This issue of Safety News contains articles reproduced from government websites or other government sources. The Construction Institute makes no representations as to the accuracy of the information therein contained; nor do these articles necessarily reflect the views or policies of the TCI. 2006 January | February | March | April | May | June October |November | December January 2006 Occupational Safety and Health Administration Offers New HAZWOPER Guidance Document A new OSHA safety and health guidance document will assist workers and employers in determining whether an activity is, or would be considered, an "emergency response" activity under OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard. OSHA Offers New Construction Compliance Assistance Module OSHA unveiled a new construction module for its Compliance Assistance Quick Start Web tool, the agency's Web-based tool that introduces visitors to the compliance assistance resources on OSHA's Web site. The construction module provides a step-by-step guide to help employers and workers in the construction industry comply with OSHA's construction standards. Visitors to the page can generate a set of compliance assistance materials tailored to their jobsites. OSHA Issues Direct Final Rule on Roll-Over Protective Structures Standards OSHA is seeking public comments until Jan. 30, 2006 on a direct final rule to reinstate its original roll-over protective structures (ROPS) standards for the construction and agriculture industries. OSHA Offers Tips To Protect Workers In Cold Environments With the onset of cold weather, OSHA is reminding employers and workers to take necessary precautions, such as those listed on OSHA's Cold Stress Card, to prevent and treat cold-related health problems. Workers in construction, commercial fishing, maritime and agriculture are among those who need to take precautions. OSHA Cites Clearwater, Fla., Contractors for Asbestos Hazards OSHA has issued 27 citations, with total proposed penalties of $38,750, to three Clearwater-based contractors for allegedly exposing workers to asbestos at an Indian Shores demolition site. OSHA Cites Savannah Contractor Following Fatality Investigation OSHA has cited Nathan Jenkins Construction for allegedly exposing workers to fall hazards at a Savannah, Ga., home building site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $38,900. OSHA Cites Bradford County, FL Contractor for Safety Hazards at Two Job Sites OSHA) has cited B.A. Wilson Construction for exposing workers to trenching hazards at two work sites in Lawtey, Fla. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $134,800. OSHA Cites Demolition Contractors for Safety and Health Hazards OSHA has cited Demolition Contractors, Inc. (DCI) for alleged failure to protect employees from safety and health hazards during demolition operations on a portion of the Crossroads Shopping Mall. OSHA issued 13 citations against the company with proposed penalties that total $265,000. OSHA Cites Douglas County, GA Company for Trenching Violations OSHA has cited Dean Grading Inc., Winston, Ga., for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a Villa Rica construction site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $52,000. OSHA Cites Two Chicago Construction Companies for Safety Violations at Site of UIC Recreation Center Project Two Chicago area construction companies are facing a total of $112,000 in OSHA fines following a May inspection that indicated willful violations of federal workplace safety regulations designed to prevent serious injuries or fatalities caused by falls, the agency announced today. OSHA Alliances and Partnerships New York State Chapter of the Associated General Contractors Granite State's Plumbers and Pipefitters Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Local Union 72, Mechanical Contractors Association of Georgia, and Georgia Institute of Technology, Safety, Health and Environmental Technology Division States Pursuing Prosecutions Against Corporations, Directors In a decision that may add momentum to a new trend in corporate criminal law, an Arizona court last month convicted a private construction company of negligent homicide, aggravated assault, two counts of endangerment and violating a safety standard which caused the death of an employee. New EPA Requirements Proposed for Lead-Based Paint Work To reduce lead poisonings in children across the country, EPA is proposing new requirements for contractors and construction professionals when working in homes that contain lead-based paint. Post-Katrina: Lead in Disturbed Soil May Pose Heightened Health Risk Unsafe levels of lead have been found in soil and sediments left behind in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and could pose a heightened health threat to returning residents, particularly children, according to a new study published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science and Technology Updated Edition of NIOSH Pocket Guide Published The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a new edition of the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. The print (DHHS NIOSH Publication No. 2005-149) and CD-ROM (DHHS NIOSH Publication No. 2005-151) versions are available from the NIOSH publications office at 1-800-35-NIOSH. New Evidence Links Overtime with Higher Injury Hazard Rate After adjusting for those factors, working in jobs with overtime schedules was associated with a 61% higher injury hazard rate compared to jobs without overtime. Working at least 12 hours per day was associated with a 37% increased hazard rate and working at least 60 hours per week was associated with a 23% increased hazard rate. Investing in Worksite Health Programs Yields High Financial Returns According to a review appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, employers who invest in worksite health promotion plans can see a $3 to $6 dollar return for each dollar invested in the plan. 16th Annual America's Health Rankings Shows Sickly Rate of Improvement After Significant Health Gains in 1990s United Health Foundation, together with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Partnership for Prevention, today released the 16th annual America's Health Rankings™ at the APHA's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Visit www.americashealthrankings.org to view the entire report. Noise Exposure Associated with High Blood Pressure, Stroke, Heart Disease A new study published in the Archives of Environmental Health, shows that on-the-job noise contributes to high blood pressure which, in turn, can cause heart disease or stroke. Researchers recorded noise levels at a Midwest auto assembly plant and correlated them with heart rate and blood pressure measurements among the autoworkers. Miller Fall Protection Stop Use/Replace Notice The Miller Fall Protection Company has issued a stop use and replace notice for all of its Miller MiniLite Fall Limiter (FL11) and Titan Fall Limiter (TFL) models manufactured between August 2003 and August 2005. The company is providing replacements. Back to Top February 2006 Reminder to Employers: Post Injury/Illness Summaries Beginning Today Beginning today, employers must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year. Employers are only required to post the Summary (OSHA Form 300A) -- not the OSHA 300 Log -- from Feb.1 to April 30, 2006. Copies of the OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 are available on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page. Slip Resistance Provision Removed from Steel Erection Standard OSHA is revoking a provision of the steel erection standard that addresses the slip resistance of walking surfaces of coated structural steel members. The provision required that coated structural steel meet a specified level of slip resistance when measured using ASTM test methods. Details on the provision's revocation appear in the Jan. 18 Federal Register. OSHA Resuming Regular Enforcement Along Most of U.S. Gulf Coast Following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, OSHA exempted a number of counties and parishes in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana from regular enforcement status. OSHA recently announced that it will resume regular enforcement of job safety and health standards throughout much of the hurricane-impacted US Gulf Coast. Confirmation Hearings on MSHA and OSHA Heads The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing on January 31 on the appointments of Ed Foulke as head of OSHA and Richard Stickler as head of MSHA. OSHA Fines Staten Island Contractor $133,000 for Cave-In Hazards A Staten Island contractor's repeated failure to protect workers against cave-in hazards has resulted in $133,000 in proposed OSHA fines. Able Plumbing Inc. was cited for a total of four alleged willful and repeat violations of safety standards following an OSHA inspection of a sewer line installation at 822 Lamont Ave. on Staten Island. OSHA Cites Alabama Contractor Following Fatal Fall at Auburn Work Site OSHA has cited Titan Electric following the investigation of an August 2005 fatal accident at Duck Samford Park, Auburn, Ala. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $52,750. OSHA Fines Construction Company $117,500 for Safety Violations at Texas Worksite A Grand Prairie, Texas-based, construction company's alleged failure to protect employees from cave-in and other safety hazards at a Wylie, Texas, construction site has resulted in proposed OSHA penalties totaling $117,500. OSHA Assesses Maximum Fine Following Fatal Cave-In at University of Rochester OSHA is seeking the maximum fine the law allows following a fatal cave-in at the University of Rochester. Ferguson-Hall Co. Inc., a Rochester excavation contactor, faces a $70,000 fine as a result of a July 20 accident in which one of its employees died after the bank of an unprotected 8 1/2-foot deep water line excavation collapsed on him. OSHA's inspection found that the excavation had no cave-in protection. OSHA Cites Cobb County, Ga., Company for Trenching Violations OSHA has cited Plateau Excavation of Austell, Ga., for exposing workers to trenching hazards during the installation of storm sewer lines at a Sandy Springs site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $75,000. OSHA Finds Safety Violations at Tucker Excavation & Pipeline's Kootenai, Idaho, Worksite OSHA has cited Tucker Excavation and Pipeline of Sandpoint, Idaho, for alleged safety violations found during an inspection following a fatal trenching accident July 21, 2005, at a Kootenai, Idaho, worksite. Proposed penalties total $ 25,950. Akron, N.Y., Contractor Faces $90,500 in OSHA Fines for Asbestos Hazards An Akron, N.Y., heating contractor's alleged failure to protect employees against asbestos hazards has resulted in a total of $90,500 in OSHA fines. NOCO Energy Corp. was cited for 18 serious violations of OSHA standards governing work with, or around, asbestos and the proper selection and use of respirators. OSHA Offers New Guidelines to Help Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes Employers and employees who use motor vehicles for work purposes stand to benefit from new guidelines developed by OSHA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. The 32-page Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes offers useful information to help employers design an effective driver safety program in their workplace. The motor vehicle guidance is available from OSHA's publications page on the Web, or can be ordered by calling the publications office at (202) 693-1888. Hearing Conservation Focus of New Safety and Health Information Bulletin Hearing Conservation for the Hearing-Impaired Worker is the focus of a new OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB). Industrial hearing conservation programs may not fully address the specific needs of hearing-impaired workers for hearing protection, communication and for hearing warning signals. The SHIB raises awareness about issues associated with protecting hearing-impaired workers in noisy environments, and provides employers, workers and professional organizations guidance on accommodating hearing-impaired individuals in the workplace when exposed to high levels of noise. OSHA Partnerships and Alliances Skanska USA Building - Life Sciences Building at Cornell University Washington Group International Deal Made in Big Blue Crane Stadium Tragedy Lawyers for the widows of the three ironworkers killed in the July 1999 collapse of the Big Blue crane have reached an out-of-court settlement for additional damages with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America and insurance companies involved in the case, sources have told the Journal Sentinel. EPA Proposes New Requirements for Lead-Based Paint Work To reduce lead poisonings in children across the country, EPA is proposing new requirements for contractors and construction professionals when working in homes that contain lead-based paint. MA and NH Developers Agree to Pay Penalties for Storm Water Violations; Cases are Part of EPA Push to Improve Storm Water Compliance by Builders Four developers have agreed to pay the US Environmental Protection Agency a total of $41,025 in penalties for storm water-related violations that took place at construction projects in Framingham, Swansea and Topsfield, Mass. and Hudson, NH. The settlements were negotiated under EPA's Expedited Settlement Offer program for storm water violations at New England construction sites. New Multilingual Workplace Safety Resource The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation website is offering workplace safety and health fact sheets, checklists, and other resources in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Croatian, Haitian/Creole, Hmong, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese at the newly updated Online Multilingual Health and Safety Resource Guide . The guide was developed by the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley. Indiana Bill Would Criminalize Serious Employer Safety Negligence In another sign that a trend is developing in favor of the criminal prosecution of employers who contribute to workplace deaths through their willful disregard of safety laws, an Indiana state legislator introduced a bill in December that could impose fines of $10,000 and up to eight years in prison. Michigan Senate Votes to Thwart Ergonomics Standard In the wake of layoffs and factory closings, Michigan lawmakers Jan. 24 passed a bill that would prevent the state from adopting an ergonomics standard, claiming it only would aggravate Michigan's job economy. How to Use a Respirator: A NYCOSH Factsheet for Katrina and Rita Cleanup Workers This factsheet, provided my NYCOSH, presents information useful for responders to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Broad Survey of Day Laborers Finds High Level of Injuries and Pay Violations The first nationwide study on day laborers has found that such workers are a nationwide phenomenon, with 117,600 people gathering at more than 500 hiring sites to look for work on a typical day. ATRI Study Analyzes Truck-Related Work Zone Crashes The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry's not-for-profit research organization, recently released its "Safety by Design: Optimizing Safety in Highway Work Zones" study, which analyzes truck-related work zone crash data and offers counter-strategies to mitigate work zone accidents. New Immigrant Worker Blog Workers comp consultant Peter Rousmaniere (Roo-man-ear), who wrote the recent column in the Boston Globe about immigrant workers being cheated out of workers comp, has launched a new blog called Working Immigrants, "a weblog about the business of immigrant work: employment, compensation, legal protections, education, mobility, and public policy." Events March 2 - 4, Work, Stress, and Health 2006 Making a Difference in the Workplace, Miami, Fla., sponsored by NIOSH, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of Justice of the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor; March 8 - 10, Managing Environmental Compliance, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; March 27 - 29, National Environmental, Health and Safety Conference for the Graphic Communications Industries, Printing Industries of America Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Indianapolis April 4 - 6, Construction Safety Council, Building Our Future, Annual Construction Safety Conference, Donald E. Stephen's Convention Center, Rosemont, IL May 5 - 12, Annual Symposium & Expo, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN), Albuquerque, N.M May 13 - 18, American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce), American Industrial Hygiene Association, Chicago Back to Top March 2006 OSHA Issues Final Standard on Hexavalent Chromium OSHA published a final standard for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium in the Feb. 28, 2006, Federal Register. The standard covers occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in general industry, construction and shipyards. Chromium Evidence Buried, Report Says Scientists working for the chromium industry withheld data about the metal's health risks while the industry campaigned to block strict new limits on the cancer-causing chemical, according to a scientific journal report published yesterday. OSHA Updates Construction eTool for Spanish-speaking Workers Spanish-speaking workers in the construction industry will benefit from information featured in the updated version of OSHA's eTool de Construcción - La Prevención De Fatalidades. OSHA Announces FY 2005 Enforcement Results OSHA recently announced the results of its "effective, focused, and consistent" enforcement program for FY 2005. OSHA Proposes Additional $194,250 in Penalties Against Ohio Trenching Company OSHA has proposed an additional $194,250 in fines against Sunesis Construction Company, West Chester, Ohio, for eight alleged serious violations and three alleged willful violations of federal workplace safety and health standards following inspections at three trenching sites opened between August and October 2005. OSHA Cites Alabama Company and Proposes $210,000 in Penalties Following Trenching Fatality OSHA has issued citations against utility contractor O'CET, and proposed penalties totaling $210,000, following the investigation of a fatal accident last August at a Clay, Ala., construction site. OSHA Cites Portsmouth, R.I., Contractor for Cave-In and Asbestos Hazards A Portsmouth, R.I., contractor faces a total of $42,600 in OSHA fines for alleged cave-in and asbestos hazards following OSHA inspections at two Portsmouth worksites. OSHA Fines Fort Worth Construction Company $118,800 for Safety Violations at Allen, Texas, Worksite A Fort Worth, Texas-based, construction company's alleged failure to protect employees from falls and other hazardous conditions at an Allen, Texas, construction site has resulted in proposed OSHA penalties of $118,800. TOSHA Cites Mt. Juliet Contractor in Trench Fatality The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) has completed its investigation of a workplace accident that resulted in a fatality on December 1, 2005, at a highway construction site in Nashville. The report cites Mountain States Contractors LLC and its successors located in Mt. Juliet, with fines totaling $147,200. Bay Bridge Project: Audit Calls for Better Safety Oversight A state audit suggests that California's workplace safety agency has been oblivious to injury underreporting on the $1.7 billion project to build an earthquake-proof replacement to the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The National Clearinghouse Presents the Final Version of the Minimum Health and Safety Training Criteria: Guidance for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, HAZWOPER-Supporting and All-Hazards Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, and Response This document is based upon a National Technical Workshop sponsored by NIEHS WETP conducted on March 30-April 1, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA. The workshop was conducted to update the "Minimum Criteria" guidance, which has served as the primary quality control foundation for the Worker Education and Training Program for the past eighteen years. Government Accountability Project Applauds DOE Worker Health and Safety Rule The Department of Energy has recently completed a rule that, for the first time in 65 years, will make worker health and safety requirements enforceable at DOE nuclear and non-nuclear facilities, and using new authority granted by Congress, will be able to increase contractor accountability through fines of up to $70,000 per day per violation. NIOSH Researchers Develop Interactive Web Page for Calculating Skin Permeation Researchers at NIOSH Health Effects Laboratory Division have developed a new interactive Web page that allows users, such as scientists evaluating potential risk of adverse effects from chemicals that may enter the body through the skin, to measure the capacity of a chemical to be absorbed through the skin Top EPA Official Praises Battery Park City Building as Template for Saving Energy The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency praised a model energy-efficient building in lower Manhattan to promote smart energy use. The Solaire is a highly energy-efficient building and the first residential high rise in the nation to be environmentally sustainable. Zapped by High Energy Bills? Savings of up to 50 Percent Start at the Top with "Cool Roofs" Most of the homes in Philadelphia have roofs coated with hot tar or black rolled asphalt. Sturdy material but it does nothing to cool down temperatures during a summer heatwave. "Cool Roof" technology, in contrast, coats the roof surface with a reflective material that can lower the temperature of a building's roof by up to 100 degrees. This produces lower interior temperatures and reduces cooling costs by up to 50 percent. Boston's John Hancock Tower Tops New England's ENERGY STAR Class of 2005 One of the most prominent buildings in Boston's skyline is now also a symbol of energy efficiency. Boston's John Hancock Tower, an icon of modern architecture owned and managed by an affiliate of Beacon Capital Partners, LLC, has earned EPA's ENERGY STAR Label for superior energy performance in 2005. Virginia Businessman Sentenced for Using False Training Certificates to Obtain Asbestos Contracts National Developer Cited for Clean Water Act Violations at Raymore, Missouri Site Unusual Alliance Calls for Immediate, Additional Aid to Help Homeowners in Gulf Coast Rebuild A unique alliance of community and consumer organizations, labor unions, and the financial services industry is calling upon the federal government to provide substantial and immediate additional assistance to homeowners in the Gulf region to rebuild. New Safety Standard Can Aid Businesses in Preventing Roadway Crashes Businesses of all sizes can utilize the new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z15.1 Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations to help reduce roadway crashes and the high costs associated with them. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) today announced the newly approved Z15.1 standard, which provides guidelines for developing a motor vehicle safety program for employers with one vehicle or a fleet of hundreds. Industrial Hygienists' Role and Responsibilities in Emergency Preparedness and Response This white paper published by the American Industrial Hygiene Association offers guidance on how industrial hygienists can fit into the Incident Command System, as specified by the National Incident Management System, and how emergency planners, incident commanders, and community leaders can take advantage of the experience, training, and education of industrial hygiene professionals. Laborers and Operating Engineers Leave AFL-CIO Building Trades Department The Laborers union and the Operating Engineers union announced their departure from the AFL-CIO's Building Trades Department. The unions, together with the Bricklayers, Carpenters, Teamsters and Ironworkers, will form a new construction workers organization called the National Construction Alliance (NCA). Events March 8 - 10, Managing Environmental Compliance, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta March 16, OSHA, State of Illinois, and Waubonsee Community College Present "OSHA Safety Day", Sugar Grove, IL March 27 - 29, National Environmental, Health and Safety Conference for the Graphic Communications Industries, Printing Industries of America Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Indianapolis April 4 - 6, Construction Safety Council, Building Our Future, Annual Construction