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DuPont and Steelworkers Settle Suit Over Safety Hazard Photos
DuPont and the United Steelworkers (USW) have settled a lawsuit over 20 photographs
of potential safety hazards at the company’s Niagara Falls facility.

A U.S. District Court granted the USW rights to the photographs after the union agreed to redact the parts that DuPont argued revealed trade secrets. DuPont was suing USW and a union representative for $15 million.

“For a company that proclaims to be one of the safest in the world, it’s not surprising that the company would go to such great lengths to prevent the release of these photos,” said Jim Briggs, USW international representative. “They show the unsafe conditions workers encounter day-to-day.” The 19 images appear on a union Web site at www.DuPontSafetyRevealed.org. The Steelworkers said the pictures were given to the union from an anonymous source.

DuPont disputed that the pictures show hazards and said the company’s safety record is a good one.

“We take all allegations of safety violations very seriously,” said spokeswoman Leslie Beckhoff. Pictures of an instrument electrical line running through water and chemical dust hazards were given to the union from the anonymous source. DuPont learned about the pictures during a union management meeting about an employee accident in which a woman was seriously burned.

In 2004, an administrative law judge ruled DuPont violated federal law when it failed to provide the union’s safety specialist access to the facility. The judge found that DuPont knew of the union’s complaints of dangerous conditions, “But either tried to avoid their existence or their seriousness or
tried to avoid their being investigated by a trained expert as the union has requested.”

USW gained access in 2005 and is currently evaluating alleged violations observed during the tour.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration made two partial inspections of the plant in the past five years in response to complaints, agency records show, reported the Buffalo News. The cases were closed without citing the plant for safety violations.

The 330-job plant, part of DuPont’s industrial chemicals business, makes sodium, lithium and chlorine.

Arc Flash Testing Program Receives Industry Support
A multi-year initiative by the IEEE and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to gain a better understanding of arc flash hazards and learn how to protect electrical workers against them has received an initial $1.25 million in contributions from industry.

Three major donations have been received: $500,000 from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), $500,000 from Bruce Power, and $250,000 from Hydro One Networks, Inc. An additional $5 million is
needed to fully fund the IEEE/NFPA Arc Flash Collaborative Research and Testing Project.

Electrical utilities, process industries, equipment manufacturers, professional associations,
safety-related agencies, insurers and others concerned with the safety of electrical workers are being asked to contribute to the project.

The need for the initiative is evident in the many reports on arc flash phenomena. The US Dept. of Labor and Electricite de France, for instance, cite arc flash as causing an inordinate number of electrical worker deaths and serious injuries. One major corporation found that up to 80 percent of its
electrical injuries involve thermal burns due to arcing faults.

“We were impressed by the thorough job IEEE and NFPA did in defining arc flash issues and the research needed,” says Gus Schaefer, senior vice president and Public Safety Officer at UL. “Our contribution to this program is consistent with our mission, which includes promoting ‘safe living and
working environments’ and advancing ‘safety science through research and investigation.’ We see the program as a great opportunity for many organizations to collaborate to benefit the entire power industry.”

Duncan Hawthorne, president and CEO of Bruce Power, which is located on the shores of Lake Huron, says his company is thrilled to be the first North American electricity generator to support this arc flash initiative.

“Supporting such an important breakthrough health and safety initiative is consistent with our number one value of safety first. Moving forward, I will be encouraging other utilities to participate in this
important initiative.”

Since 2001, Bruce Power has made safety a key focus by reducing lost-time injuries by over 93 percent and by leading a group of over 150 business leaders in the CEO Health and Safety Leadership Charter. Hawthorne said he believes this initiative will build on Bruce Power’s track record as a leader in health and safety by helping to counteract the risks arc flash poses to those who work on or near electrical equipment.

The more than 2,000 test protocols planned for the IEEE/NFPA Arc Flash Collaborative Research and Testing Project will create deeper insight into arc flash and arc blast phenomena, especially in areas not researched before. The project will measure thermal energy transfer from these phenomena,
as well as such effects as pressure and sound waves, shrapnel, the toxicity of gases released, and energy radiated at infrared, visible, ultra-violet, x-ray and other wavelengths.

