OSHA Update Eric S. Harbin Deputy Regional Administrator Occupational Safety and Health Administration AGC Update Houston, TX January 16, 2014

OSHA - Background  In 1970, Congress created OSHA: ‒ Assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women;  The OSH Act ensures OSHA’s mission by: –Setting and enforcing standards; –Providing training, outreach, education; –Compliance assistance.

OSHA - Jurisdiction OSHA coverage includes private sector employers and workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state plan.

Employer Rights and Responsibilities  Employers have the responsibility to, at a minimum, comply with the OSH Act;  Employers must perform their due diligence to find and correct safety and health hazards;  Employers must provide safety training to workers in a language and vocabulary they can understand;  Employers must inform workers about chemical hazards through training, labels, alarms, color-coded systems, chemical information sheets and other methods – aka Hazard Communication.

OSHA’s Continuing Mission  More than 4,000 Americans die from workplace injuries every year.  Perhaps as many as 50,000 workers die from illnesses in which workplace exposures were a contributing factor.  More than 3 million cases of non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses annually. (BLS estimates this is between a 30% and 60% undercount).  Estimated annual cost of occupational injuries and illnesses: >$250 billion (2007 dollars).

Fatal Injuries: New BLS Data Key findings:  National work-related fatal injury rate dropped from 3.5 per 100,00 full-time equivalent workers to 3.2.  The rate of fatal injuries in construction increased from 9.1 in 2011 to 9.5 per 100,000.  Fatal injuries in oil and gas extraction rose 23%.

Region VI Area Offices Austin Area Office Baton Rouge Area Office Corpus Christi Area Office Dallas Area Office Fort Worth Area Office Houston North Area Office Houston South Area Office Little Rock Area Office Lubbock District Office Oklahoma City Area Office El Paso Area Office San Antonio Area Office

Region VI Area Offices OSHA Region VI covers close to 495,571 square miles with 260 staff.

National Partnerships The Electrical Transmission and Distribution Construction Contractors, the IBEW, and Trade Associations (#325) OSHA, Michigan OSHA, United Auto, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers (UAW)/Ford Motor Company/ACH-LLC (#97)

OSHA initiatives…

Heat Campaign Heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which has killed more than 30 workers annually since 2003.

Heat Campaign Water ☼ Rest ☼ Shade

Fall Prevention Campaign  Each year over 750 construction workers die on the job in the U.S.  Falls are leading cause of deaths in construction — about 1/3 of all construction fatalities  Of the 255 deaths from falls in construction in the US in 2011, 90 were from roofs, 68 from ladders and 37 from scaffolds

 Target outreach to vulnerable workers with limited English proficiency.  Simple language, clear illustrations, and easy-to- follow instructions.  Focus on key areas: falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolds  Work with local and national stakeholders to take this message directly to those who need it most. Fall Prevention Campaign

Workplace Violence  Risk Factors  Prevention Programs  Training and Other Resources

Growth of Temporary Workforce  861,000 temp jobs added to the economy since August 2009 as of 2012

Temps: Increased Likelihood of Injury  New workers are at increased risk of injuries. Temps are often new to a jobsite several times a year.  Temps are at greater risk of workplace injury than non-temps.  Host employers are less likely to devote resources to fully train temps.

Temps: Recommended Safety and Health Practices Both staffing agency & host employer should:  Have a written safety and health program  Perform a hazard assessment of the worksite  Define scope of work in the contract  Conduct new project orientation and safety training that addresses hazards to which temporary workers may be potentially exposed.

Incentive Programs OSHA has asserted its position against safety incentive programs that discourage workers from reporting injuries.  Such programs could violate Section 11(c) of the OSH Act (Whistleblower Protection) and 29 CFR (Recordkeeping)  See OSHA memorandum “Employer Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies and Practices” (March 12, 2012) for examples and further guidance

200 million visitors to OSHA’s website in FY ,000 responses to OSHA calls for help 33,000 requests for assistance answered 5,300 outreach activities by Regional & Area Offices 27,000 small businesses helped through Consultation OSHA Compliance Assistance

Diverse Workforce Outreach: OSHA Publications

Flexible e-pub format for new publications OSHA is responding to changing technology and the mobile needs of employers and workers

Contact OSHA  Toll-Free Hotline OSHA (English and Spanish)  E-Correspondence (English and Spanish)  Letter  Regional/Area Offices Screen Capture of OSHA's Contact Us Web Page