressed the deadly effects of heat-related illnesses, the
statewide initiative will put extra emphasis on reaching out to anyone at risk of exposure to hot and
humid working conditions.
“We are especially concerned about this year considering the unseasonably warm weather we have
had thus far,” Commissioner Berry said. “Summer does not officially start until June 20, but some
areas of our state have already faced 90 degree weather this year. Please take proper precautions and protect yourself.”
Dehydration is one of the primary causes of heat illness. When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, several heat-induced illnesses
such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke can occur. It is recommended that workers consume 8 ounces of water
every 15 to 20 minutes. Beverages containing caffeine or alcohol are not recommended for hydration purposes.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat cramps are usually the result of hard physical labor in a hot environment, often resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body.
Heat exhaustion is a result of the combination of excessive heat and dehydration. Untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke
is the most serious disorder associated with heat stress and can be deadly if not treated properly.
The following information will help you identify heat-related illnesses:
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion Symptoms of Heat Stroke
® Headaches, dizziness, light-headedness or fainting. ® Dry, hot skin with no sweating.
® Weakness and moist skin. ® Mental confusion or losing consciousness.
® Mood changes, irritability, confusion. ® Seizures or convulsions.
® Upset stomach, vomiting. While Waiting for Help to Arrive
What to Do for Heat-Related Illness Move person to a cool, shaded area.
® Call 911 (or local emergency number) immediately. Loosen or remove heavy clothing.
Provide cool drinking water (only if victim is conscious).
Fan and mist the person with cool water; cool the victim’s head with a
Workers Need to Prepare for Hot Weather Hazards
continued on page 3
       	         	
       
   
        	
   
      	  

   
     

            
 

May-June 2012
While Waiting for Help to Arrive
® Move person to a cool, shaded area.
® Loosen or remove heavy clothing.
® Provide cool drinking water (only if victim is conscious).
® Fan and mist the person with cool water; cool the victim’s head with
a wet compress.
Drinking water often, taking breaks and limiting
time in the heat can help prevent heat illness.
North Carolina’s humid conditions coupled with the
extreme heat make for a dangerous combination. The
department has launched a heat awareness campaign to
bring attention to this workplace hazard that last year
claimed four lives. Workers who understand the signs and
symptoms of heat stress could help prevent serious injury
to themselves or to a co-worker.
Summer does not officially start until June 20, but some
areas of our state have already faced 90 degree weather this
year. Please take proper precautions and protect yourself.
Summer is also the time when thousands of teens throughout
North Carolina either are looking for a summer job or
have recently found one. Youth employment laws require
anyone under age 18 to have a youth employment certificate
in most places of employment. The NCDOL Wage and
Hour Bureau issues the certificates online. Instructions
begin at www.nclabor.com/wh/youth_instructions.htm.
Youths age 16 or older can perform any job that is not
hazardous or detrimental. Some examples of jobs those under
the age of 18 cannot do include mining, logging, meatpacking,
roofing, excavation or demolition. They cannot drive a
forklift or work with saws, explosives, radioactive materials
or most power-driven machines. There are additional rules
that apply to youths under the age of 16.
A first job is an exciting time for both teenagers and
their parents. It teaches responsibility, along with new
skills, which can help land a better job in the future. I hope
the experience also teaches teens the importance of working
safely. Nothing is more important than keeping all of our
workers safe this summer.
Inside this edition:
Chinese Delegation Visits Mine Safety Conference page 4
New Industry Guides Released page 4
Deadly Mistakes page 5
Workplace Worries page 5
Fifth Annual Lineman’s Rodeo Demonstration page 6
Bulletin Board page 6
2
From Labor
Commissioner
Cherie Berry
        	
   
      	  

