Region 2 News Release:   NY 108
January 17, 2001
Contact: Chester J. Fultz
Phone: 212-337-2319

Sessions in Jamestown, Rochester, and Buffalo, New York

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting free workshops for contractors on the hazards that face employees engaged in bridge renovation and how to avoid them, as well as the penalties that can result from violating OSHA safety and health standards.

The all-day seminars, to be held by OSHA at three Western New York locations on three consecutive days, will focus on fall protection and measures to combat airborne lead and silica. The program each day will feature presentations on compliance with OSHA standards designed to protect employees engaged in bridge rehabilitation, plus exhibits depicting the New York State OSHA consultation program, the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Niagara County Community College, and protective equipment available from local businesses.

OSHA Buffalo area director David Boyce said a recent spate of bridge-related injuries, some of them fatal, prompted his office to launch an initiative to increase awareness among both workers and employers of the importance of adequate fall protection and the correct selection, fitting, and use of respiratory protection. Workers engaged in bridge renovation frequently are exposed to airborne lead from welding or sandblasting of painted ironwork as well as airborne silica from the abrasives used in sandblasting. "This is an opportunity for employers to learn how to comply with the standards, before this construction season begins and when we increase our enforcement activities in these areas." he noted.

The seminars will be conducted from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at three locations:

• January 30-Holiday Inn, Jamestown, New York
• January 31-the Center for Tomorrow, SUNY at Buffalo, Amherst, New York
• February 1-CIMS Building, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.

Boyce noted that although attendance is free, seating is limited and attendees must pre-register. For fax or telephone registration, the number is (716) 684-3896. For mail registration, the address is OSHA, 5360 Genesee Street Bowmansville , New York 14026. Registrants should indicate the location they wish to attend, their name and their company's name, telephone number and fax number, and the number of persons who want to attend.