This guidance provides baseline infection control procedures for seasonal flu. As new information about the current seasonal flu virus becomes available, this workplace guidance will be reevaluated and updated. Employers should ensure that they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about their current operations and planning. 
There are some basic precautions that can protect workers during the flu season. This page gives employers and managers information about how to protect workers whose job tasks involve contact with coworkers and the general public. Workers who provide healthcare services are addressed separately. All employers can implement a combination of controls to protect workers and reduce the transmission of the seasonal flu virus in the workplace. Workplace controls include: 
 

• promoting vaccination; 

• encouraging sick workers to stay home; 

• promoting hand hygiene and cough etiquette; 

• keeping the workplace clean; and 

• addressing travel concerns. 

Pandemic flu remains a concern for all employers. A pandemic can occur at any time and can be mild, moderate, or severe. The pandemic in 2009 was considered by CDC to be mild but it still created challenges for employers and showed that many workplaces were not prepared. The precautions identified in this guidance give a baseline for infection control during a seasonal flu outbreak, but they may not be enough to protect workers during a pandemic. Your pandemic flu plan should be based on a "worst-case" scenario – one in which the virus causes severe illness and death in larger numbers of people. Planning for the worst-case ensures that you will have the right type of equipment and an adequate supply of it on hand to protect workers. It also ensures that you have planned for additional control options so that you can pick the right combination for the specific pandemic flu virus. For additional information on pandemic flu planning, see OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic and CDC's business planning resources. 

Basic Precautions for All Work Activities 
Encourage Workers to Get Vaccinated 
Encourage workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine when it is available. Consider hosting a flu vaccination clinic in your workplace. For additional information about seasonal flu vaccine priorities, see Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. 
Encourage Sick Workers to Stay Home 
Encourage sick workers to stay home. The CDC recommends that workers who have a fever and respiratory symptoms stay at home until 24 hours after their fever ends (100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or lower), without the use of medication. Not everyone who has the flu will have a fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. 
Develop flexible leave policies that encourage workers to stay home, without penalty, if they are sick. Discuss other human resource policies with staff, including administrative leave transfer between employees, pay policy for sick leave, childcare options, and what to do when ill during travel. 
Develop a Policy for Workers and Clients Who Become Ill in the Workplace 
Useful CDC resources: Stopping the Spread of Germs at Home, Work and School, and Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. 
Develop a policy on how to deal with workers and clients who may be ill with the flu and communicate it to your workers. See CDC's Seasonal Flu Information for Businesses and Employees for information about how to develop this type of policy. 
Determine who will be responsible for assisting ill individuals in the workplace and make sure that at least one person can serve as the "go to" person if someone becomes sick in the workplace. 
Consider how to separate ill workers from others, or give them a surgical mask to wear, if possible and if they can tolerate it, until they can go home. 
Promote Hand Hygiene and Cough Etiquette 
 
Post signs that tell workers, visitors, and clients the steps for proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette. 
Workers, visitors, and clients should have easy access to supplies such as: 

• "No touch" wastebaskets for used tissues; 

• Soap and water; 

• Alcohol-based hand rubs; 

• Disposable towels; 

• Cleaning and sanitation materials. 

Lobbies, halls, and restrooms should have the above items and workers should know where they are. 

Hand Hygiene 
Wash hands after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or coming into contact with mucus or contaminated objects and surfaces. 
Apply soap and water: rub soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse hands with water, and dry completely. 
Alcohol-based hand rubs: If soap and water are not available, use of an alcohol-based hand rub is a helpful interim measure until hand washing is possible. When using an alcohol-based hand rub, apply liquid to palm of hand, cover all surfaces of the hands with the liquid, and rub hands together until dry. 

Cough Etiquette 
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve(s). 
Dispose of used tissues in "no-touch" wastebaskets. 

Keep the Workplace Clean 
Frequently clean all commonly touched work surfaces, work areas, and equipment (e.g., telephones, doorknobs, lunch areas, countertops, copiers, etc.). 
Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended by CDC. 
Provide disinfectants and disposable towels for workers to use to clean their work spaces and surfaces and to keep work areas clean. 
Educate Workers About the Flu and Conditions That Place Them at Higher Risk for Flu Complications 
 
Train workers about how flu can be transmitted in the workplace and what precautions they can use to prevent transmission. Provide information about the following: 

• signs, symptoms, and complications of the flu; 

• policies and procedures for reporting flu symptoms, using sick leave, and returning to work; 

• vaccination; and 

• any required work practices. 