It also will look at how enclosures affect the energy released in an arcing fault. “At Hydro One we believe that everyone is entitled to a safe workplace,” says Tom Parkinson, president and CEO of Hydro One. “That is why we are pleased to support an initiative that will contribute to improved
workers safety not only at Hydro One, but across a multitude of sectors.”

The program has also received smaller donations, such as $5,000 from SKM Power Tools and $1,500 from John Cadick at Cadick Corporation. In addition, Powell Electrical System will contribute the metal enclosures to be used in testing.

Data from the project will enable the IEEE to expand IEEE 1584, “Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations”, which helps designers and operators determine arc flash hazard distance
and energy exposure. Similarly, the project will help NFPA enhance NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

NFPA 70E provides guidelines in such areas as training, hazard evaluation, work conditions and personal protective clothing. Those interested in contributing to the IEEE/NFPA Arc Flash Collaborative Research and Testing Project should contact either Sue Vogel at IEEE (+1 732 562-3817) or Mark Earley at NFPA (+1 617 984-7400) for more information. A prospectus on the project is available online.

ASSE Joins Liberty Mutual on Work-Related MSDs
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Foundation Research Committee and the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety will fund two extensive studies aimed at helping prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

MSDs and the exposure to physical factors at work has been a key concern for businesses worldwide. The term musculoskeletal disorders refer to conditions that involve the nerves, tendons, muscles, and supporting structures of the body and how they are affected by repetitive motion.

The currently funded studies are part of the Liberty Mutual Safety Research Fellowship Program developed to enhance workplace safety through research and to provide occupational safety and health professionals with an opportunity to advance their knowledge. Two scholars, Waldemar
Karwowski Ph.D., PE, CPE, and Nicole Gravina, have been selected for this program.

Results of their research will be published in ASSE’s Professional Safety Journal.

Currently a professor and director of Industrial Ergonomics at the University of Louisville, KY, Karwowski focuses his investigations on how nonlinear movement of the shoulder during pushing and pulling (towards and away from the body) impacts human strength. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial
Engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, along with doctor of science degrees obtained overseas. As an author of over 120 journal papers, he has had a prominent career in the science fields as both an author and editor of journal publications, while providing plenary addresses and lectures.

He is also a Fulbright Scholar. Gravina, who is a Ph.D. student, will extend the study from her master’s thesis, titled “The Effects of Self-Monitoring on Safe Postural Performance,” to further evaluate the effectiveness of different practices and techniques in order to improve postural safety. Gravina has merited the Western Michigan University (WMU) All-University Research and Creative Scholar and the Psychology Departmental Research awards. Her contribution to the field of safety includes journal publications, conference presentations, and professional consultation for Sindecuse Health Center at WMU and Pfizer Global Manufacturing.

The Liberty Mutual Safety Research Fellowship program promotes research in occupational safety, expands upon current safety practices, and creates the groundwork for fellows in applied safety research. Researchers spend the summer at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in Hopkinton, MA, where they have access to a state-of-the-art facility and resources to complete
their research.

Applicants for the Liberty Mutual Safety Research Fellowship program must be U.S. citizens and possess a Ph.D. or be working towards a Master’s or Ph.D. degree. ASSE members and applicants enrolled in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited safety program
are given special consideration. Applications and guidelines for next year’s fellowships
will be available at www.asse.org/foundat.htm as of October 1, 2006.

Twenty Percent of AEDs Malfunctioned in Last Decade
A new study shows that automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the devices used to resuscitate victims of sudden cardiac arrest, had a greater than 20 percent chance of being recalled for potential malfunction over the past decade.

The findings, reported in the Aug. 9 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), suggest the need for a more reliable system to locate and repair potentially defective devices in a timely fashion.

“Though they are simple to use, AEDs are, in fact, complex medical devices,” explains the study’s senior author William Maisel, MD, MPH, director of the Pacemaker and Defibrillator Service at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard
Medical School. “It is therefore not surprising that they may occasionally malfunction. An AED recall rate of 1 in 5 over the past decade, however, is too high.”

The portable units provide voice commands, automated heart rhythm analysis, and if necessary, shock delivery to resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest. Their ease of operation — coupled with their clinically proven ability to improve the survival of cardiac arrest victims — has resulted in their
widespread use in recent years.

“During the period we followed – between 1996 and 2005 – the annual number of AEDs distributed increased almost 10-fold, from fewer than 20,000 in 1996 to nearly 200,000 in 2005,” says Maisel.
Many public areas such as airports, sports arenas, casinos, schools and churches are now routinely outfitted with AEDs, and certain AED models have even been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use without a prescription, enabling consumers to purchase them more
easily.

In their study, Maisel and coauthor Jignesh Shah, MD, of BIDMC’s Cardiovascular Division determined the number and rate of AED safety alerts and recalls (collectively referred to as “advisories”) as well as the number of actual AED malfunctions by analyzing weekly FDA Enforcement Reports and reports of
AED-related adverse events. (The FDA routinely issues such “advisories” to notify the public about potentially defective medical devices.)

Their comprehensive analysis showed that between 1996 and 2005, a total of 52 advisories affecting 385,922 AEDs or critical AED accessories were issued. They also found that device malfunctions occurred during attempted resuscitation in 370 patients.

Device recalls were most often issued due to hardware malfunctions, which may result in a failure of the AED to power on, to charge, or to successfully deliver a shock.

“AEDs are responsible for saving thousands of lives,” notes Maisel. “Time to defibrillation is the most important determinant of survival for patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest.” However, he adds, as AED distribution continues to increase, the number of devices prone to malfunction can also be expected to increase.

“Unlike implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) which are routinely registered with the manufacturer at the time of implantation, no such process reliably occurs with AEDs,” Maisel explains. “Our study demonstrates that there is an urgent need to develop a more reliable system to identify and repair
potentially defective AEDs in a timely fashion and to better notify AED owners when their devices are recalled.”

Maisel is an FDA consultant and chair of the FDA Circulatory System Medical Device Advisory Panel. The opinions expressed herein are the personal views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies, practices, positions or opinions of the FDA.

3E Company Names CFO With Growth Experience
The 3E Co., a provider of a comprehensive suite of services for environmental, health and safety (EH&S) related chemical and hazardous materials information and compliance management that addresses the entire chemical lifecycle, has appointed Steven Wolkenstein as chief financial officer.

Wolkenstein has more than 15 years of senior-level financial management experience in the information services industry. In his new role, Wolkenstein will manage all elements of 3E Company’s finances and continue its rapid financial growth as well as implement expansion opportunities, such
as mergers and acquisitions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve aboard,” said Bob Christie, CEO & president of 3E. “His extensive financial management experience with information services companies makes him a valuable addition to the executive team. We look forward to leveraging his past experience to accelerate 3E’s already rapid financial growth and strengthen our industry leadership position.”

Wolkenstein is the former vice president of finance, treasurer and controller of Mitchell International, a privately held company in the automotive information services industry. During his five year tenure, the
company completed three acquisitions and experienced revenue and EBITDA growth
of more than 50 percent.

Prior to joining Mitchell, Wolkenstein served as vice president of finance, treasurer and secretary of Esquire Communications Ltd, a publicly traded legal services company. Wolkenstein also served as international finance manager/worldwide tax and treasury manager for The Upper Deck Co., a privately held manufacturer and distributor of sports cards and memorabilia.

During his tenure, he established international finance offices in Europe and Latin America and was responsible for worldwide financial and treasury operations. Wolkenstein has also held positions with KPMG Peat Marwick and Touche Ross & Co.

“I’m delighted to be working with the company that has defined and shaped the regulatory compliance management industry,” said Wolkenstein. “Managing a company in a period of hyper-growth is an
exciting challenge, and I look forward to working closely with the 3E team to identify opportunities that will further strengthen 3E’s leadership position in the marketplace.”