Safety Resources & Events to Know About

Good Afternoon,

In an effort to keep you informed about upcoming events to help promote worker safety and health, the below information is being provided.  As always, feel free to share this information as you see fit for widest dissemination.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Also, if at any time you’d like to be removed from my distribution list just reply to this e-mail and ask to be removed. 

Quick list of topics – click on the title to go directly to that portion of the post.

1 – Trench Safety

2 – Electrical Roll-Up Initiative

3 – Silica Exposure

4 – Safe + Sound Information

5 – Proposed Rule Change for Fall Arrest on Fixed Ladders

6 – Mental Health Awareness Month

7 – 49th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS)

8 – Emergency Preparedness

9 – Upcoming Events

TRENCH SAFETY STAND-DOWN:

NUCA of Nebraska is hosting a Trench Safety Stand Down Training Event focused on reinforcing best practices in trenching and excavation. This session will cover key safety protocols, proper inspection procedures, and an overview of the latest equipment designed to keep crews safe on the jobsite.

This free event is open to both members and nonmembers. Each attendee will receive a certificate of attendance.

Trench Safety Stand Down Training Event – June 19, 2026
M.E. Collins Crushing Yard

1546 Co Rd L

Wahoo, NE

Register you and your crew online or through the attached registration brochure.

In addition, here are some links to Trench Safety resources:

ELECTRICAL ROLL-UP INITIATIVE:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is launching a new initiative focused on preventing electrical incidents resulting in injuries and fatalities. The Electrical Roll-Up Initiative:

  • highlights the need for construction sites to inspect electrical cords and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), extension cords and power tool cords. 
  • provides basic inspection and maintenance guidelines for construction contractors on common electrical issues related to extension cords and power tools.
  • allows participants to identify defective equipment during the “Roll-Up” and note the defect rate of equipment inspected and removed from service.

To support this, OSHA has developed a range of resources designed to educate workers on effective basic electrical safety practices to reduce the risk of incidents. These materials include:

  • “5 Things to Know” Poster: A one-page, easy-to-read document summarizing key electrical safety points for quick reference.
  • Toolbox Talk: A straightforward, no-tech resource designed for on-site reading. It covers essential electrical safety practices and is perfect for a quick discussion among workers.
  • PowerPoint Presentation: Tailored for trades workers, this presentation focuses on engaging employees directly, highlighting electrical safety in a relatable way. It can be fully customized with your company’s logo and materials, ensuring the content resonates with your team.
  • Logo: Designed as a visual reminder of the initiative’s importance, promoting safety and awareness, and intended for widespread distribution and sharing.

If you participate, please consider sharing your story on social media using the hashtag #ElectricalRollUp to help amplify the message. Thank you for your continued support in promoting this critical safety initiative. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the construction industry and ensure the safety of all workers.

For more information please visit the OSHA webpage and OSHA publications.

SILICA EXPOSURE:

We want to make you aware of two updated publications that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published. The first is an updated OSHA-NIOSH Hazard Alert on Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing, and Installation, including:

  • Updated exposure data and references to reflect current studies on engineered stone.
  • Addition of the general requirements of the OSHA crystalline silica standards, including medical surveillance.
  • Controls found to be most effective from NIOSH research studies and activities.
  • Updated common terms used by the industry and in the literature.

The second is an updated version of the Job Safety and Health Workplace poster, which provides workers their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and must be displayed in the workplace where workers can easily see it. Employers may choose to use this new version or continue using the prior version they already have on display.

SAFE + SOUND INFORMATION:

One way to recommit to safety and health is to recognize workers when they meet or exceed safety and health goals. This year, Safe + Sound Week is August 10–16, 2026, with a focus on safety and health recognition programs.  This focus gives associations and trade groups a platform to:

  • Demonstrate leadership across your sector by highlighting practices of employers and workers who get it right.
  • Engage member organizations with practical tools.
  • Show the value of safety and health.
  • Target issues that matter most in your industries.
  • Review safety policies and reporting procedures.

Take Our Newest Challenge 

Recognition motivates safe work—help your members get started. Encourage member leaders to recognize proactive and ongoing contributions with a Safety Wall of Fame.

Take the Challenge

PROPOSED RULE CHANGE FOR FALL ARREST ON FIXED LADDERS:

OSHA issued a proposed rule yesterday to remove a deadline in OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard for installing fall arrest or ladder safety systems on all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level in its Walking-Working Surfaces standard.

A provision in the November 2016 final standard mandated that these fixed ladders must include a fall arrest or ladder safety system by Nov. 18, 2036. The removal of this deadline will enable employers to upgrade their ladders at the end of their service lives, recognizing the durability of fixed ladders. This change will significantly lower costs and enhance flexibility for employers.

The existing requirement that any new fixed ladders must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system remains unchanged.

Submit written comments electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and refer to Docket No. OSHA-2025-0072. Read the Federal Register notice for submission instructions. All comments must be submitted by June 5.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH:

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminding everyone that protecting psychological health in the workplace is just as important as addressing physical hazards. Workers are constantly dealing with stress on and off the job, and sometimes it can affect safety, performance, and overall well-being. Stress can also take a toll on physical health, including increasing the risk of heart disease.

However, workplaces can be a key place for resources, solutions, and activities designed to improve our mental health and well-being. In the video above, representatives from OSHA’s Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Associated Builders Contractors discuss mental health stigma and how workplaces can better support their teams.

OSHA also has resources to help address workplace stress and suicide prevention. Additional information and resources are available on the Department of Labor’s Mental Health at Work page, and the Mental Health page of the Department’s Office of Disability Employment Programs.

In addition, the “May News” attachment is an e-Bulletin from the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest and has lots of valuable information and resources to help educate individuals on mental well-being.

49th SESSION OF UNSCEGHS:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1-3 pm ET, in advance of the 49th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) scheduled for July 8-10 in Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA along with the U.S. Interagency GHS Coordinating Group, will consider the comments and information gathered when developing the U.S. Government positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting.

To register for the meeting, please email carter.janet@dol.gov no later than 10 am ET on June 23, 2026.  Once registered, a link will be sent via e-mail to access the virtual public meeting. Interested parties may also submit comments on the Working and Informal Papers for the 49th session of the UNSCEGHS by July 7, 2026, identified by Docket No. OSHA- 2016-0005, electronically at www.regulations.gov.  

For more information about the meeting, please see the Federal Register Notice or visit OSHA’s website. For more information regarding Hazard Communication, please visit www.osha.gov/hazcom.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:

Early preparation is essential to ensuring that employers and workers have the right equipment, understand emergency procedures, and know how to stay safe during severe weather events. OSHA’s Emergency Preparedness and Response webpages offer guidance on planning and training for emergencies, as well as information on hazards that may arise during such events. These resources are designed for workers and employers across multiple industries and include materials specifically for those involved in response and recovery operations.

Hazards associated with extreme weather—including flooding, heavy rainfall, high winds, and tornadoes—can be life-threatening. In addition, workers engaged in response and recovery may face other hazards such as extreme heat.

To support your preparedness efforts, we encourage you to review and share the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages:

Please share these resources with your stakeholders, including employers, workers, and volunteers involved in hurricane cleanup and recovery activities.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 2026:

July 2026:

August 2026: