Leviton Teaches Safe Electrical Wiring to DIYers

Leviton has launched a site that houses a series of online tools to help educate homeowners on how to safely complete DIY electrical wiring projects. Each month, the site details new projects, blog posts and videos highlighting different electrical solutions, codes and products, as well as installations and safety tips.
Resources housed at LearnitatLeviton.com include:

• Project of the Month video series features a monthly electrical upgrade project to help improve home safety and energy savings. Examples include replacing existing switches with dimmer switches, and installing self-test GFCI receptacles, humidity sensors and timers.
• How-to videos offer step-by-step instructions on how to upgrade home electrical devices to help improve home safety and save energy.
• Tech Talk Blog explains the inner workings of electrical devices.
• Proper termination practice videos teach safety tips and best practices for safely working with home electrical devices.

Safety Lately 5/8/2015

Safety Lately is a weekly podcast from ASSE, covering the latest news in OSH. This episode covers a report from ASSE and NIOSH, a new rule on confined spaces in construction, and changes in flame resistant clothing and PPE standards.

You can hear the episode here. 

Like what you heard? Look for more podcasts at our multimedia page. You can also connect with ASSE on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

NIOSH to Offer Free, Confidential Screenings for Coal Miners

©iStockphoto.com/Daniel Froese

NIOSH will offer a series of free, confidential health screenings to coal miners throughout the U.S.,
starting in June. The screenings are intended to provide early detection of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung, a serious but preventable occupational lung disease in coal miners caused by breathing respirable coal mine dust.

Screenings will be held at sites throughout Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, starting the week of June 21 and ending on Aug. 1, 2015. All coal miners (current, former, underground, surface) are welcome.

“Our priority and concern is to protect the health and safety of coal miners which includes a dedicated effort towards early detection,” says NIOSH Director John Howard. “Through this free and confidential program miners can be protected from potential diseases down the line.”

The screening will include a work history questionnaire, a chest radiograph and spirometry testing. Blood pressure screening will be offered as well. NIOSH will provide each individual miner with the results of his/her own screening. By law each person’s results are confidential. No individual information is publicly disclosed.

Additional information is available online. Interested persons can also call the toll free number (888) 480-4042.

OSHA & NCTE Join Forces

©iStockphoto.com/Maxim Malevich

OSHA and National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) have announced an alliance to share information, develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and educate workers and employers about rights and responsibilities in the workplace. NCTE is a social justice advocacy organization for transgender people, formed in 2003.

A report released by NCTE and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force found that 55% of transgender people surveyed lost a job due to bias. Twenty-two percent of workers in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey reported that they were denied access to gender-appropriate restrooms on the job.

"Through this alliance, we will jointly work with the NCTE to develop products and guidance materials to improve workplace safety and health for all workers," says David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor.

ASSE & NIOSH Issue Joint Report on At-Risk Workers

ASSE and NIOSH have issued a joint report that explores overlapping vulnerabilities facing young Hispanic immigrants who work in the construction industry. The report examines why this population is at increased risk for injury and death on the job. Hispanics were the only ethnic group to see an increase in the number of workplace fatalities in 2013. Prior studies have shown that because of their work in dangerous occupations, Hispanic immigrant workers experienced a higher occupational mortality rate (5.9 per 100,000 full-time employees) than all other workers (4.0 per 100,000 full-time employees), according to statistics collected from 1992 to 2006.

“The safety community and the construction industry must take note of this report and work together to improve the safety conditions outlined in it,” says ASSE President Trish Ennis, CSP, ARM.

NIOSH and ASSE plan to work with community groups, national safety organizations, U.S. safety agencies and various Latin American consulates to develop tools to help this employee group and its employers better manage occupational hazards.

“Improving the health and safety of vulnerable populations recognizes that occupational hazards are distributed differentially,” says NIOSH Director John Howard. “This collaborative effort provides a foundation that addresses the specific needs of small businesses, minority populations and the many young workers who dedicate themselves to their work.”

The report was announced prior to the Society's America's At-Risk Workers symposium held May 6 in Washington, DC. Be sure to check out @PSJ_Cathy Twitter feed for sound bytes from the event.