Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Asbestos has been used in products, such as insulation for pipes (steam lines for example), floor tiles, building materials, and in-vehicle brakes and clutches. Heavy exposures tend to occur in the construction industry and in ship repair, particularly during the removal of asbestos materials due to renovation, repairs, or demolition.
Asbestos Awareness training provides information to assist to identify work areas where asbestos may be present, understand the harmful effects of asbestos, describe methods to avoid asbestos exposure, and become familiar with OSHA and EPA standards designed to protect workers on the job site.
NOTE: This training is NOT for those workers that perform asbestos abatement activities and does not provide equipment training for workers required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job site.
This program contains the practices and procedures required to comply with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.146 - Permit-Required Confined Spaces. Confined space entry can be a hazardous operation and requires a system of controls to protect personnel from entering the space. Those who have no need to enter a confined space are prohibited from doing so.
This program contains the practices and procedures required to comply with the OSHA standards addressing fall protection during work at heights (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M: Fall Protection, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L: Scaffolds, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X: Ladders, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D: Walking-Working Surfaces, and 29 CFR 1910 Subpart R: Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution). Falls from elevation are a major cause of accidents and fatalities in the workplace. The installation of fall protection equipment and its proper maintenance and use, coupled with employee training on recognizing fall hazards, substantially decreases the risk of injury-causing falls from rooftops and other heights.
Environmental, Health, Safety and Risk Management (EHS&RM) contracted a civil engineering firm, Ryan-Biggs Associates of Troy, NY, to conduct a survey of Rensselaer roofs and to recommend fall protection options for Rensselaer buildings.
Request for roof access procedure with chemical fume hood shut down required
Any employee who operates a department powered industrial truck must first receive operator safety training and an evaluation of their operating skills. Training must be repeated at least every three years. Please contact EHS&RM if your department intends to purchase or rent a new powered industrial truck, as additional training may be needed. A powered industrial truck is defined by OSHA as any mobile power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials. Examples include forklifts, pallet jacks, low lift jacks.
The purpose of Rensselaer’s Hazard Communication Program is to provide written procedures and guidelines to comprehensively address the process of evaluating the potential hazards of chemicals, and the communication of hazards and appropriate personal protective measures to Rensselaer employees, contractors and visitors. The communication of chemical hazards is the responsibility of all individuals in the campus community and is coordinated through the EHS&RM . Hazards Communication involves the use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), container labeling and other forms of warning, information and training and comprehensive risk assessment. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and the Right to know.
Hazardous Energy Control Program to protect our employees from the accidental start-up of a machine or the release of stored energy during the service, maintenance, and installation of process and/or utility equipment and systems. This program contains the practices and procedures required to comply with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147 – Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout).
Hand and power tools are a common part of our everyday lives and are present throughout RPI's campus. These tools help us to easily perform tasks that otherwise would be difficult or impossible. However, these simple tools can be hazardous and have the potential for causing severe injuries when used or maintained improperly. Special attention toward hand and power tool safety is necessary in order to reduce or eliminate these hazards. This program contains practices to comply with, but not limited too OSHA's standards: 29 CFR 1910.211, 212, 213, 215, 219, 147, 241, 242, 243, 244, 301, 399, and ANSI B11.
Ladders are tools. Many of the basic safety rules that apply to most tools also apply to the safe use of a ladder. Ladder safety training is a tool for the proper selection, care and safe use of ladders, including stepladders, single and extension, articulated and mobile ladders. Choosing the right ladder for the job.
This program contains the practices and procedures required to comply with all OSHA standards addressing PPE. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.
Silica is a name given to a group of minerals composed of silicon and oxygen. Commonly found in the crystalline state. Silica is sand; quartz. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is very small particles typically at least 100 time smaller than ordinary sand at the beach. Generated by high energy operations, like, but not limited to: cutting sawing grinding, drilling and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick and mortar.
Training provides information to assist to identify work areas, materials and work practices to understand the harmful effects of RCS. Understand the methods to be used to avoid exposure.
It is the intention of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to provide a safe, healthful environment for all work activities, research and learning. This program is designed to provide information and requirements regarding respiratory protection to achieve that goal. The use of respiratory protection at Rensselaer is largely directed by the requirements contained in OSHA regulations, specifically 29 CFR 1910.134. A component of this regulation is the concept of achieving exposure control through the determination and implementation of engineering controls whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve adequate exposure control, personal protective equipment and/or other protective measures must be used. A respirator is any device intended to protect the user from airborne contaminants and/or oxygen-deficient environments. The selection and proper usage of respiratory protection is a critical component of the desired result of exposure control. Significant amounts of information must be known about the contaminants and the environment in which respirators will be utilized to provide adequate protection.
Respiratory Protection Program
