Hazard Communication/GHS training deadline approaching.

The deadline for Hazard Communication/GHS training is quickly approaching (December 1, 2013).  We are offering the last two OSHA Harwood Grant funded sessions on September 5 and October 11, 2013. Myles O’Malley will be instructing both sessions.

Register here for our "Nature of Chemical Hazards and Implications of GHS Applied to Industry" course. 

US Constitution & Amendments course offered

US Constitution Day will be commemorated on September 17, 2013 with 4-hr workshop “US Constitution & Amendments” in Piscataway, New Jersey.  This workshop is an excellent opportunity for OSHA Outreach Trainers to pick up pointers on how to more effectively deliver the “Introduction to OSHA” presentation. The facilitator for this workshop will be Michael Presutti.

Click here for registration.

Outreach campaign aims to protect health care workers from hazards causing musculoskeletal disorders

OSHA has launched a campaign to raise awareness about musculoskeletal hazards facing health care workers, providing information to 2,500 employers, unions and associations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. These hazards include sprains, strains, soft tissue and back injuries among health care workers responsible for patient care. The campaign will provide information about hazard control methods, such as a zero-lift program to minimize direct patient lifting. Learn more about the campaign in the press release.

White House releases executive order on improving chemical facility safety and security

August 1, 2013, the President signed an Executive Order to improve the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to workers and communities. Incidents such as the devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas in April are tragic reminders that the handling and storage of chemicals present serious risks that must be addressed. The Executive Order directs Federal agencies to work with stakeholders to improve chemical safety and security through agency programs, private sector initiatives, Federal guidance, standards, and regulations. Read the executive order.

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.

OSHA's new Injury and Illness Prevention Programs fact sheet can help employers find and fix workplace hazards

A new OSHA Fact Sheet (PDF*) describes some common program elements of Injury and Illness Prevention Programs and how to implement them. These systematic programs allow employers on an ongoing basis to find and fix workplace hazards before workers are hurt or become ill. These proactive processes can substantially reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries and illnesses and can alleviate the associated financial burdens on U.S. workplaces. The fact sheet explains the major elements of an effective program, which include management leadership; worker participation; hazard identification, assessment, prevention and control; education and training and program evaluation and improvement. See OSHA's https://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/safetyhealth/index.html for more information.

OSHA unveils new ladder safety educational resource available for mobile devices

OSHA's newest educational resource on safe ladder use is now accessible for mobile devices. The bilingual English-Spanish booklet, "Falling off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely," is the agency's first e-publication and can be downloaded and read on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices as well as on desktop and laptop computers. Developed in partnership with the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Council and Ministry of Manpower, the booklet provides clear, easy-to-follow information about ladder hazards and safety precautions, featuring simple illustrations and plain language writing.

OSHA launches initiative to protect temporary workers

OSHA has announced an initiative to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards.

A memorandum sent to the agency’s regional administrators directs field inspectors to assess whether employers who use temporary workers are complying with their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Inspectors will denote when temporary workers are exposed to safety and health violations and assess whether temporary workers received required training in a language and vocabulary they could understand.

In addition, OSHA has begun working with the American Staffing Association and employers that use staffing agencies, to promote best practices ensuring that temporary workers are protected from job hazards.

In recent months, OSHA has received a series of reports about temporary workers suffering fatal injuries – many during their first days on a job.

Last week, the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries about workers killed on the job in 2011. Fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 542 – or 12 percent – of the 4,693 fatal work injuries reported. Hispanic/Latino contractors accounted for 28 percent of fatal work injuries among contractors, well above their 16 percent share of the overall fatal work injury total for the year. Additional details are available at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/contractor2011.pdf.