Flashings

Tradesperson of the Year™ finalists announced

WD-40® Co. and Rebuilding Together® have announced Keith Perry, president of Perry Roofing Contractors, Gainesville, Fla., is one of six finalists for their Tradesperson of the Year contest, which recognizes contributions skilled trade professionals make in their communities every day by volunteering.

Perry is actively involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America,® Habitat for Humanity® and Houses of Hope. When working with Habitat for Humanity, Perry donates the roof systems for the homes built.

Each finalist receives $1,000 worth of tools and products from Sears® and a selection of WD-40 Brand products. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in 2013, $500 spending cash, $10,000 in tools and products from Sears, and a selection of WD-40 Brand products.

The Tradesperson of the Year winner will be announced April 28.

OMB completes review of OSHA proposed rule

On Feb. 21, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of a final rule to align the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) hazard communication standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. OSHA sent the final rule to OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review October 2011.

OMB approved the draft "consistent with change," meaning it agrees with the rule's intent but wants to see a substantive change made before it is published. Once the change is made, the rule may be published in the Federal Register.

The rule, proposed in fall 2009, would revise OSHA's criteria for classifying physical and health hazards, adopt standardized labeling requirements and require a standardized order of information on safety data sheets.

OSHA extends temporary enforcement measures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extended its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction to Sept. 15.

The temporary enforcement measures include priority, free on-site compliance assistance; penalty reductions; extended abatement dates; measures to ensure consistency; and increased outreach.

During the past year, OSHA has conducted more than 1,000 outreach sessions nationwide to help employers comply with the new directive. OSHA's Fall Protection in Residential Construction Web page offers educational and training materials to assist employers with compliance, including fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations.

For more information, go to www.osha.gov/doc/topics/residentialprotection/index.html.