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OSHA Outreach Training provides instruction and training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The OSHA Training Program also provides an overview of OSHA, regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

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Why does Worker Safety Training make sense?

Aside from the obvious benefit of keeping employees safe, healthy, and productive – along with meeting the OSHA workplace safety standards – health and safety training makes financial sense for employers because:

• Every dollar spent on proper health and safety programs can save a business $4 to $6! ^[1]
• With less work-related illnesses and injuries, employers see significant savings on absenteeism and workers’ compensation insurance. ^[2]
• According to one study by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), businesses inspected by OSHA “saved an estimated $355,000 in injury claims and compensation paid for lost work” in the four years after inspections. ^[3]
• Businesses that meet OSHA’s standards avoid inspection violations and possible fines.

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Employer Reasons for a Workplace Health and Safety Program

Here are a few reasons why you should give strong consideration to a health and safety training program:

• All Workplaces Have an Element of Risk – From manually handling packages to driving heavy machinery, there are different levels of exposure to risk and illness.
• Increases Staff Productivity – Employees in many ways are like customers, treat them well and they stay, treat them well and they feel valued and treat your customers well in turn.
• Reduces Frequency of Compensation Claim or Lawsuit – It only takes one serious injury to bring a worker’s compensation claim or lawsuit. Safety training can diminish the frequency.
  
• Enhances Company Image Positively – Workers want to know what they stand to gain from a company in regards their benefits and salaries, but they also want to know your plan for their health and safety.
• Reduces Costs – Apart from the cost that will be accrued by litigation costs, fines and compensation payments, actual injuries and incidents can rack up direct costs in, medical expenses such as ambulance, hospital, and doctors’ fees, medication, and rehabilitation. There could even be increases in insurance premiums as a result. Likewise, indirect costs could include disrupted work schedules, lost productivity, clean-up and repair, hiring and training replacement workers, bad publicity, time spent on accident investigation and claims management.

As an employer, don’t think health and safety training is expensive and wasteful. Health and safety training educates your workers to work safely and motivates them to be more productive… which is a profit in itself.

[1] https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3163/osha3163.html
[2] https://www.osha.gov/Publications/safety-health-addvalue.html
[3] https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/topics/businesscase/

However, those age 55 and older have twice the risk of dying in a work-related crash than younger workers do. One possible reason is that older persons are more likely to be injured if they are in a crash, and more likely to die if they are injured.

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Physical and mental changes that are a normal part of aging – such as declining eyesight, hearing, physical strength, and memory – can affect one’s ability to drive safely. However, the relationship between aging and safe driving is not so simple. Older individuals tend to practice better driving habits, such as wearing seat belts and following speed limits, and they are less likely than younger persons to be involved in a crash. But, they are at a higher risk of injury or death if involved in a crash, in part because the body becomes more vulnerable to severe injury with age.

By 2020, it is estimated that 30% of Americans and 25% of all workers will be 55 years and older, and 40 million licensed drivers will be 65 years and older.

Reference: NIOSH [2016]. Older drivers in the workplace: how employers and workers can prevent crashes.(NIOSH) Publication 2016–116.

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How does aging affect driving ability?

While older drivers are more likely to practice safe driving behaviors, both employers and workers should be aware that it is normal for physical and mental abilities to gradually decline with age — putting them at greater risk of dying if they are in a motor vehicle crash.

• Eyesight often worsens with age. Older eyes need more light and more time to adjust when light changes, so it can be hard to see clearly, especially at dawn, dusk, and night. Older drivers may become more sensitive to glare from headlights, street lights, and the sun.
  • Peripheral vision — the ability to see to the side or up and down while looking ahead — often declines as people age, increasing their risk of crashes.
  • Eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration become more common with age, making it harder for older drivers to read signs and see colors.
• Age-related hearing loss can make it harder to hear horns, sirens, and noises from cars, which warn of possible danger.
• Several diseases and conditions can affect the ability to drive:
  • Diabetes can make blood sugar levels too high or low, which can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures.
  • Arthritis can make joints swollen and stiff, limiting movement of the shoulders, hands, head, and neck. This can make it hard to grasp or turn the steering wheel, apply the brake and gas pedals, fasten a seat belt, or look for hazards.
  • Sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep, can increase the risk of drowsy driving.
  • Parkinson’s disease can cause a person’s arms, hands, and legs to shake. This can affect balance and movement, diminishing a driver’s ability to safely operate motor vehicle controls.
  • Other chronic diseases and the use of prescribed, over-the-counter, and multiple medications may interfere with sleep quality, increasing risk for drowsy driving.
• Motor skills, essential for driving safely, can decline with age:
  • Strength is vital for many driving tasks such as pressing down on a brake pedal.
  • Range of motion is important for fastening a seat belt or turning to look for vehicles and objects.
  • Flexibility allows the body and joints to move more freely, making it easier to observe the road from all angles. This can help with many driving tasks, including looking to the sides and rear of the car, steering, and parking.
  • Coordination helps the upper and lower body work together in situations such as simultaneously braking and turning.
• Mental abilities, including memory, attention span, judgment, and ability to make decisions and react quickly, are required for driving. These can gradually decline with age, making older drivers feel overwhelmed by signs, signals, pedestrians, and vehicles around them.

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NIOSH Fact Sheet – Older Drivers in the Workplace: How Employers and Workers Can Prevent Crashes

This fact sheet gives employers and workers information on age-related physical and mental changes that may affect older workers’ driving. It is important to accommodate these changes so older workers may continue to contribute their expertise to the workplace under the safest conditions possible.

Source: Older Drivers in the Workplace: How Employers and Workers Can Prevent Crashes [6 pps -PDF – 1.38 MB]

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week aims to promote understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation to ensuring older adults remain active in the community—shopping, working or volunteering—with the confidence that transportation will not be the barrier to strand them at home.

Safe Driver Resources & Tools

• NIOSH Motor Vehicle Safety
  www.cdc.gov/njosh/motorvehicle
  Explore work-related motor vehicle safety topics and resources.
• Medications and driving
  www.aaafoundation.org/resources/resources
  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recom- mends resources to help you learn how medi- cations can affect driving.

According to the National Safety Council, 69% of employees – many of whom work in in safety-critical industries – are tired at work, increasing the risk of injuries and incidents on the job.

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It can take about one week for the body to adjust the new times for sleeping, eating, and activity. Until they have adjusted, people can have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up at the right time. This can lead to sleep deprivation and reduction in performance, increasing the risk for mistakes including vehicle crashes. Workers can experience somewhat higher risks to both their health and safety after the time changes (Harrison, 2013).

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Using U.S. Department of Labor and Mine Safety and Health Administration injury data from 1983-2006, the study found that compared with other days, more injuries happened on the Monday after daylight saving time went into effect and the injuries were more severe. The daylight saving time (DST) switch resulted in U.S. workers getting 40 minutes less sleep, a 5.7 percent increase in workplace injuries and nearly 68 percent more workdays lost to injuries.

Fatigue Resources

Americans receive little education on the importance of sleep, sleep disorders and the consequences of fatigue, but industry leaders recently have been drawing attention to this issue. Employers, too, are in an ideal position to educate employees on how to avoid fatigue-related safety incidents. Share these National Safety Council infographics, fact sheets, posters and other resources.

Employer Suggestions to Help Workers Adjust to Time Change

Employers can relay these points to help their workers reduce risks before the time changes in the Fall and Spring:

• Remind workers that several days after the time changes are associated with somewhat higher health and safety risks due to disturbances to circadian rhythms and sleep.
• It can take one week for the body to adjust sleep times and circadian rhythms to the time change so consider reducing demanding physical and mental tasks as much as possible that week to allow oneself time to adjust.
• Remind workers to be especially vigilant while driving, at work, and at home to protect themselves since others around them may be sleepier and at risk for making an error that can cause a vehicle crash or other accident.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Employee Suggestions to Adjust to Time Change

Workers can improve their adaptation to the time change by using these suggestions (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2013). Circadian rhythms and sleep are strongly influenced by several factors including timing of exposure to light and darkness, times of eating and exercise, and time of work. One way to help the body adjust is to gradually change the times for sleep, eating, and activity.

• For the Spring time change, starting about three days before, one can gradually move up the timing of wakening and bedtime, meals, exercise, and exposure to light earlier by 15 – 20 minutes each day until these are in line with the new time. About one hour before bedtime, keep the lights dim and avoid electronic lit screens on computers, tablets, etc. to help the body move earlier the time it is ready to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night.
• For the Fall time change, starting about three days before, one can gradually move the timing of wakening and bedtime, meals, exercise, and exposure to light later by 15 – 20 minutes each day until these are in line with the new time. About 1 hour after awakening in the morning, you can keep the lights dim and avoid electronic lit screens on computers, tablets, and so forth can help the body move to a later time that it is ready to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night.
• Being sleep deprived before the time change will increase the health and safety risks so make it a priority to get enough sleep and be well rested several days before the time change.
• Other hazards for workers related to the time change in the Fall include a sudden change in the driving conditions in the late afternoon rush hour– from driving home from work during daylight hours to driving home in darkness. People may not have changed their driving habits to nighttime driving and might be at somewhat higher risk for a vehicle crash.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Daylight Saving: Suggestions to help workers adapt to the time change
• Adan A, Archer SN, Hidalgo MP, Di ML, Natale V, Randler C [2012]. Circadian typology: a comprehensive review. Chronobiol Intl 29: 1153-1175.
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine [2013]. Minimizing the effect of daylight saving time by adjusting your sleep schedule. http://www.aasmnet.org/articles.aspx?id=3732
• Harrison Y [2013]. The impact of daylight saving time on sleep and related behaviors. Sleep Med Rev. 17(4):285-92.
• Kirchberger I, Wolf K, Heier M, Kuch B, von Scheidt W, Peters A, Meisinger C [2015]. Are daylight saving time transitions associated with changes in myocardial infarction incidence? Results from the German MONICA/KORA Myocardial Infarction Registry. BMC Public Health. 14;15(1):778.

For the ninth consecutive year, Fall Protection – General Requirements was OSHA’s most frequently cited violation standard, as announced at the National Safety Council 2019 Congress & Expo.

The remainder of the preliminary list of OSHA’s Top 10 violations for fiscal year 2019 also remained largely unchanged from FY 2018, with only one adjustment. Lockout/Tagout, which ranked No. 5 in FY 2018, traded places with Respiratory Protection at No. 4.

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Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the list, based on OSHA Information System data from Oct. 1 to Aug. 15. as part of the 2019 NSC Congress & Expo, the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals.

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Summary: OSHA 2019 Workplace Safety Violations

Fall Protection remained #1 on a list that does not vary much per year.

Most Cited Violations of 2019:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,010 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 3,671
3. Scaffolding (1926.451): 2,813
4. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,606
5. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,450
6. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,345
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,093
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,773
9. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,743
10. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,411

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NSC President and CEO Lorraine M. Martin said in a Sept. 10 press release. “The OSHA Top 10 list is a helpful guide for understanding just how adept America’s businesses are in complying with the basic rules of workplace safety. This list should serve as a challenge for us to do better as a nation and expect more from employers. It should also serve as a catalyst for individual employees to recommit to safety.”

Finalized data, along with additional details and exclusive content will be published in the December edition of the Council’s Safety+Health magazine.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.

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N95 Day

N95 Day observance is dedicated to highlighting the N95 filtering facepiece respirator information. It is also used to disseminate important information about powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), half mask, and full facepiece respirators (elastomerics). #N95Day on social media.

Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs)

Air-purifying respirators (APRs) work by removing gases, vapors, aerosols (droplets and solid particles), or a combination of contaminants from the air through the use of filters, cartridges, or canisters. These respirators do not supply oxygen and therefore cannot be used in an atmosphere that is oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous to life or health. The appropriate respirator for a particular situation will depend on the environmental contaminant(s).

CDC Infographic: What are Air-Purifying Respirators? (PDF)

N95 Repirators

An N95 respirator is an example of personal protective equipment that is used to protect the wearer from liquid and airborne particles contaminating the face.

The ‘N95’ designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.

View a list of NIOSH-Approved N95 Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirator manufacturers here.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) FAQs

• At minimum, how often must you be fit tested for a tight-fitting respirator?
  Answer: Once a year. OSHA requires annual fit testing: 29 CFR 1910.134.
• What does FFR stand for?
  Answer: Filtering Facepiece Respirator
• What is the best way to decorate your respiratory protection?
  Answer: Use markers to draw images. Any alteration of the respiratory protection will void the NIOSH approval.
• Can physical body changes (weight loss/gain, dental work, scarring, cosmetic surgery, etc.) affect how a respirator fits?
  Answer: Yes. Results of a NIOSH study confirm the necessity of the current OSHA respirator fit testing requirement, both annually and when physical changes have occurred.
• Can you wear a tight-fitting respirator with facial hair?
  Answer: In general, no. Some types of facial hair are acceptable. However, facial hair cannot come in contact with or interfere with the sealing surface of the respirator against the face.
• An N95 filtering facepiece respirator and a surgical mask provide the same level of protection.
  Answer: No. A n N95 FFR and surgical mask do not provide the same level of protection.
• N95 filtering facepiece respirators provide protection against gas and vapor exposures.
  Answer: Yes. Air-purifying respirators protect by filtering particles out of the air the user is breathing.
• Particle capture or collection by a respirator filter depends on the size of a particle.
  Answer: Yes. Particle capture or collection by a respirator filter depends on the physical characteristics of the particle (e.g., shape, size and density).
• Can an N95 filtering facepiece respirator ever be reused by the same person (i.e., the practice of using the same respirator multiple times during a work shift)?
  Answer: No. These devices are typically recommended for single use. However, unless the manufacturer identifies a specified duration of use, for example “single use only”, or the employer’s respirator program excludes reuse, for example when exposed to infectious agents capable of being transmitted by contact, users can wear an FFR until it is damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance.

If N95s are part of your workplace respiratory protection program, please take some time on #N95Day – September 5 – to focus on worker safety.

Additional Respiratory Protection Resources

Respiratory Protection Infographics

• What are Air-Purifying Respirators?
• Considerations for Respirator Selection in Healthcare
• Why are Annual Fit Tests Required?
• You’ve Just Completed Your Annual Respirator Training….
• Key Requirements of a Respiratory Protection Program
• Summary of Respirator Fit Test Requirements
• Respirator Use and Infection Control in Healthcare
• Required Labeling of NIOSH-Approved N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Understanding and Selecting Respiratory Protection Devices
• Important Steps for Using NIOSH-Approved Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• It’s NOT What You Think! N95 Myth v/s Fact

Respiratory Fit Testing

• New NIOSH Study Supports the OSHA Annual Fit Testing Requirements for Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Whiteboard video, “A Particle is Particle”
• OSHA Document – Assigned Protection Factors for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard

Respirator Selection, Approval, and Storage

• NIOSH Science Blog: N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks
• Understanding Respiratory Protection Options in Healthcare: The Overlooked Elastomeric
• NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Respirator Approval Support, Test Procedures, Standards, and User Notices
• Proper Respirator Use, Storage, Maintenance, Repair, and Disposal
• The Importance of a PAPR’s Battery in Assuring Effective Respiratory Protection
• NIOSH Certified Equipment List
• Respirator Trusted-Source Information page

Labor Day is also a great time to remember the importance workplace safety. Most of us show up to work each day and we take it for granted that we will return home safely. Sadly, that is not always the case. The fact is – according to the National Safety Council – every 7 seconds, a worker is injured on the job – and each injury is preventable.

Whether you work in an office or warehouse, on a construction site, or behind the wheel of a truck, safety should be an important part of every workday.

Likewise, the best way we can honor workers today and throughout the year, is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for every man and woman – young and old alike.

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About Labor Day and OSHA

The first observance of Labor Day was on September 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade. That gathering inspired similar events across the country. In 1894, Congress passed legislation and President Grover Cleveland signed the bill on June 29, making the first Monday in September “Labor Day.”

The labor movement fought to pass the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that promised to make workplaces safer and healthier and that workers have the right to a safe workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act established the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to set standards and perform inspections at job sites.

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Progress has been made – workplace deaths and injuries have declined dramatically. In fact, the lives of more than half a million workers have been saved by strengthening workplace protections.

Still though, too many people still work in unnecessarily unsafe conditions. Thousands of workers are killed each year – and millions more suffer injuries or illnesses – because of their jobs. There is much more work to be done and we continue to advocate for safe workplaces.

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Why get OSHA safety training?

OSHA Outreach Training provides instruction and training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The OSHA Training Program also provides an overview of OSHA, regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

Aside from the obvious benefit of keeping employees safe, healthy, and productive – along with meeting the OSHA workplace safety standards – health and safety training makes financial sense for employers because:

• Every dollar spent on proper health and safety programs can save a business $4 to $6! ^[1]
• With less work-related illnesses and injuries, employers see significant savings on absenteeism and workers’ compensation insurance. ^[2]
• According to one study by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), businesses inspected by OSHA “saved an estimated $355,000 in injury claims and compensation paid for lost work” in the four years after inspections. ^[3]
• Businesses that meet OSHA’s standards avoid inspection violations and possible fines.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Employer Reasons for a Workplace Health and Safety Program

Here are a few reasons why you should give strong consideration to a health and safety training program:

• All Workplaces Have an Element of Risk – From manually handling packages to driving heavy machinery, there are different levels of exposure to risk and illness.
• Increases Staff Productivity – Employees in many ways are like customers, treat them well and they stay, treat them well and they feel valued and treat your customers well in turn.
• Reduces Frequency of Compensation Claim or Lawsuit – It only takes one serious injury to bring a worker’s compensation claim or lawsuit. Safety training can diminish the frequency.
  
• Enhances Company Image Positively – Workers want to know what they stand to gain from a company in regards their benefits and salaries, but they also want to know your plan for their health and safety.
• Reduces Costs – Apart from the cost that will be accrued by litigation costs, fines and compensation payments, actual injuries and incidents can rack up direct costs in, medical expenses such as ambulance, hospital, and doctors’ fees, medication, and rehabilitation. There could even be increases in insurance premiums as a result. Likewise, indirect costs could include disrupted work schedules, lost productivity, clean-up and repair, hiring and training replacement workers, bad publicity, time spent on accident investigation and claims management.

As an employer, don’t think health and safety training is expensive and wasteful. Health and safety training educates your workers to work safely and motivates them to be more productive… which is a profit in itself.

Employers will find that implementing safety practices also brings other benefits. Safety and health programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
• Engage workers
• Enhance their social responsibility goals
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations

Summary

Throughout history, workers have overcome many challenges. In this modern era, safety and health shouldn’t be one of them. That is why on Labor Day, and every day, we should endeavor to ensure all workers have a safe and healthy workplace.

Additional Workplace Safety Resources

• OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs (PDF)
• OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs in Construction (PDF)

References

[1] https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3163/osha3163.html
[2] https://www.osha.gov/Publications/safety-health-addvalue.html
[3] https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/topics/businesscase/

Image Source: Shutterstock

If you are under age 18, there may be limits on the hours you work, the jobs you do, and the equipment you use.  Do a couple things to understand more:

• Learn about the federal and state wage and hour child labor laws that apply to you.
• Use the hashtag #MySafeSummerJob on social media to learn more about what your employer must do to protect you at work.

#MySafeSummerJob

OSHA has created a social media campaign for young workers called #MySafeSummerJob. This is a focused effort to spread awareness to youth, educators, parents, supervisors, and employers about the importance of workplace safety. For more information about the #MySafeSummer campaign, visit mysafesummerjob.org. Also, be sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as check the blog for updates about keeping young workers safe!

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You Have Rights at Work

OSHA’s Safe Work for Young Workers website states:

You have the right to:

• Work in a safe place.
• Receive safety and health training in a language that you understand.
• Ask questions if you don’t understand instructions or if something seems unsafe.
• Use and be trained on required safety gear, such as hard hats, goggles and ear plugs.
• Exercise your workplace safety rights without retaliation or discrimination.
• File a confidential complaint with OSHA if you believe there is a serious hazard or that your employer is not following OSHA standards.

Video: OSHA – Young Worker’s Rights

Young Worker Hazards

Young workers get injured or sick on the job for many reasons, including:

• Unsafe equipment
• Inadequate safety training
• Inadequate supervision
• Dangerous work that is illegal or inappropriate for youth under 18
• Pressure to work faster
• Stressful conditions

Workplace hazards associated with specific jobs are another major cause of injuries and illnesses. Employers must work to reduce or minimize hazards in the workplace and train employees how to work safely on the job.

Workplace hazards include:

A. Retail/Grocery Stores/Convenience Stores

• Equipment and machinery
• Heavy lifting
• Violent crime
• Repetitive hand motion
• Slippery floors

B. Food Service/Fast Food

• Sharp objects
• Hot cooking equipment
• Slippery floors
• Electricity
• Heavy lifting
• Violent crime

C. Janitorial/Cleanup/ Maintenance

• Hazardous chemicals
• Slippery floors
• Heavy lifting
• Blood on discarded needles
• Electricity
• Vehicles

D. Office/Clerical

• Repetitive hand motion (computer work)
• Back and neck strain
• Stress

E. Outdoor Work

• Exposure to the sun
• Heat
• Landscaping
• Pesticides and chemicals
• Machinery and vehicles
• Electricity
• Heavy lifting
• Noise

F. Construction

• Falls
• Machines and tools
• Hazardous materials
• Confined space
• Electricity
• Struck-by
• Vehicle back-over
• Noise

G. General Industry

• Moving equipment
• Hot equipment
• Hazardous chemicals
• Electricity
• Heat
• Noise

H. Agriculture

• Machinery
• Struck-by
• Falls
• Electricity
• Confined space
• Hazardous chemicals
• Organic dust (e.g., grain)
• Heat

OSHA Is Here to Help

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the agency of the Department of Labor (DOL) that protects workers from dangers on the job that can cause injuries or illnesses. OSHA is here to help you.

Call OSHA on the toll-free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or TTY 1-877-889-5627 to get answers to your questions, or to ask OSHA to inspect your workplace if you think there is a serious hazard.

You can also submit a question online. To file a confidential complaint about workplace hazards, visit the How to File a Complaint page for instructions.

OSHA Young Worker Resources

Serious job-related injuries or illnesses don’t just hurt workers and their families, but can hurt business in a variety of ways. Implementing a safety and health program, however, can improve small- and medium-sized businesses’ safety and health performance, save money, and improve competitiveness.

OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the value of proactive occupational safety and health (OSH) programs in all workplaces. Safe + Sound is a year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Why Is Safety Important?

Traditional approaches to finding and fixing workplace hazards are often reactive. Actions are taken only after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or an outside inspection finds a problem that must be fixed. Finding and fixing hazards using a proactive approach, before they cause injury or illness, is far more effective.

OSHA Flyer: 10 Ways to get Your Program Started (PDF)
Workplaces are always evolving as new technologies, processes, materials, and workers are introduced. By adopting a systematic approach, businesses can stay on top of emerging hazards that could lead to injury or illness. Discover 10 ways to get started your Safe and Sound program started:
https://www.osha.gov/safeandsound/docs/SHP_10-Ways-to-Get-Started.pdf

.A safety and health program is a proactive way to manage hazards in the workplace to prevent injuries and illnesses. Several program models are available for employers to follow, including OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs , NSC’s Journey to Safety Excellence, ANSI Z-10, or international standards such as ISO 45001.

Safety and health programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
• Engage workers
• Enhance social responsibility goals
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations

Why Participate in Safe + Sound Week?
Safe workplaces are sound businesses. Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started or energize an existing one.

Who Is Encouraged to Participate Safe + Sound Week?
Organizations of any size or in any industry looking for an opportunity to show their commitment to safety to workers, customers, the public, or supply chain partners should participate.

How to Participate in Safe + Sound Week
Participating in Safe + Sound Week is easy. To get started, select the activities you would like to do at your workplace. You can host an event just for your workers or host a public event to engage your community. Examples of potential activities and tools to help you plan and promote your events are available. After you’ve completed your events, you can download a certificate and web badge to recognize your organization and your workers.

Need more inspiration? Watch a webinar to get ideas from organizations that participated in last year’s event.

OSHA Outreach Training provides instruction and training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The OSHA Training Program also provides an overview of OSHA, regarding workers’ rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

OSHA 10hr/30hr Outreach Training : 15% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• Know Your Rights! Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace.
• Training provides details on OSHA, workplace hazards, workers’ legal rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment.
• DOL Plastic Card Shipped Within 2 Weeks
• Reg. Price: 10hr: $89 - 30hr: $189
• Enter Promo Code "osha15off" at Checkout

Why is Health and Safety Training Important?

Aside from the obvious benefit of keeping employees safe, healthy, and productive – along with meeting the OSHA workplace safety standards – health and safety training makes financial sense for employers because:

• Every dollar spent on proper health and safety programs can save a business $4 to $6! ^[1]
• With less work-related illnesses and injuries, employers see significant savings on absenteeism and workers’ compensation insurance. ^[2]
• According to one study by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), businesses inspected by OSHA “saved an estimated $355,000 in injury claims and compensation paid for lost work” in the four years after inspections. ^[3]
• Businesses that meet OSHA’s standards avoid inspection violations and possible fines.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Employer Reasons for a Workplace Health and Safety Program

Here are a few reasons why you should give strong consideration to a health and safety training program:

• All Workplaces Have an Element of Risk – From manually handling packages to driving heavy machinery, there are different levels of exposure to risk and illness.
• Increases Staff Productivity – Employees in many ways are like customers, treat them well and they stay, treat them well and they feel valued and treat your customers well in turn.
• Reduces Frequency of Compensation Claim or Lawsuit – It only takes one serious injury to bring a worker’s compensation claim or lawsuit. Safety training can diminish the frequency.
  
• Enhances Company Image Positively – Workers want to know what they stand to gain from a company in regards their benefits and salaries, but they also want to know your plan for their health and safety.
• Reduces Costs – Apart from the cost that will be accrued by litigation costs, fines and compensation payments, actual injuries and incidents can rack up direct costs in, medical expenses such as ambulance, hospital, and doctors’ fees, medication, and rehabilitation. There could even be increases in insurance premiums as a result. Likewise, indirect costs could include disrupted work schedules, lost productivity, clean-up and repair, hiring and training replacement workers, bad publicity, time spent on accident investigation and claims management.

As an employer, don’t think health and safety training is expensive and wasteful. Health and safety training educates your workers to work safely and motivates them to be more productive… which is a profit in itself.

Additional Resources – Ebooks

Employer Rights and Responsibilities Following an OSHA Inspection
(OSHA 3000 – 2018) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA 3195 – 2018) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)

Fall Prevention: Training Guide – A Lesson Plan for Employers
(OSHA 3666 – 2014) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)
(OSHA 3727 – 2014) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems
Explains how fire service operations can be influenced by different building features and offers considerations for design professionals that can help facilitate these operations. The manual includes chapters and narratives on building and site design, sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire department connections, fire alarm and communications systems, as well as various firefighting systems.
(OSHA 3256 – 2015) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)

General Industry Digest
(OSHA 2201 – 2015) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Hazard Communication: Small Entity Compliance Guide for Employers That Use Hazardous Chemicals
(OSHA 3695 – 2014) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Ladder Safety: Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely
(OSHA 3625 – 2015) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)
(OSHA 3625 – 2015) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors
(OSHA 3459 – 2011) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)
(OSHA 3505 – 2012) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)

Nail Salon Workers: Stay Healthy and Safe While Giving Manicures and Pedicures
(OSHA 3542 – 2012) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA 3559 – 2013) (Korean: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA 3560 – 2012) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA 3558 – 2012) (Vietnamese: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)

Poultry: Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Poultry Processing (Updated Guidelines)
(OSHA 3213 – 2013) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA 3749 – 2014) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF Add to Cart)

Respiratory Protection: NIOSH/OSHA/CDC Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit
(OSHA 3767 – 2015) (English: DOC EPUB MOBI PDF)

Training Requirements in OSHA Standards
(OSHA 2254 – 2015) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Tree Care Work Hazards – Hazard Bulletin
(OSHA HB 3731 – 2014) (English: EPUB HTML MOBI PDF Add to Cart)
(OSHA HB 3740 – 2014) (Spanish: EPUB HTML MOBI PDF Add to Cart)

Workplace Violence: Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers
(OSHA 3148 – 2016) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF)

Image Source: Shutterstock

OSHA 10hr/30hr Outreach Training : 15% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• Know Your Rights! Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace.
• Training provides details on OSHA, workplace hazards, workers’ legal rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment.
• DOL Plastic Card Shipped Within 2 Weeks
• Reg. Price: 10hr: $89 - 30hr: $189
• Enter Promo Code "osha15off" at Checkout

Workplace Rights

You have the right under U.S. health and safety laws to:

• A workplace that is safe and free of recognized hazards
• Talk to your supervisor about unsafe or unhealthy working conditions
• File a complaint with OSHA about unsafe or unhealthy conditions
• Refuse to do a job task that you reasonably think might put you in immediate danger
• Know about the hazards in your workplace
• Not to be discriminated against (fired, given a worse job, etc.) for reporting safety hazards (“Whistleblower Protection”)
• Access to records of medical tests and tests that monitor your work environment for hazardous materials
• Access to information about injuries and illnesses that happen in your workplace

OSHA – Workers’ Rights Booklet

(OSHA 3021 – 2016) (English: PDF | Spanish: PDF)

This booklet explains workers’ rights to:

• File a confidential complaint with OSHA to have their workplace inspected.
• Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. The training must be done in a language and vocabulary workers can understand.
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses that occur in their workplace.
• Receive copies of the results from tests and monitoring done to find and measure hazards in the workplace.
• Get copies of their workplace medical records.
• Participate in an OSHA inspection and speak in private with the inspector.
• File a complaint with OSHA if they have been retaliated against by their employer as the result of requesting an inspection or using any of their other rights under the OSH Act.
• File a complaint if punished or retaliated against for acting as a “whistleblower” under the additional 21 federal statutes for which OSHA has jurisdiction.

Read more about your safety and health rights at work:

• Your OSHA Rights “In a Nutshell”
• When to Call OSHA: Calling OSHA isn’t the best action in every circumstance involving potential job hazards-this guide tells you when it makes sense to call for an OSHA inspection.
• How to File a Complaint with OSHA
• The OSHA Inspection: A Step-by-Step guide to how it works.
• Accident/Incident Investigation: Materials and tools to teach you to effectively investigate an incident
• What to do after an OSHA Inspection–how to ensure good follow-up and protect your rights.
• Using the General Duty Clause: The OSH Act states that the employer has a general duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace. Here’s a guide to using this clause to protect your health and safety in circumstances not covered specifically by OSHA standards.
• Protection from Retaliation:Protection for “Whistleblowers”
• OSHA Rights of Temporary and Contract Workers
• OSHA Rights and Laws relating to Young Workers
• Basic Worker Health & Safety Rights Under OSHA, NLRB and Other Agencies

Factors contributing to falls from ladders include haste, sudden movement, lack of attention, the condition of the ladder (worn or damaged), the user’s age or physical condition, or both, and the user’s footwear.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Ladder Safety Month

The American Ladder Institute (ALI) has declared March as National Ladder Safety Month. ALI, a not-for-profit ladder association of ladder industry leaders dedicated to promoting safe ladder use, with representation and support from U.S. ladder manufacturers and their suppliers, created National Ladder Safety Month to heighten awareness and promote the safe use of ladders by homeowners and working professionals.

March is the ideal time to highlight and encourage ladder safety because it coincides with Spring home improvement projects and the beginning of the construction season. National Ladder Safety Month heightens awareness, reinforces safety training, and educates homeowners and working professionals.

Why is ladder safety important?

In the U.S. workplace:

• 50 workers are injured each day – due to ladder related incidents.
• 3 workers are killed every week – due to ladder related incidents.
• Ladders have ranked 7th on OSHA’s annual “Top 10” list of most cited violations over the past few years.
• Ladders are just as dangerous away from the workplace.

Fall Protection Training: 10% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• OSHA compliant training course covering introduction to falls in the workplace, preventative measures to avoid falls, fall protection systems, fall protection plans, and how to inspect fall prevention equipment.
• 1hr: $20
• Enter Promo Code "train10off" at Checkout

OSHA Ladder Safety Requirements

The OSHA Standard for portable ladders contains specific requirements designed to ensure worker safety:

Loads

• Self-supporting (foldout) and non-self-supporting (leaning) portable ladders must be able to support at least four times the maximum intended load, except extra-heavy-duty metal or plastic ladders, which must be able to sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load.

Angle

• Non-self-supporting ladders, which must lean against a wall or other support, are to be positioned at such an angle that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is about ¹⁄₄ the working length of the ladder.
• In the case of job-made wooden ladders, that angle should equal about ¹⁄₈ the working length. This minimizes the strain of the load on ladder joints that may not be as strong as on commercially manufactured ladders.

Rungs

• Ladder rungs, cleats, or steps must be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use. Rungs must be spaced between 10″-14″ inches apart.
• For extension trestle ladders, the spacing must be 8″-18″ inches for the base, and 6″-12″ inches on the extension section.
• Rungs must be so shaped that an employee’s foot cannot slide off, and must be skid-resistant.

Slipping

• Ladders are to be kept free of oil, grease, wet paint, and other slipping hazards.
• Wood ladders must not be coated with any opaque covering, except identification or warning labels on one face only of a side rail.

Other Requirements

• Foldout or stepladders must have a metal spreader or locking device to hold the front and back sections in an open position when in use.
• When two or more ladders are used to reach a work area, they must be offset with a landing or platform between the ladders.
• The area around the top and bottom of ladder must be kept clear.
• Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to provide longer sections, unless they are specifically designed for such use.
• Never use a ladder for any purpose other than the one for which it was designed.

OSHA 10hr/30hr Outreach Training : 15% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• Know Your Rights! Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace.
• Training provides details on OSHA, workplace hazards, workers’ legal rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment.
• DOL Plastic Card Shipped Within 2 Weeks
• Reg. Price: 10hr: $89 - 30hr: $189
• Enter Promo Code "osha15off" at Checkout

Image Source: Shutterstock

Workplace Safety Rights

Know Your Rights! Every worker has the right to a safe workplace under the OSH Act. Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation.

You have the right under U.S. health and safety laws to:

• A workplace that is safe and free of recognized hazards
• Talk to your supervisor about unsafe or unhealthy working conditions
• File a complaint with OSHA about unsafe or unhealthy conditions
• Refuse to do a job task that you reasonably think might put you in immediate danger
• Know about the hazards in your workplace
• Not to be discriminated against (fired, given a worse job, etc.) for reporting safety hazards (“Whistleblower Protection”)
• Access to records of medical tests and tests that monitor your work environment for hazardous materials
• Access to information about injuries and illnesses that happen in your workplace

OSHA – Workers’ Rights Booklet

(OSHA 3021 – 2016) (English: PDF | Spanish: PDF)

This booklet explains workers’ rights to:

• File a confidential complaint with OSHA to have their workplace inspected.
• Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. The training must be done in a language and vocabulary workers can understand.
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses that occur in their workplace.
• Receive copies of the results from tests and monitoring done to find and measure hazards in the workplace.
• Get copies of their workplace medical records.
• Participate in an OSHA inspection and speak in private with the inspector.
• File a complaint with OSHA if they have been retaliated against by their employer as the result of requesting an inspection or using any of their other rights under the OSH Act.
• File a complaint if punished or retaliated against for acting as a “whistleblower” under the additional 21 federal statutes for which OSHA has jurisdiction.

 Read more about Ladder Safety and Your Worker Safety Rights:

Safety training, industry special events, and downloadable materials are available on the  LadderSafetyMonth.com website.

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X, Ladders. OSHA Standard.
  • 1926.1053, Ladders
    • 1926.1053(a), General

• Your OSHA Rights “In a Nutshell”
• When to Call OSHA: Calling OSHA isn’t the best action in every circumstance involving potential job hazards-this guide tells you when it makes sense to call for an OSHA inspection.
• How to File a Complaint with OSHA
• The OSHA Inspection: A Step-by-Step guide to how it works.
• Accident/Incident Investigation: Materials and tools to teach you to effectively investigate an incident
• What to do after an OSHA Inspection–how to ensure good follow-up and protect your rights.
• Using the General Duty Clause: The OSH Act states that the employer has a general duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace. Here’s a guide to using this clause to protect your health and safety in circumstances not covered specifically by OSHA standards.
• Protection from Retaliation:Protection for “Whistleblowers”
• OSHA Rights of Temporary and Contract Workers
• OSHA Rights and Laws relating to Young Workers
• Basic Worker Health & Safety Rights Under OSHA, NLRB and Other Agencies