I. Alliance Background
Date signed - December 4, 2006
Overview
To provide the University of the Sacred Heart (USH) with information, guidance
and access to training resources that will help them protect employee health and
safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to occupational safety
and health hazards such as noise exposure, indoor air contaminants, ergonomic
hazards and radiation.
Implementation Team Members
Prof. Ivis Figueroa, USH Alliance Coordinator
Madelline Medina, CAS, PRAO
Contributors
Prof. Livia Pastrana, USH, Occupational Safety and Health Officer
Prof. Elvia Agosto, USH, Continue Education Department Director
Evaluation Period
From December 10, 2007 to December 31, 2008
II. Implementation Team Meetings
Most communications were held via phone/e-mail
November 10, 2008 – in person meeting
III. Events and Products
Training and Education
- Events
Goal 1: Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education
programs regarding occupational safety and health issues such as indoor air
quality, noise exposure, fire protection, radiation and ergonomics, and to
provide expertise in communicating such information to USH employees,
employers and students.
- A seminar in occupational safety and health topics was provided to the
USH employers, employees, students, and the community. The topic included
during this period was about electrical hazards for general industry. It was
offered at USH in February 2008.
Goal 2: Deliver or arrange for the delivery of the Associate Safety
Professional (ASP) preparatory course for students and safety and health
professionals to enhance the safety and health profession in Puerto Rico.
- During this reporting period, USH worked with OSHA to conduct the ASP
Preparatory Course. To address deficiencies in the areas of basic math and
science, OSHA created a 12 contact-hours math prerequisite course. Both the
Math and the ASP Preparatory Courses were offered in USH from February 9 to
April 12, 2008.
Goal 3: Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop an internship
program to provide professional training and opportunities to USH students
that will enable them to work with OSHA on current occupational safety and
health issues.
- No products or resources were developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Outreach and Communication
- Events
Goal 1: Develop information on awareness to prevention of occupational hazards
to provide expertise in developing ways to communicate such information
through public health announcements.
- During this reporting period, OSHA and USH worked toward the development
of a public service announcement (PSA). USH did the efforts for contacting a
recognized public figure to deliver an occupational safety health message
through the PSA. OSHA and USH will continue working on the PSA to achieve
this goal during the renewal agreement period.
Goal 2: Participate as speakers and exhibitors at OSHA and USH conferences,
local meetings or other occupational safety and health events and activities.
- Representatives from the USH participated as exhibitors in several
events and conferences to promote OSHA-USH alliance activities:
- Puerto Rico Engineers and Land Surveyors Annual Convention, August
8-10, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
- 12th Annual Federal Safety & Health Congress, Expo & VPPPA Conference,
October 28-29, Carolina, Puerto Rico
Goal 3: Promote and encourage USH employees’ participation in OSHA
cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection
Program, and the Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
- Events
Goal 1: Raise awareness and demonstrate their commitment to workplace safety
and health whenever USH leaders address groups.
Goal 2: Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or
stakeholder meetings on safety and health topics to help forge innovative
solutions in the workplace and provide input on safety and health issues.
- A professor from the USH Master Program in Occupational Safety and
Health presented a scientific work on ergonomics at the 12th Annual Federal
Safety and Health Congress, Expo & VPPPA Conference.
IV. Results
The activities conducted by OSHA and USH were primarily focused on education and
training. These activities were designed to allow for a discussion about
occupational safety and health issues that impact the academic community,
employees, employers, and the public, in general. In addition, this alliance has
helped identify specific occupational safety and health needs, instrumental in
the developing of new and challenging training programs in the field.
Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic
Distribution, etc.) |
Number of individuals reached |
| ASP Preparatory & Math Prerequisite Courses
|
14 |
| One hour short training course on electrical
hazards for general industry |
29 |
| CIAPR-Exhibitor |
600 |
| 12th Annual Federal Safety & Health
Congress-Exhibitor |
150 |
| Total |
793 |
V. Upcoming milestones
As a result of the goals achieved in the first two years, OSHA and USH expect to
renew the Alliance agreement during the 2nd Q FY 2009. Through the renewal, OSHA
and USH will continue working together on projects and activities to support the
goals of the Alliance. In particular, the alliance partners will work on the
development of a public service announcement (PSA), focusing on the Hispanic
community, with emphasis on the prevention of occupational safety and health
risks. Another project expected to be initiated with the alliance renewal will
be the offering of two 10 hour courses on general industry and construction. One
more project which is being considered for the renewal year period is a series
of educational activities to increase awareness about workplace hazards focusing
on young workers.
OSHA and USH will continue working on educational and training programs for the
dissemination of information on the prevention of occupational safety and health
hazards.
|
Newsletter
RSS Feeds
Print This Page
Text Size
Printing Instructions