Cherie Berry
Commissioner of Labor
Editor........................................................................Neal O’Briant
Layout and Design..............................................Jeff Wilson
Publications Bureau Chief....................Mike Daniels
1101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1101
1-800-625-2267 • www.nclabor.com
Recognition Roundup identifies businesses that qualify for one of the N.C.
Department of Labor’s recognition programs. Congratulations to all of the
recent award recipients. To view a complete list of all North Carolina Star
recipient companies, visit www.nclabor.com/osha/star/starsite.htm.
To view a complete list of all North Carolina SHARP companies, visit
www.nclabor.com/osha/consult/sharp_sites.pdf.
Recognition Roundup
Carolina Star Award
Mannington Laminate Floors, High Point
UTC Fire & Security, Lincolnton
Elementis Chromium Inc., Castle Hayne (recertification)
General Electric Co., Wilmington
Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (recertification)
Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, Burnsville Facility
(recertification)
Avoid struck-by accidents!
Be sure to check your mirrors and blind spots
when backing vehicles and motorized equipment.
Taking the proper safety precautions could save a life!
Desirable Work Practices for Those Working Outdoors
® Availability of cool drinking water.
® Heaviest and most exhausting work scheduled for the coolest part of the day.
® Frequent short breaks.
® Pacing tasks.
Prevention Is Our Intention
® Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses; monitor yourself and co-workers.
® Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks and heavy meals.
® Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
® Drink lots of water, about 1 cup every 15 minutes, even if you’re not thirsty.
® Rest regularly in cool, shaded or air conditioned areas.
The Labor Department has many publications available on heat stress available through the “Heat Stress Info” Quick Click on its website: www.nclabor.com.
Workers Need to Prepare for Hot Weather Hazards
3
continued from page 1
Four Cases of Heat-Related Workplace Fatalities
The following examples illustrate situations where working in
excessive heat resulted in fatalities. These fatalities occurred in
North Carolina during 2011.
® An employee was working outside paving. He told co-workers
that he was too hot and not feeling well. He went to get some
water and to lie down on the grass. After about 30 minutes,
co-workers checked on him and found him unresponsive/
unconscious. He was taken to the emergency room and later
died from hyperthermia. His temperature reached 108.4
degrees F.
® An employee was conducting tree service activities when
he fell unconscious due to heat-related conditions. The ambient
temperature was above 100 degrees F. He was transported
to a local hospital where his condition was diagnosed as a
heat-related illness. He was later transferred to a larger hospital
where he died almost two months later.
® A worker was gathering eggs in a turkey house. A co-worker
noticed that he seemed confused and appeared light-headed.
Several co-workers moved him to another area and called
EMS. He died after EMS transported him to a local hospital.
® An employee who was working on a residential roofing
project began feeling ill. It was the employee’s first day on
the job, and he required frequent breaks. During lunch, co-workers
noticed him shaking and acting incoherently. They
sat the employee in the shade and later returned to find him
unresponsive. The victim was transported by EMS to a local
hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Recommendations for an Effective Heat Stress Safety and Health Program
A good heat-related illness prevention program would likely
contain the following elements; however, each work environment
or situation may not require all elements.
1. Responsibilities of the employer and employees regarding working
in hot, humid environments.
2. Environmental factors and personal health factors that contribute
to heat-related illnesses.
3. Procedures for measuring air temperature and documenting
effects of other environmental factors (humidity, wind strength,
work location) by determining the wet bulb globe temperature
(WBGT) index or heat index using any tool or resource available,
including the OSHA Heat Safety Tool smart phone app.
4. Guidelines for implementing a heat acclimatization process.
5. Daily water/fluid requirements and management of the water/
fluid allocation process.
6. Training on the recognition of the signs and symptoms of
heat-related illnesses.
7. Reporting process when employees with heat-related illness
symptoms are observed.
8. Establishing first-aid procedures.
9. Establishing emergency response procedures.
10. Training for supervisors and employees on the requirements
established in the heat stress prevention program.
During any heat-related compliance inspection, the employer’s
heat-related illness prevention program will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine its effectiveness.
4
By William Gerringer, Bureau Chief, Mine and Quarry Bureau
A delegation of 22 Chinese government officials and public sector
managers responsible for workplace safety (particularly mine safety) and
emergency response visited the N.C. Mine Safety and Health Conference
on March 30. Dr. Paul C. Friday, director of the UNC Charlotte Center
for Justice Studies in China, arranged for the visit.
The NCDOL Mine and Quarry Bureau held the 35th N.C. Mine Safety
and Health Conference on March 29 and 30 in conjunction with the
North Carolina Aggregates Association. The conference featured several
speakers and exhibitors.
The Chinese visitors viewed the many exhibits and enjoyed talking
with some of the conference attendees through an interpreter. The new
technology interested them especially. They were also interested in just how
a conference was organized since they do not have such events in China.
Chinese Delegation Visits Mine Safety and Health Conference
Members of the Chinese delegation view an exhibit at the N.C.
Mine Safety and Health Conference.
By Wanda Lagoe, Bureau Chief
Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau
A construction safety and health management program
industry guide and a general industry safety and health
management program industry guide are now available for
download in both PDF and Word format on the NCDOL
website under the Publications tab. The intent of the new
industry guides is to provide employers with an example
comprehensive safety and health management program that
includes best practices that an employer can tailor to its specific
operation and organizational needs. Employers are encouraged
to customize the information in the industry guide as necessary
to accomplish this goal.
In the near future, we will have a safety and health management
industry guide for all the OSH Division’s Special Emphasis Program
areas, which include construction, food manufacturing, wood products,
logging and arboriculture, long term care, and health hazards. We will also be introducing similar industry
guides for the public sector, public safety divers, fire departments and EMS.
Another new type of industry guide that will be introduced in the future will be focused on both general industry and construction
standards that require programs, inspections, training, records and/or procedures.
New Industry Guides Released

