COVID-19 Resources

OSHA continues to update its COVID-19 webpage with guidance for employers and workers. Recently, OSHA:

• Issued a revised National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19, and an Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan (IERP) (July 7, 2021). Both documents replaced the March 12, 2021 versions.
• Updated its Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace to align with CDC guidance, and to reorganize appendix recommendations for manufacturing and the meat, poultry, seafood, and agricultural processing industries. (August 13, 2021)
• Published a fact sheet in English and Spanish on filing whistleblower complaints related to COVID-19.

Revised Small Business Handbook

OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collaborated in issuing an updated Small Business Safety and Health Handbook that highlights the benefits of implementing an effective safety and health program, provides self-inspection checklists for employers to identify workplace hazards and reviews important workplace safety and health resources for small businesses. NIOSH also spotlighted the update in a Science Blog post here.

Heat Illness Prevention

OSHA is implementing a heat enforcement initiative, developing a National Emphasis Program, and launching a rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard. 

The agency published several new resources over the summer, including a pamphlet (English, Spanish), infographics, and public service announcements (English: recording, transcript; Spanish: recording; transcript). OSHA also updated its poster (English, Spanish) and alert (English, Spanish). Additional resources will be forthcoming in 2022. Visit www.osha.gov/heat-exposure.

Keep Teen Workers Safe Initiative

OSHA is participating in a joint social media campaign from October 18 - November 5 to promote health and safety awareness among teens who are employed or will be during the holiday season. Visit www.keepteenworkerssafe.org and share social media posts using #KeepTeenWorkersSafe. The campaign also offers teens the opportunity to upload video testimonials for use in a public service announcement that will be released in December 2021. 

Hazard Alert: Diving Operations

OSHA issued a hazard alert on keeping workers safe during diving operations. Divers working around drains, tunnels, pipes or valves can suffer fatal injuries when differential water pressure, commonly known as Delta P, creates forces quick and strong enough to entrap them. 

Shipyard QuickCard

OSHA published a new QuickCard in English and Spanish on the role of the Shipyard Competent Person (SCP) in ensuring safe working conditions.

Keeping Drivers Safe

OSHA published a revised brochure in English and Spanish to help employers keep their employees safe behind the wheel.

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 following are selected NIOSH FACE Program reports and products issued from July 1 to September 30, 2021.  See the NIOSH FACE website for all the latest reports.

Construction

• Laborer Falls from Wall while Setting Trusses (WA)

Electrical Work

• City Electric Maintenance Worker Electrocuted While Installing Lines for Security Cameras (OH)

Transportation

• Truck Driver Crushed by a Cardboard Bale (WA)
• Officer Struck By a Motorhome While Establishing Temporary Traffic Control on Interstate (TN)

NIOSH Science Blog Posts

The following are selected NIOSH Science Blog entries posted from July 1 to September 30, 2021.  See the NIOSH Science Blog website for more entries.

• Suicide Prevention for Healthcare Workers. (September 17, 2021)
• Addressing the Opioid Overdose Epidemic in Construction: Minimize Work Factors that Cause Injury and Pain. (September 14, 2021)
• Home Healthcare Workers: A Growing and Diverse Workforce at High Risk for Workplace Violence. (September 2, 2021)
• Preventing Opioid Overdose Deaths in the Workplace. (August 31, 2021)
• 50 Years of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Research. (August 16, 2021)
• Workers’ Compensation Data Sheds Light on Hazards in Landscaping. (August 10, 2021)
• Reducing the Risk of Rhabdomyolysis and Other Heat-Related Illnesses in Landscaping and Tree Care Workers. (August 6, 2021)

New CPWR Resources

The following are recent resources from CPWR- The Center for Construction Research and Training:

• Two data bulletins:
  • June 2021 Data Bulletin examining COVID-19’s impact on the construction industry through spring 2021, including trends in employment, small business conditions, and vaccination rates and attitudes.
  • September 2021 Data Bulletin analyzing federal and state OSHA enforcement in construction from 2011 to 2020, with a focus on fall protection violations.
• Six Interactive Data Dashboards on a variety of topics related to the safety and health of construction workers.

Harwood Grants

The following new materials developed by grantees under OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grant Program were posted on the OSHA website from July 1 through September 30, 2021. 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.

Hazard Communication and Machine Guarding

• Citizen Action of Wisconsin developed updated chemical hazards training materials in English and Spanish for small businesses, young workers, minority workers, temporary workers, as well as new business owners.
• South Arkansas Community College developed updated chemical hazards training materials for rural employers and workers.
• Western North Carolina Workers' Center developed hazard communication and machine guarding training materials for low-literacy, non-English speaking workers predominantly in the poultry processing industry.
• Timber Products Manufacturers, Inc. developed machine guarding and amputation hazards training materials in English and Spanish for employers and workers in the wood products industry. 

Storm Cleanup / Tree Care

• University of Georgia developed training materials on safe removal of storm-damaged trees and chain saw use in English and Spanish. The materials target low-literacy, young, and temporary tree care workers and employers. 

Heat Illness Prevention

• University of Houston- Clear Lake (TX) developed heat illness prevention training materials in English and Spanish, including manager/supervisor training, worker training, and train-the-trainer materials. Target audiences were small business and Hispanic/Latino workers.

Construction, Waste Management, and Remediation

• Sustainable Workplace Alliance developed training materials in English and Spanish for workers in the construction, waste management, and remediation industries on topics such as aerial lifts in construction, fall protection, confined space, chemical hazards/ hazard communication, personal protection equipment, and powered industrial trucks.  

Maritime

• Sustainable Workplace Alliance developed training materials in English and Spanish for maritime industry workers on topics such as hazard communication, machinery and machine guarding, respiratory hazards, and walking working surfaces.