New CPWR COVID-19 Exposure Control Planning Tool

The Center for Construction Research and Training has launched a free online COVID-19 Exposure Control Planning Tool. This Planning Tool was developed in response to recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH that employers have a plan to assess the risk and take action. The new Planning Tool allows a user to create their plan in four steps:

1. Assess the risk for exposure to COVID-19 and the control measures that will be used to prevent exposure, such as using social distancing, as shown in the photo below from last month's Falls Stand Down.
2. Establish a protocol for screening workers and visitors and handling those who become sick or may have been exposed on the job.
3. Identify the COVID-19-related training that will be provided, including who will be trained, how the training will be provided, and who will conduct the training.
4. Complete the final elements of the plan, including information about the job and who will be responsible for implementing the plan.

The Planning Tool is aligned with the COVID-19 Construction Clearinghouse to make it easier for users to find ways to implement controls, conduct screenings, and provide training. The new planning tool is still evolving; if you have questions or ideas to improve it, please email: covid19@cpwr.com.

DOL/Health and Human Services Guidance: Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

Check out OSHA's website on COVID-19 for the latest information on specific industry guidance, hazard recognition, medical information, and control and prevention. Information is available on all aspects of compliance from prevention and protection to reporting and recordkeeping.

OSHA developed COVID-19 planning guidance based on traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices. It focuses on the need for employers to implement engineering, administrative, and work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). OSHA's COVID-19 planning guidance is available in both English (OSHA 3990-03 2020) and Spanish. The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) has been working closely with their research, government, and other industry partners to respond to questions about the spread of the COVID-19 disease and to provide the latest information on protecting construction workers on the job. They have developed a COVID-19 resource page in both English and Spanish.

Holiday Workplace Safety

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Keep Teen Workers Safe

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OSHA Offers New Resources to Promote Warehousing and Storage Safety

The warehousing and storage industry includes establishments operating facilities for general merchandise, refrigerated goods, and other products. These establishments may also provide logistical services relating to goods distribution. Potential hazards in this rapidly growing, fast-paced industry include those associated with powered industrial trucks (forklifts), ergonomics, material handling, hazardous chemicals, slip/trip/falls, and robotics. The most common injuries are musculoskeletal disorders (mainly from overexertion in lifting and lowering) and being struck by powered industrial trucks and other materials handling equipment.

OSHA's new Warehousing and Storage webpage provides information on avoiding common hazards, including operating forklifts and lifting, handling and storing materials.

Learn more about materials handling and storage hazards in our OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry and our OSHA #7005 Public Warehousing and Storage courses.

Safety Climate-Safety Management Information System (SC-SMIS)

The new Safety Climate-Safety Management Information System (SC-SMIS) is now available for use!

Contractors and safety professionals play a critical role when it comes to improving safety management programs and strengthening a company’s jobsite safety climate. Success requires an understanding of the jobsite safety climate and being able to employ strategies or resources to make improvements. The new Safety Climate-Safety Management Information System or SC-SMIS is now available at NO COST to:

• Measure a company’s jobsite safety climate across eight leading indicators using CPWR’s reliable and valid safety climate assessment tools: the S-CAT or S-CATsc
• Download evidence-based safety management policies, procedures, guidelines, and templates from a large resource repository that can be used to strengthen low-scoring indicators. All documents are formatted in Word so they can be tailored to your company’s needs and are available in English and Spanish.
• Develop a Plan to put the selected resources into action and keep track of current and completed plans.

Falls to Lower Level Tops List of Costliest Construction Injuries

The top five costliest injuries in the construction industry in 2018 had a combined price tag of nearly $9 billion, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index – an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries based on direct workers’ compensation costs involving more than five days away from work. Falls to a lower level was the costliest injury at almost $3.6 billion, followed by overexertion resulting from handling objects ($2.2 billion), struck by objects or equipment ($1.4 billion), falls on the same level ($990 million), and other exertions or bodily reactions ($670 million). Those five injury types made up around 84% of all injuries in construction for the year.

Learn how to prevent these costly incidents by attending one of our OSHA #3115 Fall Protection classes in-person or via live webcast!

