

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis has appointed Jordan Barab as deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. Barab most recently served as senior labor policy advisor for health and safety with the House Education and Labor Committee. From 1998-2001, Barab was special assistant to OSHA's assistant secretary. He also worked at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board for five years.
Revisions have been made to OSHA's Field Operations Manual to give compliance officers a single comprehensive resource of updated guidance to more effectively protect employees from occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
OSHA's Chicago Regional Office and the Illinois On-site Consultation Program will participate in the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Safety Conference, May 5-6, 2009, in Deerfield, Ill. Industrial managers, workers and safety personnel are expected to participate. Visit www.fmanet.org for more information.
OSHA will exhibit products and resource materials at the 2009 American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Symposium and Expo, April 17-23, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. Topics include occupational exposure to certain chemicals used in the health field and ergonomic injuries. For more information, visit www.aaohn.org.
OSHA posted more health- and safety-related conference and meeting information to the Events page on its Web site. Search for activities in your area.
The seasonal shift to warmer temperatures ushers in the daunting chore of spring cleaning. Cleaning industry workers perform tasks year-round that expose them to safety hazards including slips, trips and falls, contact with toxic chemicals and ergonomic issues. Visit OSHA's Safety and Health Topics page on the Cleaning Industry to learn preventive measures for these hazards and others, and for information on improving workplace safety and health.
Editor: Kimberly Tucker, OSHA Office of Communications, 202-693-1999, www.osha.gov