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American Society of Safety Engineers Safety 2005 Annual Conference and Exposition

noemail@safetyunited.com — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 15:00:00 GMT

Jonathan L. Snare American Society of Safety Engineers New Orleans, LA June 13, 2005 Good afternoon. My thanks to Gene Barfield (President of ASSE) for the opportunity to talk with you this morning about where OSHA is heading in 2005 and beyond as well as updating you on several programs and activities. As some of you may know, I joined the agency in December as Deputy Assistant Secretary and was asked by Secretary Chao to head up the agency as Acting Assistant Secretary in January. By way of background, before I joined OSHA, I was a senior advisor to the Solicitor of Labor. Prior to joining the Department of Labor two years ago, I was in private law practice in Texas. I want to make very clear that OSHA will continue with the successful approach established by this Administration and the leadership at DOL and OSHA. At the same time, I look forward to using what we have learned from our successes the past four years. I intend to manage all of OSHA's resources to...

OSHA Offers Tips for Working in Hot Weather

noemail@safetyunited.com — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 14:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - The sun brings special hazards for those working outdoors. To help employers and workers stay safe throughout the summer months, OSHA offers tips that can help prevent heat-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries. The combination of heat, humidity and physical labor can lead to fatalities. The two most serious forms of heat related illnesses are heat exhaustion (primarily from dehydration) and heat stroke, which could be fatal. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke need immediate attention. Recognizing those warning signs and taking quick action can make a difference in preventing a fatality. Working Outdoors is an OSHA fact sheet that offers advice on ways to protect against exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), precautions to take if working in extreme heat, and how to protect against Lyme Disease and the West Nile Virus. The fact sheet also offers information links for teenagers working at summer jobs. OSHA's Heat Stress Card lists tips and precautions to...

Worker Injuries/Illnesses/Fatalities Statistics

noemail@safetyunited.com — Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

OSHA Facts -- December 2004 OSHA Statistics Worker Injuries/Illnesses/Fatalities for 2003 In 2003, occupational injury and illness rates declined again to 5.0 cases per 100 workers, with 4.4 million injuries and illnesses among private sector firms. About 32 percent of work-related injuries occurred in goods-producing industries and 68 percent in services. There were 5,559 worker deaths in 2003, a slight increase from 2002, accounted for by 114 additional deaths among self-employed workers and 61 more through workplace violence. The fatality rate of 4.0 deaths per 100,000 workers remained the same. Fatalities related to highway incidents, falls and electrocutions declined while homicides and deaths related to fires and explosions and contact with objects or equipment increased. Federal Inspections - Fiscal Year 2004 39,167 Inspections Number Percent Reason for Inspection 9,176 (23.4%) Complaint/accident related 21,576 (55.1%) High hazard targeted 8,415 (21.5%)...

OSHA SEEKS COMMENTS ON LEAD IN CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

noemail@safetyunited.com — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON

- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today called for comments on its lead in construction standard that requires testing for lead exposures, provisions to protect workers from exposure where lead is present, and medical monitoring of exposed workers.

OSHA is conducting its regulatory review of the lead in construction standard under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Section 5 of Executive Order 12866 to determine if the standard is needed and if it should be amended.

"It is important that we regularly review our standards," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Jonathan L. Snare. "In this case, the review requests comments as to the necessity for the Agency to modify this standard to make implementation more practical, reduce the regulatory burden on small business, and improve its effectiveness, while still protecting worker health."

The construction industry employs millions of workers in jobs where lead exposures are most likely to occur, like paint removal, building and bridge renovation, plumbing, and water system repair and replacement. Overexposure to lead can cause serious damage to the body's blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systems. OSHA's lead in construction standard establishes procedures for minimizing the level of exposure to lead for all workers covered.

Public comments are welcome and must be sent in triplicate by Sept. 6, 2005, to Docket Office, Docket No. H023, Technical Data Center, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments may also be faxed to (202) 693-1648, or submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov or http://ecomments.osha.gov.

Today's Federal Register has details on the lead in construction standard's regulatory review.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.