OSHA – Providing New Guidance Documents for Construction, General and Maritime Industries

Everyone that is tasked with worker safety responsibility can use all the extra help they can get. OSHA has provided some new and revised help documents to assist with the myriad of requirements that employers must comply with. Here is a list of particularly helpful documents that OSHA has revised or released as new information:

OSHA recently published new and revised information that explains workers’ and employers’ rights, as well as how to protect workers from hazards in the construction, general and maritime industries. To order free copies of these materials online, visit OSHA’s Publications page at http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.html, or call OSHA’s toll free number at 800-321-6742.

OSHA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide for Respiratory Protection Standard (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3384small-entity-for-respiratory-protection-standard-rev.pdf)  provides small businesses with a comprehensive step-by-step guide complete with checklists and commonly asked questions that will aid both employees and workers in small businesses with a better understanding of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.

It’s the law of the land that workers have a right to a safe workplace. OSHA’s Workers’ Rights booklet (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3021.pdf) describes the rights to which workers are legally entitled to under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The booklet covers many topics, including rights provided under OSHA standards, filing a complaint with OSHA, whistleblower protections, and educational and training resources available.

OSHA provides employers with information on their rights and responsibilities following a federal OSHA inspection. The booklet, Employer Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3000.pdf), explains what happens after an inspection, and defines the types of violations for which an employer may be cited as a result of an inspection.

OSHA has also published information to help protect construction, general industry and shipyard workers, and those who work outdoors.

Laboratory Safety document and fact sheets (http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=117) advise laboratory managers on how to protect their workers from exposure to chemical, biological and physical hazards.
Aerial Lifts Protect Yourself (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/aerial_lifts_safety.pdf) details measures employers must take to ensure safe use of aerial lifts by workers required to use this equipment.

Aerial Lift Fall Protection Over Water in Shipyards (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/quickcard/osha3452.pdf) QuickCard lists ways to protect workers using aerial lifts from injuries and death resulting from equipment failure, tip-over, falls and ejection.

Permit-Required Confined Spaces in General Industry QuickCard (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/confined_space_permit.pdf) explains what workers should do before entering a confined space, such as an underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, silos or manholes.

Need help with complying with OSHA requirements? Safetec has in-house EHS professionals that can assist you with whatever EHS challenge you are facing.