Telecommunications Worker Safety

OSHA is partnering with the National Association of Tower Erectors and the Federal Communications Commission to protect workers in the telecommunications industry.

Program to Protect Workers

OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting program directs resources to workplaces with the highest injury and illness rates.

 

Coronavirus and Workers in the Construction Industry

 OSHA has resources to help protect workers in the construction industry from exposure to the coronavirus.

Coronavirus Response

A new OSHA video provides five tips to keep workers safe during the holidays.

Winter Weather

 Make sure you are properly protected from cold stress and other winter weather hazards.

Holiday Workplace Safety

As the holiday shopping season approaches, train workers on job hazards and establish safe work practices to prevent exposure to the coronavirus.

Protecting Workers from COVID-19 Hazards

OSHA has removed 643,291 workers from COVID-19 hazards during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

COVID-19 Respiratory Protection Guidance

New respiratory protection guidance was issued for long-term care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on how N95 respirators effectively protect wearers from coronavirus exposure. OSHA is aware of incorrect claims stating that N95 respirator filters do not capture particles as small as the virus that causes the coronavirus. OSHA’s new FAQ explains why an N95 respirator is effective at protecting users from the virus.

Visit OSHA’s coronavirus webpage frequently for updates. For further information about the coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pandemic Response

 

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program in New Jersey inspected masks, safety glasses and other PPE to help protect frontline workers.

COVID-19 Resources

• The latest OSHA Alerts and posters provide recommended practices for in-home repair services, restaurants resuming dine-in service, and cleaning staff.
• Posters on processing and packaging safety for meat and seafood are now available in additional languages.
• OSHA’s Guidance on Returning to Work assists businesses reopening and employees returning to work.

OSHA Issued New Guidance on Fit Testing

OSHA issued new guidance on fit testing for  tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators during the pandemic. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued temporary guidance for enforcing initial and annual fit-testing requirements related to tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. The action marks the Department’s latest step to ensure the availability of respirators and follows President Donald J. Trump’s Memorandum on Making General Use Respirators Available. 

Coronavirus Resources

OSHA has resources on using cloth face coverings while working in hot and humid conditions indoors and outdoors.

Emergency Preparedness

Employers should ensure that they have a plan to respond to a natural disaster or other emergencies in the workplace.

Printed Coronavirus Publications

Free printed copies of posters and guidance booklets on protecting workers from the coronavirus can be ordered from OSHA’s publications page.

Coronavirus Response

OSHA and the Food and Drug Administration developed a checklist to help protect food industry workers during the pandemic.

Fraudulent OSHA Outreach Cards

Recently we’ve come across fraudulent 30-hr Construction cards. When the QR Code is scanned you land on site aotc.sph.rutgers-edu.org which verify fraudulent cards (image below). Rather than use the QR Codes to verify training, please encourage your stakeholders to go directly to the Rutgers School of Public Health’s website to verify cards- http://aotc.sph.rutgers.edu

(Fraudulent Document)

Emergency Preparedness

Employers should ensure that they have a plan to respond to a natural disaster or other emergencies in the workplace.

Get Printed Coronavirus Publications

Free printed copies of posters and guidance booklets on protecting workers from the coronavirus can be ordered from OSHA’s publications page.

COVID-19 Resources

• A new resource helps employers understand and comply with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard during the pandemic.
• A poster is now available on seafood processing.

Coronavirus Response

OSHA and the Food and Drug Administration developed a checklist to help protect food industry workers during the pandemic.

Fall Prevention

The seventh annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction has been rescheduled for September 14-18.

COVID-19 Resources

A new poster, available in English and Spanish, lists steps to protect automotive service workers from exposure to coronavirus.

Water. Rest. Shade.

OSHA reminds employers of their duty to protect workers from the risks and dangers of heat exposure.

Beryllium Standard

OSHA issued its final beryllium standard for general industry.

Coronavirus Response

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia addressed economic re-opening and workplace safety during a visit to Florida.

Silica Protection

OSHA issued guidance to ensure uniform enforcement of silica standards.

The seventh annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

The seventh annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction will be held Sept. 14-18 to correspond with Construction Safety Week.

