| April 1, 2006 · Volume 5, Issue 7 | |
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| A bi-weekly e-news memo with information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's workplaces. | |
In This Issue Edwin G. Foulke Scheduled to Assume Post as Head of OSHA Employers Encouraged to Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month in April New Local Emphasis Programs Underway in Missouri, Kansas Newest "SHARP" Companies Certified OSHA Offers Training for Workers Involved in Tornado Cleanup New OSHA District Office Opens OSHA to Showcase Exhibit at Careers in Construction Expo NIOSH Marks Tenth Anniversary of NORA Nebraska Safety Council Hosts Annual Conference & Exposition OSHA and Koch Industries Renew Partnership New Case Studies Focus on Motor Vehicle Safety Two National Alliances Formed with OSHA, Another Renewed Regional Alliance Activity Edwin G. Foulke Scheduled to Assume Post as Head of OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., is scheduled to take the reins of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on April 3. Foulke, nominated by President George W. Bush last September, was confirmed by the Senate on March 15, 2006 to become Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Foulke previously served on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission from 1990 to 1995, chairing the commission from March 1990 through February 1994. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said recently that Foulke "has extensive knowledge and experience in workplace safety and health issues that he will put to use to protect workers and promote employer compliance." Employers Encouraged to Recognize Alcohol Awareness Month in April April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, and businesses around the country are encouraged to participate by educating employees about alcohol use and its impact on safety and health-both on and off the job. More information about how businesses can take part is available on DOL's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Web site. New Local Emphasis Programs Underway in Missouri, Kansas The Kansas City region has launched two new Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs) in Missouri and Kansas to address two specific work-related hazards. The program in Missouri focuses on the manufacture, production, mixing and delivering of concrete products, while the LEP in Kansas stresses the reduction of workplace hazards associated with exposure to crystalline silica. LEPs are intended to address hazards or industries that pose particular risks to workers within an OSHA regional or area office jurisdiction. Newest "SHARP" Companies Certified OSHA recently certified 117 companies as Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) sites. The SHARP program recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. The latest list of certified sites can be viewed on the SHARP page of OSHA's Web site, by clicking on the "See Who's SHARP" button. OSHA Offers Training for Workers Involved in Tornado Cleanup OSHA is offering free training to local contractors involved in the cleanup efforts following the tornadoes that struck the Springfield, Ill., area in mid-March. The safety and health outreach meetings will take place April 4 and 5 at Lincoln Land Community College. For more information, contact William Hancock in OSHA's Peoria, Ill., Area Office at (309) 589-7033. New OSHA District Office Opens OSHA's Manhattan Area Office opened a new branch office in Little Neck, N.Y. The Queens District Office replaces the Bayside District Office which was vacated in March. Anyone with workplace safety or health issues in Queens can call the office at (718) 279-9060. The address is 45-17 Marathon Parkway, Little Neck, N.Y., 11362. OSHA to Showcase Exhibit at Careers in Construction Expo OSHA will host an exhibit featuring safety and health information for middle and secondary school students at the 2006 Careers in Construction Expo at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., April 5. The event, sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., is designed to raise awareness about the industry and training/apprenticeship opportunities. Students gain hands-on experience by participating in a variety of craft demonstrations. NIOSH Marks Tenth Anniversary of NORA In recognition of the tenth anniversary of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will host the NORA Symposium 2006: Research Makes a Difference in Washington at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, April 18-20. Researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers will celebrate the completion of the first decade of NORA, mark the 35th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and inaugurate a new decade of NORA research. For more information about NORA and the event, contact Sid Soderholm at noracoordinator@cdc.gov. Nebraska Safety Council Hosts Annual Conference & Exposition The Nebraska Safety Council Inc. will host its annual Nebraska Safety, Health & Environmental Conference & Exposition, April 12-13 in Lincoln, Neb. This year's theme is "CSI: Creative Safety Innovations." Co-sponsors include OSHA, the Nebraska Industrial Council on Environment, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and Nebraska Workforce Development. The conference will feature over 30 educational sessions, and more than 35 exhibitors showcasing the latest in safety, health & environmental services and products. The council is also offering 10-Hour OSHA general industry standard training. For more information, call (402) 483-2511, ext. 108. OSHA and Koch Industries Renew Partnership OSHA renewed its national partnership with Koch Industries Inc. to continue strengthening safety and health for workers at eight facilities owned by Koch company affiliates around the country. The partnership with the Wichita, Kan.-based company was first signed in January 2003. New Case Studies Focus on Motor Vehicle Safety Motor Carrier Safety Case Study: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Motor Carrier Incidents and Motor Vehicle Accident Case Study: The Dow Chemical Company's Use of "Six Sigma" Methodology are two recent products of OSHA's alliance with Dow, focusing on identifying the root causes of motor vehicle accidents and implementing effective motor carrier and vehicle safety programs. OSHA renewed its alliance with Dow on May 26, 2004. Two National Alliances Formed with OSHA, Another Renewed Reducing ergonomic-related injuries and preventing exposure to workplace hazards is the focus of a new alliance between OSHA and the Brick Industry Association. OSHA also formed an alliance with the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association, targeting highway work zone hazards, motor vehicle safety and silica dangers. The Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers is renewing its alliance with OSHA to continue focusing on safety and health issues in the construction industry. Regional Alliance Activity Region V: OSHA's Cincinnati Area Office teamed up with the Hamilton County Fire Chiefs Association in an effort to protect county firefighters' health and safety on the job. A new alliance signed between OSHA's Cleveland Area Office and the Marble Institute of America (MIA) aims to provide MIA members and others with information on recognizing and preventing such hazards as exposure to silica and handling slabs of stone. Illinois employers and employees in the nursing home industry will benefit from a new alliance signed between OSHA's Chicago Region and Life Services Network and Life Services Network Trust. The goal is to reduce and prevent exposure to common industry hazards, such as electrical and ergonomic, and bloodborne pathogens. Region VI: Furthering the safety and health of workers involved in the plastics industry in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area is the goal of a newly signed alliance between OSHA and the Alliance for Polyurethane Industries. The alliance will target helping to reduce and prevent exposure of diisocyanates, a hazardous chemical used in the manufacture of truck bed liners. Editor: Elaine Fraser, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |