OSHA News Blog | The OSHA Updater

Well, this makes a great deal of sense. If I was going to target certain work sites for inspection, I think a high hazard level would be number 1 on the list. Check out OSHA's official press release regarding their plan to inspect high-hazard worksites.

WASHINGTON — OSHA issued its annual inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting 2010 (SST-10) program in August to help the agency direct enforcement resources to high-hazard workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.

The SST program is OSHA's main programmed inspection plan for non-construction workplaces that have 40 or more workers. This inspection plan is based on work-related injury and illness data collected from a 2009 OSHA Data Initiative survey from 80,000 larger establishments in selected high-hazard industries. Establishments are randomly selected for inspection from an initial list of 4,100 manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and nursing and personal care facilities. The plan focuses on several variables such as the number of injury and illness cases and number of days a worker has to stay away from work, or the number of workers who received job transfers or work restrictions due to injury or illness.

"Our goal is to prevent worker injuries and illnesses and save lives," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "The Site Specific Targeting program helps OSHA focus its enforcement resources to high-risk employers who are endangering their workers' health and safety."

OSHA 10 Hour Training is available at www.easysafetyschool.com

In addition to SST, OSHA implements both national and local emphasis inspection programs to target high-risk hazards and industries. OSHA currently has 13 National Emphasis Programs that intensify the focus on topics including amputations, lead, crystalline silica, shipbreaking, trenching/excavations, petroleum refinery process safety management, process safety management covered chemical facilities, hexavalent chromium, diacetyl, recordkeeping, combustible dust, federal agency targeting inspection and FAA air traffic control tower monitoring.

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.

WASHINGTON - OSHA is proposing to issue an interpretation of the term "feasible administrative or engineering controls" as used in the general industry and construction occupational noise exposure standards and to amend its current enforcement policy to reflect the interpretation. For the purpose of enforcing compliance with these standards, the proposal states that "feasible" has its ordinary meaning of capable of being done.

OSHA's noise standards specify that feasible administrative or engineering controls must be used to reduce noise to acceptable levels and that personal protective equipment, such as ear plugs and ear muffs, must be used only as supplements when administrative or engineering controls are not completely effective. The preference for engineering and administrative controls over personal protective equipment is consistent with the approach taken in all of OSHA's health standards and reflects the fact that such controls are generally more effective. Under the agency's current enforcement policy, however, the agency issues citations for failure to use engineering and administrative controls only when they cost less than a hearing conservation program or such equipment is ineffective.

OSHA today proposes to interpret the term "feasible" in conformity with its ordinary meaning and with the safety and health purposes of the OSH Act. The Supreme Court has held that the term "feasible" as used in the standard-setting provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act means capable of being done. The proposal aligns the interpretation of the noise standard with the Court's holding and with OSHA's other standards that require feasible engineering controls. The Agency intends to change its noise enforcement policy to authorize issuing citations requiring the use of administrative and engineering controls when feasible as indicated in the interpretation described in the FR notice.

Every year, approximately 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise that is often ignored because the harmful effects of overexposure are typically not visible and develop over an extended period of time. Workers exposed to high noise levels can develop elevated blood pressure, ringing in the ears or permanent hearing loss.

Comments on the interpretation must be submitted on or before Dec. 20, 2010. Submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov. Individuals who mail or deliver comments must submit three copies to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2010-0032, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Submissions not longer than 10 pages may be faxed to 202-693-1648.

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.

Funny Retro Safety Video

Watch as the old man gets scolding hot coffee thrown into his face and just shakes his head.

Construction Safety Fail

Watch as construction safety is neglected and hilarity ensues.

Unsafe Ladder Use

A compliation of unsafe ladder use. Don't do this!

Time Lapse Construction

Ok, this one isn't actually funny, but it is really cool to see construction in time lapse / fast forward. Very Cool!

Tool Safety Commercial

A funny safety related commercial courtesy of FOX.

Bad Safety Practices Slide Show

Another compilation of bad safety practices.

I'm not going to lie.  Safety is not always the most exciting subject.  However,  here is a great list of safety related quotes and safety slogans to help keep things interesting, but always remember that safety is no joke.  With that said, let's have some safety related fun.

• Protect your hands, you need them to pick up your pay check
• Your wife will spend your 401K; If you get killed at work today
• Safety…Did it, done it, doing it tomorrow
• Watch your step - it could be your last tomorrow
• Those precious fingers don’t ignore. . . Or they could end up on the floor
• Your reward for working safely today.
• Those who work the safest way- live to see another day
• Get in high speed pursuit of safety
• Seat Belts are for kids - Hug them at home - Belt them in the car
• Safe crane operation is uplifting
• Pencils have erasers–mishaps don’t!
• Work safe today–heaven can wait.
• Safety is a mission not an intermission
• Safety doesn’t happen by accident
• A spill, a slip, a hospital trip
• Falling objects can be brutal if you don’t protect your noodle
• Safety glasses: All in favor say “Eye!”
• It’s easier to ask a dumb question than it is to fix a dumb mistake
• Safety isn’t a hobby, it’s a living.
• Safety - A small investment for a rich future
• Safety is no accident
• Safety is a cheap and effective insurance policy
• Let’s all keep our heads, and other body parts, together
• While on a ladder, never step back to admire your work
• Quench the thirst – safety first
• When you gamble with safety you bet your life
• The stupid shall be punished
• Chance takers are accident makers
• Safety is a full time job; don’t make it a part time practice
• The door to Safety swings on the hinges of common sense
• Is better to lose one minute in life… than to lose life in a minute.
• Safety — a small investment for a rich future
• Your first mistake could be your last
• Safety isn’t expensive it’s priceless.
• Safety is as simple as ABC…Always Be Careful
• Unsafe acts will keep you in stitches
• Knock out…accidents
• If you mess up, ‘fess up
• Hard hats, they’re not just for decoration
• If you don’t think it will happen to you, find the person who had it happen to them
• Keep safety in mind. It will save your behind.
• One bad day at the grinder could ruin your whole life
• Shortcuts cut life short

Take Safety Seriously!
http://www.easysafetyschool.com/