On October 17, 2011, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it had recently published new and revised information that explains workers’ and employers’ rights, as well as how to protect employees from hazards in the construction, general and maritime industries. To order free copies of these materials online you can go to OSHA’s Publications page at:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.AthruZ?pType=AthruZ#S,

or you can call OSHA’s toll free number at 800-321-6742 and request the materials.

Information on employers’ rights and responsibilities following an inspection are contained in a booklet entitled Employer Rights and Responsibilities. It explains what happens after an inspection, and discusses the types of violations for which an employer may be cited.

OSHA has also published information covering the construction, general industry and shipyard industries, and those who work outdoors.

       Laboratory Safety document and fact sheets (http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=117) advise laboratory managers on how to protect their workers from exposure to chemical, biological and physical hazards.

       Aerial Lifts Protect Yourself details measures employers must take to ensure safe use of aerial lifts by workers required to use this equipment.

       Aerial Lift Fall Protection Over Water in Shipyards QuickCard lists ways to protect workers using aerial lifts from injuries and death resulting from equipment failure, tip-over, falls and ejection.

       Permit-Required Confined Spaces in General Industry QuickCard explains what workers should do before entering a confined space, such as an underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, silos or manholes.

       Working Safely in Trenches QuickCard provides illustrations of protective systems that should be used to prevent worker injuries and death from trench cave-ins.

       Nail Gun Safety educates construction employers and workers on how to prevent work-related nail gun injuries.

       Protecting Workers from Heat Stress QuickCard and poster emphasizes the importance of employers providing workers with water, rest and shade to prevent workers from suffering heat illness, exhaustion and stroke.

Finally, OSHA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide for Respiratory Protection Standard provides small businesses with a comprehensive step-by-step guide complete with checklists and commonly asked questions.