OSHA has teamed up with other safety organizations to increase awareness among employees and employers about risks in the construction and the gas and oil exploration industries. Pennsylvania workers may want to know that the Step Up for Safety campaign will run through March, and the National Safety Stand-Down will run May 2 to May 6.
The Step Up for Safety in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry is a collaboration between OSHA, NIOSH and the National Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety Network. Twenty-two Steps Network regional divisions are coordinating and promoting events during which employers are asked to conduct inspections, training on safety and other activities.
The National Safety Stand-Down is a collaboration between OSHA, NIOSH and the Center for Construction Research and Training. The campaign is part of the ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign, which OSHA launched in 2012 in conjunction with the National Occupational Research Agenda that NIOSH leads.
The National Safety Stand-Down is an effort to educate and remind construction employees and employers about the risks of falls in their industry. Falls are the primary cause of serious injuries and worker deaths in construction. During the campaign, employers will be encouraged to take a break during the workday for demonstrations, training and topic discussions about how to prevent falls and recognize fall hazards. In 2014 and 2015, more than 4 million employees joined in the National Safety Stand-Down, and OSHA is expecting thousands of companies to participate in 2016.
In Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation covers most workers who have been injured on the job. Some of the benefits could included medical care and a percentage of wages lost during the recovery period. Many injured workers obtain the assistance of an attorney when preparing and filing the required claim.