| June 15, 2008 · Volume 7, Issue 12 | |
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| A twice monthly e-news memo with information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's workplaces. | |
In This Issue OSHA Offers Advice on Working in Summer Heat Fireworks Safety Video Now Available Outreach Training Program Seminar Offered During 2008 National Safety Congress San Francisco Bay Safety Council Receives Official Charter OSHA To Exhibit at National Conferences in July Clark Construction Signs OSHA Strategic Partnership Agreement Delta Airlines Submits Application to VPP Corporate Free Safety and Health Evaluations for Your Small Business Alliance Program Activity Voluntary Protection Programs Update Upcoming Meetings and Conferences "QuickTips" from QuickTakes OSHA Offers Advice on Working in Summer Heat Summer officially begins on June 20, but hot weather is already upon us in many areas of the country. During this time of year, it is especially important to pay attention to heat stress and other dangers posed by the summer sun. OSHA reminds readers of its free downloadable resources, such as the Heat Stress QuickCard® (English/Spanish) that employees can use to reduce the risk of health ailments from working in hot temperatures. Also, OSHA's Working Outdoors in Warm Climates fact sheet features more information on heat stress and other summer-weather hazards. Fireworks Safety Video Now Available Looking ahead to July 4, OSHA released a new video entitled Fireworks Safety in Manufacturing and Retail Sales focusing on educating OSHA compliance personnel about safety standards and best practices for the pyrotechnics industry. Developed under a contract with the American Pyrotechnics Association, the video is also designed to help employers and employees identify and reduce pyrotechnics hazards. Outreach Training Program Seminar Offered During 2008 National Safety Congress OSHA is teaming up with the National Safety Council to offer the inaugural OSHA Outreach Training Program Professional Development Seminar during the 2008 National Safety Congress & Expo in Anaheim, Calif., Sept. 19-26. At the Sept. 24 half-day seminar for the Outreach Training Program community, representatives from OSHA, the Directorate of Training and Education, OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, and the safety training industry will provide attendees with updates, best practices, and information on new targeted programs. The seminar will include construction and general industry breakout sessions on standards, policy issues and resources. The Outreach Training Program is OSHA's primary training program for employees in the basics of occupational safety and health. In 2007, more than one-half million students received training through the program. For more information, call 800-621-7619. San Francisco Bay Safety Council Receives Official Charter On May 1, the San Francisco Bay Area Field Federal Safety and Health Council (SFBA FFSHC) obtained its official charter from the Secretary of Labor. FFSHCs are cooperative forums for sharing knowledge, ideas, expertise, technology, and other occupational safety and health resources among participating agencies to combat injuries and illnesses at federal facilities. In its pre-charter activities, the SFBA FFSHC concentrated on building a core constituency and providing training on matters related to local safety concerns. All federal employees are encouraged to attend and participate in events hosted by FFSHCs. For more information, contact Bjorn Stumer at 415-522-3347 or bjorn.stumer@gsa.gov. OSHA To Exhibit at National Conferences in July OSHA will showcase an exhibit featuring compliance assistance and informative materials for conference attendees at the League of United Latin American Citizens' National Convention in Washington, D.C., July 7-12. OSHA will also host an exhibit in Denver, Colo., at the July 16-27 Scaffold Industry Association Conference on the safe use of lift and scaffolding equipment for the construction industry. Clark Construction Signs OSHA Strategic Partnership Agreement OSHA's Baltimore/Washington Area Office joined forces with Clark Construction Group LLC to promote excellent safety and health management systems that protect construction employees working at the $120 million 401 M St. S.W., Washington, D.C., project. This is OSHA's eighth Strategic Partnership with Clark Construction, following on the heels of the success of the Washington Nationals Stadium project where injury rates were more than 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics national average for the construction industry. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.; Steven F. Witt, director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs; Philadelphia Regional Administrator John Hermanson; and Baltimore/Washington Area Director Leonard Moore participated in the signing ceremony. The Partnership's focus is to prevent serious accidents and recognize contractors with exemplary safety and health management systems. Delta Airlines Submits Application to VPP Corporate Delta Air Lines hopes to join the elite group of organizations currently participating in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot, which provides streamlined VPP application and on-site evaluation procedures for organizations that meet the Pilot's criteria. Criteria for participation include: a substantial commitment to VPP; a comprehensive, organization-wide safety and health management system; and pre-screening processes to ready sites for VPP approval prior to OSHA review. The five organizations already approved as VPP Corporate participants are The Dow Chemical Company, General Electric Company, the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, the United States Postal Service, and Washington Division of URS Corporation. Additionally, Fluor Corporation recently had their VPP Corporate on-site evaluation and is awaiting approval, and Parsons Corporation has submitted an application to participate. Free Safety and Health Evaluations for Your Small Business Visit OSHA's On-site Consultation Program Web page to get valuable information on how this program helps you to provide a safer working environment for your employees. The service is provided only at your request and is delivered at no cost. Employers who use the service to develop and operate an exemplary safety and health management system may also qualify to participate in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). For additional information, visit our Web link at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/index.html, or call 202-693-2220. Alliance Program Activity National Office: OSHA and the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association recently renewed their alliance to continue to improving workplace safety and health for employees involved in manufacturing. The alliance is particularly focused on the elimination of industrial hazards and safety issues related to above ground storage tanks. OSHA also renewed its alliance with the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare. The two entities will stay focused on reducing hazards associated with patient handling and bloodborne diseases, as well as fostering emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. Region II: OSHA's New York region and the Association of Water and Sewer Excavators have joined together to reduce excavation and training hazards for employees working with private sewer systems. Region V: Physical therapists and other healthcare employees will benefit from a new regional alliance between OSHA's Chicago region and the American Physical Therapy Association. Voluntary Protection Programs Update Visit "recent approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of OSHA's Web site to view the latest list of employers approved for new or continued participation in VPP. We encourage you to examine the entire VPP site to learn more about how OSHA's cooperative programs can help protect employees and reduce workers' compensation costs. Upcoming Meetings and Conferences OSHA posted even more safety- and health-related conference and meeting information to the events page on its Web site. Look for activities near you. "QuickTips" from QuickTakes More than half a million American employees are regularly exposed to fumes from hot asphalt. Overexposure to such fumes can have adverse effects on employees' health, ranging from immediate maladies such as headache, rash, or throat and eye irritation, to long-term conditions such as skin cancer. Many construction jobs, such as road paving, roofing, siding and concrete work, put employees at risk of hazardous asphalt exposure if proper precautions are not taken. OSHA recommends employees:
OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Page on Asphalt Fumes is a good resource for information that construction employees can use to prevent many of the health hazards associated with asphalt work. Look for more tips on a new occupational safety and health topic in your next issue of QuickTakes. Editors: Elaine Fraser & Kimberly Tucker, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |