| May 1, 2005 · Volume 4, Issue 9 | |
|
|
| A bi-weekly e-news memo with information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's workplaces. | |
In This Issue Worker Memorial Day 2005 North American Occupational Safety & Health Week OSHA Assumes Worker Regulatory Authority at DOE Site Near Chicago Ethylene Oxide Rule Prevails Following Regulatory Review Construction Partnerships Signed in Washington, D.C., Connecticut Guidance Document Published for Scaffolding Operations in Shipyards OSHA-Sponsored Training for Federal Workers Scheduled Next Month Outreach Seminars for Ohio Personal Care Facilities Planned New Fact Sheets Highlight Young Workers, Hispanic Outreach Safety Training for Residential Construction Continues in Idaho OSHA to Participate in New York City Construction Safety Week New Alliances Established in New York, Boston Regions Voluntary Protection Programs Activity Worker Memorial Day 2005 "Today we remember those workers who have passed; but, we also renew our commitment to work hard every day to prevent workplace loss of life," said Jonathan L. Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, in a statement commemorating Worker Memorial Day, April 28. Snare said that while rates of injuries, illnesses and fatalities on the job continue to decline in most industries and occupations, "we cannot be satisfied until all workers and all workplaces in this great land share in this progress." Since 1989, Worker Memorial Day has been observed on April 28-the day in 1971 when the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect-as a day of remembrance for workers who died or who have been injured on the job. North American Occupational Safety & Health Week A week of events spotlighting workplace safety and health will kickoff May 2 in Washington, D.C., co-sponsored by OSHA and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). North American Occupational Safety & Health Week (NAOSH) is a joint venture between the United States, Canada and Mexico that raises awareness of occupational safety, health and environmental programs among employers, employees and the public. Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jonathan L. Snare will launch the festivities at 10 a.m., in the Department of Labor auditorium. Special events throughout the week include Teen Worker Safety Exhibits, a presentation of the national winners of ASSE's "Be Safe at Work" Kids' Poster Contest, and the National Safety Council's Teen Driver Safety Program. OSHA Assumes Worker Regulatory Authority at DOE Site Near Chicago An addition to an existing memorandum of understanding between the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) has resulted in the transfer of one site's occupational safety and health authority from DOE to OSHA. OSHA announced in an Apr. 27, 2005, Federal Register notice that it will assume regulatory authority for worker safety and health during the construction and operation of a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory located at Argonne National Laboratory, a DOE Government-Owned and Contractor-Operated (GOCO) facility, southwest of Chicago. The transfer of authority results from a mutually-acceptable policy between DOL and DOE to transfer occupational safety and health enforcement responsibility to OSHA at privatized facilities and operations located on DOE sites. Ethylene Oxide Rule Prevails Following Regulatory Review OSHA announced April 22 that its standard regulating ethylene oxide is effective and will remain in place. The standard's review is part of the Regulatory Flexibility Act that requires agencies to periodically review standards to determine whether they should be continued without change, rescinded, or amended. Ethylene oxide is primarily used as a chemical intermediate to produce antifreeze and as a sterilant in hospitals and for medical devices. Construction Partnerships Signed in Washington, D.C., Connecticut OSHA's Hartford, CT, area office formed a safety and health construction partnership April 15 with Turner Construction Company and The Greater Hartford-New Britain Building and Construction Trades Council to further worker safety and health during construction of Hartford's Town Square Project. The two-year project is expected to involve more than 50 subcontractors and nearly 600 trades' employees. A national partnership was renewed April 20 between OSHA and AMEC Americas. That agreement encourages construction employers to improve their safety and health performance and eliminate common workplace hazards in the construction industry. Guidance Document Published for Scaffolding Operations in Shipyards Marine Hanging Staging (MHS) is a suspended scaffolding system commonly used during abrasive blasting and painting work on marine vessels and can be configured for a variety of hull designs. On April 28, OSHA published a new guidance document for those staging systems based on design criteria and work practices developed and used by various shipyards. Each MHS installation is unique; therefore, the document does not cover all forms and sizes of the staging. However, it does offer employers helpful information on the safe design, assembly, use and dismantling of the systems. OSHA-Sponsored Training for Federal Workers Scheduled Next Month Occupational safety and health personnel from federal agencies are encouraged to register for various