  
  	 
 
   
    
           	
           	
  
 
  	
 
  
   
 
       
 	
    
	         
 
         
   
    

  
  	 
 
   
    
           	
           	
  
 
  	
             
 	
    
	         
 
         
   
    
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By Steve Sykes
State Plan Coordinator
Fatal Event: On Feb. 25,
2011, a 37-year-old crane
operator, and company owner, was killed as a result of being struck by
a truck on a jobsite.
Investigation Findings: The victim was at an asphalt plant site
moving equipment with his mobile crane in preparation for an addition
to the plant. The fatality occurred not while work was being performed
but while the crane operator and other plant employees were leaving
the site for lunch. While the victim was going to his vehicle, he was
struck by a backing truck owned by the asphalt company. The driver
of the truck never saw the victim as he maneuvered the truck from his
parking spot. He ultimately realized that he had struck something but
assumed he must have hit a block of cement that was in the area.
Employee interviews confirmed that the truck’s backup alarm was
operating at the time of the accident. However, there was speculation
that it may not have been heard over the sound of a bulldozer that was
operating at the site. It was also so windy the day of the accident that
consideration was given to suspending work in the afternoon. The
combination of wind and the operating bulldozer could have affected
the ability of the backup alarm to be heard.
The victim’s father arrived at the scene of the accident while the
investigation was taking place. He informed the investigator that he
was on the phone with his son at the time of the accident. They were
making lunch plans. This is not the first time that an employee has
been struck by a vehicle while reportedly talking on a cell phone.
Discussion: Struck-by accidents continue to be a leading cause of
workplace fatalities in North Carolina. In fact, in 2011, struck-bys were
the leading cause of death. Of the struck-by fatalities in 2011, unlike what
might be expected, most of the incidents were not in construction.
Also, most of the fatalities in construction did not occur during backing.
This could be attributed in part to the requirement for backup alarms
on certain construction equipment and the overall awareness of the
struck-by potential on construction sites.
Areas around loading docks seem to be a particularly dangerous
spot with the victim often the driver who was making a delivery. In
2011, a driver was not only struck by his own truck during unloading
but one driver was hit by a forklift and killed. Two other employees
were also struck by their own vehicles including one who fell off the
trenching equipment he was riding on and then was struck and killed.
As well as on the job accidents, reports of people being struck by
backing vehicles in other environments results in hundreds of deaths
a year. In response to this reality, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has researched the value of a rear view video system. As
technology advances and costs decrease, more and more consumers
are purchasing vehicles with backup cameras. This is especially true for
families with the combination of a restricted view vehicle and small
children. Some seem to think, for vehicles with restricted or no rear
visibility including school buses and large construction vehicles, a
rear view video system might reduce the number of backing accidents.
Recommendations:
N Vehicle operators should confirm if anyone is behind them before
they begin backing. This would eliminate most accidents.
N Vehicles should be equipped with audible signaling alarms such
as a horn and backup alarm.
N Distractions should be reduced while operating equipment or working
around moving equipment. Don’t allow a momentary distraction
to result in a deadly consequence.
N The use of a spotter or observer should be considered when vehicles
are backing up.
5
Q: If I quit my job, does my employer
have to pay me within 24 hours?
A: No. Your employer has to pay
you on or before the next regular payday
for the pay period in which you worked
when your separation takes place. Your
employer may pay you earlier than the
payday, but this is up to the employer.
Your employer is within its rights to wait
until the regular payday to pay you your final wages.
Wages based on bonuses, commissions or other forms of calculation
must be paid on the first regular payday after the sum becomes calculable
when a separation occurs. Such wages may not be forfeited unless the
employee has been notified of an employer’s policy or practice that
results in forfeiture. Employees who are not notified are not subject to
such loss or forfeiture.
If an employee requests that the employer mail his or her final pay-check,
the employer must mail the paycheck to the employee at the
employer’s expense. Employers may not withhold a final paycheck
because the employee refuses to pick up the paycheck. The employer
may require the employee to provide a notarized or witnessed written
request for the mailing of the final paycheck.
Q: My boss scheduled me to work overtime. Is there a restriction on
how many hours an adult employee can work in one week?
A: No. Employees 18 years of age or older may be required to work
as many hours as the employer wants. The employee must be paid at
least minimum wage or the promised wage rate for the first 40 hours
worked in a workweek. Employers must pay time and one-half for any
hours worked over 40, unless the employee is exempt from overtime
provisions.
By Kathryn Castelloes, Bureau Chief
Apprenticeship and Training Bureau
The N.C. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship and Training Bureau will conduct the Fifth Annual Lineman’s Rodeo Demonstration
on May 19, 2012, at the “Got to Be N.C.” festival at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
This event is sponsored by: The highlights of the rodeo will be:
~ N.C. Electric Membership Corp. ~ a live line demonstration
~ Pike Electric ~ a pole top transformer changing demonstration
~ N.C. Department of Agriculture ~ pole top rescue of an injured lineman
~ N.C. Department of Labor ~ removal/replacement of cross arms and bracing
This rodeo features how prominent safety is to overhead line work and how this work is performed without the loss of power to
the customers and ensuring the safety of the power line worker/apprentice involved.
For more information you may contact the Apprenticeship and Training Bureau at 919-733-7533.
Fifth Annual Lineman’s Rodeo Demonstration
        	
   
      	  

OSH Webinar Courses
Visit the OSH Training Schedule Calendar here to view upcoming Internet training courses. Upcoming topics include bloodborne
pathogens, personal protective equipment, fall protection, welding and cutting, steel erection, scaffolding, and hazard communication.
Wilmington Regional Safety
and Health School
July 26-27
Best Western Coastline Inn, Wilmington
www.wilmingtonsafetyschool.com/
10-Hour Construction Industry
Awareness Course
July 11-12
Cape Fear Community College, Castle Hayne
Click here for more information.
July 25-26
Wake Technical Community College
Western Wake Campus, Cary
Click here for more information.
Mine and Quarry Training
Part 46 New Miner Training
May 22, Winston-Salem
June 18, Wake Forest
July 16, Wake Forest
Part 46 Annual Refresher Training
May 24, Winston-Salem
June 20, Wake Forest
July 18, Wake Forest
First Aid Training
May 23, Winston-Salem
June 19, Wake Forest
July 17, Wake Forest
To register for any of these seminars or classes,
contact the Mine and Quarry Bureau at 919-807-2790.
6
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