New Spanish resources available

OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign stickers are nowavailable in Spanish. Be sure to order them online in time for your National Fall Prevention Stand-Down event.

Three QuickCards for the maritime industry have been translated and are available on the Publications Web page.Servicing Rim Wheels, Hot Work Safety, and Fire Watch Safety describe safe work practices in shipyards, workers' rights and employer responsibilities.

Check out OSHA's new workers' rights video

https://youtu.be/MjnWMQeufI0

2015 National Safety Stand-Down materials available

OSHA and its industry partners hope to reach workers and employers from many industries during the 2015 National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls. From May 4-15 participants are asked to pause their workday and participate in safety training in fall prevention. Last year more than 1 million employers and workers across the country joined the effort, making it the largest occupational safety event ever hosted in the United States.

In preparation for this year's stand-down events, employers and workers are encouraged to visit the 2015 Stand-Down page where they can find free fall prevention training materials in both English and Spanish, including the new 2015 Stand-Down poster (PDF*), a list of local events, and also receive a certificate of participation signed by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.

OSHA urges employers and workers removing snow from rooftops to be aware of fall hazards and safeguards

OSHA is urging employers and workers who remove snow from rooftops and other building structures to be aware of the hazards and safeguards associated with this work. Several recent incidents of workers falling through skylights, one resulting in a fatality, emphasize the need for employers to evaluate the hazards of snow removal tasks and plan how to do the work safely.

A surface that is weighed down by snow may be at risk of collapsing, so it must be inspected by a competent person to determine if it is structurally safe for workers to access it. Snow-covered rooftops can hide hazards such as skylights that workers can fall through. Electrical hazards may also exist from overhead power lines or snow removal equipment.

Employers can protect workers from these hazardous work conditions by using snow removal methods that do not involve workers going on roofs, when and where possible. Employers should determine the right type of equipment to use, such as ladders or aerial lifts, and personal protective equipment including personal fall arrest systems and non-slip safety boots, as well as ensure that workers are trained on how to properly use them. For more information, see OSHA's Hazard Alert: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces (PDF*) and Winter Weather Web page.

Staffing association launches new Web page dedicated to temporary worker safety

The American Staffing Association has launched a new Web page dedicated to temporary worker safety entitled "Safety Matters: Keeping Temporary Workers Safe on the Job." It includes various safety resources and links to OSHA publications, and prominently features two videos – one with the remarks by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels, and a second one featuring several ASA board members addressing the importance of temporary worker safety.

This ASA web page complements OSHA's own page, "Protecting Temporary Workers," which consolidates the agency's safety and health resources for temporary workers including "Recommended Practices: Protecting Temporary Workers."

OSHA gears up for annual Fall Safety Stand-Down in Construction

Building on its unprecedented participation from last year's event, OSHA has announced this year's Fall Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction, scheduled for May 4-15, 2015. Last year, tens of thousands of employers and more than 1 million workers across the country joined OSHA in a week-long construction Fall Safety Stand-Down, the largest occupational safety event ever hosted in the United States.

"With the economy on the rebound and housing starts on the rise, now is the time to for all of us to renew our commitment to sending workers home safe every night," said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Last year's Stand-Down showed us what employers and workers sharing that commitment can accomplish. Responsible employers understand that safety is not a luxury – it is a necessity."

During the 2015 two-week stand-down, employers and workers will pause during their workday to focus on preventing fatalities from falls through talks, demonstrations and trainings.

The National Fall Safety Stand-Down is part of OSHA's construction fall prevention campaign, launched three years ago with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda and CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training. The newly launched 2015 National Safety Stand-Down Web page provides details on how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. See the news release for more information.

Winter Storm Hazards: Web page offers guidance for employers and workers

As the temperatures drop and winter storms head in, employers can take measure to keep workers safe. OSHA's Winter Weather Web page provides information on protecting workers from hazards they may face while working outside during the winter, particularly in severe cold weather.

The Web page provides guidance on how to recognize snow storm-related hazards and the necessary steps that employers must take to keep workers safe while working in these conditions. This guidance includes how to protect workers from hazards associated with clearing heavy snow in front of workplaces and from rooftops.

New outreach materials focus on Tree Care Workers; Temporary Workers

OSHA has released two new bilingual –English and Spanish—on-the-job quick references for employers and employees. Tree Care Work: Know the Hazards (PDF*) addresses the most common tree care work hazards and ways in which employers can prevent them.

The Temporary Worker (PDF*) pocket-sized pamphlet reminds individuals working through a staffing agency that they have the same rights as any other worker. The pamphlet is part of OSHA's Temporary Worker Initiative, which focuses on compliance with safety and health requirements when temporary workers are employed under the joint employment of a staffing agency and a host employer.

These bilingual resources are easy-to-read, durable in design and ideal for health and safety trainings, consultations, and inspections. To order quantities of these or any other OSHA materials, visit OSHA's Publications Web page or call the Publications Office at (202) 693-1888.

OSHA publications accessible on smartphones and tablets; Safety and Health Information Bulletins available

If you use a smartphone or a tablet on the job, important worker safety and health information is a click away. Dozens of electronic publications can be downloaded at no cost from OSHA's Publications Web page. To order publications, contact OSHA's Publications Office at 202-693-1888.

Safety and Health Information Bulletins are also now accessible on OSHA's publications page. SHIBs help raise awareness of significant occupational safety and health issues concerning hazard recognition, evaluation and control in the workplace and at emergency response sites. The documents focus on various topics such as bloodborne pathogens, confined spaces, construction operations, and health and safety hazards to help employers and safety professionals provide a safe and healthful workplace for workers.

OSHA-NIOSH guidance addresses fatigue among Ebola healthcare workers

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and OSHA have published a new guidance document, "Preventing Worker Fatigue Among Ebola Healthcare Workers and Responders" (*PDF). Healthcare workers and emergency responders are often required to work extended, rotating, consecutive or otherwise unusual shifts. They also need enhanced personal protective equipment when working with Ebola patients or in Ebola-contaminated areas. These conditions increase the risk of injuries and can contribute to poor health and worker fatigue. The new guidance document provides information for protecting workers in these conditions. For more information about protecting workers from occupational exposure to Ebola virus and related hazards, also see OSHA's Ebola Web page.