New Spanish resources available

OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign stickers are nowavailable in Spanish. Be sure to order them online in time for your National Fall Prevention Stand-Down event.

Three QuickCards for the maritime industry have been translated and are available on the Publications Web page.Servicing Rim Wheels, Hot Work Safety, and Fire Watch Safety describe safe work practices in shipyards, workers' rights and employer responsibilities.

Check out OSHA's new workers' rights video

https://youtu.be/MjnWMQeufI0

2015 National Safety Stand-Down materials available

OSHA and its industry partners hope to reach workers and employers from many industries during the 2015 National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls. From May 4-15 participants are asked to pause their workday and participate in safety training in fall prevention. Last year more than 1 million employers and workers across the country joined the effort, making it the largest occupational safety event ever hosted in the United States.

In preparation for this year's stand-down events, employers and workers are encouraged to visit the 2015 Stand-Down page where they can find free fall prevention training materials in both English and Spanish, including the new 2015 Stand-Down poster (PDF*), a list of local events, and also receive a certificate of participation signed by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.

OSHA urges employers and workers removing snow from rooftops to be aware of fall hazards and safeguards

OSHA is urging employers and workers who remove snow from rooftops and other building structures to be aware of the hazards and safeguards associated with this work. Several recent incidents of workers falling through skylights, one resulting in a fatality, emphasize the need for employers to evaluate the hazards of snow removal tasks and plan how to do the work safely.

A surface that is weighed down by snow may be at risk of collapsing, so it must be inspected by a competent person to determine if it is structurally safe for workers to access it. Snow-covered rooftops can hide hazards such as skylights that workers can fall through. Electrical hazards may also exist from overhead power lines or snow removal equipment.

Employers can protect workers from these hazardous work conditions by using snow removal methods that do not involve workers going on roofs, when and where possible. Employers should determine the right type of equipment to use, such as ladders or aerial lifts, and personal protective equipment including personal fall arrest systems and non-slip safety boots, as well as ensure that workers are trained on how to properly use them. For more information, see OSHA's Hazard Alert: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces (PDF*) and Winter Weather Web page.