Bill Text: NJ AJR64 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt recommendations of U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [AJR64 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR64-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt recommendations of U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution urging the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt the recommendations of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board concerning combustible dust fires and explosions.
Whereas, On October 9, 2012, an explosion occurred at a U.S. Ink plant in East Rutherford, New Jersey, engulfing seven workers in flames and causing serious injuries to one; and
Whereas, The explosion was caused by a newly installed dust collection system; and
Whereas, In 2006, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued the Combustible Dust Hazard Study, identifying 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005; and
Whereas, The Combustible Dust Hazard Study led to CSB issuing six recommendations, one advocating for a new federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard based on existing National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for combustible dust; and
Whereas, OSHA has not promulgated a combustible dust standard, despite the topic appearing on its regulatory agenda continuously over the years and enforcement of existing regulations has failed to address dust hazards in the workplace; and
Whereas, OSHA has attributed the delay of National Combustible Dust Standards to the emergence of other priorities, such as silica, confined spaces in construction environments, and work on infectious diseases; and
Whereas, CSB criticized OSHA for delaying the issuance of a federal combustible dust standard and reiterated its recommendations to OSHA, in its January 2015 investigative report on U.S. Ink, to issue a standard designed to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions in the general industry; and
Whereas, The standard CSB recommends is based on current NFPA dust explosion standards and includes at least hazard assessment, engineering controls, housekeeping, building design, explosion protection, operating procedures, or worker training; and
Whereas, Additional safety measures have been recommended by CSB, which include adding North American Industry Classification System Code 325910, Printing Ink Manufacturing, to the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program and communicating with all OSHA area offices to encourage appropriate application of the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program; and
Whereas, U.S. Senator Booker has contacted the United States Department of Labor to reiterate CSB's recommendations and expressed his concerns over the combustible dust explosion standards not being adopted to date; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey recognizes the importance of addressing workplace safety for our nation's employees and reiterates the CSB's recommendations to OSHA; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Governor and the Legislature of New Jersey respectfully urge the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt the recommendations of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board concerning combustible dust fires and explosions.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to each member of Congress from this State and to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health at the United States Department of Labor.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution urges the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to adopt the recommendations of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) concerning combustible dust fires and explosions.
On October 9, 2012, an explosion occurred at a U.S. Ink plant in East Rutherford, New Jersey, engulfing seven workers in flames and causing serious injuries to one.
In 2006, the CSB issued the Combustible Dust Hazard Study, identifying 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005. The Combustible Dust Hazard Study led to CSB issuing six recommendations, one advocating for a new federal OSHA standard based on existing National Fire Protection Association standards for combustible dust.
OSHA has attributed the delay of National Combustible Dust Standards to the emergence of other priorities, such as silica, confined spaces in construction environments, and work on infectious diseases. CSB criticized OSHA for delaying the issuance of a federal combustible dust standard and reiterated its recommendations to OSHA, in its January 2015 investigative report on U.S. Ink, to issue a standard designed to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions in the general industry.
