| September 15, 2006 · Volume 5, Issue 18 | |
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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 OSHA Seeks Comments on GHS FACOSH to Meet Sept. 28 Fire Protection Module Added to Shipyard Employment eTool Emergency Preparedness Conference Scheduled Next Month OSHA Warns about Dangers Stemming from Severe Weather Cleanup and Recovery Safety and Health Conference Slated for Chicago Registration Open for Spanish-language Version of Worker Safety and Health Training Safety and Health Seminars to Benefit Illinois Small Businesses OSHA Appoints New Director for Philadelphia Area Office OSHA Alliance Update Latest VPP Certifications Upcoming Events 'QuickTips' from QuickTakes OSHA Seeks Comments on GHS OSHA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Sept. 12 Federal Register seeking comments on the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS includes harmonized provisions for classification of chemicals for their health, physical, and environmental effects, as well as for labels on containers and material safety data sheets. Adoption of the GHS would require proposed changes to the Hazard Communication Standard. To help individuals better understand the GHS approach, OSHA prepared a guidance document that summarizes the requirements. Comments must be submitted no later than Nov. 13.  Back to TopFACOSH to Meet Sept. 28 The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) has scheduled its next meeting in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 28. OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke will welcome the 16-person council who advises OSHA on issues concerning the safety and health of federal employees. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 2537G-2540K at the Mine Safety and Health Administration's offices, 1100 Wilson Blvd. Agenda items include discussion on U.S. Government Accountability Office audit on federal workplace safety and health, Safety and Health and Return to Employment (SHARE) Initiative, federal agency recordkeeping, and pandemic flu guidance for federal agencies. Details are in the Sept. 8 Federal Register. Back to TopFire Protection Module Added to Shipyard Employment eTool Employers and employees in the maritime industry will benefit from the launch of a new Fire Protection Module as part of OSHA's interactive Web-based Shipyard Employment eTool. The module and eTool are products of alliances between OSHA and the American Shipbuilding Association, National Shipbuilding Research Program, and the Shipbuilders Council of America. The module stresses the importance of an effective fire protection plan to protect shipyard employees from fire hazards. Back to TopEmergency Preparedness Conference Scheduled Next Month Helping better prepare hospital employees to respond to victims of pandemic flu and natural disasters is the focus of a conference being sponsored by OSHA, Joint Commission Resources, and the American Red Cross. The event, Second Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference: Disaster Readiness on the Home Front, will take place Oct. 19-20 in Washington. Participants will hear about personal experiences, and discuss best practices and lessons learned from natural disasters. Other agenda topics include avian flu, strengthening patient safety and security, employee communication and training, collaboration with local emergency management authorities, surge capacity management, evacuation procedures, and the psychosocial aspects of emergencies. Early registration is encouraged. To register by telephone, or for more information, please call 877-223-6866. Back to TopOSHA Warns about Dangers Stemming from Severe Weather Cleanup and Recovery OSHA is reminding employers, employees and the public to take the appropriate steps to evade injuries and illnesses associated with cleanup and utility restoration efforts following hurricanes and tropical storms. Information on the potential hazards and possible solutions to avoiding those hazards can be found on OSHA's Hurricane Recovery Web page. Back to TopSafety and Health Conference Slated for Chicago OSHA's Chicago Region is co-sponsoring the 18th annual Chicagoland Safety and Health Conference Sept. 18-22 at Northern Illinois University in Naperville, Ill. The conference features more than 45 sessions on construction safety, ergonomics, environmental safety, machine guarding, recordkeeping, bioterrorism, effective safety management and training techniques, among others. OSHA's 10-hour general industry and construction safety and health courses will be offered just prior to the conference. Teresa Harrison, OSHA's Atlanta deputy regional administrator, will deliver a keynote address; exhibitors will also be on hand. For more information, contact Jim Smith at (708) 450-3270, Eugene Satrun at (815) 521-7739, or send e-mail to info@chisafetyconf.org. Back to TopRegistration Open for Spanish-language Version of Worker Safety and Health Training Spaces are still available for the Spanish-language version of the 10-hour general industry safety and health course being offered by OSHA and the Illinois On-Site Consultation Program, Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Truman College. The two-day course is set for Sept. 29–30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chicago's West Side Technical Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave. To register, contact Truman College at (773) 907-3994 (bilingual). Back to TopSafety and Health Seminars to Benefit Illinois Small Businesses OSHA's North Aurora, Ill., Area Office is co-sponsoring a series of seminars to help Illinois employers control workplace hazards through effective safety programs. Each seminar will focus on a different subject such as safety and health management systems, workplace inspections, and delivering presentations and training to employees. The dates are Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. Each session will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Eigerlab, 605 Fulton Ave., Rockford, Ill. To register, call (815) 316-6367, or e-mail rsvp@edge-ni.org. Back to TopOSHA Appoints New Director for Philadelphia Area Office Al D'Imperio, former assistant Philadelphia area director, was recently named as the city's area director. As area director, he will be in charge of OSHA program activities throughout Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester counties. Back to TopOSHA Alliance Update National Office: OSHA and the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair renewed an alliance to continue protecting the health and safety of automotive industry employees through training and guidance. The alliance renewal was signed Sept. 12. Region V: OSHA's Peoria, Ill., Area Office signed a new alliance with the Central Illinois Golf Course Superintendents Association to promote safe and healthful working conditions for groundskeepers. Back to TopLatest VPP Certifications Visit "recent approvals" on the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) page of OSHA's Web site to see the latest list of employers recently approved for new or continued participation in VPP. We encourage you to examine the entire VPP site to learn more about OSHA's premier cooperative program. Back to TopUpcoming Events OSHA recently updated its events Web page with new safety and health-related conference and meeting information. Check for events near you. Back to Top'QuickTips' from QuickTakes Summer vacation season is over and kids are back in school, which means more and more people are driving on our nation's roads and highways. Many motor vehicle crashes occur during the workday or the commute to and from work. One way employers can ensure employee safety is to encourage them to follow safe driving practices. Here are just a few ways to stay safe on the road: OSHA's Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes and Safe Driving Practices for Employees QuickCard offer additional tips. Visit OSHA's Web site for more resource information that will help employers further prevent employee injuries and fatalities on America's roadways. Look to OSHA for more safety and health 'QuickTips' in your next issue. Back to TopEditor: Elaine Fraser, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |