Updated OSHA training emphasizes workers' rights

OSHA has announced that they have made serious changes to the OSHA 10 and 30 hour training program.  This new updated version of the Outreach program will require an Intro to OSHA section which emphasizes workers' rights, and employer responsibilities.  I have attached the official OSHA statement below.

WASHINGTON - "Introduction to OSHA," a new training component emphasizing workers' rights, is required content in every OSHA 10- and 30-hour Outreach Training Program class. OSHA developed the information in support of the Secretary of Labor's goal of strengthening the voice of workers.

This information affects hundreds of thousands of workers who complete Outreach Training Program classes each year, and more than 50,000 authorized OSHA Outreach Trainers. It focuses on the importance of workers' rights and advises them of their right to

safe and healthful workplaces

know about the presence and effects of hazardous chemicals

review information about injuries and illnesses in their workplaces

receive training

request/file for an OSHA inspection and participate in the inspection

be free from retaliation for exercising their safety and health rights

"For too long workers have avoided making claims of unsafe work conditions out of fear of losing their jobs," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "We are confident that this new training will embolden workers to speak up when they find work practices that endanger their lives and the lives of their co-workers."

During the 10- and 30-hour outreach training program classes, OSHA trainers will cover topics on whistleblower rights and filing a complaint, and will provide samples of a weekly fatality and catastrophe report, material data safety sheet and the OSHA Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. Trainers can obtain test and answer sheets from their authorizing training organization.

The OSHA Outreach Training Program is a voluntary program that seeks to teach workers about their rights and how to identify, reduce, avoid and prevent job-related hazards. The program includes 10- and 30-hour courses in construction, general or maritime industry safety and health hazard recognition and prevention that is taught through a network of OSHA-authorized trainers. Over the past three years, nearly two million students have received training through this program.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/.

DOL Provides $27 Million to help with oil spill training and placement

Ever since the oil spill, I have been saying, "We ought to find a way to make OSHA Training and HAZWOPER Certification courses free for oil spill volunteers."  Of course, BP has been funding some courses, but not nearly enough to cover the entire clean-up program.  Thanks to a generous grant from the Department of Labor (DOL), free training and job placement has become a reality.  Below, I have attached the official statement from the DOL/OSHA.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a total of $27 million in National Emergency Grant awards to four key states to assist workers along the Gulf Coast who have been displaced as a result of the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The states are Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"Working families in the Gulf Coast have been dealt a tremendous blow by this oil spill, and they are facing serious long-term challenges. They need and deserve our help now," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "From the start, we have been actively engaged in ensuring workers tackling the cleanup are kept safe and healthy. These grants will help those still looking for work find jobs that are good, safe and will help the region's economy get back on track."



The funds are being granted to workforce agencies in the four states experiencing economic hardship as a result of wage decline and job loss in the shrimping, fishing, hospitality and tourism industries. Alabama and Mississippi each will receive $5 million. Florida will receive $7 million, and Louisiana will receive $10 million.



The resources are being provided to the states to increase their capacity to help workers now while they seek reimbursement from BP for the costs associated with retraining and re-employment assistance. Services funded by the grant money may include skills assessment, basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training.

Since April, the Labor Department has been involved in the Deepwater Horizon response. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is deployed across the Gulf Coast monitoring the cleanup and ensuring BP provides appropriate worker safety and health training and protections. Learn more at http://www.osha.gov/oilspills.

The department's Employment and Training Administration has created One-Stop Career Centers where workers can receive information on unemployment insurance and job opportunities posted through the public workforce system. Learn more by calling 877-US2-JOBS (872-5627), 877-872-5627 or 877-889-5627 TTY, or visiting http://www.careeronestop.org/

Additionally, the department's Wage and Hour Division has been on the ground consulting with multiple agencies and interested parties, and providing materials to ensure cleanup workers are paid the wages they deserve.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG.

EPA Lead-Safe Training Program

EPA's RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) Lead-Safe law requires all contractors who's trade will disturb lead paint and dust in homes, schools, medical buildings, or other public job sites built before 1978 must take an 8 hour Lead Paint safety training course.  I am pleased to announce that Easy Safety School is now offering on-site Lead Paint safety training certification courses in select areas.  For more information regarding EPA Lead paint laws and our training and certification courses please visit our EPA Lead Paint Safety Training Certification Course page.

Attention Volunteers of the Gulf Oil Spill

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has everybody scrambling to get HAZWOPER certified and start helping out. Volunteers are required, based on their proximity to the hazardous materials, to be either 8, 24, or 40 hour HAZWOPER certified or First Responder trained.

Easy Safety School has teamed up with local and national organizations to bring you affordable HAZWOPER 8, 24 and 40 hour training courses online. By grouping together, we can get HAZWOPER prices down to an all time low. This is just one other way for us to all come together and fight this global disaster. For information regarding Gulf of Mexico Clean-up HAZWOPER Training please visit Easy Safety School's website at easysafetyschool.com.

Together we can clean up our oceans, and protect this planet and it's living creatures.

Improving Construction Workers' Safety and Health

OSHA is allowing individuals to be nominated to join the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.  These individuals will help develop health and safety standards that affect the entire construction community.  Nominees are expected to have experience and expertise in areas relating to health and safety in the workplace.  I have attached the official DOL/OSHA press release below.

WASHINGTON — OSHA is accepting nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). The group advises the Secretary of Labor on developing safety and health standards and policies that affect the safety and health of construction workers and the construction industry.

Established as a continuing advisory committee under the Construction Safety Act of 1969, ACCSH and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA have consulted for nearly 40 years on construction safety issues such as women in construction, recordkeeping, crane safety, and safety and health resources for Latino construction workers.

OSHA is seeking nominees with experience and expertise in construction-related safety and health issues to fill two employee, two employer, one state safety and health agency, and two public representative vacancies. All 15 members serve two year terms, except the representative designated by the Department of Health and Human Services and appointed by the Secretary of Labor, who serves indefinitely. ACCSH meets two to four times a year.

Nominations may be submitted at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. If submitting nominations by mail, send to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2010-0005, U.S. Department of Labor, N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Nominations not exceeding 10 pages may be faxed to 202-693-1648. The deadline for submissions is June 14, 2010.

General inquiries should be directed to Michael Buchet, OSHA Office of Construction Services, at 202-693-2020. Press inquiries should be directed to Jennifer Ashley, OSHA Office of Communications, at 202-693-1999.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

OSHA to Partner with Local Building Inspectors

OSHA is planning to team up with local building inspectors in 11 US cities in an effort to reduce construction related injuries and hazards. This boost of job site inspection and code enforcement should help OSHA to more efficiently and accurately monitor public job sites. I have attached the official OSHA press release below.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching a pilot program seeking to partner with building inspectors in 11 American cities to reduce injuries and fatalities at construction sites.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has sent letters to the mayors of the selected cities*, proposing that OSHA work with and train local building inspectors on hazards associated with the four leading causes of death at construction sites. Under this program, building inspectors would notify OSHA when they observe, during the course of their work, unsafe work conditions. OSHA, in turn, would send a federal agency compliance officer to that workplace for a safety inspection.

In construction, the four leading causes of death are falls, electrocution, being crushed or caught between objects, or being struck by moving machinery or objects.

In her letters, Secretary Solis wrote, "I believe workplace enforcement is not only our responsibility but our moral obligation. We need your help to send our inspectors where they can make the biggest difference."

"This initiative allows us to expand our eyes and ears," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "Although we are adding 110 new inspectors this year, OSHA simply cannot inspect every construction site in the country."

OSHA seeks to partner with building inspectors in the following cities:
Austin, Texas

Boise, Idaho

Cincinnati, Ohio

Concord, N.H.

Greenwood Village, Colo.

Madison, Miss. Atlanta Metropolitan area, Ga.

Newark, N.J.

Oakland, Calif.

Washington, D.C.

Wichita, Kan.


Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/.

Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meetings to be held in Chicago

CHICAGO -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled its latest informal stakeholder meetings to continue soliciting comments and suggestions for protecting workers from combustible dust hazards in the workplace. Since 1980, more than 130 workers have been killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions.
This set of meetings is the third in a series addressing combustible dust hazards. The first meetings were held in Washington, D.C. A second meeting was held in Atlanta to facilitate participation by families of victims of the Feb. 7, 2008, explosion at an Imperial Sugar Co. plant in Port Wentworth, Ga., which killed 14 workers and resulted in OSHA issuing nearly $8.8 million in penalties.

OSHA will consider participants' comments in developing a proposed standard for combustible dust.

The Chicago meetings will be held April 21 at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CDT at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel and Conference Center, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, Ill. A Federal Register notice is available at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21395

Combustible dusts are solids ground into fine particles, fibers, chips, chunks or flakes that can cause a fire or explosion when suspended in air under certain conditions. Types of dusts include metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic or rubber, coal, flour, sugar and paper, among others.

Individuals interested in participating must register by submitting a notice of intent to participate by April 7. Notices can be submitted electronically by registering at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/osha/register-osha-stakeholder.htm. Registrations also can be faxed to 781-674-2906. Or, registrations can be mailed to ERG Inc., 110 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02421. Registrations that are faxed or mailed should be labeled "Attention: OSHA Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meeting Registration."

For general and technical information, the public may contact Mat Chibbaro, OSHA, Office of Safety Systems, at 202-693-2255. Media inquiries should be directed to Brad Mitchell or Scott Allen, Office of Public Affairs, 312-353-6976.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

I found a wonderful list of safety resources. Here it is for your enjoyment.

http://www.behavioral-safety.com/cgi/update.pl?page=links

Cheers,