June is National Safety Month

The National Safety Council (NSC), one of the Safe + Sound Campaign organizers, designates each June as National Safety Month to focus on reducing leading causes of injuries and fatalities at work, on the road, and at home. NSC offers free resources to help ensure that “No 1 Gets Hurt” on the job or at home, and is hosting a free June 19 webinar, Building a Culture of Safety from the Ground Up, on how to create an effective workplace safety and health program.

OSHA Promotes Fireworks Safety Ahead of July 4 Festivities

With Independence Day celebrations approaching, OSHA is encouraging the fireworks and pyrotechnics industry to protect workers from hazards while manufacturing, storing, transporting, displaying, and selling fireworks. OSHA offers information on common hazards and solutions, including safety posters for workplaces.

Labor Secretary Speaks Out on Trench Safety

U.S. Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta recorded Public Service Announcements to address the increase in preventable trenching- related fatalities. Recorded in both English and Spanish, the PSAs highlight effective ways to stay safe when working around trenches or excavations.

Additional information on trenching hazards and solutions is available on OSHA’s trenching and excavation webpage. OSHA’s newly revised “Protect Workers in Trenches” poster provides a quick reminder of the three ways to prevent dangerous trench collapses: SLOPE or bench trench walls, SHORE trench walls with supports, or SHIELD trench walls with trench boxes. The poster is available in English and Spanish.

Safe + Sound Campaign: Register + Participate

Safe + Sound Week 2018, a nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of workplace safety and health programs, will be held August 13-19. It is an opportunity for employers to show commitment to health and safety by launching or renewing efforts to identify and manage hazards before they cause injuries or illnesses.

• Visit the Safe + Sound Week webpage to register your organization as a participant and get ideas on how to recognize the week in your workplace.
• Join the June 26 webinar to learn more about Safe + Sound Week, the tools and resources available, and how to participate.

OSHA’s National Focus on Preventing Trenching Fatalities Includes Workshop and Safety Stand-Down

As a result of a rise in preventable trench-related fatalities, such as the tragic incident in Alabama described in this issue, OSHA has made trench safety an agency priority. Outreach efforts include Alliances with industry groups and other activities:

• OSHA is joining the National Utility Contractor Association in a Trench Safety Stand-Down June 18-23. The week-long event will focus on trench and excavation hazards and reinforce the importance of using trench protective systems to keep workers safe.
• OSHA also recently partnered with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Allied Construction Industries, and Turner Construction to host a trench safety workshop in Cincinnati. The workshop followed a recent fatal trench injury in Ohio, and aimed to help prevent future fatalities, particularly in smaller residential construction operations.

For more on protecting workers in trenches, see OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation webpage.

General Industry and Maritime Silica Standard Effective June 23

General industry and maritime employers must comply with OSHA’s silica standard by June 23, except for phase-in dates for medical surveillance and for engineering controls in the oil and gas industry. Visit the silica webpage for guidance on complying with the standard, as well as information on silica sampling and analysis, health effects of silica exposure, and answers to frequently asked questions.