OSHA
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Jordan Barab testified Oct. 29 before a Congressional committee... that federal OSHA must make significant changes in its oversight of state plans. OSHA will conduct formal studies of every state that administers its own occupational safety and health program. The agency will look for where it needs to revise monitoring efforts and how to achieve better performance and consistency throughout all the state plans. Read the news release
OSHA addresses need for combustible dust standard - OSHA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking Oct. 21 as an initial step in developing a standard to address combustible dust hazards. See the Oct. 21 Federal Register for more information. And offers Events page features training course on identifying combustible dust hazards information to the events Web page.
OSHA tracks worker fatalities and catastrophes - OSHA has posted weekly summaries of worker fatalities and catastrophes reported by OSHA area offices and state plan states. Visit the Directorate of Enforcement Programs' Worker Fatality Reports Web page for more details.
Grain handling operators reminded of mandatory safety measures to protect workers- After a recent increase in the number of workers killed while performing grain handling operations, OSHA is reminding employers and workers of available resources and OSHA standards that identify hazards and offer solutions to prevent fatalities. The Grain Handling Facilities standard and Grain Handling and Agricultural Operations Safety and Health Topics Web pages address industry hazards and ways to avoid them.
OSHA addresses workplace violence and fatigue at international work, stress and health conference - The dangers to workers of violence and fatigue are among the topics OSHA presenters will address at the Eighth International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health Nov. 5-8, 2009, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Visit the conference's Web site for details.
QuickTips on slips, trips and falls - OSHA is aware of that fact and has an assortment of information from standards and rules to training programs to help reduce the hazards that cause these incidents. Walking/Working Surfaces is a Safety and Health Topics Web page that focuses on standards, hazards and controls, and provides a launching point for even more information. Employers and workers may also want to visit OSHA's Web page on Teen Worker Safety in Restaurants featuring a section on slips, trips and falls.
Department of Labor news and job openings - For more Department of Labor news, see DOL's electronic newsletter. Are you interested in a career with DOL? The department has job opportunities throughout the country such as an opening in OSHA for an occupational safety and health investigator.
More OSHA QuickTakes this month
- OSHA issues largest fine in its history to BP Products North America
- OSHA tracks worker fatalities and catastrophes
- Interpretation letter states high-visibility garments are required for road construction workers
- OTI Education Center expands training in response to new Nevada law
- Labor and management collaboration leads to improved workplace safety and health
- OSHA to showcase national office exhibit in Philadelphia and New Orleans