OSHA’s Updated Safety Standards for Fabricators in 2020

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its fabrication safety standards in Umatilla County, OR and beyond, reflecting the current state of the world. While many metalworking companies have reduced or temporarily halted their operations, it’s imperative that, when business does restart normally, workers and clients will be protected. Here’s how the agency is planning to help, and the measures it’s already implementing:

• A focus on high risk workplaces: Luckily for NW Metal Fabricators Inc., metal fabrication is considered a lower-risk industry, thanks to our ability to space out and our limited contact with the public. Currently, OSHA is dedicating most of its resources to high-risk workplaces, such as healthcare facilities. Medium risk workplaces are considered those where the workers come into contact with a high number of people, such as schools and public venues.
• Protecting the most vulnerable workers: As backed by public health officials, OSHA is advising that special accommodations be made for those who are immunocompromised, over the age of 65 and have medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, renal or liver failure and other vulnerable conditions. Since COVID-19 is especially harmful to this group, it’s important to evaluate how workers interact with each other and customers, and make adjustments as necessary.
• Wearing personal protective equipment when necessary: Unless you’re a healthcare professional, OSHA is currently suggesting that N95 medical-grade masks be reserved for those who are coming into close contact with the virus on a regular basis. This is due to a medical-grade PPE shortage, which doesn’t appear to be likely to resolve anytime soon.
• Using handmade face masks as a last resort: Handmade face masks are another option to help keep others safe, as well as protecting yourself in some capacity. Fabric masks are effective in ensuring that the virus can’t be transmitted if you cough or sneeze, but you can still contract it if you come into contact with an infected, unmasked person, or touch affected surfaces and then touch your eyes.
• Health and hygiene improvements: Finally, OSHA offers guidelines for health and hygiene improvements, such as spreading out meetings in places like the parking lot, increasing your sanitation stations in high traffic areas, offering plenty of disinfecting supplies, cleaning daily and removing furniture to assist with social distancing.

While the new normal may be uncertain, these guidelines are designed to keep our businesses safe before and after the economy reopens.

Find out how we’re complying with OSHA fabrication safety standard updates in Umatilla County, OR

NW Metal Fabricators Inc. takes our workers’ and clients’ safety very seriously, which is why we’re glad to comply with OSHA’s updated safety standards for our industry. When you need full fabrication and machining processes, including powder coating, we are capable of delivering high-quality parts to your specifications, on or under budget and on time. Reach out to us today to learn more about our metalworking services and how we can help you. We look forward to working with you soon!

Categorised in: OSHA Fabrication Safety Standards

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