October 17, 2017 · Volume 16, Issue 19 |
A twice monthly newsletter with information about workplace safety and health. |
2018 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls to be held May 7-11 The fifth annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction will be held May 7-11, 2018. Sponsored by OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training, the weeklong outreach event encourages employers and workers to pause during the work day to talk about fall hazards and prevention. In past years, more than 1 million workers participated in events. OSHA Hosts Honduran Delegation in Chicago to Discuss Worker Safety and Health
OSHA recently hosted a delegation of representatives from the Honduran Ministry of Labor, private sector, and unions in Chicago. The group toured several facilities and participated in training demonstrations on common construction hazards. The visit with OSHA originated from the Honduran Ministry of Labor’s interest in training their inspectors in hazard identification and prevention, specifically in the construction industry. The delegation departed with the goal of developing a sustainable local safety and health training process aimed at workers, employers, and labor inspectors. New OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Announced
Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., have been selected as the newest additions to the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers network. OTI Education Centers are non-profit organizations that offer training on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health issues to workers and employers nationwide.
OSHA Signs Partnerships to Protect Pennsylvania Construction Workers
OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program provides opportunities for OSHA to partner with employers, workers, professional or trade associations, labor organizations, and other interested stakeholders. Strategic Partnerships are designed to eliminate serious hazards and enhance workplace safety and health practices in major corporations, government agencies, at large construction projects and private sector industries.
OSHA Alliance Partners Commit to Improving Worker Safety and Health
The OSHA Alliance Program fosters collaborative relationships with groups committed to worker safety and health. Alliance partners help OSHA reach targeted audiences, such as employers and workers in high-hazard industries, and give them better access to workplace safety and health tools and information.
OSHA On-Site Consultation Program Provides Free Training Opportunities
OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free, confidential safety and occupational health advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. The program can also provide small business owners and workers with free safety training. For example, an OSHA consultant and area office director in South Dakota gave a presentation at this year’s Safety Summit Conference of the Associated General Contractors. Their presentation included information on the On-Site Consultation Program, safety contractors, and OSHA's silica and respiratory standards for construction. Contact your state consultation office for more information on the benefits of the On-Site Consultation Program.
OSHA Resumes Regular Enforcement in Texas and Louisiana
On Oct. 10, OSHA resumed normal operations throughout Texas and Louisiana after temporarily suspending most programmed enforcement actions following Hurricane Harvey. During initial cleanup and recovery operations, OSHA focused its efforts on compliance assistance and outreach to employers and workers in a number of counties and parishes in the two states. OSHA provided safety and health technical assistance to thousands of crews and individual workers involved in hurricane recovery. For more information, see the news release. New Jersey Contractor Cited for Scaffold Hazards
OSHA has cited the owner of a South Jersey construction company for exposing workers to serious scaffold hazards at a job site in Philadelphia. Inspectors found employees performing work using a scaffold that was dangerously close to power lines. Vyacheslav Leshko, owner of DH Construction LLC, was cited for repeat and serious violations that include exposing workers to fall and electrical hazards, failing to train employees on scaffold hazards and not implementing an accident prevention program. The owner faces $191,215 in proposed penalties. Read the news release for more information. Alabama Framing Company Cited for Exposing Workers to Fall Hazards
Structural Subcontractors Service LLC, a Birmingham-based structural framing company, was issued willful and serious citations after OSHA inspectors found workers exposed to fall hazards. The agency initiated an inspection as part of a regional emphasis program to limit falls in construction. Inspectors found workers wearing fall protection harnesses, but were not tied off to prevent a fall. Violations also included failing to train employees to recognize fall hazards, and exposing employees to falls of approximately nine feet. The company was proposed penalties totaling $102,669. For more information, read the news release.
California Cites Construction Company for Fall Protection Violations California OSHA issued two serious citations and $80,000 in penalties to HBuilt Inc. in Oakland for exposing workers to fall hazards. Inspectors determined that the company failed to provide handrails, scaffolding, guardrails, and personal fall protection systems. Wyoming Cites Contractor for Exposing Workers to Trenching and Excavation Hazards
Wyoming OSHA issued five citations and $111,796 in penalties to Simon Contractors in Cheyenne for exposing workers to trenching and excavation hazards. Inspectors concluded that the company failed to provide: a competent person to inspect the worksite; cave-in protection and form of egress; and protection against hazards produced by an excavator digging near workers in a trench.
Information on silica hazards and related OSHA standards are now in one location on OSHA’s website. The updated silica page contains links to guidance on complying with OSHA’s silica standards in both construction and general industry and maritime, as well as information on silica sampling and analysis, health effects of silica exposure, and answers to frequently asked questions.
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