A popular OSHA-NIOSH PDF document titled Nail Gun Safety – A Guide for Construction Contractors is now also available in Spanish.

The document was originally created to help prevent work-related nail gun injuries that make up about 37,000 emergency room visits every year. The Spanish version will help increase awareness to a broader audience of the Spanish-speaking work force.

Important topics include unintended nail discharge, nails that bounce off a hard surface, and disabling the gun’s safety features.

To view the document in English, visit http://www.osha.gov/Publications/NailgunFinal_508_02_optimized.pdf.

To view the document in Spanish, visit http://www.osha.gov/Publications/NailGun3505_sp.pdf.

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While many parts of the country have felt the change of seasons already, Florida is not-surprisingly one that lags behind. For those of us in the sunshine state, working outside consists of high humidity and temperature levels until almost the end of the year.

If your job consists of outdoor work, however, it is very important to stay cool and hydrated at all times. As part of their Heat Illness Prevention Campaign, OSHA has now included a Heat Fatalities Map. The map shows examples of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. from 2009 to 2012. For each fatality, basic information about the type of workplace, work task, and work conditions is provided if available.

Another way to actively ensure heat-stress safety for you and all your employees, you can now download OSHA’s Heat Safety Tool App. This mobile app helps measure head index for your work site, displays risk levels, and provides protective measures for everyone at risk to follow.

To order any of OSHA's materials that are part of this campaign, visit the website at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html, call OSHA's Office of Communications at (202) 693-1999 or visit OSHA's Publications page.

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Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis promoted nail salon safety at OSHA Harwood grantee event on September 27 with Vietnamese nail salon workers and local community leaders in Falls Church, VA.

The OSHA Susan Harwood grantee Boat People SOS hosted the event. They are a national organization that provides assistance to workers for the Vietnamese-American community on workplace safety and workers’ rights.

For workers in the industry, there is a webpage by OSHA on nail salon safety with different resources including a guide called “Stay Healthy and Safe While Giving Manicures and Pedicures: A Guide for Nail Salon Workers” which is sectioned in three parts: chemicals, ergonomics, and biological hazards. You can view the document in both, English and Vietnamese.

For the English version, visit, http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3542nail-salon-workers-guide.pdf

For the Vietnamese version, visit, http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3558_vietnamese.pdf

To order a free copy of the PDF File, call the Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 or visit OSHA’s Publications page.

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OSHA has recently announced the renewal of 24 existing OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers, along with four new ones. The purpose of the current training centers is to provide training courses on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health issues, and additional outlets for safety and health training with the new ones.

The OTI Education Centers program was created in 1992 and have been providing nationwide training to private sectors and federal personnel from agencies outside of OSHA. By the end of fiscal year 2012, more than 40,000 people were trained through this training.

The OSHA Outreach Training Program is assisted by the OTI Education Centers and serve as the principal provider of Outreach Training Program trainer courses including all train-the-trainer topic areas that certifies them to teach 10-hour or 30-hour courses. During fiscal years from 2010 to 2012, more than two million people were trained through this program.

"This year, we have seen record numbers of requests for occupational safety and health training from the private sector and federal agency personnel," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "The renewal of OTI's Education Centers and the addition of four new centers will help OSHA to meet this demand and deliver life-saving training to our country's employers and workers."

It's important to note that the OTI Education Centers courses are not mandatory by OSHA and does not meet training requirements for any OSHA standards. OSHA doesn’t provide funding to the OTI Education Centers, as each location supports its training through tuition and fee structures.

To view the list of the current and new OTI Education Centers, visit http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23058.

For more information on OSHA 10-hour general industry or construction certification, call us at 407-353-8165 or visit us at https://safetylinks.net/index.php/training/osha-msha-courses.

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In efforts to improve pipeline safety issues caused by recent disasters and report finding to the public, the U.S. Department of Transportation has recently launched a new webpage, Pipeline Safety Update, which includes guidelines on regulations, safety issues, and stakeholder information in it.

Links to programs such as the National Pipeline Mapping System, a pipeline safety page with checklists, links, One-Call Centers and 811 are listed on the page that will be useful for reference before any excavation.

Any input or documents that will help inform the stakeholder communities are welcomed when sent via email at pipelineforum@dot.gov.

To view the page, visit HERE.

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We dedicate this day to all the vicitims, our troops, rescue teams and their families affected  by this tragedy eleven years ago.

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