Recordkeeping

OSHA Recordkeeping page has the OSHA Recordkeeping Handbook and Training Presentations.

OSHA Recordkeeping Handbook is a compendium of existing agency approved policy, including the 2001 Recordkeeping rule (Regulatory text and relevant decision discussion from the Preamble to the rule), Frequently Asked Questions and the Letters of Interpretation.

OSHA Recordkeeping Handbook can be found
here: http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/handbook/index.html
or download: OSHA Recordkeeping Handbook

OSHA Issues Guidance on Safe Sling Use

New guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will help employers select and use the appropriate slings when handling and moving materials. The document, Guidance on Safe Sling Use Guidance on Safe Sling Use, was released by the agency.

"OSHA's current general industry standard is more than 30 years old," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "This guidance document will aid users in the safe selection and use of slings, including synthetic round slings, which are not covered in OSHA's standard, as well as the newer grades of materials being used in alloy steel chain and wire rope slings."

OSHA adopted its general industry sling standard on June 27, 1975, based on ANSI B30.9-1971 Slings standard. OSHA has since made only minor corrections. OSHA issued its construction industry sling standard on February 9, 1979, and its sling standard for shipyards on April 20, 1982.

Improper selection or use of slings can result in sling failure or load slippage, which in turn can lead to injuries or death. OSHA accident data for the years 1994 through 1996 show that there were four fatalities in general industry involving the misuse or failure of slings.

OSHA intends to format the final product for use on the Web. With the document in web format, a user can quickly get information on the type of sling he or she is using without having to look through material that is not relevant to the workplace.

Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

To Introduce the New OSHA Standard for Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Good afternoon. Thank you for calling in for this announcement from OSHA.

Today in the Federal Register, OSHA published a final rule on an important workplace safety and health issue.

Under this rule, employers will provide, at no cost to employees, almost all personal protective equipment - or, "PPE" - when the PPE is used to comply with OSHA standards.

We will examine the new standard - and the exceptions to the rule - during our discussion this afternoon.

Let me emphasize that the Department of Labor is responsible for promoting the health, safety and welfare of America's working men and women; and within the Department of Labor, OSHA is responsible for developing standards and guidance to help employers meet their legal responsibility to protect their employees.

PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING THE RULE

Over the years, there has been some confusion about whether or not employers are required to pay for personal protective equipment. Publishing this rule accomplishes three objectives:

• First, it implements the underlying requirement in the OSH Act that employers pay for workplace safety and health.
• Second, it creates a clear and consistent policy across OSHA's standards, reducing confusion about the items that employers are required to pay for.
• Third, and most important, OSHA estimates that the rule will result in over 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year - such as head, foot and eye injuries, lacerations, and chemical burns that, in many cases, may be so severe that they can leave an employee permanently disabled.

IMPACT ON EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS

This significant reduction in injuries through employer-payment of PPE is also expected to save society over $200 million per year in such forms as reduced direct costs, including medical and insurance bills. This does not include additional benefits such as reduced pain and suffering for employees.

It is important to note that employers currently pay for 95 percent of PPE. Requiring payment for the additional 5 percent is expected to result in a cost of $85 million to employers. A large percentage of these costs are due to cost shifting from employees to employers.

This shift is important. When employees pay for their own PPE,

• they are likely to purchase the wrong equipment,
• they may use the PPE beyond its expected service life, or
• they may avoid purchasing the equipment at all.

When employers pay for PPE, they are more likely to select the right PPE for the hazards present in their workplaces. When employers pay for PPE, we have found that they also make sure that the equipment is maintained and replaced as necessary, and generally take more responsibility for PPE selection and use. It is this improvement in PPE usage that is expected to result in fewer injuries and fatalities.

PARAMETERS OF THE RULE

My next point is this: The final rule that we are announcing today addresses only the issue of who pays for PPE. The rule does not require employers to provide PPE where none has been required before.

In the simplest terms, the rule for employer payment of PPE only applies when equipment is used by an employer to comply with one of the PPE requirements in OSHA's standards. In some cases, the OSHA rules describe the exact PPE that is required, and in other cases the requirements are more general.

