| June 1, 2008 · Volume 7, Issue 11 | |
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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's Targeted Inspection Plan for 2008 OSHA Requests Comments on Proposed Guidance Related to Pandemic Influenza NSC To Host Webinars on Hazard Communication and Building a Safety Culture New England OTI Education Center to Host "Meet & Greet" Sessions on VPP Occupational Safety and Health Training Opportunities Offered at Reduced Fees OSHA's National Exhibit Travels to Kansas City, Mo., for SkillsUSA TECHSPO New Korean Publication Focuses on Dry Cleaning Industry Latest Alliance Program Update More Event Information Posted to Web Site "QuickTips" from QuickTakes OSHA's Targeted Inspection Plan for 2008 Approximately 3,800 high-hazard worksites are on tap for inspection under OSHA's 2008 Site-Specific Targeting Program, as of May 19. This year's program will initially target sites that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate). The list will also include sites that have a days away from work injury and illness (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher. The program stems from the agency's Data Initiative for 2007, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2006. OSHA Requests Comments on Proposed Guidance Related to Pandemic Influenza Interested persons wishing to comment on OSHA's Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza have until July 8, 2008, to do so. The proposed guidance offers private sector and government employers recommendations and a method for calculating workplace stockpiling needs for respirators and facemasks. This allows employers to better protect their employees and reduce the impact of a pandemic. The document supplements the existing Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic released last year. Details on how to submit comments appear in the May 9 Federal Register. NSC To Host Webinars on Hazard Communication and Building a Safety Culture The National Safety Council (NSC) will host a Webinar on June 18 from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT focusing on the Hazard Communication Standard. Featured speakers are David O'Connor, director of the Office of Chemical Hazards (non-metal) in OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), and Maureen O'Donnell, project officer for the rulemaking on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in DSG. On June 25, NSC will sponsor a Webinar on Building a Safety Culture featuring Wellesley E. Scott, Ph.D., P.E., manager of NSC's Consulting Services. For more information on future Webinars, visit NSC's Webinar calendar page at http://www.nsc.org/webinar/calendar.aspx. New England OTI Education Center to Host "Meet & Greet" Sessions on VPP Keene State College OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center in Manchester, N.H., is hosting "Meet and Greet" sessions on June 5, 2008, for employers interested in learning more about OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). Officials from OSHA's New England region will be featured presenters along with Ben and Jerry's and Covanta Energy VPP star sites. Visit http://www.keene.edu/conted/reg.pdf for registration information. For more details, call 1-800-449-OSHA (6742), or 617-565-3075 (U.S. Department of Labor VPP coordinator). Occupational Safety and Health Training Opportunities Offered at Reduced Fees Great Lakes Regional OSHA Training Institute Education Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center are combining programs so fees for special occupational safety and health courses can be offered at a reduced cost. Now through July 2008, the University of Cincinnati is offering trainees a 10 percent discount if they register for, and participate in, at least three courses during this time. These courses range in length from one to five days and focus on topics such as ergonomic guidelines, train-the-trainer, and disaster recovery. Most of the courses are being taught in the Cincinnati area. For more information, call Marianne at 1-800-207-9399, or visit www.cme.uc.edu/envhealth. OSHA's National Exhibit Travels to Kansas City, Mo., for SkillsUSA TECHSPO OSHA will host an exhibit featuring compliance assistance and informative materials for conference attendees at the SkillsUSA TECHSPO (Trade Show for Technical Education) in Kansas City, Mo., June 24-26. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 299,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations. New Korean Publication Focuses on Dry Cleaning Industry Employers and employees in the dry cleaning industry stand to benefit from an OSHA guidance document now available in Korean entitled Reducing Worker Exposure to Perchloroethylene (PERC) in Dry Cleaning. This publication provides information on the health hazards and current regulations, as well as recommendations on methods for reducing worker exposures. It also provides information on training, personal protective equipment, and some of the new technologies available in the dry cleaning industry. The document is only available electronically and can be downloaded from OSHA's Publications page. Latest Alliance Program Update National Office: OSHA and the Forging Industry Association (FIA) renewed an alliance to continue addressing ergonomics and machine guarding hazards, as well as ways to avoid those hazards in the forging industry. Both organizations will continue providing information and training resources to FIA members and others in the industry, including small businesses and individuals with limited English proficiency. More Event Information Posted to Web Site OSHA posted 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 What would July 4th be without fireworks? Workplace hazards can go hand-in-hand with fireworks manufacturing, storage, transportation, display, and retail sales. Since July 4th is right around the corner, OSHA is reminding employers and employees in the display segment of the fireworks (pyrotechnics) industry about the safety hazards of setting off fireworks and possible solutions to those hazards. Here are a few safety tips for fireworks display operators:
Editors: Elaine Fraser & Kimberly Tucker, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |