OSHA News Blog | The OSHA Updater

OSHA has recently released a new set of videos relating to construction hazards. In this blog post, we will be looking at videos concerning sprains and strains in the construction workplace. We hope you find these valuable and informational. Please check back for additional video topics.  To learn about OSHA training online visit http://www.easysafetyschool.com/

Sprains and Strains in Construction

Pulling Cables

This video addresses proper safety procedures when pulling cables in the construction industry. If you work with cables, this video is a must watch for anyone wanting to help prevent sprain and strain hazards in their workplace.

Laying Stone

This video addresses proper safety procedures when laying stone in the construction industry. If your work includeslaying stone, then we recommend watching this video to help prevent sprains and strains.

OSHA has recently released a new set of videos relating to construction hazards. In this blog post, we will be looking at videos concerning falls in the construction workplace. We hope you find these valuable and informational. Please check back for additional video topics.  To learn about OSHA safety training courses visit http://www.easysafetyschool.com/

Falls in Construction

Floor Openings

This video addresses proper safety procedures when working around floor openings in the construction industry. If you work around floor openings, this video is a must watch.

Fixed Scaffolds

This video addresses proper safety procedures when working around fixed openings in the construction industry. If your work includes fixed Scaffolds, then we recommend watching this video.

Bridge Decking

This video addresses proper safety procedures when working around bridge decking in the construction industry. If you work around bridge decking, you will want to check this video out.

Leading Edge Work

This video addresses proper safety procedures when working around leading edge work in the construction industry. Leading edge work is dangerous. Watch this video for safety tips.

Electrical, fire, explosions, burn and falls, along with other hazards, are still a huge concern of laboratory workers.  In an attempt to prevent and reduce these types of injuries and hazards, OSHA has released a new Laboratory Safety Guidance Document, which, covers preventative measures, safety equipment and proper safety procedures in the lab.  We have also linked to the National Academies' Prudent Practices in the Laboratory manual.

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published new educational materials (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laboratories/index.html) for laboratory managers on protecting their workers from exposure to chemical, biological and physical hazards.

The new materials include the Laboratory Safety Guidance* document, which describes how electrical, fire, explosions and falls, among other hazards, can be minimized or eliminated if employers use safety plans, worker training, engineering controls and personal protective equipment. New laboratory safety materials also include fact sheets that each focus on a specific hazard related to laboratory environments. Practices and precautions to protect laboratory personnel include safety guidance for using autoclaves, use of chemical fume hoods, labeling and transferring chemicals, and latex exposure.

Over the past several years, there have been a number of laboratory incidents resulting in fatalities and injuries caused by fires, explosions and equipment. These incidents have resulted in debilitating injuries and death.

"The chemicals and equipment that laboratory workers use present a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening hazards," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels. "These educational materials will help employers identify hazards and measures to ensure safe and healthful conditions for their workers and promote a robust safety culture in the workplace."

OSHA is collaborating with the National Academies on resources to help improve the safety of laboratory workers. OSHA used The original edition of the National Academies' Prudent Practices in the Laboratory manual, the authoritative source on the handling of chemical hazards, as the foundation for the agency's laboratory standard. The manual has since been revised, and the agencies are working together to update the non-mandatory appendices in OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) to assure it is consistent with the guidance given in the revised manual.

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 ensure 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.

Trench related accidents are some of the most common and terrible deaths associated with construction, yet  Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, says it is "entirely preventable".   In an effort to increase trenching safety awareness and implementation, OSHA has released 3 new documents to help prevent trenching accidents.  These include a new Fact Sheet, a QuickCard and a Poster.  We have included links to these important safety documents below. Get safe by taking our online OSHA 10 hour course.

Download OSHA's Trenching Safety Fact Sheet

Download OSHA's Trenching Safety QuickCard

Download OSHA's Trenching Safety  Poster

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today released three new guidance products to educate workers and employers about the hazards workers face in trenching operations. Unprotected trenches are among the deadliest hazards in the construction industry and the loss of life is devastating: since 2003, more than 200 workers have died in trench cave-ins, and hundreds more have been seriously injured.

"No worker's life should end in a trench. Cave–ins during excavations are some of the most common and grisliest causes of worker fatalities in construction, yet they are entirely preventable," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "I am deeply troubled by the continued violations of OSHA's trenching standards, many of which bring tragic results. These new educational materials provide clear guidance on the necessary steps that employers must take to protect workers in trenches."

The new information products, which are available on OSHA's Publications page, include:
"Trenching and Excavation" fact sheet* – an overview of the hazards that can occur while performing trenching operations and the safety measures required to protect workers;

"Working Safely in Trenches" QuickCard* – an easy-to-use guide to trenching hazards and safety measures with graphics; and

"Do Not Enter an Unprotected Trench!" poster* – a resource for construction workplaces informing workers what steps must be taken to ensure trench safety, along with the warning "An Unprotected Trench is an Early Grave."

Subjects covered in the three documents include proper shoring and sloping; evaluations by competent persons; means of access/egress; atmospheric hazard testing; and protective systems. The guidance also describes the protective measures that are required under OSHA's excavation standards (29 CFR 1926.650, 29 CFR 1926.651, and 29 CFR 1926.652). Spanish-language versions of the documents are also available.

Because of the severity of trenching hazards, OSHA conducts a Special Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavations (Directive CPL 02-00-069 [CPL 2.69]), which sets procedures for enforcement activities wherever trenching and excavation worksites are observed. When OSHA's compliance officers see a trench, they will inspect a trench. On two separate occasions in the past year, this Special Emphasis Program allowed OSHA compliance officers to remove workers from unsupported trenches minutes before they collapsed – likely preventing possible injury and loss of life.

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 ensure 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.

Easy Safety School is the premiere provider of on-site Cal/OSHA 10 and 30 hour training classes in California.  Thanks to our partnership with the best local California trainers, we can now offer on-site training within 300 miles of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Inland Empire and Riverside, CA.  Our on-site training courses are affordable, convenient and fun.  Please visit our OSHA Training in California page to request a training or a quote.  In addition to Cal/OSHA courses, we also offer CPR training, First Aid, HAZWOPER, confined spaces, forklift certification, and many more.

OSHA has updated with hazard alert to hair salon owners after new agency investigations, an FDA warning and incorrect material safety data sheets were sent to hair salons.  The products under question are the Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution and Brasil Cacau Cadiveu which can release high amounts of formaldehyde during normal use.

Download OSHA's Letter Here

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a revised hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with certain hair smoothing and straightening products. The revised alert was prompted by the results of agency investigations, a warning letter issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and factually incorrect information recently sent to salons by a company that manufactures hair products. OSHA's updated alert can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/hazard_alert.html.

During recent investigations, OSHA's air tests showed formaldehyde at hazardous levels in salons using Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution and Brasil Cacau Cadiveu, resulting in citations for multiple violations. OSHA found that workers were exposed to formaldehyde in these salons at levels higher than the agency's protective limits. OSHA also cited two manufacturers and two distributors of hair smoothing products for violations that included failing to list formaldehyde on product labels as well as on accompanying hazard warning sheets, known as material safety data sheets, that are provided to the products' users.

The FDA issued a warning letter on Aug. 22 to the importer and distributer of Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution stating that the product is adulterated and misbranded. Although the solution contains methylene glycol, which can release formaldehyde during the normal conditions of use, the product is labeled "formaldehyde free" or "no formaldehyde" and does not list formaldehyde on the material safety data sheet.

Following an Aug. 24 letter sent by Brazilian Blowout to salon owners claiming that all OSHA air tests performed on the company's Brazilian Blowout Professional Acai Smoothing Solution yielded results below OSHA's standard for exposure, the agency sent a letter today to the company refuting that assertion. OSHA's letter can be viewed at http://www.easysafetyschool.com/public/pdf/brazilian_blowout_letter.pdf.

"Misleading or inadequate information on hazardous product labels is unacceptable," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "Salon owners and workers have the right to know the risks associated with the chemicals with which they work and how to protect themselves."

Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and nose; cause allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and lungs; and is a cancer hazard. The revised hazard alert notifies salons that if they use products that contain or release formaldehyde, they must follow the requirements in OSHA's formaldehyde standard at 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1048. OSHA further requires manufacturers, importers and distributors of products that contain formaldehyde as a gas or in solution, or that can release formaldehyde during use, to include information about formaldehyde and its hazards on product labels and in the material safety data sheets. The alert also now includes details about the information that is required to be listed on the labels and the material safety data sheets of products that contain or could release formaldehyde. OSHA's formaldehyde standard can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10075.

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 ensure 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.

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Nail gun related injuries are incredibly common -- accounting for +/- 37,000 visits to the emergency room last year.  In an attempt to reduce this number, a new document from NIOSH and OSHA has been released which targets nail gun safety in the workplace.  Read the full article below...

Download the Nail Gun Handbook

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed new guidance, Nail Gun Safety – A Guide for Construction Contractors*, to help construction employers and workers prevent work-related nail gun injuries.

"Nail gun injuries are responsible for approximately 37,000 emergency room visits annually. In some cases, workers have died from their injuries," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This document will help construction employers make necessary changes to improve nail gun safety and protect their workers from preventable injuries and death."

"NIOSH is pleased to partner with OSHA in presenting effective, evidence-based guidance for safer nail gun use," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D.

Construction workers, particularly those in residential construction, use nail guns nearly every day. Although this tool is easy to operate and increases productivity, there have been reports of internal and external bodily injuries. These injuries occur as a result of unintended nail discharge; nails that bounce off a hard surface or miss the work piece and become airborne; and disabling the gun's safety features, among other causes. Injury prevention is possible if contractors take steps such as using full sequential trigger nail guns; establishing nail gun work procedures; and providing workers with personal protective equipment. -- OSHA 30 Hour Training is available at Easy Safety School.

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 ensure 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. NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. More information can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

Get OSHA 30 hour training online at Easy Safety School -- OSHA's new directive will establish uniform procedures for responding to complaints and incidents of violence in the workplace.  Also, inspections will be help for industries that are at high risk of work related violence.  These include social service work, healthcare and late-night retail businesses.   Read more about the new directive below.

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a directive on Enforcement Procedures for Investigating or Inspecting Incidents of Workplace Violence. The directive establishes uniform procedures for OSHA field staff for responding to incidents and complaints of workplace violence and conducting inspections in industries considered vulnerable to workplace violence, such as healthcare and social service settings, and late-night retail establishments.

Workplace violence is a serious recognized occupational hazard, ranking among the top four causes of death in workplaces during the past 15 years. More than 3,000 people died from workplace homicide between 2006 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additional BLS data indicate that an average of more than 15,000 nonfatal workplace injury cases was reported annually during this time.

A recent OSHA inspection of a Maine psychiatric hospital found more than 90 instances in which workers were assaulted on the job by patients from 2008 through 2010. The hospital was cited for not providing its workers with adequate safeguards against workplace violence and a fine of more than $6,000 was proposed. OSHA has also recently cited facilities in New York and Massachusetts where employees have been killed as a result of assaults.

"These incidents and others like them can be avoided or decreased if employers take appropriate precautions to protect their workers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "We have accompanied this directive with a new Web page on Preventing Workplace Violence to help employers address workplace violence issues."

Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and other organizations show that employers who implement effective safety measures can reduce the incidence of workplace violence. These measures include training employees on workplace violence, encouraging employees to report assaults or threats, and conducting workplace violence hazard analyses. Other methods such as using entrance door detectors or buzzer systems in retail establishments, and providing adequately trained staff, alarms and employee "safe rooms" for use during emergencies in healthcare settings can help minimize risk.

OSHA has launched a new Web page on Preventing Workplace Violence and has published several workplace violence guidance documents including Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments* and Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers.*

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 ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, http://www.osha.gov.

A whistleblower is a person who exposes wrongdoing or faults within an organization in the hope of stopping or preventing it.  OSHA has been working on new ways to protect whistleblowers from punishment or unlawful termination from their jobs.

Download OSHA's new Whistleblower Investigations Manual

WASHINGTON – In a continuing effort to improve the Whistleblower Protection Program, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen the program and is releasing an internal report detailing a recent top-to-bottom review of the program. OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of 21 statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime and securities laws.

"The ability of workers to speak out and exercise their legal rights without fear of retaliation is crucial to many of the legal protections and safeguards that all Americans value," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "The new measures will significantly strengthen OSHA's enforcement of the 21 whistleblower laws that Congress charged OSHA with administering."

The Government Accountability Office audited OSHA's whistleblower program in 2009 and 2010, highlighting challenges related to transparency and accountability, training for investigators and managers, and the internal communications and audit program. OSHA also conducted an internal review that examined national and regional program structures, operational procedures, investigative processes, budget, equipment and personnel issues.

"OSHA is committed to correcting the issues brought to light by the GAO report and our own review," said Dr. Michaels.

