| April 1, 2005 · Volume 4, Issue 7 | |
|
|
| A bi-weekly e-news memo with information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's workplaces. | |
| NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only. |
In This Issue BLS Publishes Report on 2003 Lost-Worktime Injuries and Illnesses Results of OSHA Pilot Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program Announced American Apparel & Footwear Association Renews Alliance with OSHA FACOSH to Meet April 12 Changes for Some Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories Boston Region Awards VPP "Star" to Naval Shipyard in Maine OSHA Spotlights Airport Capital Development Program in Dallas/Fort Worth Chicago Region Gearing Up for Emergency Preparedness and Worker Safety Conference Spanish-language Version of Worker Safety and Health Training Set for Chicago OSHA's Midwest Region Continues Falls Initiative Atlanta Region Joins Mexican Consulate in Atlanta to Assist Hispanic Workers BLS Publishes Report on 2003 Lost-Worktime Injuries and Illnesses The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported March 30 that a total of 1.3 million injuries and illnesses in private industry required recuperation away from work during 2003. The three occupations with the greatest number of injuries and illnesses were laborers and material movers, truckers, and nursing aides, orderlies and attendants. Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jonathan L. Share said in a statement that the report provides important information that will "assist OSHA in its ongoing effort to target our resources in the way that has the most positive impact on workplace safety and health..." The 2003 data was compiled for the first time using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the Standard Occupational Classification Manual. Results of OSHA Pilot Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program Announced OSHA recently announced the results of a pilot program to test its compliance safety and health officers for sensitization to beryllium. Under the agency's pilot beryllium medical monitoring program, OSHA offered voluntary testing to its personnel who may have had potential exposure to beryllium in the course of their work. Beryllium is a metal found in nature, particularly as a component of coal, oil, certain rock minerals, volcanic dust, and soil and is often used in metal working, ceramic manufacturing, electronic applications, laboratory work, dental alloys, and sporting goods. American Apparel & Footwear Association Renews Alliance with OSHA OSHA renewed its two-year-old Alliance March 24 with the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) to continue focus on workplace safety and health in the apparel and footwear industry, highlighting ergonomics. The Alliance has already resulted in the production of an ergonomics manual for the industry and development of an in-depth training program. OSHA and AAFA have scheduled six ergonomics training seminars to educate AAFA members and others in the industry about ergonomic issues and the new manual. FACOSH to Meet April 12 The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) has scheduled its next meeting in Washington on April 12. The 16-person council advises OSHA on issues concerning the safety and health of federal employees. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Room N-3437 of the Department of Labor Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. Agenda items include discussion on federal recordkeeping changes, seatbelt safety, Voluntary Protection Programs and strategic partnerships, and Federal Agency Training Week. Details are in the Mar. 24, 2005, Federal Register. Changes for Some Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories OSHA announced in a March 8, 2005 Federal Register notice that it will modify its "scope of recognition" on some Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. The modification comes as a result of the withdrawal of certain test standards by various standards developing organizations. The NRTL program recognizes mainly private sector organizations that provide product safety testing and certification services to manufacturers. See the Federal Register notice for details. Boston Region Awards VPP "Star" to Naval Shipyard in Maine The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME, employs more than 4,000 workers who take pride in the complex task of overhauling, repairing, modernizing and refueling some of the U.S. Navy's most modern submarines. The shipyard family can now also take pride in being chosen as the first Navy facility to be awarded the VPP "Star" flag for excellence in workplace safety and health management. Acting OSHA Administrator Jonathan L. Snare joined Marthe Kent, OSHA's New England Regional Administrator, in presenting the flag during a March 25 recognition ceremony. OSHA Spotlights Airport Capital Development Program in Dallas/Fort Worth John Miles, OSHA's Regional Administrator in Dallas, cited the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Capital Development Program's "commitment to safety and health of construction workers, particularly to the Spanish-speaking community," as the impetus to awarding OSHA's Regional Administrator's Outstanding Contribution Award earlier this month. The Program oversees construction and other development of the airport facilities including a 2-million square foot international terminal with hotel and high-speed train. Thus far, the program has netted more than 21 million work-hours without a fatality or serious accident, while maintaining an accident/incident rate below the national average. Chicago Region Gearing Up for Emergency Preparedness and Worker Safety Conference The University of Findlay (OH) is the site of a one-day conference highlighting emergency preparedness planning and response activities. Joining the agency in "OSHA 2005 Emergency Preparedness and Worker Safety Conference" is the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Registration for the event is available online, or by contacting Mark Alliman at (419) 434-4135 or by email at: malliman@findlay.edu. Spanish-language Version of Worker Safety and Health Training Set for Chicago OSHA is joining participating state agencies and universities in the Chicago area to offer the Spanish-language version of the agency's ten-hour general industry safety and health course. The two-day course will be offered May 24-25 and again on August 2-3 at the UIC School of Public Health, 2121 West Taylor Street, Chicago. A wide range of subjects will be covered including an introduction to OSHA, machine safeguarding, electrical safety and personal protective equipment, bloodborne pathogens, confined space hazards, and much more. Information on the training is available in English or Spanish by calling (773) 907-4367. OSHA's Midwest Region Continues Falls Initiative A special emphasis program in OSHA's Kansas City region aimed at reducing worker injuries and deaths in the construction industry is continuing. Charles Adkins, Regional Administrator, explained that during the last 10 years, 39 percent of fatal and catastrophic incidents in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, occurred in the construction industry, and falls accounted for 38 percent of those incidents. The initiative's focus will remain on falls, contact with overhead power lines, and the use of scaffolds. Atlanta Region Joins Mexican Consulate in Atlanta to Assist Hispanic Workers Hispanic workers in the Atlanta region concerned about safety and health hazards at their worksite can now express those concerns by calling a hotline in the area. The hotline (404-262-4466) was established through the agency's Alliance with the Mexican Consulate and Georgia Tech Research Institute's Safety, Health and Environmental Technology Division. Bi-lingual consulate employees have been trained by the Department of Labor to screen calls and connect workers to appropriate staff. Editor: Bill Wright, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999 |
