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OSHA moves National Safety Stand-Down to September

Washington — OSHA has rescheduled the seventh annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction for Sept. 14-18.




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Rise in fatal falls spurs MSHA safety alert

Washington — In response to a recent increase in fatal falls from height in the mining industry, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a fall protection safety alert.




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Fall protection in construction: Oregon OSHA launches free online training

Salem, OR — A new online video training course developed by Oregon OSHA is intended to help employers and workers in the construction industry meet the requirements of the agency’s fall protection standards.




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OSHA proposes updates to handrail, stair rail requirements in Walking-Working Surfaces standard

Washington — OSHA is seeking to update the handrail and stair rail system requirements in its standard on walking-working surfaces for general industry.




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‘Fall Protection for Construction’: Oregon OSHA launches Spanish version of online training course

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish-language version of its free online video training course on fall protection for the construction industry.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 24: How an OSHA ETS works and ladder safety

In Episode 24, the S+H editorial team discusses some frequently asked questions about how OSHA emergency temporary standards and regulations work. Also, Christina Socias-Morales, an epidemiologist in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, joins us to discuss National Ladder Safety Month, coming in March.




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Washington L&I moving to revise fall protection rules to align with OSHA

Tumwater, WA — Responding to concerns that some of its fall protection rules aren’t “at least as effective” as federal OSHA’s general industry and construction standards, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has initiated rulemaking to revise certain provisions of its Unified Safety Standards for Fall Protection.




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New poster: OSHA requirements for mechanical service and construction work on low-slope roofs

Rockville, MD — OSHA requirements for mechanical service and mechanical construction on low-slope roofs – and the differences between them – are the topic of a new poster from the Mechanical Contractors Association of America.




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As slip and fall fatalities continue to occur, MSHA focuses on fall protection

Arlington, VA — Fatalities resulting from a slip and fall account for 12% of total miner deaths this year to date – more than twice the percentage reported in 2021, a recent analysis by the Mine Safety and Health Administration shows.




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Washington L&I revises fall protection rules to align with federal OSHA

Tumwater, WA — Updated fall protection rules in Washington state went into effect Nov. 1, bringing them in line with that of federal OSHA.




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New MSHA alert: Prevent falls from height

Arlington, VA — Alarmed by a steady stream of miner deaths related to falls from height, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a safety alert.




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‘Finish the job’: NTSB member leads push on Positive Train Control implementation

New Haven, CT — National Transportation Safety Board member Jennifer Homendy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and railroad safety advocates repeated their call for full implementation of Positive Train Control – emergency slowing and stopping systems designed to help prevent train crashes and derailments caused by human error.




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Cranes and derricks in railroad roadway work: OSHA clarifies final rule; lists exemptions

Washington — OSHA is providing specific exemptions and clarifications for railroad roadway work in its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard.




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Short line railroad safety group launches free hazmat training

Washington — The Short Line Safety Institute has published a series of free videos designed to provide railroad workers with an overview of key elements of hazardous materials safety regulations.




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OSHA amends hazcom standard to remove 'MSDS' references

Washington – OSHA issued a correction and technical amendment to its Hazard Communication Standard to change references of “Material Safety Data Sheets” to the updated “Safety Data Sheets.”




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OSHA responds to combustible dust, hazcom questions

Washington – Providers of Safety Data Sheets and chemical labeling may include additional information on a contained substance if it presents a combustible dust hazard, OSHA said in an interpretation on the recently revised Hazard Communication Standard.




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OSHA, Canada agree to align hazcom standards

Washington – OSHA and the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch of the Canadian Department of Health have signed an agreement to collaboratively implement the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in their respective jurisdictions.




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Program to test safety impact of paperless hazcom system for shippers

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has announced plans for a pilot program to evaluate the safety and security impacts of a paperless hazard communications system for shippers and carriers.




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Main: OSHA hazcom standard compatible with MSHA requirements

Arlington, VA – Employers in the mining industry that follow OSHA’s newly revised Hazard Communication Standard will be in compliance with the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s hazcom standard, MSHA clarified in an Aug. 13 policy letter.




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OSHA to host webinar on Hazard Communication Standard

Washington – OSHA and the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication are sponsoring a free webinar to explain the inspection procedures for OSHA’s recently updated Hazard Communication Standard.




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OSHA updates hazcom webpage

Washington – OSHA has updated its hazard communication webpage to include easier access to topics on the agency’s revised standard.




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OSHA extends comment period for draft ‘weight of evidence’ guidance

Washington – OSHA has extended, to May 2, the deadline to submit comments on the agency’s draft document on using the “weight of evidence” approach to classifying hazardous chemicals.




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OSHA, Health Canada create work plan for coordinated hazcom effort

Washington – OSHA and Health Canada have developed a work plan intended to align U.S. and Canadian requirements for classifying, and sharing information about, work-related chemical hazards.




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OSHA schedules informal meeting to discuss updates to hazcom standard

Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal public meeting to discuss potential updates to its Hazard Communication Standard. The meeting is set to take place Nov. 16 at the Mine Safety and Health Administration headquarters in Arlington, VA.




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Starting the conversation: OSHA mulls update to HazCom Standard

Although nobody can say for certain when the next revision to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard will take place, the agency hosted a meeting in November to gather stakeholder feedback on efforts to align the standard with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA schedules meeting to solicit comments on GHS before UN conference

Washington – OSHA has scheduled a public meeting on June 20 in advance of the 33rd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA: No update to Hazard Communication Standard in near future

Washington – Any long-awaited update to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is not forthcoming, an agency official said June 20.




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OSHA, PHMSA seeking comments ahead of GHS conferences

Washington – OSHA is scheduled to lead a public meeting on Nov. 14 in advance of the 34th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA, PHMSA requesting public input ahead of GHS conferences

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a public meeting for June 12 to discuss proposals ahead of the 35th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.




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OSHA, PHMSA requesting comments ahead of United Nations GHS conferences

Washington — OSHA is scheduled to lead a public meeting on Nov. 13 in advance of the 36th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA, PHMSA announce prep meetings for UN sessions on GHS

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host a public meeting on June 20 to gather information in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings, the agencies announced in the May 22 Federal Register.




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OSHA, Health Canada issue joint guidance on GHS pictogram requirements

Washington — To support implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, OSHA and Health Canada have released joint guidance on pictogram requirements for three hazard communication categories.




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OSHA, PHMSA announce prep meetings for UN sessions on GHS, transport of hazardous goods

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host virtual public meetings June 24 in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings.




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OSHA, PHMSA request comment ahead of UN meetings on GHS, transport of hazardous goods

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host virtual public meetings Nov. 19 in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings.




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GHS alignment: OSHA extends comment period on proposed updates to hazcom regs

Washington — OSHA has extended until May 19 the comment period on a proposed rule that would update the agency’s regulations on hazard communication to align with the seventh version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA, PHMSA seeking input ahead of GHS conferences

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for June 23 in advance of the 40th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA seeking input on proposed update to hazard communication regs

Washington — OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing for Sept. 21 on proposed updates to the agency’s regulations on hazard communication.




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OSHA, PHMSA seek input ahead of UN meetings on GHS, transport of hazardous goods

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for June 15 in advance of the 42nd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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OSHA, pipeline safety agency seek input for UN meetings on GHS, transport of hazardous goods

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Nov. 16 in advance of the 43rd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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The importance of Safety Data Sheets

They’re “essential for a compliant hazard communication program,” one expert says. (Bonus: Take our quiz to find out how much you know about SDSs.)




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TRADE SHOW NEWS

For those involved with fire protection systems and equipment, special hazards, chemical and hazardous material storage and handling, building fire protection, life safety, electrical installations, or security products, systems and




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SDM's 2021 Industry Forecast Shows Hope Ahead

To say 2020 was a bit of a roller coaster ride is perhaps an understatement. At this time last year, most security integrators anticipated a strong 2020, only to be thrown into turmoil late in the first quarter by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.




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Rulemaking and emphasis program part of OSHA’s plans for preventing heat illnesses

Washington — OSHA is initiating a multipronged approach to protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, both outdoors and indoors, the agency has announced.




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OSHA emphasis program aimed at protecting New England tree, landscaping workers

Boston — Spurred by an “alarming” and “unacceptable” number of incidents in the tree and landscaping industries throughout New England in recent years, OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program intended to reduce the risks of injury and death faced by workers in these industries.




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Great Lakes facility becomes fifth NIOSH center for ag worker safety and health

Washington — NIOSH has established the Great Lakes Center for Farmworker Health and Wellbeing. Based at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Great Lakes Center becomes the 11th center for agricultural safety and health – or Ag Center – nationwide.




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Comment period open on Oregon OSHA’s pending oversight of temporary labor camps

Washington — Oregon OSHA is one step closer to having full oversight over temporary labor camps, after federal OSHA published a proposed final approval in the March 13 Federal Register.




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Summer’s a busy (and dangerous) time for landscaping workers, OSHA says

Washington — Vehicles, moving machinery parts, falling trees, toxic chemicals and heat exposure are some of the many hazards that workers in landscaping are exposed to throughout the summer months.




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OSHA issues its first hazard alert on heat

Washington — OSHA is urging employers to take steps to keep workers safe in extreme heat, including providing adequate cool water, rest breaks, and shade or a cool rest area.




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OSHA approves Oregon’s oversight of temporary labor camps

Washington — Oregon OSHA now has full oversight of temporary labor camps in the state, after receiving federal OSHA’s final approval.




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New fact sheet: Prevent skid steer loader injuries

East Lansing, MI — Employers who have skid steer loaders should develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive injury prevention program that includes training workers on hazard recognition and avoidance.