OSHA Will Enforce Beryllium Standard Starting in MayOSHA will start enforcement of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in construction, shipyard, and general industries on May 11, 2018. The start of enforcement had previously been set for March 12, 2018. In response to feedback from stakeholders, the agency is considering technical updates to clarify and simplify compliance. In the interim, if an employer fails to meet the new exposure limits, OSHA will inform the employer and offer assistance to ensure compliance. For more information, read the news release.return to top of pageEnforcementFlorida Utilities Contractor Cited for Willful and Serious Safety Violations After Trench Cave-InJax Utilities Management Inc., was cited for exposing employees to trenching hazards after a worker was hospitalized for injuries caused by an unprotected trench collapse. The Jacksonville utilities contractor was also cited for exposing employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards, allowing employees to work without cave-in protection, and allowing water to accumulate in the trench. OSHA proposed penalties of $271,606. Read the news release for more information.California Fines Foundry Over $280,000 for Confined Space IncidentThe California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) cited Alhambra Foundry Co. Ltd., for eight safety and health violations after an employee’s legs were amputated to free him from an auger screw conveyor. Cal/OSHA’s investigation determined that the foundry failed to de-energize and lock out the equipment before employees performed cleaning operations, did not have a permit-required confined space program, and did not provide an attendant to monitor the confined space. The company faces proposed penalties of $283,390. For more information, read the news release.Iowa Fines Grain Cooperative for Safety Violations After Fatal Silo EngulfmentIowa OSHA issued 11 citations and $306,500 in penalties to East Central Iowa Cooperative in Waterloo for exposing workers to amputation and engulfment hazards. Iowa OSHA inspected the facility following a fatal incident when a worker was engulfed in flowing grain. Inspectors found that the cooperative failed to: provide workers entering grain bins with secured body harnesses; install machine guards on grain handling equipment; and train workers on proper grain bin entry conditions.return to top of pageSafety and Health OutreachNational Ladder Safety Symposium to Take Place March 29 in HoustonOSHA, the Houston Chapter of the Association of General Contractors, the American Ladder Institute, and the University of Texas OSHA Education Center, are sponsoring a National Ladder Safety Symposium March 29 in Houston. Presentations will focus on best practices for preventing ladder-related injuries and fatalities. A webcast of the event will be available. For more information and to register, visit the symposium website.Michigan Announces Safety Campaign for Roofing IndustryMichigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently launched year two of its “Stop Falls. Save Lives.” safety campaign to raise awareness about fall hazards and prevention. This year the focus will be on reducing worker fatalities in the roofing industry. Employers are encouraged to hold stand-downs and voluntarily stop work to review best practices and educate workers on fall hazards. Read the news release for more information.Registration for June 14 OSHA Summer Summit Now OpenA daylong safety summit for employers and workers will be held June 14 at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Regional and national experts will hold workshops on topics such as drugs in the workplace, beryllium, fall prevention, emergency preparedness, electrical hazards, machine guarding, and developing a safety culture in construction. For more information and to register, visit the Summer Summit website.Alliance Partner to Hold Events Promoting Grain Handling SafetyAs part of its Alliance with OSHA, the National Grain and Feed Association will host a free webinar on April 10. The event will present ways to prevent injuries and fatalities from grain engulfment. You can register online to participate in the webinar, which is part of Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention Week, April 9-13.return to top of pageCooperative ProgramsA Safe and Sound WorkforceA safe and healthful workplace doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by design. Create and maintain a safety and health program in your organization to prevent workplace incidents before they become injuries or illnesses. OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free, confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On Site consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. For example, Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) Consultative Services offer consultations to the state’s smaller employers, such as foam product manufacturer, Cassemco Inc., to help identify workplace hazards, comply with OSHA standards, and improve safety and health programs. After working with TOSHA consultants, Cassemco’s 24 employees have been free of workplace injuries for the past three years.New Jersey Company Reduces Injuries and Costs with Help from On-Site Consultation ProgramFrank D. Riggio Co. Inc., contacted OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program to improve workplace safety and health practices at its valve repair facility in Bayonne, N.J. OSHA consultants helped the company create a workplace safety and health program, conduct employee training, and correct hazards. Both noise and air sampling were performed to ensure that employees were not being exposed to health hazards. Riggio has not had a recordable workplace injury in three years. For its commitment to improving workplace safety, the company was accepted into OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. For more information, see the company’s success story.OSHA Alliance Partners Commit to Improving Worker Safety and HealthThe OSHA Alliance Program fosters collaborative relationships with groups committed to worker safety and health. Alliance partners help OSHA reach targeted audiences, such as employers and workers in high-hazard industries, and give them better access to workplace safety and health tools and information.The International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Local 1150 renewed a five-year agreement to help protect the health and safety of workers in the aircraft manufacturing and related industries.The Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts renewed a five-year agreement to focus on topics such as scaffolding, fall prevention, electrical safety, lead, and silica in the construction industry. For more information, see the news release.Clarion University Small Business Development Center signed a two-year agreement to provide small businesses with information and training resources related to occupational safety and health hazards, and workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. For more information, see the news release.The American Subcontractors Association - San Antonio Chapter renewed a two-year agreement to prevent electrical, machine, fall, and struck-by hazards in construction.Howalt+McDowell Insurance signed a two-year agreement to address trenching, falls in construction, employee safety training, and hazard identification.return to top of pageSafety and Health ResourcesNew Bulletins Provide Information on Horizontal Drilling Hazards and Chemically Induced Hearing LossOSHA has released two new Safety and Health Information Bulletins warning of potentially serious workplace hazards. "Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Chemical (Ototoxicity) and Noise Exposure" was published in conjunction with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. This bulletin provides recommendations to employers and safety professionals about identifying ototoxicants in the workplace and establishing hearing conservation programs where these chemicals cannot be replaced."Avoiding Underground Utilities during Horizontal Directional Drilling Operations" highlights the hazards associated with striking different underground utilities. Horizontal directional drilling has reduced visibility compared to vertical drilling. The bulletin was based on an incident that led to an explosion at a nearby restaurant that resulted in a worker fatality.Revised Book of Construction Statistics Now AvailableCPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, an OSHA Alliance participant, has revised its free Construction Chart Book. Produced with support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the book provides extensive statistical information covering economic, demographic, employment/income, education/training, and safety and health issues in construction.return to top of pageRecordkeepingEmployers Must Post 300A Injury/Illness Summary Until April 30OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA’s Form 300A, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2017. Each year, between Feb. 1 and April 30, the summary must be displayed in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and those in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping and posting requirements. Visit OSHA's Recordkeeping Rule webpage for more information on recordkeeping requirements.return to top of pageSocial Media Featured TweetFollow us on Twitter and visit us on Facebook Follow @OSHA_DOL on Twitter (and thanks for retweeting!) and visit the DOL Facebook page for OSHA information and resources. OSHA also provides news and commentary on workplace safety and health from its senior leadership, staff, and guest contributors on the DOL blog.return to top of pageSee DOL's weekly electronic newsletter for more DOL news.For more frequent updates on OSHA activities follow us on Twitter and like DOL on Facebook .QuickTakes is emailed free twice monthly to more than 205,000 subscribers. You can receive it faster and easier by subscribing to the RSS feed that delivers almost instant information. Visit OSHA's RSS Feeds webpage to subscribe.QuickTakes is a product of OSHA's Office of Communications. 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