The significant changes to the Whistleblower Protection Program announced by OSHA include:

Restructuring
OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program will report directly to the assistant secretary instead of being housed in the Directorate of Enforcement. In addition, changes in field structure are currently being pilot tested. Commencing with its fiscal 2012 budget, OSHA established a separate line item for the whistleblower program to better track and hold accountable its activities and accomplishments. These changes, in addition to the 25 new investigators added, should significantly improve the administration and stature of the program.

Training 
OSHA will hold a national whistleblower training conference in September which will be attended by all whistleblower investigators from both federal and state plans, as well as by Labor Department solicitors who work on whistleblower cases. In addition, OSHA will offer several other investigator training events, and will strive to ensure that all investigators and supervisors who have not received the mandatory training courses will receive them by the end of the calendar year. -- Online OSHA Outreach training is available at easysafetyschool.com

Program Policy
OSHA revised and will soon issue a new edition of the Whistleblower Investigations Manual that updates current procedures and includes information on the new laws enacted since the manual was last updated in 2003. This new manual will provide further guidance on the enforcement program to help ensure consistency and quality of investigations.

Internal Systems
The data collection system has been modified and the audit program is being strengthened and expanded to ensure that complaints are properly handled on a timely basis.

A copy of OSHA's internal review report is available at: http://www.whistleblowers.gov/report_summary_page.html

The whistleblower provision laws enacted by Congress prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by the Whistleblower Protection Program. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available online at:http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

The 21 whistleblower statutes enforced by OSHA include: Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act; Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act; International Safe Container Act; Surface Transportation Assistance Act; Clean Air Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; Federal Water Pollution Control Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Solid Waste Disposal Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; Energy Reorganization Act; Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century; Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act, Title VIII of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; Pipeline Safety Improvement Act; Federal Railroad Safety Act; National Transit Systems Security Act; Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act; Affordable Care Act; Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, Section 1057 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; Seaman's Protection Act, as amended by Section 611 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010; and the Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act.

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 ensure 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.

Check out this article from OSHA.gov.  It talks about OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program in which OSHA will direct more attention to enforcing safety in high-hazard workplaces.  This year the minimum number of employees required to warrant an inspection under the SST program has decreased from 40 to 20.  OSHA will also be evaluating the program's effectiveness and impact on future compliance issues and OSHA standards.  Here is the article:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its annual inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting* 2011 (SST-11) program 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 20 or more workers. High-hazard workplaces identified in the SST program reported above-average work-related injury and illness rates, based on data collected from a 2010 OSHA Data Initiative survey of 80,000 larger establishments in selected high-hazard industries. Establishments are randomly selected for inspection from a primary list of 3,700 manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and nursing and personal care facilities.

For effective safety training solutions please visit http://www.easysafetyschool.com/

"By focusing our inspection resources on employers in high hazard industries who endanger their employees, we can prevent injuries and illnesses and save lives," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "Through the SST program we examine all major aspects of these operations to determine the effectiveness of their safety and health efforts."

Two changes have been made to this year's SST program. In 2010, only those establishments in the selected industries with 40 or more employees were subject to inspections under the SST plan; this year, that number has been reduced to 20 or more. An evaluation study measuring the program's impact on future compliance with OSHA standards has also been introduced for the 2011 program.

In addition to the SST program, OSHA implements both national and local emphasis inspection programs to target high-risk hazards and industries. OSHA currently has 14 National Emphasis Programs that intensify inspections related to amputations, lead, crystalline silica, shipbreaking, trenching/excavations, petroleum refinery process safety management, process safety management covered chemical facilities, hexavalent chromium, diacetyl, recordkeeping, federal agencies, air traffic control tower monitoring, primary metals and combustible dust. OSHA also has approximately 140 Regional and Local Emphasis Programs (REPs and LEPs).

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.

Welcome to the next installment of the Funny Unsafe OSHA Pictures Hall of Fame.  We hope you enjoy all of these outrageously unsafe photos.  Please, do not try to duplicate anything seen in these photos.  We hope you learn something from these hilarious pictures depicting unsafe ladder use, high-rise work without safety harnesses and even strange ways to park your car.

Unsafe Ladder Balancing on Building Rail

This man decided to balance his ladder on the hand rail of a tall building.  Don't try this at home or ever.

 

 

 

 

Strange Place to Park your Car

This is a very odd place to park the car.  I'm still not sure how you're suppose to get in and out of the car.

Air Conditioning Acrobatics

This one is self-explanatory.  Just don't do this. 

High Rise Window Washer

This guy has some serious guts.  I wonder what the training sessions are like for these guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsafe Ladder Use Hall of Fame

Boy, does this look unsafe.  I hope there wasn't anyone coming up those stairs...

