New Nail Gun Safety Web page and ePub help prevent construction injuries

Nail guns cause tens of thousands of serious injuries each year, hospitalizing more construction workers than any other tool-related injury. OSHA’s new Nail Gun Safety Web page offers resources to help reduce these numbers. The page includes links to regulations, training and compliance assistance materials, including the joint OSHA/NIOSH Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors. The guide, also available as an e-publication in English and Spanish, can be downloaded to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, as well as on desktop and laptop computers.

OSHA and 4,000 workers at scores of N.Y. and N.J. construction sites stand down to prevent falls

OSHA joined worker, union, industry and community partners in New York and New Jersey to sponsor safety stand-downs June 24-July 3 to raise awareness about the hazards of falls -- the leading cause of jobsite deaths in the construction industry. More than 120 stand-downs were held across the region, involving more than 4,000 workers.

To learn more about OSHA's Fall Prevention campaign, visit www.osha.gov/stopfalls, and for more information on how to plan a stand-down, contact the OSHA office nearest you.

New workers most at risk for heat-related illness: Employers should allow time for acclimation

OSHA is investigating two recent heat fatalities involving workers who were new to the job. In a recent call with meteorologists, Assistant Secretary Michaels emphasized that OSHA has found that, generally, the workers who are most at risk for heat-related illnesses are those who are new to outdoor jobs – especially temporary workers.

Seasonal workers can be considered new even if they have been working every season for several years. Gradually increasing the workload and giving workers time to acclimate allows them to build tolerance to the heat. This is critically important for workers who are new to working outdoors in the heat, who have been away from working in the heat for a week or more, or at the beginning of a heat wave. Once a worker is acclimated to heat, the risk is lower. Employers should take steps to protect workers and help them acclimate.

OSHA's Heat Safety Tool smartphone app can help users monitor dangerous heat levels throughout the summer. The app is available for iPhone and Android and has already been downloaded almost 85,000. Download the app and find additional resources on OSHA's Heat page.