Winter weather presents hazards including slippery roads/surfaces, strong winds and environmental cold as well as frostbite, hypothermia, and cold stress. Employers must prevent illnesses, injuries, or fatalities, by controlling these hazards in workplaces impacted by winter weather. Follow these work practices to stay safe in cold weather: (Adapted from the Read more…
OSHA has announced that an informal public hearing on the Emergency Response proposed rule will begin on November 12, 2024 Federal Register: Emergency Response Standard. OSHA welcomes and encourages any interested members of the public to attend the hearing virtually. Links will be provided on the Emergency Response Rulemaking webpage Read more…
On August 30, 2024, OSHA announced the opening of the public comment period for its proposed rule intended to protect millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat and its publication in the Federal Register. OSHA encourages public participation in the rulemaking process as it will help Read more…
OSHA announced May 20, 2024, the final rule on the update the Hazard Communication Standard that includes improving the amount and quality of information on labels and safety data sheets and allow workers and first responders to react more quickly in an emergency. The updates take effect on July 19, Read more…
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published the first national voluntary consensus standard addressing heat stress for workers in construction and demolition operations. Hundreds of thousands of workers frequently face outdoor hazards such as high heat and humidity. ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024 “Heat Stress Management in Construction and Demolition Operations” Read more…
The U.S. Department of Labor announced changes to Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2024. The new OSHA penalty amounts will become effective Jan. 16, 2024. OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $15,625 per violation to $16,131 per violation. Read more…
OSHA is expanding the electronic submission requirements for injury and illness data by employers in high-hazard industries which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024, for certain employers with 100 or more employees in designated high-hazard industries. This expanded requirement requires certain employers to submit injury and illness information (Form 300A-Summary of Read more…
Winter weather safety always considers cold stress such as hypothermia and frostbite howeverthere are many other hazards to consider including driving, being stranded, shoveling snow,clearing snow from roofs, power outages, and other similar concerns.OSHA has a webpage dedicated to these types of winter-related hazards titled Winter Weather – Plan, Equip, Read more…
OSHA , the U.S. Department of Labor, on May 01, 2023, announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the violation the agency cites most frequently in construction industry inspections. The emphasis program Read more…
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 378 of the 986 (38%) of construction fatalities recorded in 2021 (BLS data). Per the data from the 2020 BLS data. Those deaths were preventable. (https://www.osha.gov/stop-falls-stand-down, 03/29/2023) While the statistics are Read more…