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While asbestos is banned from new buildings and has been removed from most old ones, the hazardous material is not ancient history. It can still be an immediate, risky problem.

That problem is on wheels, according to a recent South Carolina worker safety alert. Asbestos is still found in the brakes and clutches of many old cars and trucks, according to the alert. As a result, it’s a particular hazard for mechanics and other people in the car repair business.

Every mechanic should be aware that when a brake shoe or a clutch is removed improperly, he or she is putting everyone in the shop at risk. There is no way to tell ahead of time if a car or truck’s brakes or clutch contain asbestos. The best approach is to treat every vehicle as if it contains the hazardous material.

OSHA recommends taking some steps to control the airborne material. One useful approach is wetting the asbestos. Another is sealing it up tightly in a clearly labeled bag. Repair shops should also use the low pressure/wet cleaning method, and the negative pressure enclosure/HEPA cleaning system. In fact, OSHA says those are the two “best practices” for controlling the spread of the material. The wet method is only allowable for five or fewer clutch and/or brake jobs weekly.

The South Carolina worker safety alert notes that OSHA requires every employer in those industries affected by asbestos – such as the automotive repair industry – to develop written safety procedures. Those procedures must then be turned into reality by training employees and insuring that they actually follow through on that training.

When asbestos breaks or crumbles, it is released into the air in particles invisible to the naked eye. Those fibrous particles can cause serious problems. Among those problems are gastrointestinal cancer, asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. About 10,000 people every year die of asbestos-related ailments in the U.S. alone.

Consumers are not immune to asbestos problems. Those who enjoy working on their own cars can risk exposure. OSHA recommends taking vehicles to professional mechanics for brake and clutch repairs.

Did you know that the 1918 Spanish Flu killed more people than World War I did? The Spanish Flu was an influenza outbreak that killed 50 to 100 million in just 18 months. WWI killed 9 million soldiers and several million civilians.

This is something that employers should keep in mind. An influenza pandemic will greatly affect our nation by increasing employee absenteeism, affecting travel, trade, tourism, the food supply, and consumer buying. It will create ripples in the investment and financial markets. This is according to a recent report by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The recent South Carolina OSHA alert deals with a potential flu pandemic or global outbreak. The OSHA urges employers to prepare for such an event even though there is currently no new strain of influenza or risk of a pandemic.

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of the virus emerges. Since it’s a new strain, no one would have been able to become immune to the strain. In addition, since no one is immune to it, the strain quickly spreads from one person to another worldwide.

According to the OSHA, employers should have an influenza pandemic disaster plan in place just as they have disaster plans in place for hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. The OSHA says, “As with any catastrophe, having a contingency plan is essential.”

Influenza is spread from person to person. If a pandemic ever happens, it will likely change patterns in commerce. Normal product deliveries won’t happen because of interruptions in supply chains. Grocery stores will be busy and might even run out of necessary supplies like hand sanitizer and tissues. Some businesses where people group together, like malls, restaurants and movie theaters, may experience a steep decline. Healthcare facilities may become overcrowded.

Employers have the power to minimize widespread economic disruptions by having a plan in place to deal with an influenza outbreak.

Worker safety is the main concern behind a recent South Carolina OSHA alert. A manufacturer recall has been issued for two brands of chainsaws that pose a hazard to workers. The plastic front handle that’s used on these chainsaws can break during times of heavy usage. If the handle does break, the saw becomes difficult to control, which can lead to severe cuts.

The South Carolina OSHA Alert affects certain types of Troy-Bilt and Craftsman brand chainsaws. The four recalled Troy-Bilt saws have two-cycle gasoline engines that range from 46cc to 55cc. These saws have either an 18-inch or 20-inch cutting blade. “Incredi-Pull,” a Craftsman chainsaw with a two-cycle 55cc gasoline engine with an 18-inch blade, also has been recalled. These saws are used in many industries, including construction, lumbering, and landscaping.

If you have one of these chainsaws, you should stop using it immediately. Contact the manufacturer or OSHA for more information. You can receive a replacement handle and installation instructions in the free safety kit they’ve made available.

Do not continue using the chainsaw without replacing the handle with the one included in the safety kit. Employers should make certain employees stop using the chainsaw until the new handle is in place. Workers have made reports to OSHA of incidents where they have lost control of the chainsaws after the plastic handles broke. In these incidents, one worker received severe cuts and another worker burned his fingers on the hot muffler.

Troy-Bilt and Craftsman recalled these chainsaws voluntarily. They are cooperating both with OSHA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC reviews over 15,000 types of consumer products and works to protect the public from death or major injuries. The price tag to the nation from injuries, deaths, and damage to property from defective products is over $700 billion a year. The safety of consumers, both workers and families, is the focus of CPSC. They strive to protect people from defective products that could result in injury or death.

It’s that time of year again. Time for every employer to double check that they have a 2007 South Carolina OSHA 300 form posted prominently in the workplace.

The 2007 OSHA 300 form was devised as a tool to log on-the-job accidents that occurred in 2006. The goal is to increase awareness of safety precautions in the workplace in hope of preventing or reducing the number of future job-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

The South Carolina OSHA 300 form is one of several posters and bulletins that all employers are required by law to post prominently in the workplace, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Employers are required to keep this OSHA 300A form poster on display from February 1 to April 30, 2007. The OSHA 300 form is meant to be displayed in conjunction with two other OSHA posters called “Job Safety and Health Protection” and “OSHA – It’s the Law”. These safety posters need to be the versions revised for 2007. Failure to display these posters may result in fines to the employer.

OSHA was originally chartered by the federal government to help ensure that all employers in the country provide a workplace that is as safe as possible. In many states, OSHA is the agency responsible for this mission.

In 24 states, however, an OSHA-approved state agency assumes this responsibility instead. These 24 states must generate their own posters and bulletins advocating safe working environments for all employees within their jurisdiction. These state posters must be displayed using the same guidelines as the OSHA-mandated posters. They can be posted instead of the OSHA posters although posting bulletins from both governing bodies is permissible.

OSHA is a busy organization. In its effort to maintain a safe work environment for all employees, OSHA is responsible for setting and enforcing safety and sanitation standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing workplace partnerships; and encouraging continuous improvement in these areas.

My research on the labor laws of various states shows that South Carolina has a shorter list of laws on this topic than some states. The South Carolina labor laws do, however, cover several key topics.

When it comes to the payment of wages, any employer in the state with more than five employees must provide written notification to employees of their rate of pay and what deductions will come out of their paychecks. There are no specific state laws in regards to minimum wage, and benefits such as lunch breaks, heath insurance, sick leave, and vacation are not required by law. South Carolina labor laws do not mandate a certain frequency at which employees must be paid. However, employees who are separated from their jobs must be paid either within 48 hours or at the next regular payday.

Unlike some states, South Carolina labor laws do not require minors to get a work permit. Minors ages 14 and 15 must only provide proof of age to their employer. The work hours and types of work for minors under 16 are closely regulated under state laws, but 16 and 17 year old minors are only prohibited from working jobs on the federal hazardous occupations list.

South Carolina is one of a number of states that administers its own occupational safety and health program. The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration carries out enforcement of a variety of standards designed to maintain a safe, healthful and hazard-free workplace. Standards exist to regulate many types of workplaces hazards. Employers may be inspected and fined if they do not meet these standards.

As in most states, South Carolina labor laws provide for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance programs. Workers’ compensation is designed to help pay the medical bills as well as some lost wages for workers who are injured on the job. Unemployment compensation, however, is designed to give financial assistance to workers who involuntarily lose their jobs.

For a helpful listing of all the relevant state and federal laws on this topic, please see the South Carolina Complete Labor Law Poster.