State legislatures and state plan administrators alike believe that enforcement is just one tool for
decreasing worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Federal OSHA and state plans use incentives
that promote voluntary compliance, as well as employer/employee education and training to identify
and abate worksite hazards. Through the strategic planning process, these activities are coordinated
with the enforcement program in each state to focus on priorities identified by their strategic
plans.
The state plans work to educate employers that besides reducing the suffering associated with
workplace injuries, illnesses and accidents–a strong safety and health program also has a very
positive impact on their bottom line. Other benefits include:
- Lower workers’ compensation costs,
- Increased productivity,
- Increased employee morale,
- Lower absenteeism, and
- Lower employee turnover.
States have a broad array of programs focusing on voluntary compliance with workplace safety and
health regulations–including free consultation visits to employers’ worksites, voluntary protection
incentives, safety and health conferences, publications and guidelines for model programs. Many
innovative solutions developed by the states have been adopted by federal OSHA.
Voluntary Programs
Companies whose managers and employees are working together to build comprehensive
safety and health programs with proven performance levels are receiving local and national recognition.
Companies demonstrate their desire to strive for excellence by using flexibility and creativity to go
beyond minimum regulations–to provide the best feasible safety and health protection for workers at that
site.
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) recognize worksites with exemplary safety and health programs
that get tangible results from reducing industrial hazards and occupational disease, as evidenced in
an injury/illness rate below the average within their industry. Initiated in California,
the concept was adopted by the federal government and is now successful nationwide.
VPP is a partnership between labor, management, and government which helps businesses and industries
voluntarily improve their health and safety programs to create safe worksites.
The VPP Award recognizes outstanding companies that provide an exemplary work environment.
The VPP is the most prestigious safety and health award given in the nation. Award sites represent
the "Best of the Best" in workplace safety and health. VPP companies have created a work environment
where everyone accepts responsibility for safety, every day.
Some states also offer the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(SHARP), which provides an incentive for employers to develop a comprehensive injury and illness
prevention program that involves employees in a significant way.
The cumulative total for all state plan VPP sites in 2001 was 206. State plan’s VPP highlights
include:
- Alaska devotes substantial resources to its VPP and SHARP programs.
- Arizona adopted the VPP STAR program in 1995.
- California has VPP worksites, and also has initiated a pilot project
to certify non-fixed-site worksites of construction contractors.
- Iowa initiated a program in 1992.
- Kentucky certified its first VPP participant in August 1997.
- Maryland is the newest state to adopt state plan changes incorporating VPP. The program was
developed after comprehensive pilot studies.
- Michigan initiated "Star and Rising Star" VPPs, and in January 1998 these programs became
available to the public sector.
- Minnesota has offered a program since 1996 that combines elements of VPP and SHARP. Large
companies must agree to mentor two small businesses to be eligible for MNSHARP recognition.
- North Carolina initiated the "Carolina Star" program in 1993, recognizing companies whose lost
workday case rate is 50 percent below the state average for their industry. Forty-four sites have
received the award since 1993.
- Oregon developed a VPP program with the help of a joint labor-management committee in 1997. Oregon
also has a SHARP program.
- Puerto Rico has a VPP program, as well as a Taìno program designed for small businesses.
- South Carolina’s Office of Voluntary Programs inaugurated the "Palmetto Star" in 1994.
- Tennessee’s consultation team implemented the Volunteer Star, VPP and SHARP programs.
- Virginia launched VPP and SHARP initiatives patterned after OSHA’s model in 1995.
- Washington recognized its first VPP site in 1996. Numerous sites are working to submit
applications.
- Wyoming has implemented the "Cowboy Star and Merit" VPP program. Employers can also participate in
the SHARP program, as well as Wyoming’s unique Employer Voluntary Technical Assistance Program (EVTAP)
that was begun in 1982.
Partnerships
States have maintained partnerships for many years with employer, employee and other organizations
in a voluntary, cooperative, problem-solving relationship. States have jointly sponsored safety and
health conferences and sought input from the occupational safety and health community on standards,
initiatives and emphasis programs. Employer and employee training and outreach have been coordinated
with other agencies and organizations that have expertise in a particular field.
Employers who reach a partnership agreement with federal OSHA or a state plan are not exempted from
programmed inspections–the exemption is available only to employers who qualify to participate in
the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(SHARP).
Alaska, Hawaii
Alaska has established a partnership with the seafood processing industry on Process Safety
Management. In Hawaii, partnerships with Associated Builders and Contractors, General Contractors’
Association, and Dick Pacific provide a safe and healthful work environment for the state’s
construction workforce.
Minnesota, Arizona, Iowa
The Minnesota Workplace Safety Consultation has partnership agreements with five contractors on five
large construction sites. Arizona has partnered with construction contractors to provide a visible
presence on specific sites with regular consultation visits. Iowa has partnerships established with
certain employers with emphasis related to construction, amputations and long-term healthcare.
Connecticut
Connecticut has entered into a partnership with Small Business Development Center to promote safe
and healthy workplaces for small employers. Connecticut has also developed a partnership with the
state’s Department of Administration Services to provide safety and health training to state
employees.
Kentucky
Kentucky organized a private, non-profit safety and health network with participants representing
business, labor, government and academia. Their mission is to increase awareness of safety and
health in the workplace through educational programs, scholarships and endowments, and statewide
symposiums. Kentucky is the first state plan program entering into Platinum Partnership agreement
with Associated Builders and Contractors. The state has partnerships for a number of construction
projects including: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, United Parcel Service and Churchill
Downs.
Michigan
Michigan signed a partnership agreement between MIOSHA and the Michigan Road Builders Association
with the goal of assuring road and bridge worker safety. MIOSHA also signed an agreement with the
Associated General Contractors of Michigan to achieve construction workforce safety through shared
goals and objectives. Both contracts are designed to further cooperation and communication, and
evaluated to measure progress and set future goals.
In 2000, MIOSHA signed a landmark agreement with The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI).
The purpose of the formal partnership is to focus on the importance of providing a safe workplace
for all workers in the plastics processing industry in Michigan.
Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont
Maryland established a cooperative compliance partnership with a large
construction group for the BWI Central Garage Project and the Cambridge Hyatt Resort. New Jersey
has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Education, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
and OSHA for the states’ $12 billion School Construction Program. Vermont
has formed partnerships in safety with the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and SBDC to provide training
for small businesses.
New Mexico
New Mexico developed partnering charters with both the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and
with the Associated General Contractors (AGC) which are patterned after the national agreements. In
both charters, the State participation requirements exceed the national elements. Over 30
contractors currently participate in these two agreements. New Mexico is currently exploring the
establishment of partnering agreements with the NM Heavy Construction Branch of the AGC and with the
local chapter of the Communication Tower Erectors. Five site-specific safety and health agreements
are schedule to expire after the three year projects end in late 2002.
North Carolina
North Carolina has partnerships with the Regional Safety and Health Schools, N.C. Forestry
Association, N.C. Arbousts Association, N.C. Department of Transportation, N.C. Professional
Plumbers Association, Manager of Environmental Safety and Health, Carolina’s AGC, N.C. Community
Colleges, National Association of Tower Erectors and Labor One Mobile Classroom.
Oregon
The following organizations formed partnerships with Oregon
OSHA to increase worker safety and health:
- American Society of Safety Engineers, Mid-Willamette Chapter–this partnership coordinates the
Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference held every two years with industry-specific
workshops and multiple sessions covering a broad range of industries.
- Oregon Pulp & Paper Workers Council of AWPPW, Labor and Education Research Center, Center for
Research Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, PACE–this partnership coordinates the Pulp &
Paper Workers Health and Safety Conference held annually with industry-specific workshops and
multiple sessions covering topics related to the pulp and paper industry.
- Joint Emphasis Program (JEP)–this is a partnership with safety directors of participating
construction companies in the Portland metropolitan area and apprenticeship training directors to
develop training on construction-related topics. JEP is a cooperative effort of management, labor
and government whose goals are to focus on hazards, design curriculum, provide training to safety
personnel, foremen, supervisors and OR-OSHA staff, and to communicate the problems and solutions to
the industry and public. Training has been presented on ladder safety and the revised respirator
code.
- Central Oregon Safety & Health Association–this partnership coordinates the Central Oregon
Occupational Safety and Health Conference held annually with workshops and multiple sessions
covering a broad range of industries.
- ABC Pacific Northwest Chapter–this partnership outlines the process by which companies
participating in the ABC STEP program can achieve SHARP status. The ABC STEP program takes an
employer through a four-step process as they achieve milestones.
Tennessee
Tennessee OSHA is negotiating partnership agreements with several construction associations.
Tennessee uses an approach that has yielded tremendous benefits: industry-TOSHA discussion groups
when new standards and requirements are proposed, such as bloodborne pathogens, hazard
communication, and electrical power generation, transmission and distribution standards.
