US Department of Labor's Worker Safety and Health Challenge: develop a tool to inform young workers about hazards

Deadline is Nov. 30

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor challenges developers, students and anyone else with a little tech savvy and creativity to enter the Workplace Safety and Health Challenge. The goal is to design a tool that demonstrates the importance of recognizing and preventing hazards by helping young people understand their rights in the workplace.

Submissions may be designed for Internet browsers, smartphones, feature phones and social media platforms, or as native Windows or Macintosh applications. The deadline is Nov. 30.

"New technologies have the promise of making our safety and health resources even more accessible for workers and employers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "Successful proposals could take many different forms, such as interactive and informative games, a smartphone app, social or professional networks, or data visualization."

Each submission should meet both of the following objectives:

• Demonstrate the importance of knowing about workplace safety and health hazards: Components should be included that inform young workers about hazards in the workplace and the serious consequences of workplace injuries. Information on safety and health from the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, state workers' compensation programs and/or other government sources must be incorporated. Additional suggested features include those that bring awareness to best management practices, such as engineering controls and personal protection equipment.
• Help workers understand their rights in the workplace: Components should be included that help young workers understand their rights in the workplace and their employers' responsibility to ensure their health and safety on the job. The content and type of application must be age-appropriate, and should also feature mechanisms for users to interact or share with each other.

A panel of judges that includes Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the co-hosts of the popular Discovery Channel show "Myth Busters," Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, will select winners for the "Safety in the Workplace Innovator Award" that comes with a $15,000 prize, and the "Safety and Health Data Award" and the "Workers' Rights Award," each of which includes a $6,000 prize. There is also a "People's Choice Award" that has a $3,000 prize for the developer of the app that receives the most public votes on the challenge website. For more information, including instructions on how to submit an entry, visit http://workersafetyhealth.challenge.gov and Michaels' blog at http://social.dol.gov/blog/safety-innovation-at-our-fingertips.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.