 

 

 

 

But... Why?

The shortest distance between point A and B is also ridiculous.

A Crash Course in Ladder Safety (Pun Intended)

How do you even get on that ladder.

Extreme Planking from High Building

Ok. So, it's not the same "planking", but it is certainly extreme.  Not sure this one worked out...



















Thank you for looking at our funny OSHA pictures unsafe photo hall of fame.  We hope you learned something.  Please visit http://www.easysafetyschool.com/ for more photos and for safety tips.

Did you know that with a group of 5 or more students, you are eligible for discount pricing for online safety training courses?  Well, you are.  The more students you have, the larger the savings.  Our group rates are backed by our lowest price guarantee.  If you find a comparable product elsewhere for a better price, we'll beat it by 10%, every time!  For additional information please visit our OSHA Training Group Discounts and Rates page.  Safety is always worth it.  Now it just costs less!

Easy Safety School is proud to announce our new website, OSHA Training in New York.  Check it our for OSHA Training opportunities in New York City, Manhattan, Buffalo and more.

This article is taken from OSHA.gov.  Find out more about OSHA's proposed 3 month Phase-on for residential construction fall protection at http://www.easysafetyschool.com/.  Easy Safety School is your source for OSHA training, safety related news, free publications and more.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced a three month phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the Agency's new directive to provide residential construction workers with fall protection.

"We want to make sure that the residential construction industry has every opportunity to successfully come into compliance with the new directive," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "I am confident that this phase-in period will provide employers the additional time and flexibility they need to alter their work practices in accordance with the requirements of the new directive."

The three month phase-in period runs June 16 - September 15, 2011. During this time, if the employer is in full compliance with the old directive (STD 03-00-001), OSHA will not issue citations, but will instead issue a hazard alert letter informing the employer of the feasible methods they can use to comply with OSHA's fall protection standard or implement a written fall protection plan. If the employer's practices do not meet the requirements set in the old directive, OSHA will issue appropriate citations.

If an employer fails to implement the fall protection measures outlined in a hazard alert letter, and during a subsequent inspection of one of the employer's workplaces OSHA finds violations involving the same hazards, the Area Office shall issue appropriate citations.

OSHA has a wide variety of resources and guidance materials to assist employers in complying with the new directive. OSHA's Web page includes many guidance products, including a fall protection slide show that recently received over 3,000 hits in one week. Employers are encouraged to take full advantage of OSHA's free On-site Consultation Program. In addition, there is also a Compliance Assistance Specialist in most Area Offices, and employers are urged to contact their local Area Offices and use these services.

The new directive, Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction (STD 03-11-002), a detailed description of the phase-in policy, a presentation and other guidance materials about requirements for protecting workers from falls are available at http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_protection.html.

A Safety and Health Topics Web page, which provides a list of references to help employers identify fall hazards and possible solutions for eliminating such hazards, is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html

OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html.

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.

• Frequently Asked Questions About the Japan Nuclear Crisis [62 KB PDF, 3 pages]. This is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) document addressing common questions on radiation, exposure, precautions, travel, etc.
• Radiation Basics. CDC/NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides answers to questions on radiation, specific to this incident.
• Current Situation in Japan. USA.gov. USA.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies. It has links to various Government offices and their resources.
• Radiation Dispersal from Japan. CDC/NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics Page. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also provides updated information for workers.
• Japanese Nuclear Emergency Radiation Monitoring. US Environmental Protection Agency. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s website for air monitoring data.
• CBP Statement Concerning Radiation Monitoring of Travelers, Goods from Japan. US Customs and Border Protection is monitoring developments in Japan and has issued field guidance reiterating its operational protocols and directing field personnel to specifically monitor maritime and air traffic from Japan.

With the new updated OSHA law effective January 1, 2011, many people in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City are scrambling to get their OSHA 10 and 30 hour cards.  Fortunately, it is now easier than ever to get your OSHA Outreach card.

Easy Safety School is proud to announce our new website that is dedicated to OSHA Training in Nevada.  The website shall cover current and upcoming Cal/OSHA news, training courses, media, and more.  For more information or to visit the site please visit http://www.oshatraininginnevada.com/.

Easy Safety School is proud to announce our new website that is dedicated to Cal/OSHA training.  The website shall cover current and upcoming Cal/OSHA news, training courses, media, and more.  For more information or to visit the site please visit http://www.caloshaonline.com/.