Utah
Utah has had partnerships for many years with the Associated General Contractors, Utah
Manufacturers’ Association, the Local Trades Council, Utah Safety Council, Utah Farm Bureau
Federation, the NIOSH regional educational center, Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and
Environmental Health, and other professional, safety and trade organizations to promote safety and
health and help reduce injuries and illnesses. Utah appreciates their long-term working relationship
with federal partners of the Salt Lake Technical Center’s health response team, laboratory staff and
computer experts–all of whom are a national resource for workplace safety and health.
Virginia
Virginia has partnership agreements with the Virginia Health Department
to advise VOSH on Seasonal Farm workers, Worker’s Compensation Commission to provide VOSH with First
Reports of Injury and Illness, Virginia Department of Transportation to report violations cited by
workers and the State Police/Sheriff’s Department to advise VOSH of fatalities and serious injuries.
Washington
The Hazard Impact Partnership (HIP) program is a Washington
State Department of Labor and Industries’ effort to help Washington businesses become safer workplaces.
A cross-agency planning team agreed in 1998 that the new initiative must have agency-wide representation
and coordination, be a joint effort with selected industries and labor, include small businesses, be
realistic, implement agency priorities, and be able to be replicated. HIP focuses on industries rather
than individual employers, uses data specific to the selected industry, develops mutual expectations and
creates measurements to determine success. Nursing homes are the first focus industry, with emphasis
on reducing back and shoulder injuries.
Participating nursing homes received up-front reductions in workers’ compensation premiums to enable
them to purchase equipment for a "zero-lift" environment. Participants already report reductions in
lost workdays and improved resident comfort during transfers. During FY 2000 participants reduced
back injuries 43 percent and shoulder injuries 61 percent.
During project startup the department produced two new publications, Frequently Asked Questions
about Portable Total Body Patient/Resident Lifts and Frequently Asked Questions about Sit-to-Stand
Patient/Resident Devices, to encourage use of zero-lift technology in resident and patient care
facilities–both are available on its website. (See directory.) Other activities include: performing
job modifications on open claims for nurses and nursing assistants; documenting best practices
currently used in skilled nursing facilities and sharing the information throughout the industry;
and evaluating the interventions to determine the effectiveness of each and which ones can be
modified and replicated in other industries. The department’s Safety and Health Assessment and
Research for Prevention (SHARP) program received a NIOSH grant to complete this evaluation. WISHA
provides technical expertise in risk management and occupational health and conducts annual site
visits to participating nursing homes.
During FY 2000 Washington implemented a similar program for the sawmill industry. The sawmill HIP
plan was developed by a joint work group that included agency staff, sawmill business owners and
representatives, and organized labor. The project’s first phase includes five volunteer
demonstration sites that will identify causes of musculoskeletal disorders among lumber handlers,
explore remedies and develop a core set of best practices. The second phase of the project will
extend implementation of these best practices to sawmills region-wide.
Federal Perspective
Federal OSHA regards partnership programs as key to leveraging federal resources and expanding the
use of best practices in occupational safety and health. The program officially began on November
13, 1998, when OSHA issued the policy directive OSHA Strategic Partnerships for Worker Safety and
Health. OSHA has received positive feedback attesting to the viability of this approach.
OSHA offers employers a comprehensive partnership agreement in which each participating employer
must commit to implementing an effective safety and health program. Many states have already adopted
standards which require employers to implement and maintain a safety and health program that
consists of management leadership and employee involvement as well as hazard analysis, prevention,
control and training.
Consultation, Training & Education Initiatives
During the fiscal year 2001, states provided training programs for more than a quarter million
employers and their employees on topics such as: ergonomics training and back safety, confined
space, hazard communication, construction and road builders safety, hazard recognition and
prevention, bloodborne pathogens and training for healthcare workers, hearing conservation, and
workplace violence.
FY 2001 State Plan Positions By Title
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Training & Education Programs Conducted |
10,433 |
|
| Total EmployEEs/ERs Provided Training |
805,157 |
|
In fiscal year 2001, state programs conducted more than 12,000 on-site consultation visits,
identifying and directing the abatement of about 62,000 serious hazards. No penalties are proposed
nor citations issued for hazards that are found by the consultants.
FY 2001 On-Site Visits By Type
Text Version of Chart:
Title: FY 2001 On-Site By Type
Type: Horizontal Bar Graph
Graph Elements: 3 - One bar for each type of visit with the number of visits
- Compliance = 57,866
- Consultation = 16,093
- Seminars = 10,433
FY 2001 State Plan Employers & Employees Covered
| Total Employers Covered |
3,200,717 |
|
Private Sector
Public Sector
|
3,004,248
196,469
|
|
| Total Employees Covered |
56,365,712 |
|
Private Sector
Public Sector |
46,843,139
9,522,573 |
|
California, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon
Many state plan states are following federal OSHA’s lead in providing electronic access to
occupational safety and health information via the Internet, offering a wealth of program and
reference information day and night. Users retrieve standards, policy manuals, information on appeal
rights, public hearing notices and material safety data sheets from terminals in their workplaces,
homes, schools and libraries. In some states the public can read proposed rule changes on the
Internet and comment by e-mail. California, Michigan, Minnesota and
Oregon have made their occupational safety and health standards available
in electronic format.
