Lodging Engineer
Death, Taxes, And Them OSHA Changes Are A Comin’
The only things in life that are certain!
By Art Attaway
International business, globalization, International Standards (ISO), United
Nations, free trade…it’s a changing world, but the sky is not falling.
There is a move- meetings and post MSDS, have manuals, If so, then “bravo” and mission accom-
ment afoot by emphasize the proper use and protection plished. There was a very popular fabric
the Occupa- of these products, and have to constantly protector that was pulled “under the radar”
tional Safety and update the same. So, how will it impact us and had to be reformulated to provide for
Hazard Adminis- and why should we be concerned? greater safety. The company did it, reintro-
tration (OSHA)
The onus or burden will primarily rest on
duced the product, and barely missed a
to change the
the shoulder of suppliers and chemical
beat. I have previously owned a chemical
Hazardous
compounders. However, they may try to
product, and have to tell you some of the
Communication
pass these costs on in the form of higher
profit margins are incredible. The packag-
Standard, the
prices. I doubt it. The size of the chemi-
ing cost more than the product! Granted,
safety standard for chemical product la-
cal supply industry is in the tens of billions,
there is always a lot of Research & De-
beling, MSDS information, how the chemi-
so to absorb forty million or so is a minor
velopment that goes into products, and
cal industry manages hazardous material
consideration. As it will affect smaller prop-
these costs should always be allowed for
information, and employee training. This
erties more than larger hotels with greater
recovery. But, at the margins, these costs
is being done in an effort to further “glo-
employee populations, so will it affect the
have been recovered on most products.
balize” the management of these products
smaller chemical suppliers, but the cost is
My point is, they can afford it and should
and make the information more universal,
relative.
not go in “kicking and screaming.” It is
as well as to provide greater protection good for the environment, the planet and
These suppliers already print labels and
to workers that are exposed to chemical the people on it. The smart ones will make
MSDS, and maintain a budget to do so.
products. Sort of like the international sym- it good for their profit as well. And, hotels
The turn over, if planned, should go into
bol for the lavatory! / motels…making it good for employees
a normal annual cycle for reprinting and
This is old news to the hotel industry.
and guests… No brainer!
should be no big deal. The larger concern
While there are estimates of cost in the
is probably “will products be pulled” from
Regardless, this government project
tens of millions to implement these chang-
use by operators because of a greater
(OSHA’s rule making) is a slow moving
es, it will probably have very little effect on
awareness of safety concerns and an initial
train, but I do foresee it reaching its desti-
us as operators. We already have safety
manufacturer’s reclassifying requirement.
nation. The process is this:
PAGE 20 | Winter 2009 / 2010 | Lodging Engineer
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