May 9, 2005—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published two new documents focusing on worker safety and health.
“Hispanic Outreach” (.pdf file) is a fact sheet that outlines OSHA’s multi-pronged approach to improving workplace safety and health for Hispanic workers, and includes information on many Spanish-language publications available on the agency’s Web site.
The publication also spotlights OSHA’s Compliance Assistance Web page for Hispanic Employers and Workers. According to OSHA, while overall workplace fatalities have dropped 20 percent in the last decade, workplace fatalities among Hispanic workers, especially those working in the construction industry, have risen almost 35 percent in the same period.
“Reducing Worker Exposures to Perchloroethylene in Dry-Cleaning” is a new booklet that provides practical guidance on ways for dry-cleaning operators to reduce worker exposure to perchloroethylene, a commonly used solvent in the dry-cleaning industry. Reducing exposure to this potentially hazardous chemical is emphasized through a combination of preventive maintenance and control of leaks in dry-cleaning equipment, proper ventilation, and good work practices.