Oregon
Oregon provided more than 700 workshops covering various topics to employers
and employees. Topics ranged from safety committee operations, hazard identification, accident investigation,
safety leadership and accountability for traffic control, and fall protection.
Oregon continues to bring interactive training on-line. Ten Internet courses are offered through
OR-OSHA’s website–including three new ones on ergonomic awareness, developing an effective ergonomic
program, and developing a violence prevention program–and 435 participants took Oregon’s electronic
courses in FY 1999. Oregon also has a web-based self-assessment tool for employers to confidentially
evaluate their safety and health program and identify areas for improvement, asking the participant
a wide range of questions about the employer’s safety and health program and then providing a
numerical score on the program. Participants are encouraged to work with OR-OSHA consultants on
deficient areas and to report progress in a one-year follow-up.
Oregon is reaching small business through a small business education program, which offers them
practical hands-on training in developing a safety program. OR-OSHA partnered with the Workers’
Compensation Division to deliver Employer Coverage and Employer-at-Injury, Preferred Worker
workshops across the state.
OR-OSHA undertook a major initiative designed to provide its staff with clear understanding of the
seven elements of safety and health program management. This internal training ensures that OR-OSHA
staff are presenting a uniform and consistent message to employers. After completing the week-long
training, staff can evaluate and effectively communicate the strengths and weaknesses of an
employer’s safety and health program.
OR-OSHA released its first CD-Rom in 2001, which contains regulations, documents and other technical
information. It is updated and distributed quarterly.
Washington
Washington uses the Internet to deliver safety information and training.
WISHA launched interactive Forklift Safety and Flagging Safety packages and
is adding online Respiratory Protection training. WISHA safety professionals
in partnership with the Construction Advisory Council produced on-line videos: Residential
Construction–Siding Safety and Roofing Safety in English and Spanish, to be followed by
Framing Safety. WISHA also published Guarding
Mechanical Power Transmission Parts, available in hardcopy and on the WISHA Homepage, and has
launched an Internet portal for safety and health training: WISHA University.
Michigan
In Michigan, the Consultation Education and Training
(CET) Division focuses its outreach and training efforts on those companies with the greatest need.
CET developed self-help kits for employers in industries addressed by the MIOSHA Strategic Plan.
Special outreach efforts included seminars, mailings, and articles providing information on workplace
safety requirements and best industry practices.
Michigan is required to report its CET activities annually to the Michigan legislature. In fiscal
year 2001, Michigan provided the following consultation, education and training services: 6,935
safety and health consultations; 441 on-site consultations; and 3,074 workshops, seminars,
apprentice training and special programs. They also distributed 1.3 million pieces of safety and
health literature. The total number of participants in Michigan CET programs were: 29,084 employer
participants and 36,400 employee participants.
Iowa
Iowa worked closely with the OSHA Training Institute, a local community college and the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to provide nationwide training on such topics as
confined space entry and lockout/tagout via their Interactive Communication Network. IOSH staff also
received training on electrical hazards through the OSHA Training Institute pilot via this network.
North Carolina, South Carolina
North Carolina set up a training network through its statewide community college system to teach a
variety of safety and health topics. By tapping into this system, employers and employees both have
easy access to the information. North Carolina also partnered with the South Carolina Department of
Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the North and South Carolina Departments of Transportation, and the
Carolinas’ Associated General Contractors to reduce the dangers of working in high places. A
two-hour safety seminar on fall protection was telecast to sites across both Carolinas.
Virginia
Virginia, in an effort to combat the rising number of injuries and fatalities among loggers,
developed a voluntary compliance program in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry,
Virginia Tech School of Forestry, and Virginia Forestry Association. Safety and health training is
provided at the logging worksite. Loggers who request on-site training are contacted at home in the
evening to establish a meeting time and place. Materials including safety checklists, a safety
manual, and lists of logging injuries are reviewed with loggers. Group training sessions arranged by
Department of Forestry regional representatives are also conducted for loggers and their families.
Virginia’s Consultation Services Program produced two training videos with a grant from OSHA.