Safety Conference, Donald E. Stephen's Convention Center, Rosemont, IL May 5 - 12, Annual Symposium & Expo, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN), Albuquerque, N.M May 13 - 18, American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce), American Industrial Hygiene Association, Chicago Back to Top April 2006 Senate Confirms President's Nominee to Lead Occupational Safety and Health Administration The United States Senate has confirmed Edwin G. Foulke Jr. of South Carolina as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. OSHA Issues Final Rule on Roll-Over Protective Structures Standards OSHA has issued a direct final rule that regulates the testing of roll-over protective structures (ROPS) used to protect employees who operate wheel-type tractors. New OSHA Chromium Standard Fails to Address Impacts in Wet Cement According to LIUNA "From the point of view of construction workers, the biggest flaw in OSHA's new chromium standard is its failure to address the impacts of the chromium in wet cement," says LIUNA General President Terence M. O'Sullivan. OSHA Cites Seven Georgia Contractors Following Fatal Accident on Construction Site OSHA has cited seven Georgia contractors, and proposed penalties totaling $126,575, following the investigation of a fatal accident Aug. 25, 2005, at a school construction site in Ailey, Ga. OSHA Cites Team Electric of Denver for Alleged Safety Violations OSHA has cited Team Electric Inc., Denver, Colo. for unsafe working conditions following an electrical accident at a construction site in Aurora. Proposed penalties total $115,500. OSHA Cites Johnstown, Pa., Company for Worker Exposure to Lead on Lancaster Construction Project A Johnstown, Pa., company's failure to adequately protect workers against lead exposure has resulted in a proposed OSHA penalty of $114,750. Citations against Shaw Steeple Jacks allege five willful, seven serious and four other-than-serious violations of OSHA's lead standard. OSHA Special Emphasis Program in Kansas to Focus on Workplace Exposure to Crystalline Silica OSHA announced the beginning of a statewide local emphasis program in Kansas aimed at reducing the frequency of work-related silicosis resulting from employee exposure to crystalline silica. OSHA Partnerships and Alliances OSHA Credits Partnership with General Contractor and Georgia Tech for Boosting Worker Safety on Georgia Aquarium Project OSHA Partners to Protect Workers on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Project Partnership Aims for Worker Safety for NY BCBS Construction Project OSHA, AGC South Florida Chapter Will Continue Partnership to Protect Construction Workers OSHA Partners to Protect Workers on Jersey City Highway Project New Alliance Will Promote Safety and Health for Construction Workers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana OSHA, Carpenters, Employers and State of Illinois Form Alliance to Protect Residential Construction Workers OSHA Forms Alliance with Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association OSHA and NECA Form Alliance to Enhance Safety for Electrical Contractors in Western New York OSHA Renews Alliance with the Construction Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers ICE No Longer to Impersonate OSHA Personnel Hazards Magazine has reports that Immigration Customs and Enforcement (within Homeland Security) has reversed its controversial policy. NIOSH Fact Sheet: Silicosis - Working with Cement Roofing Tiles Although respirable silica is a recognized health hazard in the construction industry, only recently has this exposure been documented in roofers. This fact sheet presents information on silicosis, symptoms, facts, taking steps to protect workers, and using respirators. New York Court Concludes That Illegal Aliens Entitled to Lost Wages for Work Injuries Judge Dismisses Three Out of Four Counts in IBSA Suit Against ACGIH® A judge dismissed three out of four counts in lawsuits filed by the International Brominated Solvents Association (IBSA) and other plaintiffs against the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) . The plaintiffs sought to enjoin ACGIH® from proposing, adopting, or publishing TLVs® for 1-Bromopropane, copper, silica, and diesel particulate matter. Pa. Contractors Settle Cases With EPA Over Demolition of Properties The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled two cases against Pennsylvania contractors for violating Clean Air Act regulations requiring notification to EPA prior to demolition or renovation projects. Published Findings Reveal Increase Risk for Brain Cancer Death Following PCB Exposure NIOSH scientists published their latest findings from research to help resolve the question of whether Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) pose an occupational risk for cancer. Popularity of Whole Building Design Guide Website Grows! Three years after its development, the Whole Building Design Guide (www.wbdg.org), has become an extremely popular web portal. Events National Work Zone Awareness Week - April 3-9 Back to Top May 2006 OSHA, ASSE, Industry Groups Team up to Increase Job Safety for North American Occupational Safety and Health Week In an ongoing effort to increase public awareness on the importance of workplace safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will kick-off the annual North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) 2006, which runs April 30 - May 6. OSHA Identifies 14,000 Workplaces with High Injury and Illness Rates OSHA has notified approximately 14,000 employers that injury and illness rates at their worksites are higher than average and that assistance is available to help them fix safety and health hazards. Workers Removed From Construction Site Minutes Before Roof Collapse Three workers were removed from a Cleveland-area construction project within minutes of a roof collapse on April 10 by OSHA Compliance Officer Joe Schwarz of OSHA's Cleveland Area Office and Medina County Building Inspector Art Verdoorn. Disclosure of Air Sampling Data Subject of FOIA Lawsuit Employers whose establishments were subject to air sampling by OSHA since 1979 should be aware that the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently the subject of a lawsuit, filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), compelling disclosure of the air sampling data. The release of that data could also include release of confidential commercial or trade secret information not previously disclosed to the public. DOL is making every attempt to notify employers who may be affected by this action. OSHA Fines Contractors on Kohl Department Store Project More Than $114,000 For Lack of Fall Protection, Other Hazards OSHA has cited eight contractors involved in the construction of a Kohl's Department Store in Beckley, W.Va., for lack of fall protection for workers and other safety and health violations. The proposed fines for the alleged violations total $114,625. Asbestos Hazards at Hamburg Roof Collapse Cleanup Site Bring $91,000 in OSHA Fines to Four Western New York Employers OSHA has cited four western New York employers for allegedly failing to safeguard workers against asbestos hazards during cleanup and repair operations following a November roof collapse at the Leisureland bowling and restaurant complex in Hamburg, N.Y. OSHA Cites Ft. Myers, Fla., Concrete Contractor After Fatal Accident at Cape Coral Work Site OSHA has cited Pumpco, a Ft. Myers-based concrete pumping contractor, and proposed penalties totaling $42,800, following the electrocution of a worker-trainee at a Cape Coral, Fla. construction site. OSHA Fines North Little Rock Construction Company $141,700 for Alleged Trenching and Excavation Hazards Alleged failure to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought Co-Bar Contracting Inc., North Little Rock, Ark., $141,700 in proposed OSHA penalties. OSHA Fines Webster, N.Y., Contractor $323,000 for Lead Exposure Hazards at SUNY Geneseo Worksite A Webster, N.Y., construction contractor, faces a total of $323,000 in proposed OSHA fines for allegedly failing to protect its employees against lead exposure hazards at a worksite on the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo. OSHA Fines Texas Contractor $77,000 for Fall Hazards at Billerica, Mass., Worksite A Lewisville, Texas, framing contractor faces $77,000 in OSHA fines for failing to supply fall protection for its workers at a Billerica, Mass., residential construction site. Bloomington, Ill. Construction Firm Fined $197,500 For Exposing Workers to Potential Trench Cave-In OSHA has proposed $197,500 in fines against R.A. Cullinan and Son, Inc., Bloomington, Ill. following an inspection at an excavation site where workers were exposed to potentially deadly trench cave-ins. Surveillance for World Trade Center Disaster Health Effects Among Survivors of Collapsed and Damaged Buildings In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks of the World Trade Center in NY, survivors of collapsed or damage buildings have reported substantial physical and mental problems. To characterize these conditions, CDC established the World Trade Center Health Registry, which will monitor the status of survivors for 20 years. This report presents the initial findings, which detail a variety of health concerns from the more than 70,000 enrollees in the registry. OSHA Partnerships and Alliances OSHA, State of Maine, Join to Identify and Eliminate Workplace Hazards OSHA Renews Alliance with the Greater Peoria Contractors and Suppliers Association New OSHA Partnership Aims To Protect Workers Constructing New Dayton Data Center OSHA Renews Alliance with Lake County Contractors Association North Carolina Partnership with Skanska/Barnhill North Carolina Life Safety Code Repealed The N.C. Department of Labor's proposed repeal of the Life Safety Code was approved recently by the Rules Review Commission with an effective date of Dec. 1, 2005. National Council on Occupational Safety and Health Releases Dirty Dozen Report http://user.rcn.com/jbarab/Final%20Dirty%20Dozen%20Report.pdf. Rand Study Proposes Guidelines to Better Protect Emergency Responders at Large Building Collapses A recent RAND Corporation report issued proposes guidelines to better protect emergency responders from the chemical, biological and physical hazards that exist following the collapse of large buildings. New Study Reports Lifetime Costs of Year's Worth of Injuries Top $400 Billion The Incidence and Economic Burden of Injuries in the United States examines the lifetime time costs associated with the injuries that occur in just one year. In 2000 alone, the 50 million injuries that required medical treatment will ultimately cost $406 billion. Oahu, Hawaii Construction Company Ordered to Restore Wetlands EPA has ordered Coluccio Construction Co. and Kaneohe Ranch Co., to remove illegal fill and restore sensitive wetlands adjacent to Hamakua Stream in Kailua, Oahu. Toe-Kick Saws Recalled Due to Broken Handles The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Crain Cutter Co. Inc., of Milpitas, Calif. announced a voluntary recall of Toe-Kick Saws. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Call for Papers - The Value of Safety and Health Initiatives to Businesses NIOSH, the American Society of Safety Engineers, the National Safety Council, the World Health Organization and the Robert W. Campbell Award are collaborating with the editors of the Journal of Safety Research to issue a call for papers to promote studies which address the value of safety and health initiatives to businesses. Events May 4 - 5, Electrical Safety Conferences, Thomas A. Edison Institute, Chicago; May 5 - 12, Annual Symposium & Expo, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN), Albuquerque, N.M May 7 - 10, American Occupational Health Conference, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Los Angeles May 10-12, Annual Midwest Emergency Preparedness and Response Conference in Rockford, Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center, Rockford, IL May 13 - 18, American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce), American Industrial Hygiene Association, Chicago May 19, Managing Culture and Language for Safety Success, National Safety Management Society, Golden Gate Chapter, Berkeley, Calif May 31 - June 2, Arkansas Governor's Health and Safety Management Conference, American Society of Safety Engineers Arkansas Chapter, Little Rock, Ark. June 11 - 14, Safety 2006, American Society of Safety Engineers Annual Conference, Seattle Aug. 28 - 31, 22nd Annual National VPPPA Conference, Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association, Orlando Nov. 6 - 8, National Safety Congress, National Safety Council, San Diego Back to Top June 2006 BLS Sampling Strategy May Underestimate Work-Related Injury And Illness The current national surveillance system may miss two-thirds of the total number of occupational injuries and illnesses, suggests a study in the April Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). OSHA Upgrades e-HASP Software OSHA recently updated the computer software for generating a site-specific health and safety plan (HASP) for hazardous waste sites required under the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard. New SHIB Focuses on Overhead Launching Gantry Crane Hazards OSHA published a new Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) - Overhead Launching Gantry Crane SHIB - which outlines specific methods for workers and employers to address the hazards and prevent future accidents. OSHA Offers Best Practices Guide for First Aid Programs OSHA has issued Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program, a new guide to help employers and employees develop workplace first aid programs. New Electronic, Spanish-language Newsletter Debuts A new electronic, Spanish-language newsletter produced by OSHA's New York Region. Cápsulas de Salud y Seguridad presents a cross section of information on workplace safety and health issues, particularly those affecting Hispanic workers. Each issue will feature topics designed to educate and guide readers in their efforts to reduce hazards and improve safety and health in their workplaces. To obtain a copy, or receive future editions, e-mail prvi-osha-news@dol.gov. The newsletter is also available on OSHA's Spanish-language Web page. Spanish Version of Safety and Health Bulletin Now Available The Spanish version of Hazards of Manually Lifting Balloon Framed Walls, an OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin, is now available online. First published in English, the document explains the common causes of incidents involving the collapse of balloon framed walls, and provides safe lifting instructions and other guidelines that can help prevent such incidents. OSHA Fines Masonry Contractor $75,000 for Construction Deficiencies Leading to Building Collapse OSHA has proposed $75,000 in penalties against Illinois Masonry Corp., headquartered in Lake Zurich, Ill., for alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety and health standards for its and other contractors' employees working on a building undergoing construction in Chicago. OSHA Fines Virgin Island Construction Company $63,125 for Fall Hazards A St. Thomas construction company's alleged failure to protect employees against fall hazards has resulted in a total of $63,125 in OSHA fines. OSHA Cites Swanee, Ga., Company for Trenching Hazards at Atlanta Construction Site OSHA has cited Bengal Enterprises for exposing workers to trenching hazards at an Atlanta construction site. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $41,300. Virginia Executive & Companies Receive Large Jail Term and Substantial Fines for Environmental Crimes Involving Lead and Asbestos Abatement Projects WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Virginia executive and two companies, ACS Environmental, Inc. (ACS) and Air Power Enterprises, Inc. (Air Power), were sentenced to a substantial jail term and fines for conspiracy to defraud the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Judge's Ruling Confirms EPA Fine for Lead Paint Violations by Two Rhode Island Companies Following a three day hearing, an Administrative Law Judge recently found that two Rhode Island companies violated federal lead paint disclosure requirements and assessed a total of $222,200 in fines. Approval of Emergency Escape Respirators Has Been Rescinded The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is informing respirator users that the NIOSH certificate of approval TC-13F-28 for the International Safety Device (ISD) Model 5000 Air Capsule 5-Minute Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus has been rescinded. Tools of the Trade: A Health & Safety Handbook for Action The Labor Occupational Health Program at the University Of California At Berkeley has released a new 180-page Tools of the Trade is a valuable resource for those who want to promote worker health and safety while building their unions and community groups at the same time. Worker Safety Trial Results in Guilty Verdict Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company, a subsidiary of McWane Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., and four of its managers were found guilty last month of committing flagrant abuses of worker safety and environmental laws. The outcome stems from a continuing investigation by the Justice Department into McWane's history of contempt for workplace safety and the environment. It is the fifth conviction for a division of McWane Inc. in two years. On June 4, 2003, OSHA cited Atlantic States for six repeat, three serious, and three other-than serious violations with proposed penalties of $130,000. The fines resulted from an investigation into a Dec. 7, 2002, accident involving an amputation. Safety Alert Issued on Wood Floor Sanders In March 2006, the Massachusetts Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (MA FACE), funded by NIOSH, collaborated with the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal to release a Fire Safety Alert entitled, “Wood Floor Sanders Killed When Floor Finishing Product Catches Fire- Massachusetts.” This publication followed two separate incidents in a 10-month period in which three Vietnamese immigrants were killed and others injured when lacquer sealer they were applying was ignited by pilot lights. The sealer used in these incidents was highly flammable, with a flash point of 9°F/-13°C. The Fire Safety Alert recommended using less flammable wood floor finishing products with flash points greater than 100°F/38°C, extinguishing all open flames and other ignition sources before beginning work, and ensuring that the work area is well-ventilated. According to press accounts, a Massachusetts task force announced an agreement by suppliers in May to take lacquer sealers off the market, and a bill requiring certification of wood flooring contractors and employees has been introduced in the Massachusetts legislature. For more information or to receive a copy of the Fire Safety Alert, contact the MA FACE Director, Michael Fiore at 617-624-5627. The MA FACE reports on these two incidents are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ma/04ma032.html and http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ma/05ma044.html NTSB Determines Poor Planning and Inadequate Bracing Caused Deadly Highway Bridge Girder Collapse In a report adopted today, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that poor construction planning and execution led to the failure of a temporary bracing system for a bridge girder being installed above Interstate 70 (I-70) in Golden, Colorado, causing the girder to collapse onto a passenger vehicle on I-70, killing three people. OSHA Partnerships & Alliances New OSHA Alliance Aims for Safety and Health in Western Colorado Construction Industry OSHA Teams with MST Constructors and CFAN to Promote Construction Safety OSHA and Carpenters' Training Center Join to Reduce Workplace Hazards for New England's Carpenters Strategic Partnership for Sprint Center Project Signed in Missouri Partnership Signed for Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo. OSHA Partners with MST Constructors and CFAN NJ Launches Safety Training Program for Day Laborers A partnership between Rutgers University, New Labor, a worker advocacy nonprofit, the New Jersey Laborers' Health and Safety Fund and Laborers Local 1030, is helping to bring workplace safety training to Hispanic immigrant day laborers in NJ. Protecting Welders from Toxic Fumes The Center to Protect Workers Rights is testing portable ventilation equipment to reduce metal fume exposures during welding. Study Explores Effects of Work-Related Injuries on Roofers The Center to Protect Workers Rights and the Roofers Union are studying how work-related injuries and illnesses impact the lives of roofers. Cutting Injuries and Silica Exposures in Construction Construction contractors in Massachusetts have developed a way to reduce worker injuries and exposures to silica. CPWR Produces New DVD on Ladder Safety National Safety Council Marks 10th Anniversary of National Safety Month The National Safety Council (NSC) NSC has adopted "Making Our World a Safer Place" as the theme for its 10th anniversary of national Safety Month in June. Activities throughout the month will address safety risks and include injury prevention tips for the workplace, driving, and the home and community. The Council has designated the week of June 12 to emphasize workplace safety. Events June 11 - 14, Safety 2006, American Society of Safety Engineers Annual Conference, Seattle; June 21 - 23, The 5th Annual Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, Boston; Aug. 28 - 31, 22nd Annual National VPPPA Conference, Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association, Orlando Nov. 6 - 8, National Safety Congress, National Safety Council, San Diego Back to Top October 2006 U.S. Department of Labor Awards More than $10 Million in Grants for Safety and Health Training Programs The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded more than $10 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to 57 nonprofit organizations for safety and health training and educational programs. VPP Mobile Workforce Demonstration for Construction Accepting Applications Effective October 1, employers in the construction industry may apply to participate in the newest component of OSHA's premier cooperative program-the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Mobile Workforce Demonstration for Construction OSHA Revises Respiratory Protection Standards New Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) for respiratory protection programs are being incorporated in OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard. OSHA Seeks Comments on GHS OSHA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Sept. 12 Federal Register seeking comments on the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). New Safety and Health Bulletins Focuses on Guardrail Systems OSHA published a new Safety and Health Information Bulletin entitled Guardrail System for Tunnel Form Stripping Platform, to raise awareness about the hazards associated with improper use of netting or mesh as guardrails for scaffolding in construction. OSHA Issues Safety and Health Bulletin on All Terrain Vehicles The risk of injury or death from operating an all-terrain vehicle is the reason behind the bulletin Hazards Associated with All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in the Workplace. The bulletin identifies specific work practices for employers and employees to address hazards and prevent accidents. Dump Trucks Focus of New Safety and Health Information Bulletin Preventing fatal accidents that can result from the unanticipated release or movement of an elevated truck bed is the subject of OSHA's latest Safety and Health Information Bulletin. Latest OSHA QuickCard Highlights Safe Driving Practices Employees who use motor vehicles for work stand to benefit from a new QuickCard available on OSHA's Web site. Safe Driving Practices for Employees offers tips to ensure employee safety while operating a motor vehicle. This resource is a companion document to Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes. New Fact Sheet on Fall Protection Available Employers and employees involved in working in and around aboveground storage tanks will benefit from a new fact sheet, a product of the Safe Tank Alliance with OSHA. Fall Prevention for Aboveground Storage Tanks describes how to ensure employee safety by recognizing fall hazards, developing prevention priorities, and using protective equipment. In addition, the fact sheet highlights safe climbing practices, specialized training, and other safety and health tips. Nineteen Year Old Construction Worker Dies in NYC Scaffold Incident The death of a 19-year-old construction worker on September 28 in New York City was the latest accident in the city last week that involved scaffolding. The multiple accidents come in the wake of a report issued last month about the failure of the city to properly oversee scaffolding at work sites. OSHA Cites Contractor for Fatalities in Boston Scaffold Collapse OSHA has cited Bostonian Masonry for eight alleged violations of safety standards in connection with three fatalities on April 3 during a scaffold collapse at 150 Boylston St. in Boston. The Walpole, Mass., masonry contractor faces $119,000 in proposed fines. OSHA Cites Lithonia, Ga. Company for Trenching Hazards at Smyrna, Ga. Job Site OSHA has cited Mid-South Builders for allegedly exposing workers to trenching hazards at Cooper Lake Drive and Atlanta Road in Smyrna, Ga. The agency is proposing a $40,000 fine. OSHA Cites Contractor for Unguarded 10-Foot Deep Trench in South Boston An Allston, Mass., contractor faces $38,600 in OSHA fines for allegedly allowing employees to work in a 10-foot deep trench that lacked protection against cave-ins. Shannon Construction Co. was cited for a total of six alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards. OSHA Cites Vidalia, Ga., Company for Trenching Hazards OSHA has cited OCS, an underground utility contractor, for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a job site located at Deer Creek and Fairway Drives in Swainsboro, Ga. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $61,600. Developer, Contractor Settle With EPA Over Wetlands Damage Pietraszek Enterprises, Inc. and Munson Excavating, Inc. of El Paso County, Colo., have agreed to pay a $105,000 civil penalty for illegally damaging Monument Creek and its adjacent wetlands in Colorado Springs. Staying Grounded: Safely Ground Electricity When Arc Welding Article offers steps for ensuring electrical grounding of the components of an arc welding operation. Minimizing the Risk of Arc Flash Accidents White paper discusses the causes for arc flash reactions, how to reduce risks and the impact of equipment on safer operations. Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods NIOSH report addresses how to limit exposure to mold and how to identify and prevent mold-related health effects in the aftermath of flooding. Emergency Response for the Multicultural Work Force Article outlines the challenges and concerns related to language and cultural barriers when training employees to use emergency equipment. Workers' Compensation System a 'Colossal Failure', Report Says Workers across the country often have to contend with "adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits" when they file a workers' compensation claim, according to a report issued by the Center for Justice & Democracy. Construction Workers Lose Lawsuit over Toxic Exposure Employees of a Louisiana construction company had no claim against the owners of land on which they installed a pipe rack, a state court has ruled. The construction workers said they were injured by toxins in the soil, but the court concluded that they had not provided sufficient proof. Contractor Injured in a Fall Had No Claim Against Architect A contractor who was injured when he fell into a concealed hole at a construction site he was visiting had no claim against the architect that provided the keys to the site, a Texas appellate court has ruled. Canadian Standards Association Unveils Workplace Safety Management Standard Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, today unveiled Canada's first consensus-based occupational health and safety (OHS) management standard. The new standard, titled CSA Z1000-06 Occupational Health and Safety Management is intended to help organizations reduce or prevent Canada's current number of injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace by providing companies with a model for developing and implementing an OHS management system. Drug Testing Reduces Worker Drug Use According to New Study A new study from the University of California at Irvine supports the argument that screening new hires for substance abuse will reduce employee drug use, but not as much as employers would expect. Lead Exposure Increases Risk of Brain Cancer Workers who are regularly exposed to lead are 50 percent more likely to die from brain cancer than workers who are not exposed, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study. Standardized Guidelines on WTC Deaths Under Review NIOSH is developing standardized postmortem examination guidelines for individuals dying after environmental exposures related to the collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The draft document is undergoing scientific review, the agency said. Once the review is complete, NIOSH will seek further public comment. OSHA Partnerships and Alliances Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) National Office: OSHA and the Mason Contractors Association of America renewed an alliance to encourage employers, including small businesses, to increase employee access to safety and health information and training resources, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with masonry wall bracing, scaffolding, silica and forklift operations. The alliance renewal was signed Aug. 21. Region I: OSHA's New England Region signed a new alliance with Ledgewood Builders LLC to foster safe and healthful working conditions for employees building the Highland Green residential project in Topsham, Maine. Region II: OSHA's New England Region signed a new alliance with Ledgewood Builders LLC to foster safe and healthful working conditions for employees building the Highland Green residential project in Topsham, Maine. Region IV: OSHA's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Area Office formed a new alliance with the Construction Association of South Florida to reduce injuries, illnesses and fatalities in South Florida's construction industry. Region V: Workers in south central Wisconsin stand to benefit from an alliance signed today between the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin (BCTC) and OSHA. The alliance is designed to reduce and prevent some of the most common workplace injuries and illnesses in the construction industry. Region VI: Better health and safety for construction workers in South Texas is the goal of a new partnership uniting OSHA and J.E. Dunn, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America AGC). Events National Safety Congress Nov. 6 - 8, National Safety Congress, National Safety Council, San Diego; Back to Top November 2006 BLS Reports Workplace Injury and Illness Overall Rate Lowest on Record The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry declined in 2005 for the third consecutive year, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. Approximately 4.2 million injuries and illnesses occurred in 2005. The number translates to a rate of 4.6 cases per 100 full-time employees, slightly less than the 4.8 rate reported last year. The incidence rate of injuries and illnesses in the construction sector was 6.3 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005, relatively unchanged from 2004. Making Workplaces Safer To Be Highlighted In Report by Massachusetts Legislative Scaffolding Subcommittee The Massachusetts Senate and House Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Scaffolding and Construction Safety released a report on Oct 11 detailing how the Commonwealth can - and must - do more to protect construction workers and passers by from hazards in the workplace. View the report OSHA Accepting Applications for New Voluntary Protection Program in the Construction Industry OSHA announced that employers in the construction industry may begin applying for participation in OSHA's newest component of its premiere cooperative program - the VPP Mobile Workforce Demonstration for Construction. Eligible applicants include those who operate within the construction industry and have been in continuous business for at least three years. OSHA Makes the Business Case for Safety and Health Agency Unveils New Safety and Health Topics Page OSHA launched a new topics page on its Web site aimed at demonstrating that investment in workplace safety and health makes good business sense. OSHA Fines Contractor $167,500 for Repeated Fall Hazards at Billerica, Mass., Work Site OSHA has cited a wood-framing contractor Multi Building Inc., based in Lewisville, Texas, for the third time for failing to provide its employees with fall protection at a Billerica, Mass., residential construction site. In March, the company was cited and fined $77,000 for fall and other hazards at this site. OSHA Cites Georgia Company for Unsafe Scaffolding at Saint Simons Island, Ga., Work Site OSHA has again cited Padgett Tabby & Stucco for allegedly exposing workers to falls from unsafe scaffolding; this time at a Demere Road work site on Saint Simons Island, Ga. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $140,000. Unguarded 21-foot Deep Trench in Coventry Leads to $41,000 in OSHA Fines for RI Contractor A Warwick contractor faces $41,000 in OSHA fines for allegedly allowing employees to work in a 21-foot deep trench that lacked protection against cave-ins. RICO Corp. was cited for a total of five alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards following a June 8 OSHA inspection of a sewer-installation work site on Hopkins Hill Rd. in Coventry. OSHA Cites Tuscaloosa, Ala., Contractor for Exposing Workers to Trenching Hazards OSHA has cited GILCO Contracting of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and proposed penalties totaling $112,000, for exposing employees to alleged trenching hazards at the City of Tuscaloosa Cottondale Sewer Project. OSHA Fines Elmhurst, N.Y., Contractor for Fall and Scaffold Hazards Following Worker Death at Forest Hills Job Site An Elmhurst, N.Y., contractor faces $16,000 in OSHA fines following a fatal scaffold collapse at a Forest Hills, N.Y., work site. OSHA Cites Contractor for Unsafe Scaffolding at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. OSHA has cited Pettit Construction for allegedly exposing employees to fall hazards from defective scaffolding at a construction site at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $67,900. OSHA Cites Fort Myers, Fla., Company for Trenching Hazards at Naples Work Site OSHA has cited John Carlo, a Fort Myers, Fla., underground utilities installation company, following a May 2006 inspection of a trenching project located in Naples, Fla. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $58,500. OSHA Cites Contractor at Jacksonville, N.C., Marine Corps Air Base OSHA has cited Hendrix-Barnhill, an excavation contractor in Greenville, N.C., for allegedly exposing workers to trenching hazards at the New River Marine Corps Air Station in Jacksonville, N.C. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $44,500. OSHA Cites Florida Construction Company After Fatality Investigation OSHA has cited Roads Inc. of NWF for alleged violations of safety and health standards following the investigation of a fatal accident April 19 in Pensacola, Fla. Proposed penalties total $142,150. OSHA Cites Alabama Company Following Fatality Investigation at Gulfport, Miss., Excavation Site OSHA has cited Big Warrior Corp. of Cleveland, Ala., and proposed penalties totaling $78,100, following the investigation of a fatal trench collapse at a work site in Gulfport, Miss. OSHA Cites Georgia Roofing Company for Lack of Fall Protection at Mobile, Ala., Regional Airport Job Site OSHA has cited Peach State Roofing, Lawrenceville, Ga., with proposed penalties totaling $56,000 for exposing workers to fall hazards at the Mobile Regional Airport. New Guidance Available on Hexavalent Chromium OSHA announced the availability of a new guidance document to help small businesses comply with requirements of the agency's new hexavalent chromium standard. Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Hexavalent Chromium Standards describes steps employers are required to take to protect employees from hazards associated with exposure to the compound. OSHA Unveils New Safety and Health Topics Page OSHA has developed a new safety and health topics information page aimed at demonstrating that investment in workplace safety and health makes good business sense. Making the Business Case for Safety and Health is a product of several alliances with OSHA. New OSHA QuickCard Focuses on Scaffolding Employers and employees who use scaffolding in the workplace will benefit from a new OSHA resource. Disaster Preparedness Resource Available Employers and employees involved in cleanup and recovery efforts following natural disasters will benefit from a new "tool" developed by OSHA and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The 2006 Disaster Preparation Resources CD features a compilation of resources from OSHA, ASSE, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on ensuring safe and healthful response and recovery operations. The CD will help employers review, develop and update their emergency preparedness plans. E-mail ASSE's Sarajenie Smith at ssmith@asse.org for a copy, or call (847) 699-2929. OSHA Partnerships, Alliances, and Recognitions Seven Resident Contractors at Valero Bill Greehey Refinery Recognized for Outstanding Safety and Health by OSHA OSHA is recognizing seven resident contractors at Valero Bill Greehey Refinery in Corpus Christi for their outstanding safety and health programs. Zachry Construction Corp. in Bartlesville, Okla. is Recognized for Safety and Health Achievements by OSHA Zachry Construction Corp., Bartlesville, Okla., has earned membership in the prestigious OSHA "Star" Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) OSHA Signs Health and Safety Alliance with Local 2 of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association OSHA'S New York Region and Cliff Builders Sign Partnership Ensuring the safety and health of construction employees is the goal of a strategic partnership recently signed between OSHA's New York Region and Cliff Creek Builders Inc. OSHA Renews Alliance with CIAPR to Reduce Construction Work Hazards in Puerto Rico OSHA and the Department of Professional Development and Continued Education of the Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico (CIAPR) have renewed their alliance to reduce and prevent workplace hazards for construction workers in Puerto Rico. Partnership to Improve Safety and Health in Masonry Industry OSHA's Kansas City, Mo., Region formed a partnership with the Kansas City Masonry Contractors Association and Missouri Consultation Program to promote safe and healthful working conditions within the masonry industry. HHS Completes Allocation of WTC Medical Care Funds The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the completion of the allocation of $75 million in federal funds for monitoring, screening, analysis, and medical treatment of emergency responders and recovery workers at the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site. These recent awards through NIOSH build on more than $125 million for screening and monitoring of more than 30,000 WTC responders, recovery workers and volunteers that the Department has administered since 2002. Further details are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/WTC102706-2.html. NIOSH and BLS Release Workplace Violence Prevention Results The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released findings from a survey conducted for NIOSH on workplace violence prevention. Nearly five percent of the 7.1 million U.S. private industry business establishments had an incident of workplace violence in the 12 months preceding the survey. Findings from the survey are available in detail on the BLS Web site, http://www.bls.gov/iif/osh_wpvs.htm. More information on NIOSH research and recommendations for preventing and reducing workplace violence can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaviolence.html. NIOSH Fatal Occupational Injury Cost Fact Sheets A new series of fact sheets estimate the cost to society of a workplace fatality using the cost-of-illness approach. This approach combines the direct and indirect costs to produce an overall cost of an occupational fatal injury. The fact sheets can be found through the NIOSH Traumatic Occupational Injury Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumapubs02-04.html. "Workplace Solutions: Prev