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Breaking News • Safety & Compliance • New Members |
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PHMSA Publishes New Org Chart • Due to the shakeup in agency personnel as a result of Inspector General and congressional investigations, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has published a new organizational chart. The new Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety is Magdy El-Sibaie, who was formerly the Director of the Office of Research and Development at the Federal Railroad Administration. The new Assistant Associate Administrator is Ryan Posten, who formerly held a position in enforcement at PHMSA. OSHA Publishes Proposed Amendments to Hazcom Rule • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a proposed modification to its existing Hazard Communication Standard to conform with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. 74 Federal Register 50280 (September 30, 2009). The proposed modifications to the standard include revised criteria for classification of chemical hazards; revised labeling provisions that include requirements for use of standardized signal words, pictograms, hazard statements and precautionary statements; a specified format for safety data sheets; and related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard, requirements for employee training on labels and safety data sheets. OSHA is also proposing to modify provisions of a number of other standards, including standards for flammable and combustible liquids, process safety management and most substance-specific health standards, to ensure consistency with the modified HCS requirements. Comments on the proposed changes are due by December 29, 2009. DOT to Ban Texting, Restrict Cell Phone Use in CMVs • At the conclusion of a 2-day summit on distracted driving in Washington, DC, last month, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a series of actions that the Obama Administration and the U.S. DOT are taking to address distracted driving in commercial and personal vehicles. Secretary LaHood stated that his agency will issue a rulemaking to ban texting (sending or receiving of text messages) while operating a commercial motor vehicle, and also to restrict the use of any cellular telephone device while operating a CMV. President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles; when using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; or while driving privately owned vehicles when they're on official government business. The order also encourages federal contractors and others doing business with the government to adopt and enforce their own policies banning texting while driving on the job. Load Securement Sample Policy • GAWDA's Safety Committee has completed the sample policy on Load Securement. This is one of the many policies the Committee is working on. The policy is designed as a guide for GAWDA members. Click here for your copy.  Industry Beat
ESAB Appoints New President (Charlotte, NC) • ESAB Welding & Cutting Products appointed Andrew Masterman as president and chief executive officer of ESAB North America. Masterman replaces Brendan Colgan, who assumes the role of chairman of the ESAB Group (North America), along with additional responsibilities as operations director for ESAB Global, including India, South America, Asia Pacific and China. Masterman previously served as president of Metalico’s Platinum Group Metals division. Prior to that, he was president within Spartan Light Metals, TI Automotive and Walbro Corporation. He also served in a senior financial role for Intel Corporation’s Server Business Unit. Masterman holds advanced degrees in industrial engineering, Japanese studies as well as an MBA. TW Cylinders Honored (Huntsville, AL) • TW Cylinders, a division of Taylor-Wharton International, has been awarded the 2009 Air Pollution Control Achievement Award by the City of Huntsville. TW Cylinders replaced gas fired pre-heat ovens with 4 induction heating units, which reduce monthly gas usage by 25%. The project resulted in energy-cost reduction, provided improved consistency in the quality of pre-heating and improved the work environment of the company’s operators.
AWISCO Promotes Mariot (Maspeth, NY) • AWISCO Corp. promoted Abel Mariot to branch manager of its West Orange, NJ, store. Mariot began working in AWISCO’s warehouse in 2004 and was promoted to counter sales a few months later. Francavilla Becomes APU President (Greensboro, NC) • AmWINS Group, Inc., appointed Ben Francavilla as president of AmWINS Program Underwriters (APU), succeeding the retiring Larry Bitner. Francavilla joined APU in 1993 and most recently served as senior managing director as well as director of program development for AmWINS' underwriting division. LifeGas Gets Accreditation (Atlanta, GA) • LifeGas, the U.S. medical gases business of the Linde Group, has become one of the first gases and equipment suppliers to receive accreditation as a home oxygen subcontractor. LifeGas was one of the first medical gases companies to deliver oxygen directly to patients’ homes on behalf of homecare providers. The accreditation enables LifeGas to instruct patients on the safe and effective use of the oxygen and equipment it delivers.
Campbell Joins Tri County (Alvin, TX) • Tri County Industrial Supply added Jody Campbell to the position of purchasing and inside sales representative. Campbell has more than 28 years of experience in the gases and welding industry and will be responsible for continued development of vendor and customer relations. Holston Gases Acquires McKinney Welding Supplies (Knoxville, TN) • Holston Gases acquired welding supply company McKinney Welding Supplies and will continue to operate the facility from its Asheville, NC, location. The acquisition gives Holston 21 locations in four states.
GAWDA News Save the Date – 2010 Spring Management Conference • In 2010, GAWDA will have only one SMC and it’s going to be in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on April 18-20. Please mark your calendars! You can view the tentative schedule of events here. Presentations at San Antonio Convention • View them here. Photos From Closing Party • View them here. DOT, OSHA and EPA Reference Materials Now Available • Get your complimentary copy of the GAWDA Reference Materials (formerly Compliance Manuals). The new DOT, OSHA and EPA Reference Materials, updated by the GAWDA Consultants and Safety Committees, were distributed to the attendees at the San Antonio Convention. If you did not attend the convention and would like to receive the USB drives containing these materials, please complete this request form and fax it to 215-963-9785. GAWDA Clearinghouse • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month, it can be viewed here. No-Cost Subscriptions to Welding & Gases Today • Does the boss hog the copies of Welding & Gases Today, or do they never seem to make it out of the reception area? Now is your chance to receive a no-cost one-year subscription to our magazine. GAWDA is increasing the number of printed magazines so that we can reach a larger audience within our member companies. If you do not currently receive a copy and would like to, please e-mail Malvenia Avery at mavery@fernley.com and include your complete mailing address. Only the first 500 respondents will receive a free one-year subscription, so act fast!
Regional Meeting Update • The Southeastern Zone held its first ever regional meeting in Mobile, AL, on August 30-31. Seventy-nine people, including 45 distributors and 34 manufacturers, attended the event hosted by GAWDA President Jenny McCall from WESCO Gas & Welding Supply (Prichard, AL). Dave Nangle, president of The Harris Products Group, shared Business Planning Strategies for Recovery. Speakers Mark Hunter and Trey Mayhall discussed looking for an edge during difficult times and avoiding the pitfalls of failing to plan. Thirty-four attendees participated in a golf tournament. Butler Gas Products' (McKees Rock, PA) Heather Ferrand and Sky Oxygen's (Carnegie, PA) Dave Bloom hosted an Eastern Zone meeting in Seven Springs, PA, on October 1. The 75 attendees heard presentations from The Harris Products Group's Dave Nangle, who discussed the current state of manufacturing, and independent consultant Dennis Huth, who addressed current gas manufacturing and reducing costs in a tough economy. The winning golf team included Vince Cirincione III of Sky Oxygen, Eric Laubach of Direct Wire and Cable, Rod Swoger of Valley National Gases and Doug Morton of Eleet Cryogenics. View more photos of the Eastern Zone meeting here. Workshops, Web Conferences & Seminars HR Webinar
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