ASTM International proposes standard
ASTM International has proposed a new standard, ASTM WK27666, "Practice for Electrical Conductance Methods for Locating Leaks in Exposed or Covered Waterproof Membranes," to ensure waterproofing membranes on buildings are performing as intended. The practice will be useful to architects, specifiers, membrane manufacturers, roofing contractors, warranty providers and building owners to test, verify and monitor the integrity of waterproofing membranes. The standard applies to polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and bituminous material membranes.
"The proposed new standard will provide a practical and reliable way to test the integrity of waterproof membranes on modern roofing assemblies," says ASTM International member David Vokey, president and CEO of Detec Systems LLC, Bellingham, Wash. "The described tests are used on both conventional and protected roofs and are particularly useful for roof designs that incorporate a waterproofing membrane under a green roof, wear course or topping slab where direct inspection of the roof membrane is difficult or impossible."
Subcommittee D08.22 on Waterproofing and Dampproofing Systems, part of ASTM International Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing, is developing the standard. The subcommittee also hopes to develop a proposed new standard guide for permanently installed roof membrane monitoring systems that describes how to report the condition and location of any developing issues in waterproofing membranes.
"A monitoring system standard would be especially important for modern roof designs incorporating a vegetative roof, insulation layer, wear course or topping slab," Vokey says. "The membrane can be remotely monitored without having anyone walking on the roof, damaging the vegetation."
For more information about the proposed standard, visit www.astm.org.
OSHA releases interactive training web tool
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new interactive training web tool to help small businesses effectively identify workplace hazards. Users can explore how to identify common workplace hazards in the manufacturing and construction industries, learning not only hazard identification skills but also hazard abatement and control.
"Hazard identification is a critical part of creating an injury and illness prevention program that will keep workers safe and healthy on the job," says David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary of labor. "This new tool not only educates employers about how to take control of their workplaces and protect workers, it also demonstrates that following well-established safety practices is also good for the bottom line."
The web tool allows users to assume the role of a business owner or employee as they learn to identify and address common, realistic hazards. The web tool explains the key components of identifying hazards, including information collection, workplace observation, incident investigation, employee participation and hazard prioritization. The web tool was developed with OSHA's Training Institute.
To access the web tool, visit www.osha.gov/hazfinder. To view the game trailer, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_IqaWSbKo&feature=youtu.be. For additional compliance-assistance resources, visit www.osha.gov.
NIOSH introduces Buy Quiet web resources
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has introduced Buy Quiet web resources that highlight the benefits of a Buy Quiet program, explain how to establish a program in your workplace, and provide additional resources for finding quieter tools and machinery.
A Buy Quiet program of purchasing or renting quieter machinery and tools can help decrease the risk of work-related noise-induced hearing loss at worksites, minimize the effect of noise on communities, and assist companies in complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other noise regulation requirements. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common work-related injury in the U.S.; about 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels each year, according to NIOSH.
"Work-related noise-induced hearing loss is preventable, and with these new resources, NIOSH is working to help employers make better decisions that will have a lasting impact on the quality of life for their workers," says NIOSH Director John Howard. "Buy Quiet programs, as part of our Prevention through Design initiative, provide a way to create inherently safer worksites that benefit both workers and employers in improving the health and safety of our nation's workforce."
The Buy Quiet program is a specific application of the NIOSH Prevention through Design (PtD) initiative and part of the broader Hearing Loss Prevention Program, which conducts research to determine the causes of occupational hearing loss and works to deliver prevention solutions to employers.
The newly released Buy Quiet resources include a video, several posters and links to partner Buy Quiet websites. The materials and more information about the Buy Quiet program can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet.
For more information about NIOSH, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh.