Free Online OSHA Training Courses

Looking for some free short training courses on critical safety and health issues? These one hour training courses developed by Region VI OSHA and the OSHA Education Centers provide information on a variety of topics:

OSHA's 50th Anniversary

The Department of Labor released a video on December 29, 2021 highlighting OSHA’s 50 years of advancements in worker rights and protection. The video is 7:23 minutes in length and may be used by OSHA-authorized trainers as part of the Introduction to OSHA topic.

OSHA Form 300A Deadline | Mar 22, 2022

REMINDER! Employers with 250 or more employees that are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses, must electronically submit their data for this calendar year’s OSHA Form 300A Annual Summary using OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application by March 2, 2022.

Need to know more? Enroll in one of our OSHA #7845 Recordkeeping Rule Seminars!

Crane Operator Qualifications

On February 7, 2019 the Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Operator Qualifications final rule became effective, requiring employers using cranes in the construction industry to document their evaluation of their crane operators. That same day OSHA issued temporary enforcement guidance indicating that while it will still enforce the requirement that employers evaluate their operators before allowing them to operate cranes it is going to provide additional time for employers to begin to document the evaluations. Questions? Check out OSHA's FAQs.

Excavation and Trench Safety

Each year, construction workers are injured or killed when the walls of the trench they are working in collapse. One cubic yard of dirt can weigh 3,000 pounds or more. As a result, survival time in a collapsed trench can be as little as a minute if the victim is buried and there are no air pockets. This means that sometimes, not even immediate rescue can save the victim. Trench collapses and cave-ins are a serious threat to workers, but they can be prevented.

• PREPARE a safe trench. - Provide safe entry and exit before starting work. - Keep materials at least 2 feet away from the edge.
• PROTECT workers from a cave-in by using protective systems. - Sloping or benching trench walls, or - Shoring trench wall with supports, or - Shielding trench walls with trench boxes.
• INSPECT the trench for hazards. - Look for standing water and other environmental hazards. - Never enter a trench unless it has been inspected and approved by the competent person.

OSHA has made reducing trenching and excavation hazards the Agency's Priority Goal. To learn more, enroll in next OSHA #3015 Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics course.

Region VI OSHA Enforcement Initiative Targets Tank Cleaning Operations

Effective July 23, Region VI OSHA launched a new enforcement initiative to target transportation tank cleaning operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Workers employed in the industry face many hazards that can lead to serious injury, illness, and death, including fire, explosions, hazardous atmosphere, and hazardous chemicals. The targeted industries include:

• NAICS 484110: General Freight Trucking, Local
• NAICS 488210: Support Activities for Rail Transportation
• NAICS 488490: Other Support Activities for Road Transportation
• NAICS 488510: Freight Transportation Arrangement
• NAICS 562910: Remediation Services
• NAICS 562920: Materials Recovery Facilities
• NAICS 562998: All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services

This initiative provides OSHA enforcement officers the authority to evaluate the employers’ workplace(s) at all programmed, unprogrammed, or other limited-scope inspections pertaining to transportation tank cleaning operations to assure that employees are being properly protected.

Region VI OSHA and OSHA Education Centers have partnered to prepare a free webinar to assist companies in understanding the hazards and the controls. Outreach, consultation services, and training will be provided to affected employers as requested.

"Take 3 in 30" Challenge

Management leadership is a core element of a workplace safety and health program. Accelerate your program and show your commitment in your workplace. 3 in 30! Here’s how you do it:

1. Take 3 actions in 30 days
   There are lots of ways to accelerate your program! Choose from our list or pick one of your own. Every workplace is different so select actions that work best for you.
2. Share in your workplace
   It is important for your employees to see your commitment to safety! Show them that safety starts with you! List your three actions and share it on social media, in your company newsletter, or post it in the workplace.
3. Accept your challenge coin
   You did it! Visit our website once you complete your activities to download your virtual challenge coin for showing Management Leadership. Share it on social media, post it in your workplace, or put it in your signature file – display it proudly!

Download the Take 3 in 30 Challenge and share in your workplace and on social media!