New OSHA Resources Span Topics from Asbestos in Schools to Ventilation

New resources published recently by OSHA include an alert focused on improving workplace ventilation during cold weather (PDF) and a fact sheet that outlines whistleblower protections for workers who are concerned about asbestos in schools (PDF). The alert on ventilation describes steps that building managers can take to improve indoor air quality—ensuring air intake and exhaust ports are free of ice or snow and replacing filters as necessary, for example—versus maintenance that should be conducted by a qualified heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional. The fact sheet on whistleblower protections discusses covered entities and protected activities under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which is intended to protect employees from retaliation for reporting potential asbestos violations in schools.

A Spanish version of OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs (PDF) and two new publications focused on the maritime industry are among other new resources from the agency. OSHA’s recommended practices are intended to help employers establish a methodical approach to implementing safety and health programs in their workplaces. The two new resources for the maritime industry include a fact sheet focused on hazards associated with preservative coatings during hot work on vessels (PDF) and a one-pager about workplace safety in marine terminal mechanic shops (PDF).

These and other new items published by OSHA can be found on the agency’s publications webpage.