The rule contains several exceptions for ordinary safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear, logging boots, ordinary clothing, and ordinary weather-related gear. The rule also addresses employee-owned PPE and replacement PPE. I will explain these exceptions in a moment.

HISTORY OF THE RULE

OSHA first issued a proposed rule for employer payment of PPE eight years ago, in March 1999. Through public hearings and comment periods, OSHA has worked to develop a standard that will provide clarity and fairness for employers and employees. Today, we believe that the Agency has succeeded.

While the clarifications in the new rule have added several paragraphs to the regulatory text, the rule provides employees no less protection than was provided by the 1999 proposed standard. At the same time, the rule clarifies the responsibilities of employers in a way that sets a reasonable PPE payment policy.

DETAILS OF THE RULE

I know that the journalists listening in on today's announcement want to ask questions. Before we do, let us look in more detail about the rulemaking and the individual provisions of the standard.

First, I would like to discuss the scope of the standard, both in terms of which employers and employees are covered and the types of equipment that are included.

INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS

The rulemaking affects most of OSHA's PPE standards. The rulemaking includes regulatory text tailored to for Part 1910 General Industry standards, Part 1926 Construction standards, Part 1915 Shipyard standards, Part 1917 Marine terminal standards, and Part 1918 Longshoring standards.

The regulatory text is almost the same for each of the industries. There are only small changes from one industry to the next. For example, the exception for logging boots in the general industry standard is not found in the construction or shipyard standards.

I would also like to emphasize that the rule only addresses the issue of who pays for PPE, not the types of PPE an employer must provide. What is or is not a violation of an OSHA PPE equipment requirement is unchanged by the rule.

UNIFORMS AND SANITARY CLOTHING

Next, I wish to make it clear that the rule only requires payment for PPE. It does not require payment for uniforms, caps, or other clothing worn solely to identify a person as an employee.

The rule also does not require payment for items worn to keep employees clean for purposes unrelated to safety or health. For example, blue jeans, aprons or other apparel, when worn solely to prevent clothing and/or skin from becoming soiled.

The rule also does not require payment for items worn for product safety, consumer safety, or patient safety and health, rather than employee safety and health. For example, some employers require food service employees to wear hairnets for food safety purposes.

1910 PROVISIONS - WHEN PPE IS REQUIRED

Now I would like to walk through the standard and explain the individual provisions. I will use the 1910 version, but the policies will be the same for all five industries.

The general payment provision, 1910.132(h)(1) states that payment is required for any PPE used by an employer to comply with one of the PPE requirements in OSHA's standards. If the PPE is not required, then the employer is not required to pay for it. When an employer selects a specific type of PPE to be used at the workplace to comply with a standard, the employer is required to pay for it.

SAFETY-TOE FOOTWEAR

The next paragraph, 1910.132(h)(2) states that the employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits such items to be worn off the job-site.

If the employer requires employees to keep non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear at the workplace, the employer must pay for the items.

If the safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and prescription safety eyewear are non-standard "specialty" items, the employer must pay for them. For example, prescription eyeglass inserts for full-facepiece respirators, or non-skid shoes for floor strippers are specialty items so payment will be required.

METATARSAL GUARDS

Paragraph 1910.132(h)(3) addressed metatarsal protection.

OSHA allows employers to use metatarsal guards or footwear with built-in metatarsal protection when metatarsal protection is needed in the workplace. If the employer requires employees to wear metatarsal shoes or boots, the employer is required to pay for the footwear.

However, when the employer provides metatarsal guards and allows the employee, at his or her request, to use shoes or boots with built-in metatarsal protection, the employer is not required to pay for the metatarsal shoes or boots.

Employers may contribute to the cost of metatarsal shoes or boots should they choose to do so. Some employers currently offer their employees a choice between using a metatarsal guard provided and paid for by the employer or a metatarsal shoe or boot with some portion of the cost of the shoe or boot paid for by the employer, essentially establishing an allowance system, and this is an acceptable practice.

LOGGING BOOTS

Under 1910.132(h)(4) the employer is not required to pay for the logging boots required by 29 CFR §1910.266(d)(1)(v). The logging standard exempts these boots and the regulatory text here simply reflects that exemption.

EVERYDAY CLOTHING & WEATHER/TEMPERATURE ISSUES

Under 1910.132(h)(4) the employer is not required to pay for everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes, and normal work boots. This exception applies even when the employer requires employees to use these items, and the clothing provides protection from a workplace hazard.

Similarly, under 1910.132(h)(4), the employer is not required to pay for ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items, used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and sunscreen.

If ordinary weather gear is not sufficient to protect the employee, and special equipment or extraordinary clothing is needed to protect the employee from unusually severe weather conditions, the employer is required to pay for the protection. Clothing used to protect employees from artificial heat or cold is not part of this exception. For example, employees working in a freezer warehouse may need heavy coats. In this situation, the employer is required to pay for the protection.

REPLACEMENT PPE

Paragraph 1910.132(h)(5) addresses payment for replacement PPE. It states that the employer must pay for replacement PPE, except when the employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE.

The new standard does not address how often PPE is to be replaced. Replacement is determined by each standard that requies PPE.

EMPLOYEE-OWNED EQUIPMENT

The next paragraph addresses employee-owned equipment. It states that where an employee provides adequate protective equipment which he or she owns and brings to the worksite, the employer may allow the employee to use it and is not required to reimburse the employee for that equipment. However, the employer shall not require an employee to provide or pay for his or her own PPE, unless the PPE is excepted by another paragraph.

During the rulemaking, some employers stated that it is traditional in some industries for employees to supply their own PPE, especially when the employees move frequently from job to job. This part of the rule recognizes these traditions and does not require employers to pay for PPE in this situation. However,

• The employee's use of his or her own PPE must be completely voluntary.
• The employee can withdraw use of his or her own PPE at any time.
• If the employer allows an employee to use PPE they already own, the employer is still responsible for making sure the PPE is adequate, properly maintained, and sanitary, under the applicable PPE standard.

IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

The last provision in the rule provides an enforcement deadline of six months from the date of publication. This six-month deadline will allow employers time to change their existing PPE payment policies to comply with the final rule.

Finally, the standard contains a note stating that if another rule specifies payment, the other rule will prevail.

The rule does not specify the method that employers must use to pay for PPE, and employers can choose any method that works for them. Many employers use allowances or reimbursement systems, or maintain a stock of PPE and hand it out to their employees. All these methods are acceptable, as long as the employee receives the PPE at no cost.

OSHA believes that the rule will benefit employers and employees alike by resolving this longstanding and contentious issue. We believe the rule will result in fewer injuries and fatalities, and we look forward to these safety benefits.

HazComWriter Compliance Tool  

Hazard Communication is one of the most frequently cited OSHA standards. The attached website/software provides a user friendly way of developing your program to assist in meeting standards and providing a safe work environment for your employees.

Technology News 524: HazComWriter Compliance Tool for OSHA Rule 29 CFR 1910.1200

Most Frequently Requested Publications from OSHA  

The following were the 20 most frequently requested publications from OSHA in May 2007:

1. OSHA Poster (English) (OSHA Publication 3165)
2. Department of Labor Poster Package (FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, EEO, and EPPA) (English) (OSHA Publication 5049)
3. Recordkeeping Forms (OSHA Forms 300, 300A, 301)
4. Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program (OSHA Publication 3317)
5. Employee Workplace Rights (OSHA Publication 3021)
6. OSHA Poster (Spanish) (OSHA Publication 3167)
7. Heat Stress QuickCard (OSHA Publication 3154)
8. Small Business Handbook (OSHA Publication 2209)
9. Department of Labor Poster Package (FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, EEO, and EPPA) (Spanish) (OSHA Publication 5052)
10. Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA Publication 3151)
11. Fall Protection Tips Quick Card (OSHA Publication 3257)
12. Construction Pocket Guide (OSHA Publication 3252)
13. Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines (OSHA Publication 2254)
14. How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (OSHA Publication 3088)
15. Medical and Dental Offices: A Guide to Compliance With OSHA Standards (OSHA Publication 3187)
16. Chemical Hazard Communication (OSHA Publication 3084)
17. Recordkeeping Brochure (OSHA Publication 3169)
18. Electrical Safety Quick Card (OSHA Publication 3298)
19. Aerial Lifts QuickCard (OSHA Publication 3267)
20. Hand and Power Tools (OSHA Publication 3080)

OSHA Releases New Marine Terminal Safety Guidance  

OSHA has released a new guidance document titled "Traffic Safety in Marine Terminals" to help the maritime industry avoid traffic accidents and prevent or reduce work-related fatalities and injuries.

"This new guidance will help employers design and implement a traffic safety program for vehicles and pedestrians," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "A traffic safety program should address marine terminal traffic hazards and meet OSHA's standards. Traffic safety is an important issue at marine terminals with their fast-paced operations and large, heavy equipment."

The guidance document was recommended by the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health in March, 2004. It is not a standard or regulation and it carries no new legal obligations. Rather, it focuses on the factors that contribute to traffic related injuries and identifies measures to prevent them, such as safety checks, vehicle selection and maintenance, traffic controls, safe operation of vehicles, and safe driving techniques.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 15 fatalities in the marine cargo industry in 2005, eight of which were the result of transportation incidents. To view the guidance, visit http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3337-07-2007-English-07192007.html

OSHA Manual on Managing Worker Safety and Health

An OSHA manual, "Managing Worker Safety and Health" was developed by the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Cooperative Programs, has been posted on the Web by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Copy and paste the link below to your web browser, or simply click on the link: http://www.dolir.mo.gov/ls/safetyconsultation/ccp

Fact Sheet Available for Employers and Employees in Maritime Industry

The latest addition to OSHA's ongoing series of safety and health fact sheets is Radio Communication Can Assist Container Gantry Crane Operators in Marine Terminals. The document highlights OSHA's requirements for radio communication between a crane operator and employees under the crane and aboard ship. It also presents a series of safety precautions employers and employees should take to prevent injuries caused by moving cargo cranes.

New Quick Card Focuses on Carbon Monoxide Hazards

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is the subject of a new Quick Card recently posted to OSHA's Web site. The card, available in both English and Spanish, contains a list of common sources, symptoms, and effects of carbon monoxide exposure, along with a list of preventive measures employees can take to protect themselves from carbon monoxide hazards. It can be downloaded from OSHA's Web site on the Quick Cards page, or can be ordered by calling OSHA's publications office at (202) 693-1888.

Abrasive Blasting Hazards in Shipyard Employment

OSHA Guidance Document. (2006, December)

Marine Terminal Fall Protection for Personnel Platforms

Also available as a PDF - 2 pages, 222 KB.

OSHA Fact Sheet. (2006, June)

Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Hexavalent Chromium Standards

This guide is intended to help small businesses comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) standards. Employees exposed to Cr(VI) are at increased risk of developing serious adverse health effects including lung cancer, asthma and damage to the nasal passages and skin. This guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees from the hazards associated with exposure to Cr(VI).

OSHA Issues Instruction on Commercial Diving Operations

A new OSHA instruction provides occupational safety and health guidelines for commercial diving operations. According to the agency, the instruction:

• Consolidates previously issued interpretations of commercial diving operations standards
• Answers some commonly asked questions related to commercial diving operations
• Provides a checklist to improve the consistency and efficiency of inspections of diving equipment, systems and operations

Evacuation Plans and Procedure eTool

OSHA provides an Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool to help employers prevent severe employee injuries during emergencies.

Longshoring, Marine Terminals Directive Posted

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration May 23 posted an updated longshoring and marine terminals "tool shed" compliance directive.

The directive, CPL 02-00-139, incorporates recently issued interpretations and revises the instruction's format to comply with current OSHA policy, the agency said. The document provides guidance on the application of OSHA standards in longshoring and marine terminal activities, as well as provides consistent information on marine cargo handling industry standards.

The publication replaces a Sept. 30, 2003, directive (CPL 02-00-132). The new document is available at http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-00-139.pdf

OSHA Issues Final Standard on Hexavalent Chromium

A final standard covering occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium in general industry, construction, and shipyards was published by OSHA in the Federal Register February 28,2006. The new standard lowers the agency's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hexavalent chromium from 52 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time weighted average, and includes provisions for respiratory protection, personal protective equipment, recordkeeping, preferred methods for controlling exposure, and more. Hexavalent chromium compounds are most commonly used as a structural and anti-corrosive element in stainless steel, iron, and steel production, and in welding and painting, and have been associated with lung cancer and skin disorders.

OSHA answers questions regarding Restricted Work

Question: An employee has a work-related occupational injury and is examined by the company physician. The employee can be returned to work, full duty; however, the employee is given a 20-pound lifting restriction, or a "do not use left hand" restriction for 3 weeks. The restriction is given because the employees may get rotated for non-routine tasks, or equipment breakdown that might occur once or twice a month. By issuing the restriction, the supervisor knows not to allow that employee to do non-routine tasks. Is this still considered a work restriction for recordkeeping purposes and do the total days need to be counted on the OSHA Log since the restriction is for non-routine tasks and the physician is saying the employee can perform all of his normal routine work and work the full work day?

Answer: This case should not be considered as a case involving restricted work activity. §1904.7(b)(4)(i)(A) states that restricted work occurs when an employer keeps the employee from performing one or more of the routine functions of his or her job. For recordkeeping purposes, an employee's routine functions are those work activities the employee regularly performs at least once per week. In the above scenario, the employee is restricted from activities he or she may have performed only once or twice a month and therefore does not meet the definition of routine job functions. Click Here for the entire letter.

Question: An employee is injured at work and work relationship is established for recordkeeping purposes. The employee is now not able to drive himself to work. The employee may have a cast or splint on, arm in a sling, using crutches, or leg immobilized, etc. The employer has work the employee could do if the employee could get to work. The employee stated he was not able to drive. Prior to the injury, the employee drove himself to work everyday. He was not in a car pool, or didn't catch a ride with co-workers, etc. Would this case be a days away from work case or a restricted work activity case? If the employer provided transportation (even though not required by the regulation to do so), could the company count the days as restricted or must they still count the days as days away from work? Would the answer be the same if the employee's doctor wrote a restriction of "no driving" but the company says "the employee can get a ride with someone else, we have work available"?

Answer: The case must be recorded in a manner reflecting what actually occurs. If the employee does not make it to work, the case must be recorded as a case involving days away from work. If the employee is driven to work by the employer, or anyone else, and the employee performs restricted work, the case must be recorded as a case involving restricted work activity. Click Here for the entire letter.

Credit: Safteng.net

Facial hair and voluntary use of filtering facepiece respirators

OSHA Offers Guidance on Shipyard Fire Protection Standard

OSHA recently posted new information on its web site to help employers and workers better understand the Shipyard Fire Protection Standard.

Shipyard Fire Protection Frequently Asked Questions is divided into three sections: general questions, fire watch questions, and questions about fuel gas and oxygen supply lines.

OSH Answers - Guide to Writing an OHS Policy Statement.pdf
This document has ideas for creating a safety and health policy and can help answer the question "How do I write a safety policy?"

OSHA 2254 Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training
This informational booklet is intended to provide a generic, non-exhaustive overview of OSHA 2254 Training Requirements.

OSHA Offers Best Practices Guide To Developing Workplace First Aid Programs

There are a number of elements to include when planning a first aid program for a particular workplace. OSHA has issued a document to help employers and employees develop such programs: Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program.

"Workplace first-aid program is a key component of any comprehensive safety and health management system," said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke. "Our new guide offers practical information on how to help employers plan and implement first-aid programs as well as effective training."

The guide can be accessed at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf.

For additional information, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics page on Medical and First Aid at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/medicalfirstaid/index.html.

Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes

OSHA Pocket Guide on Concrete Manufacturing
OSHA Pocket Guide on Construction Safety
are a series on worker safety being developed by OSHA.

Quick-reference tools help identify potential hazards and possible solutions to those hazards for the most frequently cited standards in construction. It also offers safety checklists on personal protection equipment, scaffolding, electricity, floor and wall openings, elevated surfaces, hazard communication, cranes, and forklifts to help avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

The documents can be downloaded by right-clicking on the above links or a printed copy can be ordered by calling OSHA's publications office at (202) 693-1888.

OSHA presented the following at the VSRA/OSHA seminar:
   OSHA Fire Protection in Shipyard Employment Assistance Presentation
   OSHA Marine Hanging Staging Guidance Document
    (These files may take a little longer to download - they are about 4 megs).

Assistance for the Maritime Industry
This section of the OSHA web site, devoted to the Maritime Industry, covers topics such as:

• Standards and Guidance
• Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH)
• Enforcement
• Safety and Health
• Alliances and Partnerships
• Fire Protection

Concepts and Techniques of Machine Safeguarding
This manual has been prepared as an aid to employers, employees, machine manufacturers, machine guard designers and fabricators, and all others with an interest in protecting workers against the hazards of moving machine parts.

Fact Sheets    (En Español)
This link will bring you to numerous downloadable informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or standards.

Ensuring the Health and Safety of Workers with Disabilities
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published a guide on how to secure the workplace health and safety of people with disabilities. It provides user-friendly and practical guidance on how the responsibilities of equality legislation can tie in with health and safety responsibilities. The factsheet also demonstrates how a practical application of the two sets of legislation can benefit both the worker and employer.

General Industry Presentations
Ten (10) downloadable presentation materials designed to assist trainers conducting OSHA 10-hour General Industry outreach training for workers. Since workers are the target audience, these materials emphasize hazard identification, avoidance, and control - not standards.

Longshoring and Marine Terminals: Hazard and Abatement Summaries
This link will bring you to a summary of guide sheets developed to help employers and workers in the maritime cargo handling industry, recognize and control the significant hazards commonly experienced in longshoring and marine terminal operations.

MSHA’s Guide to Equipment Guarding
This guide is provided to assist the mining community with designing, installing and maintaining equipment guards to prevent miners from contacting hazardous moving machine parts. Some of our Members use equipment similar to that used in the mining community, and this is an excellent guide for assistance. Contact with machine parts may result in serious accident or event death. Proper equipment guarding is essential to reduce this risk.

SHIP - Hot Work-Welding, Cutting and Brazing.
The shipyard community and OSHA have jointly developed Safety and Health Injury Prevention Sheets (SHIPS). The goal of SHIPS is to reduce or eliminate unsafe work practices by increasing employer and worker awareness of safety and health hazards.

Designed for both employers and workers, SHIPS presents information on hazard awareness and controls in a user-friendly format. Pictures from actual shipyards depict hazards and recommended solutions. The time-tested solutions presented are those the shipyard community has found to be most effective in reducing or eliminating shipyard injuries.

Safety and Health Topics
In its Strategic Plan, OSHA recognizes the need for outreach programs to promote voluntary mitigation of workplace hazards. Safety and Health Topics has been created toward that purpose by providing ready access to selected occupational safety and health information via the Internet. Technical staff from various OSHA offices have joined in providing these pages targeted toward the above mission. Editors and Editorial Boards evaluate the hundreds of references available about a particular subject, and select those references considered most important for achieving the stated mission. The entries selected may include a variety of OSHA and non-OSHA reference materials, such as full-text manuals, training materials, slide shows, standards, compliance guidance, etc., and links to related Internet sites.

Safety and Health Topics is rapidly becoming a primary resource to the occupational safety and health community. With the continued support from our users, Editors and Editorial Boards, we are convinced it can be an important aid for complying with OSHA standards and providing a safer workplace.

The following links within Safety and Health Topics are highlighted for Member quick reference:
  Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety
  Deaths Involving the Inadvertent Connection of Air-line Respirators to Inert Gas Supplies

Workplace Substance Abuse
OSHA unveiled a new Safety and Health Topics webpage this month, providing important information on programs and approaches to help foster drug-free workplaces. The Workplace Substance Abuse page provides recommendations for small businesses to effectively address substance abuse in the workplace and suggests ways to develop drug-free workplace programs. Links to further information are provided on federal and state laws, state and community resources, training and education materials for supervisors, and resources for more information on addiction, treatment and recovery.