Occhealth Bulletin
24 June 2009
What's new at OSHA - June 2009
Category: OSHA Updates
The OSHA website has a “What’s new” feature that is highly recommended. Items from the last 30 days can be found here: www.osha.gov/whatsnew.html. In addition, “OSHA Quick Takes” is a “twice-monthly e-news memo with information, updates, and results from OSHA about safety and health in America's workplaces.” To see the latest Quick Takes release, click here: www.osha.gov/as/opa/quicktakes/qt06152009.html.
Grants for Health and Safety training announced
If you run a non-profit, community or faith-based organization, there are grants available to support health and safety training and education for you and your workers. Via the Susan Harwood Training Grant program, $7million of funds is available for applicants who wish to promote the “recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces”. OSHA announced that funds are available for training on topics including “crane safety, combustible dust, emergency preparedness and response, and the OSHA recordkeeping process”. Funds are allocated on an annual competition basis following the publication of the solicitation for grant applications (SGA) in the Federal register. To read the 2009 Federal register entry, click here. Applications must be submitted via the www.grants.gov website – an online portal helping people to find, manage and apply for Federal grants. The closing date for applications is July 24, 2009 4:30 p.m., E.T. For guidance on how to apply and recommendations on how to improve your chances of winning a grant then click here for the Susan Harwood Program pages on the OSHA website.
Safety in the fireworks industry
With Independence Day fast approaching, OSHA has made ‘firework safety’ the focus of ‘Quick Tips’ in the latest ‘Quick Takes’ issue. OSHA is raising awareness to all those workers involved in the manufacture, storage, transportation, display and sale of fireworks. Support and information comes in the form of a pocket card titled "Fireworks Safety Tips for Retail Fireworks Sales", "Fireworks Safety Tips for Display Operators" poster and a specific webpage for the pyrotechnics industry.
National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health nominations
In a recent trade release (June 11, 2009) OSHA has invited nominations for the 12-member National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. Representatives are required to serve a two-year term under one the following categories: public, management, labor, occupational safety and occupational health. Nominations are collected online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, or by facsimile at 202-693-1948. The deadline for nominations is July 11, 2009.
Protecting the aging workforce
OSHA’s Office of Small Business Assistance is hosting a forum on July 2 from 10am to 12pm in the Frances Perkins Building auditorium at the U.S. Labor Department in Washington. Speakers will discuss the challenges associated with the protection of the aging workforce. The main contact for more information or to assist with registration is Charlene Crawford at 202-693-2165 or crawford.charlene@dol.gov.
H1N1 ‘flu guidance
REMINDER: This is a Quick Link to the information that OSHA provides in relation to the H1N1 influenza virus and the steps on how to protect your workers from catching the virus.