Release
HOME > Press
Press Release
06/19/2009
LJB Inc.’s Safety Team Presents Two Sessions at ASSE Conference
DAYTON, OH – June 19, 2009 – At the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Safety 2009 conference LJB Inc. and Marathon Pipe Line, LLC (MPL) will detail how MPL’s new fall protection program, based on the ANSI Z359.2 standard, has reduced fall risks and enhanced employee safety.
By partnering with LJB Inc., an innovative safety, facility, and infrastructure design firm, MPL completed a three-year assessment program to identify fall hazards at MPL locations throughout the nation. MPL has begun the process of addressing the identified hazards -- as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
Tracey Riepenhoff, P.E., C.S.P., P.M.P., managing principal at LJB Inc. and Andrea Holtz C.H.M.M., environmental and safety field services supervisor at Marathon Pipe Line, LLC, will co-present “Managed Fall Protection Programs: A Case Study” on Tuesday, June 30th at 10:45 a.m. at session 617 of the ASSE conference.
“Forward-thinking companies are now adopting elements of the new ANSI Z359.2 standard to create a safer work environment,” Riepenhoff said. “By focusing on employee training and hazard identification, companies can significantly improve employee safety by eliminating and controlling fall hazards.”
Paradox Points To Need For Greater Focus On Fall Hazards
While MPL’s abatement program is successful, a stunning paradox points to a need for a greater overall focus on fall protection. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, occupational fall education and safety-related equipment sales increased from 1995-2007. This increase happened in the same time period when fatalities due to falls increased about 30 percent, while overall workplace fatalities decreased by 12%.
To address the paradox, Kevin Wilcox, P.E., C.S.P., principal at LJB Inc. will present solutions to the three most common fall protection mistakes at ASSE session 535 on Monday, June 29th at 3:15 p.m.
Wilcox’s “Evaluation and Control of Fall Hazards – Lessons Learned” session is in direct response to inquiries for guidance when evaluating and controlling fall hazards.
“Although it’s tempting to solve the hazards that appear to be the obvious risks,” says Wilcox, “it is critical to step back and establish a method and priorities for creating a manageable and sustainable program. Doing so then translates into a consistently safe environment for workers.”
According to Wilcox, the three most common mistakes when confronting the fall protection issue are doing nothing, solving the wrong problem, and choosing the wrong solution. Wilcox will provide a meaningful base for understanding cost effective methods of preventing fall fatalities by using real life examples in a fictional setting. The presentation will include helpful tips such as consulting workers, conducting fall hazard assessments and avoiding past mistakes.
Editor’s Notes:
- Visit LJB Inc. at ASSE Booth #1338
- To schedule an editorial briefing, please contact Kim Messer (937-259-5020 or kmesser@ljbinc.com) or Pam Gilchrist (859-431-9090 or pgilchrist@pr-link.com)
About LJB’s Presenters:
Tracey K. Riepenhoff, P.E., C.S.P., P.M.P.
Managing Principal, LJB Inc.
Tracey Riepenhoff has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of structural and safety engineering. She leads the safety division at LJB Inc., and serves as a registered professional engineer, a certified safety professional and a certified project management professional. Her project experience includes the design, inspection and renovation of 10 million square-feet of safety and industrial projects. In addition to conventional structural engineering projects, Riepenhoff has facilitated 200 hours of safety and fall protection training. She also has experience guiding companies and organizations through the development of comprehensive managed fall protection programs that include training, policy writing, surveying and abatement. She holds bachelors and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
Kevin E. Wilcox, P.E., C.S.P.
Principal, LJB Inc.
Kevin Wilcox, a principal with LJB Inc., is a professional structural engineer as well as a certified safety professional with more than 15 years of experience. He has addressed a wide variety of engineering and safety challenges across many types of facilities including manufacturing, institutional and government buildings. Wilcox was instrumental in the development of LJB’s proprietary risk assessment algorithm that is used to prioritize hazards according to risk, enabling LJB’s clients to methodically address fall hazards. A fall protection expert, he manages projects in hazard evaluation, abatement evaluation and design, and provides training at the competent and qualified persons level. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Toledo.
Click photo to enlarge