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Gribbins Insulation

Silica Awareness

November 5, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

What is Silica Dust and Where is it Found?

Crystalline silica is an important industrial material found abundantly in the earth’s crust. Quartz, the most common form of silica, is a component of sand, stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Materials containing quartz are found in a wide variety of workplaces. Common industries and operation where crystalline silica is found include: construction, glass products, concrete products, foundries, cut stone products, fire-proofing, abrasive blasting, and many more. Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica occurs when cutting, sawing, drilling or abrading occurs on materials that contain crystalline silica such as crushing of concrete, sweeping, mixing, or pouring of materials. When controls are not in place during any of these operations, they could release large amounts of crystalline silica, which has very fine particles that can travel deep into your lungs.

Health Effects and Illnesses Caused by Silica Dust

Breathing in these very small (“respirable”) crystalline silica particles, can cause multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica is related to the development of autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular impairment. These occupational diseases are life-altering and debilitating disorders that annually affect thousands of workers across the United States

How do we protect ourselves from Crystalline Silica?

The most recent ruling by OSHA requires employers to protect workers from exposure to Silica with their standard 1926.1153. The standard provides flexible alternatives, which OSHA expects will be especially useful for small employers. Employers can either use the control methods laid out in Table 1 of the construction standard, or they can measure workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces.

Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:

• Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur.
• Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica where feasible alternatives are available.
• Offer medical exams-including chest X-rays and lung function tests-every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year.
• Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure.
• Keep records of exposure measurements, objective data, and medical exams.

Some Simpler ways to make this happen are:

• Eliminate the source of the dust whether that is through engineering controls or a change in work processes.
• Use collection or vacuum systems to collect dust at the point of operation.
• Use wet methods when cutting or breaking any concrete or similar materials.
• Use water as a means of suppression for the dust on roadways or in work areas.
• Use proper respirators when engineering controls are not enough to protect you.

 

Filed Under: Toolbox Talk

Incident Reporting

October 5, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

Incidents can be minor, major or SEVERE, but we still consider these to all be incidents.  They also need to be investigated in order to identify the “WHO”, “WHAT”, “WHEN”, “WHY”, and “HOW”.  Timely and efficient reporting is critical regardless of the severity of the incident.  Even if one does not need medical attention, it is just as important to report these incidents.

Accidents in many times begin and develop from atypical occasions or tasks.  With this being said they sometimes provide little information about the possibility of a future incident.  In contrast, the greater and higher frequency of incidents, the more information they give of human error, process failures, site evaluations, and procedure weaknesses.  The documentation of these issues helps determine the root causes, which will help the likelihood of us repeating failures.

Nothing is learned from an unreported incident.  As many of us can attests, many incidents come within inches from being a life altering injury, which should make reporting them more serious.  When an incident goes unreported, the preventative measures or controls go uncorrected.  This means that if it happens again, it could cause tomorrow’s life altering injury or fatality.

Why is incident reporting necessary?

  • Process, so a situation can be corrected
  • Prompt medical attention
  • Documenting to track patterns
  • Reporting minor incidents, to hopefully reduce cost of a major incident
  • Creates a stronger safety culture
  • Encourages improvement
  • Informing management of problems
  • Preventing more sever incidents
  • Incident reports to prevent law suits
  • Feedback from incidents, encouraging employee involvement
  • Awareness of threats, other hazards
  • Inspires urgency

Immediate action may be needed, depending on the severity of the incident or even the existing hazard that caused the incident.  In certain situations, we may have to activate the emergency procedure in order to take immediate action, such as fire alarms or EMTs.

 

Filed Under: Toolbox Talk

Brian Whitledge Hired as Gribbins Insulation Safety Coordinator

September 15, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

Evansville, Indiana – Gribbins Insulation announces the hiring of Brian Whitledge as Safety Coordinator. Brian works in the Evansville office and reports to Safety Manager Adam Mayer. As one of three Safety Coordinators for Gribbins, Brian helps employees follow safety policies and ensures hazard free work environments for all company locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, as well as jobsites throughout the US.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University, Brian began working in industrial and commercial construction safety in Portland, Oregon in 2012 and earned his Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) certification in 2017. Brian started with Gribbins in June of 2020, and he was immediately impressed with his coworkers, stating, “What I enjoy most are the people. Everyone is very accommodating and willing to answer questions to help me settle in.”