CDC has identified groups that have a higher risk for complications from seasonal flu (e.g., elderly, pregnant women, small children, persons with asthma, etc.). 
Inform workers that some people are at higher risk of complications from flu and suggest that they talk to their doctor about their own risk and what to do if they become ill. 
Address Travel and Sickness While on Travel 
 
Reconsider business travel to areas with high illness rates; see up-to-date travel advisories. 
CDC recommends the following measures for workers who becomes ill while on travel: 

• Advise workers who become ill while traveling or on temporary assignment to notify their supervisors. 

• Workers who become ill while traveling and are at increased risk of flu complications and others concerned about their illness should promptly call a healthcare provider. 

• Advise workers to check themselves for fever and any other signs of flu-like illness before starting travel and to notify their supervisors and stay home if they feel ill. 

This guidance is advisory in nature and informational in content. It is not a standard or regulation, and it neither creates new legal obligations nor alters existing obligations created by OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Pursuant to the OSH Act, employers must comply with safety and health standards and regulations issued and enforced either by OSHA or by an OSHA-approved State Plan. In addition, the Act's General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. 
 
Source: https://www.osha.gov/seasonal-flu/non-healthcare-employers  ​

Overview 
Drowsy driving kills — but is preventable. Learn about three factors commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes and pick up some helpful tips to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. In this section, you’ll also find several resources and learn what NHTSA is doing to help eliminate this risky behavior. 
 
Scope of the Problem 
Attitudes About Drowsy Driving Need to Change 

Traffic Safety FactsDrowsy Driving  
Fatigue has costly effects on the safety, health, and quality of life of the American public. Whether fatigue is caused by sleep restriction due to a new baby waking every couple of hours, a late or long shift at work, hanging out late with friends, or a long and monotonous drive for the holidays – the negative outcomes can be the same. These include impaired cognition and performance, motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and health consequences. 
Tackling these issues can be difficult when our lifestyle does not align with avoiding drowsy driving. In a 24/7 society, with an emphasis on work, longer commutes, and exponential advancement of technology, many people do not get the sleep they need. Effectively dealing with the drowsy-driving problem requires fundamental changes to societal norms and especially attitudes about drowsy driving. 
The terms drowsy, sleepy, and fatigue are used interchangeably although there are differences in the way these terms are used and understood. 
 
Precise Numbers of Drowsy-Driving Crashes, Injuries, and Fatalities Are Hard to Nail Down 
Unfortunately, determining a precise number of drowsy-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities is not yet possible. Crash investigators can look for clues that drowsiness contributed to a crash, but these clues are not always identifiable or conclusive. 
NHTSA’s census of fatal crashes and estimate of traffic-related crashes and injuries rely on police and hospital reports to determine the incidence of drowsy-driving crashes. NHTSA estimates that in 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers. These crashes led to an estimated 50,000 people injured and nearly 800 deaths. But there is broad agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that this is an underestimate of the impact of drowsy driving.  
 
The Issue 
Crashes and Fatalities 
Sleepiness can result in crashes any time of the day or night, but three factors are most commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes. 
Drowsy-driving crashes: 

1. Occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm—the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep; 
2. Often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking; and 
3. Frequently occur on rural roads and highways. 

The Issue 
Tips to Drive Alert 
How To Avoid Driving Drowsy 

Related Topics 
Teen Driving 
Older Drivers 

1. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For more information on healthy sleep, see In Brief: Your Guide to Healthy Sleep (PDF, 1.81 MB) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. 
2. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk. 
3. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested. 
4. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment. 
5. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use. 
6. If you take medications that could cause drowsiness as a side effect, use public transportation when possible. 
7. If you drive, avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon). If you must drive during the peak sleepiness periods, stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip, especially if you’re driving alone. 

SHORT-TERM INTERVENTIONS 

1. Drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep-deprived, you still may have “micro sleeps” or brief losses of consciousness that can last for four or five seconds. This means that at 55 miles per hour, you’ve traveled more than 100 yards down the road while asleep. That’s plenty of time to cause a crash. 
2. If you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods. 

 
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving  ​

Author: National Safety Council 

Kids love the magic of Halloween, but costume and traffic safety are essential for trick-or-treaters. These tips can help make a safe and happy holiday for everyone. 
​
Costume Safety 
To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, follow these Halloween safety tips: 
● Be sure to choose a costume that won't cause safety hazards; all costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant 
● If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks 
● Opt for nontoxic Halloween makeup over masks, which can obscure vision; always test makeup in a small area first to see if any irritation develops 
● Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation 

When They're on the Prowl 
Here's a scary statistic: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor in these incidents. 
Keep these tips in mind when your children are out on Halloween night: 
● A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds 
● If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you 
● Agree on a specific time children should return home 
● Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car 
● Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends 
● Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home, and take care to avoid any food allergies 

Safety Tips for Motorists 
NSC offers these additional safety tips for parents – and anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours: 
● Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs 
● Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully 
● At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing 
● Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween ​

Oregon OSHA, furnished by Mike Hill, SAIF Corp.

​ What changed?
Nothing in the Oregon OSHA Wildfire Rule changed. Oregon OSHA just added a stamp for informational purposes only to notify employers if they are using the AQI for ease in monitoring smoke levels.

Jul 02, 2024
PARK RIDGE, IL — The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the world’s oldest professional safety organization with 35,000 members around the globe, releases the following statement in response to OSHA’s proposed rule on heat injury and illness prevention. This statement is attributed to ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP:
“ASSP is a strong advocate of OSHA’s efforts to safeguard workers who face high heat and humidity hazards. While we must first analyze the proposed rule once published in the Federal Register, we know there are significant benefits to having work practice standards that help employers manage heat-related risks. That guidance includes training, rest breaks, access to shade and water, heat acclimatization and emergency response plans. Employers must have the tools and resources to identify and prevent work hazards before incidents occur. The use of standards is an effective way to implement controls that improve occupational safety and health while saving workers’ lives.

​“This past February, ASSP published the first voluntary national consensus standard addressing heat stress for workers in construction and demolition operations. ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024 offers guidance on protecting workers; explains how to acclimate workers to high heat conditions; and provides requirements for training employees and supervisors. Our guidance can be adapted to protect workers performing other outdoor jobs as well. We hope the proposed OSHA rule aligns with the industry best practices we have established to help prevent the thousands of heat-related injuries and illnesses on job sites every year.”

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
Since 1911, the American Society of Safety Professionals has helped occupational safety and health professionals protect people, property and the environment. The nonprofit society is based in Chicago’s suburbs. Its global membership of over 35,000 professionals develops safety and health management systems that prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession by providing member communities, serving as a trusted advisor, and elevating safety through workforce development. Its flagship journal, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Media contact: Blaine Krage, 630.842.0870, [email protected]
​

​It does not seem that long ago that I wrote my “incoming President article” and the Chapter year is already coming to a close.  Ten years ago I joined the Executive Committee as Treasurer thinking I could never see myself holding another position, after all, my degree is in Accounting.  I felt like an imposter honestly, as then we were the American Society of Safety Engineers.  Coming into safety from HR, even been referred to as a safety professional made me feel uncomfortable. 
 
I have grown a lot both personally and professionally since then.  Ten years ago I never saw myself as President, and now I look forward to doing it again!  I look forward to taking advantage of opportunities for deeper engagement, being a more effective leader, and refining best practices as servants to our safety community, no matter what my role.
 
This past year for me has been a juggling act, feeling overwhelmed with difficulty finding capacity for the demands of work, family, and needed self-care.  A struggle we are all familiar with.  I am grateful to be surrounded by smart, caring, and gracious safety professionals that are not just great at safety, but great at being humans.  I want to give a personal and professional shout-out to each member of the Executive Committee, for supporting me, doing their jobs exceptionally well, and exhibiting grace and commitment. 
 
While I am rolling into the Past President role, I am also on the Conference Planning Committee.  Kudos to Shyra Vaughn for bringing her energy and being the fearless leader and Conference Chair.  I have to say, the 2024 Southern Oregon Safety and Occupational Health Conference may be the best one EVER!  And that is a big statement as we have had amazing events in the past. 
 
So, I will leave you with three words as your Chapter President…GET PLUGGED IN!  We have had record-breaking attendance at our monthly meetings so come check it out!   Attend the Conference in Ashland and register for the networking mixer too.  Find small ways to volunteer.  What you give will come back to you with a huge multiplier.  Do not be afraid to ask anyone on the Executive Committee or the Conference Planning Committee, there are opportunities to volunteer that will match your capacity.  Looking forward to seeing you in Ashland in October, or sooner perhaps!

- ​Patti McGuire, Chapter President

​www.SafetyCommitteeUniversity.com training modules have been viewed by over 230 people. What was started in 2020 after the pandemic began when we were unable to hold our in-person safety conference has continued to serve safety committees needing training. This training can both satisfy Oregon OSHA training requirements for all safety committees and improve the knowledge and skills of those members. We have had great feedback and appreciation and it continues to get use all over Oregon. This self-paced training program has all of the handouts, and quizzes for employers to facilitate the training for their workers.
 
In the past few months, we have updated some of the content. Here is an overview of the updated modules:
 
Welcome Message
In this opener, we hear about the importance of safety committees in Oregon. This has been edited down to 10:35 minutes to remain relevant today and includes welcome from David Hanson of SAIF and past ASSP President, Michael Wood, former Oregon OSHA administrator, Mark Hurliman also from Oregon OSHA, Pam Ahr from SAIF, John Vial formerly of Jackson County Roads and Parks, Tim Hart from Duro-Last Roofing, and others.
 
Module 1 - Safety Committee Roles and Responsibilities
This session presented by Pam Ahr teaches safety committees the roles and responsibilities necessary for a high-performing and engaged safety team. Members will learn how they fit into the bigger picture and meet the Oregon OSHA requirements.
 
Module 2 - Effective Incident Analysis
David Hanson did such a great job presenting this, we decided to leave it in the program. Effective incident analysis is an important way to prevent injuries from happening again and learning the systems approach to incident analysis will enable safety committees to understand causal factors and mitigation techniques that will get results.
 
Module 3 - Hazard Identification
Another update to our program this year is with a great presentation by Craig Hamelund, an ever popular conference presenter. This session will examine the basic types of hazards, how they interact with other variables in the workplace to create risk and how to continue developing skills to find industry specific hazards in your workplace.
 
Module 4 - Safety Committee Toolbox
Craig dazzled us with another great presentation. This special session provides a toolbox of resources that can help new safety committees understand how to excel in their effectiveness and help stagnant safety committees rejuvenate their team.
 
Module 5 - Engaging Employees
Jon Sowers delivered this high-scoring presentation and we had to include it in the program. This session provides the secret sauce of successful safety programs anywhere. Learn how to supercharge your safety teams by giving them ownership of the team and process.
 
To take advantage of this fully online training program, visit, www.safetycommitteeuniversity.com, print out the training roster and certificates and lead your team through the series of excellent trainings.
 
Eventually, our plan is to update this program and host it on a self-paced e-learning website that can keep track of where you leave off and send reminders to finish the courses. For now, we offer this valuable training content for you to take advantage of with your safety teams.
 
Please let us know how we can help by  clicking on the “Contact Us” page and we wish you the best in your safety committee training efforts!
 
Sincerely,
Michael Hill, Past ASSP Conference Chair and Safety Committee University Coordinator

Working at height is a known safety hazard. When determining the best way to protect a worker from the hazards of working at height, it’s important to consider fall prevention before fall protection.
Fall prevention is especially critical in situations where fall arrest systems or other forms of PPE are ineffective or not typically used, such as potential falls of less than 15 feet, says Rob Brauch, president of Occupational Health and Safety Solutions Inc., a longtime safety professional and member of ASSP. A fall from 15 feet can achieve a speed of impact of 21 miles per hour and hit the body with 9,000 joules of energy — the equivalent of two exploding grams of TNT.
“Many of those falls occur when a person is climbing on machines they shouldn’t have been climbing, working from a ladder that wasn’t secure or being in an area that wasn’t protected,” he says. 
These types of falls are also alarmingly common — they represent nearly half of falls that result in injuries or death, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — yet are not often the focus of fall prevention or fall protection efforts.
“These fatalities do not need to occur,” Brauch says. “Many are preventable without going through all the various steps needed to get into harness, have tie-offs and do all the different things we’d have as traditional fall protection.”
Brauch recommends tackling these situations with fall prevention.
5 Things to Consider in Fall Prevention Versus Fall Protection
When comparing fall prevention and protection controls, you should consider several factors, including some methods that address temporary work under 15 feet. 

1. Aim for Best Practices, Not Just Compliance
Fall-related issues make up four of the Top 10 OSHA citations:

• No. 1: Fall protection programs
• No. 3: Ladders
• No. 4: Scaffolding
• No. 8: Fall prevention training

To address these common hazards, many organizations use PPE, believing it is a fast, effective and affordable way to achieve compliance.
 “When compliance with OSHA regulations is the sole concern, it’s common to ‘PPE it away,’” Brauch says.
But fall protection does not always tick all those boxes.
Combined with the cost of purchase, inspection, training and replacement, “PPE also has hidden costs in terms of diminished worker mobility, decreased efficiency and less job satisfaction,” Brauch says.
By focusing on best practices instead of compliance, you can often solve the issue in a way that optimizes efficiency and quality of outcomes, he adds. 

2. Focus on the “Sweet Spot” in the Hierarchy of Controls
The hierarchy of controls presents the ideal prioritization of hazard controls to address a safety issue, starting at elimination, then flowing down to substitution, engineering controls and administrative controls, with PPE as the solution of last resort. 
But since working from height is often an integral part completing the job, it may not be possible to eliminate the hazard, and substitution is rarely practical. So, while PPE can be effective, it presents associated trade-offs, costs and movement restrictions.
That’s why Brauch recommends engineering and administrative controls, which he calls the “sweet spot” of the hierarchy.

 3. Determine Whether Fixed or Temporary Fall Prevention Controls Will Work
“Alternative and technical solutions exist in the form of fixed or temporary engineering controls for fall prevention . . . where other accepted fall protection methods may be too complex, restrictive or impossible,” Brauch says. 
Fixed engineering controls that remove the worker from the hazard include permanent elevated walkways, platforms and other structures, Brauch explains. However, since much of the work performed at height is nonroutine, often involving maintenance or repair, a fixed solution may be impractical. 

4. Assess Whether the Situation Warrants Temporary Controls
Any constraint on permanent fall prevention solutions may require temporary controls. For example, temporary controls may be preferable in these situations:

• Non-routine task
• Short-duration task where bringing in scaffolding contractors may cause project delays and increase costs
• Task that requires workers to have mobility while staying safe
• Task involving older machinery installed without safe access at height
• Work from a permanent walkway or elevated platform that restricts normal operator access needed for production
• Work involving a machine around which you can’t install guardrails

5. Explore Engineering Controls for Fall Prevention 

1. Scaffolds or scissor lifts: These devices are proven and widely accepted for intended applications, but are subject to detailed, comprehensive OSHA regulations. Training is critical, Brauch says, because incidents do still occur.
2. Mobile ladder stands: While these devices have limitations — for example, they can’t cantilever out, they require a large footprint — mobile ladder stands are an effective solution to safer work at height when used in accordance with American Ladder Institute standards.
3. User-configurable elevated platforms and walkways: These look similar to scaffolds, but they are pre-engineered by a trained and certified assembler so they don’t require intensive scaffold certification training. They can also be assembled without special tools, offer reconfigurability options and fit into tight spaces. When using these devices, it’s important to understand working load limits and ensure that handrails and guardrails are installed at the proper height, Brauch says.
4. Specialized mobile device with a cantilever deck: Using counterweights or other means, these devices allow for greater reach through specialized ascent platforms without sacrificing rated load. With locking wheels, their footprint can be minimized and the device can be cantilevered in various directions and set to heights from 9 to 12 feet. 

​
What’s Next? A Focus on Fall Prevention 
Brauch recommends all safety professionals familiarize themselves with the ANSI/ASSP Z359.1-2020 Fall Protection Code and consider a range of solutions.
“Using temporary deployment of engineering controls can be both safe and more cost-effective,” Brauch says, but warns: “Training and correct use of any fall prevention devices are just as important as they are for PPE.”

​- ASSP 2024