Featured Video: 5 Ways to Prevent Workplace Falls

This brief video provides a quick and clear reminder that thorough planning, proper training, and well-maintained equipment are crucial to protecting workers from falls.

Social Media Campaign Seeks to Keep Young Workers Safe on the Job

OSHA is partnering with worker safety organizations on #MySafeSummerJob, a social media campaign to educate young workers about their rights in the workplace, how to speak up about dangerous work conditions, and how to protect themselves on the job. Join OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, and others over the next five weeks – April 15 through May 17 – to promote safety among young workers. Check out materials and ideas at the #MySafeSummerJob website.

Sixth Annual National Fall Stand-Down Begins May 6

Thousands of worksites will join OSHA and its partners for the annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction with events across the country from May 6-10. Employers and workers will pause during the workday to talk about fall hazards, OSHA compliance, and industry best practices to prevent falls in all workplaces. The lack of proper fall protection is the most frequently cited OSHA violation. Share your Stand-Down story on social media, with the hashtag: #StandDown4Safety.

Controlling Respirable Silica Exposure in Construction Video

OSHA requires employers to limit workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica on the job. A video launched in January 2019 focuses on handheld power saws, showing how an integrated water delivery system controls silica dust created when cutting certain materials.

10% Discount on 8 Hour and 40 Hour Training Courses

Use the following coupons codes for a 10% discount on the 40-hr Initial and 8-hr Refresher course offerings, throughout 2019. These codes may be used for any new registrations for either programs held in Somerset, New Jersey.

For the 40-Hour Health & Safety for Hazardous Waste Site Personnel course, enter the Promotional Code: 40HR10 

For the Annual Refresher on Health and Safety for Hazardous Waste Site Personnel course, enter the Promotional Code: 8HR10 

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)

40-hr Initial and 8-hr Refresher

The Rutgers School of Public Health offers the 40-hr Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Responder (HAZWOPER) and the 8-hr Annual Refresher multiple times during the year in Somerset, New Jersey.

Who needs the 40-hr HAZWOPER Training?
HAZWOPER training is designed to reduce the risk of chemical exposure to workers while performing site operation.

Who needs to be trained?
1. Workers who may become exposed to high concentrations of hazardous materials.
2. Workers exposed to hazardous conditions including oxygen deficient atmosphere or immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) levels.
3. Workers conducting hazardous waste site investigations


Topics addressed during the training:
1. Personal protective equipment for all levels of hazardous waste work.
2. Using Direct Reading Air Monitoring Instruments
3. Response protocols for emergency response and other hazardous conditions
4. Developing site controls to minimize exposure
5. Effective decontamination procedures

Who needs the 8-hr Annual HAZWOPER Refresher Training?Workers must complete an annual refresher to maintain their HAZWOPER credentials.

Rutgers School of Public Health annual Spring Open House

The Rutgers School of Public Health annual Spring Open House is on Wednesday, April 3 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, New Jersey. Please join us if you’d like to learn more about the Master’s Program in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Facebook link

National Safety Council Report: Improve Safety by Reducing Workplace Fatigue

A report from the National Safety Council reviews how employers can increase productivity and safety by reducing workplace fatigue. A single worker suffering from sleep deprivation can cost an employer thousands of dollars in lost productivity, absenteeism, and more. With 97 percent of workers reporting at least one risk factor for fatigue, most employers are affected by this issue. The report discusses the effects of fatigue on the workplace and gives employers specific, actionable guidance on implementing a fatigue risk management system.

Guidance: Limit Heavy Lifting During and Immediately After Pregnancy

Workers can safely perform manual handling tasks during most of their pregnancy, but they need to consult with their doctors to set appropriate weight limits. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has guidance on appropriate limitations throughout pregnancy and immediately after giving birth. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has additional resources on pregnancy and the workplace including an infographic on provisional weight limits for lifting on the job.

Revised Webpages Address Safety in the Agriculture and Maritime Industries

OSHA’s revised Agricultural Operations webpage makes it easier for users to find safety information on agriculture-related hazards, such as grain bins and silos, heat, machinery, pesticides, and other chemicals. The revised Maritime Industry webpage offers compliance materials, training information, and other resources to eliminate hazards in longshoring and marine terminals, commercial fishing, and shipyards

Get Ready for Safe + Sound 2019

Safe + Sound, OSHA’s year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program, includes both employers and workers.  Participate in quarterly events on building an effective safety and health program in your workplace. Learn about best practices during webinars and put them into action during the 30-day challenges. These events also focus on management leadership, worker participation, and finding and fixing hazards. Share your safety successes during Safe + Sound Week, August 12-18, 2019. Sign up on the Safe + Sound website.