Outside of work, Brian can often be found at his farming operation in St. Wendel, Indiana where he grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay and also raises cattle. He especially enjoys tractor rides with his two children, Blair (4) and James (6). With his wife, Carlie, he also raises chickens and maintains a large garden at their home.

Founded in 1985, Gribbins Insulation is a commercial and industrial mechanical insulation contractor serving the Midwestern United States. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, the company has five branch offices in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, and employs about 250 people throughout its footprint.

 

Filed Under: Gribbins News, Safety

Incident Reporting

September 4, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

Incidents can be minor, major or SEVERE, but we still consider these to all be incidents. They also need to be investigated in order to identify the “WHO”, “WHAT”, “WHEN”, “WHY”, and “HOW”. Timely and efficient reporting is critical regardless of the severity of the incident. Even if one does not need medical attention, it is just as important to report these incidents.

Accidents in many times begin and develop from atypical occasions or tasks. With this being said they sometimes provide little information about the possibility of a future incident. In contrast, the greater and higher frequency of incidents, the more information they give of human error, process failures, site evaluations, and procedure weaknesses. The documentation of these issues helps determine the root causes, which will help the likelihood of us repeating failures.

Nothing is learned from an unreported incident. As many of us can attests, many incidents come within inches from being a life altering injury, which should make reporting them more serious. When an incident goes unreported, the preventative measures or controls go uncorrected. This means that if it happens again, it could cause tomorrow’s life altering injury or fatality.

Why is incident reporting necessary?

  • Process, so a situation can be corrected
  • Informing management of problems
  • Prompt medical attention
  • Preventing more sever incidents
  • Documenting to track patterns
  • Incident reports to prevent lawsuits
  • Reporting minor incidents, to hopefully reduce cost of a major incident
  • Feedback from incidents, encouraging employee involvement
  • Creates a stronger safety culture
  • Awareness of threats, other hazards
  • Encourages improvement
  • Inspires urgency

Immediate action may be needed, depending on the severity of the incident or even the existing hazard that caused the incident. In certain situations, we may have to activate the emergency procedure in order to take immediate action, such as fire alarms or EMTs.

Filed Under: Safety, Toolbox Talk

Gribbins Insulation Awarded Safety Leader Award

August 26, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

Evansville, Indiana – At the Coalition for Construction Safety’s (CCS) 27th Anniversary and Awards Celebration on August 6, 2020, Gribbins Insulation was awarded a Safety Leader Award. This award recognizes Gribbins Insulation’s safety program as one of the top five safety programs involved in the 250+ member multi-state construction safety group.

Mark Gribbins, Senior Vice President, and Adam Mayer, Safety Manager, accepted the award at CCS’s virtual awards ceremony.  A recording of the ceremony is available at the CCS website: https://ccs-safety.org/events/annual-awards-celebration/

Founded in 1985, Gribbins Insulation is a commercial and industrial mechanical insulation contractor serving the Midwestern United States.  Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, the company has five branch offices in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, and employs about 200 people throughout its footprint.

 

 

Filed Under: Awards, Gribbins News, Safety Awards

Gribbins Insulation Promotes Adam Mayer to Safety Manager

August 7, 2020 by Gribbins Insulation

Adam Mayer Promoted to Safety Manager

Evansville, Indiana – Gribbins Insulation announces the promotion of Adam Mayer to Safety Manager. Adam reports to Executive Vice President, Brian Willett. As the Safety Manager, he directs safety efforts for all company locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, as well as jobsites throughout the US with the help of three full-time Safety Coordinators.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University, Adam gained experience in construction safety at industrial jobsites throughout Southern Indiana prior to starting at Gribbins in December 2019. Adam states, “Since I have been working in the safety field, I’ve been impressed by Gribbins’s safety program and am honored to be responsible for its continued development.”

A native and resident of Evansville, IN, Adam enjoys riding his “side by side” around the west side with his wife, Jessica (Fentress) Mayer.  Adam and Jessica have three nephews and one niece, and they are proud parents of a Teacup Yorkie named Ellie and a Black Lab named Wendel.

Filed Under: Gribbins News, News, Safety

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