OSHA Alerts: Hot Weather and Overhead Power Lines

OSHA has issued alerts on working safely in hot weather and working safely near overhead power lines (English and Spanish).  These are the latest in a series of one-page alerts that summarize key steps that employers can take to protect workers. 

Oil and Gas Extraction

OSHA has updated the general safety and health module in its Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool with information on safety and health programs, common wellsite incidents and fatalities, equipment and site conditions, hot work, and hydrogen sulfide hazards.

Leading Indicators

A new OSHA publication and webpage on leading indicators show how business can improve safety and health programs by tracking workplace conditions and events to prevent injuries or illnesses.

OSHA’s Alliance Program participants issued the following products  from July 1 to September 30, 2019.  For a complete listing of Alliance products, see the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products page. Alliance products do not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA.

Mast Climbing Work Platforms

The Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) has issued a new video that provides safety tips for using mast climbing work platforms.

Heat Illness Prevention Infographics

CPWR (The Center for Construction Research and Training) has issued a series of infographics in English and Spanish on how to protect workers from heat exposure.

Occupational Suicide

A new NIOSH webpage on workplace suicide summarizes what we know about the issue, factors that are linked to increased risk of suicide among occupations, and ways to prevent suicide in the workplace.  For more information, see OSHA's webpage on suicide prevention.

Occupational Exposure Banding

NIOSH has issued a report on its occupational exposure banding process for chemical management.  In the absence of occupational exposure limits (OELs), the exposure banding approach identifies workplace hazards and helps employers implement control strategies to protect workers from occupational exposure to chemicals.  NIOSH also issued an occupational exposure banding e-Tool, which allows users to apply toxicology and potency information to generate quantitative exposure guidance for chemicals.

Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators

NIOSH has issued a guide to atmosphere-supplying respirators.  These respirators provide clean breathing air from a source independent of the work area. There are three types of atmosphere-supplying respirators: supplied-air respirators (SARs), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs), and combination SARs/SCBAs.

NIOSH FACE Reports and Products

The NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program conducts investigations on workplace fatalities to identify the factors that contributed to these fatal injuries. This information is used to develop comprehensive recommendations for preventing similar incidents.  The NIOSH FACE Program issued the following reports and products from July 1 to September 30, 2019. 

Falls

• Hazard Alert: Roofing Work Can be Deadly - New York
• Roofing Foreman Falls 19 Feet from Extension Ladder - Washington.  Fatality narrative as slideshow.
• Framer Setting Roof Trusses Falls 20 Feet - Washington.  Fatality narrative as slideshow.

Heat

• Hazard Alert: Working in Extreme Heat and Humidity - Kentucky

Motor Vehicles/Transportation

• Police Officer Drives into Flood Waters and Drowns – Kentucky
•  Truck Driver Freeing Frozen Rear Brakes on a Dump Truck was Run Over When the Truck Rolled Forward – Michigan

Agriculture

• Operator Crushed When Tractor and Sprayer Roll Over - Washington.  Fatality narrative as slideshow.

Landscaping

• Equipment Operator Dies After Zero-Turn Mower Overturns – Massachusetts

Other FACE Reports

• Two Tower Climbers Fatally Injured When a Cellular Tower Collapsed While Performing Tower Upgrades – West Virginia
• Washington State Work-Related Fatalities Report 2018
• 23-year-old laborer was overcome and drowned when he entered a 10,500-gallon molasses tank to reposition a drain pipe – Michigan

NSC Employer Toolkit on Opioids

The National Safety Council (NSC) has issued an Opioids At Work Employer Toolkit.  NSC’s research shows that opioids have directly impacted 3 out of 4 employers.  This free resource includes fact sheets, presentations, 5-minute safety talks, posters, reports, and videos to help employers implement a workplace program on opioids.

CPWR Spanish-Language Resources for Preventing Hearing Loss

CPWR's Construction Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Training Program, developed in collaboration with OSHA and NIOSH, is now also available in Spanish. The program offers simple modules and exercises that can be used on their own or as part of OSHA training.

The following materials developed by grantees under OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grant Program were posted on the OSHA website from April 1 to September 30, 2019. See the OSHA website for a complete list of a materials developed by Harwood grantees. These materials do not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA.

Day Laborers

• The National Day Laborer Organizing Network developed training materials in English and Spanish for day laborers on chemical hazards, electrical safety, ergonomics, and heat and cold stress.

Fall Prevention

• Compacion Foundation developed training materials in English and Spanish on fall prevention in construction. 

Grain Handling

• Iowa State University developed training materials on preventing grain dust explosions.
• The University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign developed training materials in English and Spanish on grain handling awareness and lifeline installation and use for small grain elevators.