OSHA News Blog | The OSHA Updater

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.