training courses scheduled at OSHA's Training Institute (OTI) in Arlington Heights, IL, June 20-23. Sponsored by OSHA's Office of Federal Agency Programs, the courses are being offered to coincide with Federal Safety and Health Training Week and will include discussions on federal agency recordkeeping, fire protection and life safety, principles of ergonomics, and industrial hygiene for safety personnel. To register, contact Kyong Propst at 202-693-2122 or via e-mail at propst.kyong@dol.gov. Outreach Seminars for Ohio Personal Care Facilities Planned OSHA's Chicago Region is presenting a series of half-day seminars across Ohio this month and next to help employers, owners and managers of personal care facilities reduce occupational hazards. The seminars will focus on bloodborne pathogens, ergonomic hazards, workplace violence, recordkeeping, lockout/tagout requirements and hazard communication. Registration is requested and can be accomplished by calling the number provided with the seminar listing in the press release, or by calling one of the "Buckeye State's" area offices. New Fact Sheets Highlight Young Workers, Hispanic Outreach OSHA recently published two fact sheets highlighting safety and health issues for two specific groups of workers. The Young Workers fact sheet places youth worker safety and health materials at your fingertips. The fact sheet has information on OSHA's young worker coordinators, the Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health (FedNet), the Department of Labor-sponsored YouthRules! program and more. Hispanic Outreach is a new fact sheet that outlines OSHA's multi-pronged approach to improving workplace safety and health for Hispanic workers, and includes information on many Spanish-language publications available on the agency's website. The publication also spotlights OSHA's Compliance Assistance web page for Hispanic Employers and Workers. Safety Training for Residential Construction Continues in Idaho OSHA's Seattle Region is working with the Idaho Associated General Contractors (Idaho AGC) and the Idaho Building Contractors Association to present training programs for the "Gem State's" residential construction industry. The training, designed for owners, managers, supervisors and foremen, includes a review of OSHA standards for residential construction, as well as an overview of fall protection systems and equipment, and provides information on safety inspection preparation. Training classes are scheduled for May 10, 11, 25, and June 6, 9, and 30 in various parts of the state. For more information or to register, contact Idaho AGC's Safety Program Manager Lisa Losness at (208) 344-2531 or via e-mail at llosness@agcidaho.org. OSHA to Participate in New York City Construction Safety Week OSHA's New York Region is joining with the New York City Department of Buildings and other agencies to provide safety training seminars during Construction Safety Week, May 2-7. The Manhattan area office will present an excavation safety symposium at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on May 2. Events also include presentations from the NYC Department of Buildings; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Structural Engineer's Association of New York; and the Plumbing Foundation of the City of New York. New Alliances Established in New York, Boston Regions OSHA's Boston and New York Regions signed a number of Alliances recently with organizations eager to further workplace safety and health. OSHA's New Hampshire area office joined with the Granite State Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (GSC-ASSE) to focus efforts on construction hazards, bloodborne pathogens and musculoskeletal disorders. OSHA's Maine area office inked two agreements: Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) and Maine's Safety Works! consultation program for the state's healthcare industry; and Key Construction, Inc. and Maine's Safety Works! consultation program for worker safety during a construction project in Waterville, ME. The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC) signed a pact with OSHA's Braintree, MA, office to spotlight Hispanic construction worker safety, while the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) signed on with two "Bay State" area offices covering Boston and southeastern Massachusetts, and Middlesex and Essex Counties, to focus on transit workers and contractors. Finally, the Staten Island, NY, Hispanic worker community stands to benefit from an Alliance signed April 21 between OSHA's Avenel, NJ, area office and local community organizations, Project Hospitality, Inc., and El Centro de Hospitalidad. Voluntary Protection Programs Activity The following companies were approved recently for new or continued participation in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP): Region III: Dept of the Treasury, US Mint, Philadelphia, PA (New Star) Region V: Georgia Pacific, Green Bay Manufacturing, Green Bay, WI (Cont. Star); Turner Construction Co., Cincinnati, OH (Cont. Star Demo - Mobile Workforce); New City Packing Co., North Aurora, IL (1-Yr Cond.) Region VI: Dell, Round Rock Building Five, Round Rock, TX (New Star); Superior Industries, Heber Springs, AR (New Star); and Georgia Pacific, El Dorado Sawmill, El Dorado, AR (New Star). Editor: Bill Wright, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |