Featured This Week

Employment Safety

• OSHA recognizes U.S. Postal Service's Chula Vista Main Office as safety and health “star”
• OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association renew Alliance to prevent hazards of powered industrial trucks
• OSHA announces informal public hearing on proposed rule on Confined Spaces in Construction

OSHA recognizes U.S. Postal Service's Chula Vista Main Office as safety and health “star”

OSHA has recognized the U.S. Postal Service's Chula Vista Main Office for excellence in employee safety and health. OSHA welcomed the facility into its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) at the highest, or "star," level in a ceremony held on April 18 at the Chula Vista, Calif., site, located at 750 Third Ave.

The 209 employees at the Chula Vista Main Office receive, sort and distribute U.S domestic and foreign mail. They process more than two million letters, packages and magazines daily, and provide maintenance and custodial support to all surrounding U.S. Postal Service stations, branches and associate offices. The employees are represented by the American Postal Workers Union Local 197, the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 70 and the National Mail Handlers Local 303.

"The commitment of the Chula Vista Main Office employees and management to safety and health has resulted in a significant reduction in injuries and illnesses at the facility," said Richard Terrill, OSHA acting regional administrator in San Francisco. "The VPP, with its emphasis on worksite analysis, hazard prevention and safety training, has provided an excellent framework for them to work together to accomplish this goal."

The facility joins an elite corps of more than 1,945 worksites nationwide that have earned VPP status. The VPP "star" designation followed an OSHA onsite review of the facility's safety and health programs, interviews with employees and a complete tour of the worksite. OSHA has approved the facility for three years in its VPP Corporate Program at the star level.

The VPP recognizes and promotes OSHA’s vision of an effective safety and health management system in every workplace in America. VPP approval is OSHA's official recognition of the efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary performance in occupational safety and health.

To qualify for VPP status, sites must meet or exceed all OSHA regulatory standards and submit to an OSHA review of their programs. Companies that have been accepted into the VPP represent more than 270 industries. Program participants typically achieve injury and illness rates more than 50-percent below their respective industry's average. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,737a.

OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association renew Alliance to prevent hazards of powered industrial trucks

OSHA recently renewed its Alliance with the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). The organizations will continue their efforts to provide employers and employees with training resources on the proper operation and use of powered industrial trucks.

"OSHA and ITA have made significant achievements in promoting safety when using powered industrial trucks," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "We are pleased to work with an organization whose leadership appreciates the results our collaborative relationship has achieved in improving the safety of powered industrial truck operators. As we continue our Alliance, our goal is to increase access to training resources to reduce injuries and prevent exposure to other potential hazards."

Through the OSHA and ITA Alliance, ITA is presenting an Industrial Truck Best Practices Seminar entitled "Forklift Safety: Man, Machine & Environment." The seminar, for OSHA staff, focuses on maintaining vehicle stability and preventing vehicles from tipping over. In addition, ITA distributed to its members the Department of Labor-developed article "VPP – A Proven Way to Reduce Injuries, Illnesses and Costs." ITA representatives continue to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks Safety and Health Topics webpage, from which nearly 84,000 individuals have received information and training resources.

"The Alliance with OSHA has become the single most important government relations effort ITA has engaged in since its move to Washington in 1984," said Stan Simpson, ITA president. "Through ITA's Alliance with OSHA, the association is engaging in very important outreach and compliance assistance activities. We've increased our communications with the public and our industry about the importance of safety and health in the workplace through our websites and OSHA speakers at our events." Mr. Simpson continued, "More importantly, the OSHA and ITA Alliance Industrial Truck Best Practices Seminar: ‘Forklift Safety: Man, Machine & Environment' is sharing information with the agency's staff throughout the country about best practices relating to the use of powered industrial trucks."

ITA represents manufacturers and suppliers of lift trucks. Its members also manufacture tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand-pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles. The association works with federal, state and standards-setting organizations to develop guidelines to reduce the number and severity of lift truck accidents. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,742a.

OSHA announces informal public hearing on proposed rule on Confined Spaces in Construction

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in the April 21 Federal Register that it will hold an informal public hearing to receive testimony and documentary evidence on the proposed rule for Confined Spaces in Construction. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 22, 2008, at the Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C. If a second or third day is necessary, the hearing will begin at 9 a.m. on those days.

"The proposed rule is intended to address construction-specific issues as they relate to confined spaces and establish comprehensive procedures to protect employees," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "This hearing will allow interested parties the opportunity to provide input on the proposed rule."

OSHA published the proposed Confined Spaces in Construction Standard on November 28, 2007 (72 FR 67351) and the public was given until February 28, 2008, to submit comments. Those who intend to present testimony at the hearing must notify OSHA in writing of their intention to do so no later than May 21, 2008. Parties who request more than 10 minutes for their presentations at the hearing and those who will present documentary evidence must provide the agency with copies of their full testimony and all documentary evidence no later than June 20, 2008. Employment Safety and Health Guide Daily Document Update ¶20,743a.

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