Article Archives

QuickTakes 07/15/2015

QuickTakes 07/01/2015

Workplace Violence

wvOver the past decade, research on workplace violence and prevention has shed new light on existing types of hazards and effective types of abatement in different healthcare and social service settings. OSHA has updated its 2004 “Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers” to reflect the latest research and findings.

Below are links to the updated publication and OSHA’s website on workplace violence:

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/

Ebola Safety and Health Topics

Frederick A. Murphy/CDC

Frederick A. Murphy/CDC

OSHA has published several guidance documents and products related to protecting the safety and health of workers at risk for occupational exposure to Ebola, which include the following:

Safety & Health Certificate Program for Public Sector Employees

Safety & Health Certificate Program for Public Sector Employees

OSHA recently launched a new safety and health certificate program for public sector employees.  I served on the OSHA Training Institute Education Center committee that developed this program.  Public sector employees are not covered by OSHA regulations unless they work in a state where the state government has its own OSHA plan.  OSHA is committed to reducing the incident rates for public sector employees and this certificate program is one strategy to accomplish that goal.  Great Lakes will be offering this certificate program.  Click here to learn more about the program or read the OSHA press release below.

-Bill Menrath,  Director of the Great Lakes OSHA Education Center

Courtesy New Jersey Department of Health

Crystalline Silica

Many workers, especially construction workers, are exposed to crystalline silica.  Workers are at risk for silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease when they inhale very small crystalline silica particles.  Engineering controls are commonly used to control silica dust.  On September 12, 2013 OSHA released a notice of proposed ulemaking (NPRM) for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (available here). Learn more about the health effects, uses and properties of crystalline silica in this report released by the National Toxicology Program by clicking here.  This information is especially relevant to Construction Outreach trainers.