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.

Mold Training for Homeowners and Volunteers courses offered for April/May

Mold Training for Homeowners and Volunteers

This course provides mold awareness and general safety procedures for homeowners and volunteers when dealing with post hurricane/flood clean-up issues. 

Course topics include:
Awareness of mold
Safe work practices
Personal protective equipment
Respiratory protection
Best practices for remediation.

Please visit https://ophp.umdnj.edu/moldtraining for course dates, locations, and registration.

OSHA to host Workers' Memorial Day events around the country

In a series of Workers' Memorial Day events on and around April 28, 2013, OSHA's national and regional offices will honor the sacrifices made by those who have been lost, disabled, injured or made sick by their jobs. Workers' Memorial Day is also an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to protecting the health and safety of every worker.

To find a Workers' Memorial Day event in your area, contact your regional OSHA office or visit OSHA's events calendar.

Falling off ladders can kill: New fall prevention resource available

OSHA has published a new bilingual English-Spanish booklet on safe ladder use, "Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely". 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 using ladders safely, featuring simple illustrations and plain language writing.

Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and OSHA is working with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Occupational Research Agenda to get the word out about how to "Plan, Provide, Train" to prevent fatal falls. To learn more, visit www.osha.gov/stopfalls.

On April 10, OSHA, NIOSH and CPWR co-hosted a free webinar on preventing fatal falls in construction, welcoming an audience of more than 700 participants. An archived version is available for view.

New OSHA publications available: Toluene Fact Sheet, maritime safety publications, spirometry guidance document for health professionals, hexavalent chromium and welding fumes

OSHA has published a new InfoSheet on Toluene Safety in the Workplace. Toluene, also known as "methylbenzene", "phenylmethane" or "toluol," is a clear, colorless liquid used in paints, thinners, lacquers, metal cleaners, fingernail polish, glues and other products. The sweet-smelling chemical is highly flammable and may catch fire if exposed to heat or flames. For more information about how to prevent hazardous exposure to Toluene, including how and when to wear personal protective equipment, see the InfoSheet available in html or PDF*.

Several new Fact Sheets and QuickCards are also available to help employers protect workers performing shipyard and longshoring activities. These resources are available online on OSHA's Maritime Industry publications page.

OSHA has developed a spirometry guidance document for occupational health professionals. Spirometry measures lung function, and is commonly used to evaluate workers’ respiratory health and their ability to perform certain tasks or use personal protective equipment. For more information, see Spirometry Testing in Occupational Health Programs: Best Practices for Healthcare Professionals.

Three new fact sheets on hexavalent chromium exposure describe operations in which workers may be exposed to hexavalent chromium, summarize the known health effects, and provide recommendations for control measures to reduce worker exposures. The fact sheets are available in three industries: Aerospace/Air Transport, Bridge Painting, and Electroplating.

OSHA has also released a new fact sheet on welding fume that describes the types of welding, hazardous components of welding fume, health effects associated with exposure to welding fume and steps employers and workers can take to reduce exposure to welding fume.

OSHA issues new resource to protect emergency workers responding to combustible dust fires

 OSHA recently published Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust, a new informative booklet that outlines safe procedures for emergency responders who may face fires and explosions caused by combustible dust.

"This booklet will keep both emergency response and facility workers safe by giving them a framework to prepare for potential emergencies involving combustible dust," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Stakeholders that have reviewed the booklet, including fire chiefs and union health and safety representatives, describe it as 'an excellent resource for explaining the hazards associated with combustible dust and outlining the best practices for pre-incident operational preparation by emergency responders.'" For more information, read the news release.

More dates added for the "The Nature of Chemical Hazards and Implications of GHS Applied to Industry" course

More dates have been added for the free "Nature of Chemical Hazards and Implications of GHS Applied to Industry" course.

Workers must be in compliance by Dec. 1, 2013

March 22, 2013

April 12, 2013

May 10, 2013

May 30, 2013

June 14, 2013

The use of chemical products to enhance and improve life is a worldwide practice.  Along with their benefits, chemicals have potential adverse effects to the environment and populations.  The goal of GHS is to identify the intrinsic hazards found in chemical substances and mixtures and to convey hazard information to the workers who may come in contact with them. Topics Covered:

        · Employee general safety and rights under the OSH Act

        · Employer responsibilities under the OSHA Act

        · Nature of Chemical Hazards and Worker Protection

        · Global Harmonization System (GHS) and Hazard Communication

        · Signal words, pictograms, SDS, and labeling elements

        · Conducting A Job Hazard Analysis

        · Applying GHS to targeted industries

        · Training requirements

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

OSHA has published a new slide presentation on the value of injury and illness prevention programs — a proactive process to help employers find and fix workplace hazards before workers are hurt. Not only are these programs effective at reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but also many employers report that they have transformed their workplace culture and led to higher productivity and quality, reduced turnover, reduced costs, and greater worker satisfaction.

Many workplaces have already chosen to adopt injury and illness prevention programs as part of OSHA's cooperative programs, and 34 states and many nations around the world already require or encourage employers to implement such programs. The key elements common to all of these programs are: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement. To learn more and to view the downloadable presentation, visit OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs webpage.