Meat Packing Worker Safety

OSHA’s poster on meat, poultry, and pork processing is now available in 17 languages.

COVID-19 Safety Facts

More answers to frequently asked questions about the pandemic and worker safety are now available on OSHA’s website.

Coronavirus Response

• New OSHA guidance assists oil and gas workers and employers during the pandemic.
• OSHA issued public service announcements and billboards to inform workers about COVID-19 risks and their right to a safe workplace.

Trenching Safety

A webinar on trench safety hosted by OSHA and the American Society of Safety Professionals is available free online.

COVID-19 Resources

• Answers to frequently asked questions about face coverings, surgical masks and respirators in the workplace.
• OSHA’s poster on proper respirator use is now available in 16 languages.

Coronavirus Response

• OSHA’s new Guidance on Returning to Work assists businesses reopening and employees returning to work.
• OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued interim guidance to protect workers in the seafood processing industry.

Agricultural Guidance During the Pandemic

OSHA partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on COVID-19 guidance for agricultural workers.

COVID-19 Resources

• The latest OSHA Alerts provide recommended practices for stockroom and loading dock workers and on social distancing.
• New webpage launched for the construction industry.

COVID-19 Quick Tips Video

A new animated video provides quick tips on the proper stationing of workplaces with assembly lines and processing conveyors to keep workers safe from COVID-19.

COVID-19: Enforcement Guidanc

OSHA adopted revised enforcement policies for increased in-person inspections and recording cases of coronavirus.

A virtual stand-down to prevent struck-by incidents in construction is now available to view.

COVID-19: Respirator Use

OSHA released a new video and poster (available in English and Spanish) with step-by-step instructions on how to properly wear and remove a respirator.

The 7th annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls

Falls remain the leading cause of death for construction workers. The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction was created in 2012 in order to address the hazard, and The Stand-Down event was added in 2014. The goal of the Stand-Down is to draw attention to the severity of fall hazards and importance of preventing them. This nation-wide weeklong event is an opportunity for employers to pause work and have conversations with workers about fall hazards, protective methods, and their company’s safety policies, goals and expectations. Please visit https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown

Coronavirus Protection

OSHA’s new webpage focuses on protecting workers from exposure to the novel coronavirus.

This webpage provides information for workers and employers about the evolving coronavirus outbreak first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The information includes links to interim guidance and other resources for preventing exposures to, and infection with, the novel coronavirus—now officially named COVID-19.

Learn how to keep workers safe at grain handling facilities with OSHA resources

Learn how to keep workers safe at grain handling facilities with OSHA resources.

OSHA has developed a webpage to provide workers, employers, and safety and health professionals useful, up-to-date safety and health information on grain handling facilities.

OSHA updates emphasis program to better protect workers from silica exposure.

OSHA updates emphasis program to better protect workers from silica exposure.This Instruction describes policies and procedures for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in general industry, maritime, and construction. The NEP targets specific industries expected to have the highest exposures to RCS.

Grease Trap Hazards

Read OSHA’s new bulletin on how to properly cover grease traps to prevent workers from tripping or falling into them.

Course dates announced: Managing & Controlling Hazards Associated with Cranes, Derricks, and Hoisting

Rutgers School of Public Health - Center for Public Health Workforce Development is offering free "Managing & Controlling Hazards Associated with Cranes, Derricks, and Hoisting" training courses in Somerset, New Jersey, as part of the OSHA Susan Harwood Training. The trainer for these courses will be Michael Presutti.

Almost all construction worksites in large urban areas require cranes, derrick, and hoisting equipment. Lifting operations are among the most critical operations on a construction worksite and require comprehensive planning as errors will lead to tragedy. This program will guide trainees through the fundamental hazards associated with cranes, derricks, and hoisting activities and their hazard controls.

View brochure (.pdf)

Register online

OSHA Revises Penalty Structure for FY2020.

OSHA adjusted penalty amounts for 2020 to reflect inflation. States that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health Plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as Federal OSHA's.

Standard Clarification

OSHA issued corrections to the Walking-Working Surfaces, Personal Protective Equipment, and Special Industries standards.

Earthquake Safety Resource

A new Earthquake Hazard Alert focuses on keeping emergency response workers safe.