TEN_8_12_Acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 8-12 DATE August 30 2012 TO STATE MONITOR ADVOCATES AMERICAN JOB CENTER MANAGERS STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS NATIONAL FARMWORKER JOBS PROGRAM GRANTEES FROM JANE OATES s Assistant Secretary Employment and Training Administration DAVID MICHAELS s Assistant Secretary Occupational Safety and Health Administration SUBJECT Announcement of Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA Outreach Materials to Protect Workers from Falls in Construction and Heat Illness 1. Purpose . To inform the workforce system of two outreach campaigns to prevent fatal falls in construction and heat illness in outdoor workers. 2. Background . A. Preventing Falls in Construction. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction. In 2010 more than 10 000 construction workers were injured as a result of falling while working from heights and 264 were killed. OSHA has joined together with representatives of labor and management groups and with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH to launch a nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness among workers and employers about the hazards of falls from ladders scaffolds and roofs. The message is simple plan provide and train because safety pays and falls cost. B. P reventing Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers. Each year thousands of outdoor workers experience serious heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion. If they are lucky someone recognizes the symptoms fast enough to move them out of the heat give them water and help cool them down. If not heat exhaustion can become heat stroke. For 2010 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 4 190 workers suffered from heat illness and 40 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job. Workers in construction and agriculture are the most vulnerable building and road construction crews roofers and other construction trades and farm labor contractors and crew leaders in highway street and bridge construction. 2 Following a successful national outreach initiative in 2011 OSHA has launched the 2012 Heat Illness prevention campaign called Water Rest Shade to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in the heat and steps needed to prevent heat-related illnesses. Last year OSHA reached two million workers and employers this year we re hoping to reach even more. 3. Action Requested . ETA and OSHA encourage state and local area workforce agencies and service providers to assist in distributing print materials and circulating electronic educational resources to local stakeholders about OSHA s Plan Provide Train and Water Rest Shade campaigns. OSHA has developed easy-to-understand educational materials available in English Spanish and other languages. The materials feature clear pictures plain vocabulary and messages designed for any worker to understand and remember. OSHA can send out quantities of these fact sheets posters and other outreach materials and has sent samples to states. To order additional quantities of these materials call 202 693-1999. OSHA has also created pages for the Fall Prevention in Construction http www.osha.gov stopfalls index.html and Heat Illness Prevention http www.osha.gov SLTC heatillness index.html campaigns which include additional materials including educational and media resources. OSHA also encourages iPhone Blackberry and Android users to download the OSHA Heat App http www.osha.gov SLTC heatillness heat index heat app.html which just reached the benchmark of over 50 000 downloads. To order any of OSHA s materials in English or Spanish call OSHA s Office of Communications at 202 693-1999 or visit OSHA s Publications page http www.osha.gov pls publications publication.html . OSHA also encourages state and local agencies and service providers to subscribe to OSHA s twice monthly newsletter QuickTakes http www.osha.gov as opa quicktakes index.html which will provide regular campaign updates. 4. More Information and Resources . For more information contact OSHA s Office of Communications at 202 693-1999 and visit OSHA s website www.osha.gov .