Getting Started with Safety outlines steps to begin a safety program
and the benefits of having one.
Common Safety Problems describes five safety problems common to most small businesses. Both videos
are used to help small businesses establish effective safety programs. These materials are available
for other state consultation programs to customize for their own use.
Minnesota
Recognizing that construction is an especially high-hazard industry,
Minnesota established a
bimonthly training seminar specifically for them–the Construction Breakfasts were attended by
construction employers, employees and union representatives. Average attendance was 125. The
discussions included analysis of recent construction accidents, new standards, workers’ compensation
and other safety and health topics pertinent to the construction industry. Training and outreach go
together in the Minnesota program and provide much the same service to stakeholders as the new
compliance assistance positions do in federal OSHA offices. One position was added to the four in FY
2000 to provide better/faster response to stakeholder questions.
Kentucky
Through cooperative efforts of the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky
and Kentucky OSH Division of Education and Training, free job safety and
health training is brought to construction worksites in a training van equipped with audio-visual
equipment. The mobile classroom makes training accessible to more contractors and their employees
while dramatically reducing down time at the site. Kentucky redesigned its website to include online
training programs.
The Safety Partnership Program (SPP) is a new training effort in Kentucky. It offers long-term
assistance to smaller employers with a history of high injury and illness rates and high workers’
compensation costs. SPP helps employers develop a proactive approach to safety and health
management, which improves production, increases employee morale, and significantly reduces workers’
compensation costs. Employers are required to make a three-year commitment, and management as well
as employees must be willing to fully participate. Participants are assigned a team of safety and
health consultants from Kentucky’s Division of Education and Training, and receive priority over all
other training service requests. Once SPP requirements are fulfilled, employers can apply for the
Voluntary Protection Partnership (VPP).
Puerto Rico
Because the demand for training in employer workplaces is high,
Puerto Rico is delivering training
and conference sessions open to general audiences in different towns on the island. Information on
each session is published in the newspaper to reach and benefit a higher number of employers,
employees, students and the general public.
Puerto Rico emphasizes training to small employers of less than 100 employees. As part of its
Strategic Plan, PROSHO has chosen laundries, dry cleaning businesses and bakeries as target
industries. These employers receive preference in consultation visits and training. Puerto Rico also
translated two NIOSH publications into Spanish and adapted them for use in training.
New York
New York recognizes that many public employers need help complying with regulations that require a
written program, and has developed model programs to help employers comply with the bloodborne
pathogen and permit-required confined space standards.
The New York State Labor Department sponsored sharps injury prevention conferences in the state’s
eastern, western, central and southern regions. Conference speakers included physicians,
epidemiologists, infection control specialists and safety and health professionals with expertise in
needlestick prevention devices, AIDS, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B prevention, post-exposure
follow-up treatments, and challenges in enforcing the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard. New York
State Department of Labor Safety and Health staff organized the conferences, which drew more than
500 participants throughout the state. Participants received information on bloodborne diseases and
resources for prevention and intervention. Vendors displayed and demonstrated products, including
needleless systems and a variety of needle covering devices. The publication Needlestick Injury
Prevention Solutions, funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Labor Safety and
Health Inspectors and Industrial Hygienists, provided additional information. Feedback was very
positive.
Wyoming
Wyoming developed four training programs for specific workforce segments:
- Three-Day Collateral Duty Health and Safety Program for staff who have safety duties in addition
to their primary duties.
- Management Excellence Safety Seminar directed toward corporate officers and owners of businesses
to demonstrate the value of safety efforts.
- Construction Safety Program for foremen, superintendents and safety personnel. Behavior Based
Safety introductory seminar.
California
California participated in seminars statewide on subjects related to high incidences of workplace
injury/illness, such as fall injury protection, ergonomic and agricultural hazards. Cal/OSHA
Consultation Service materials range from model programs and guides to training videos. Their Easy
Ergonomics guide for general industry won national acclaim, and a new video features employers from
the state’s diverse industries who explain how the consultation service helped them attain their
safety and health objectives, heightened employee morale and helped their bottom line.
Virgin Islands
Risk of injuries in the Virgin Islands
construction industry will be on a high scale of probability
during a $500 million, three-year expansion of the local oil refinery, Hovensa. VIDOSH began
conducting a four-hour safety orientation for hundreds of local prospective employees who were
applying for positions in Hovensa’s expansion project.
Maryland, New Mexico, Utah
Maryland’s MOSH developed for middle management employees a safety and health curriculum based on
the cost of loss control initiatives that follow the 1989 OSHA guidelines for safety and health
program development. New Mexico conducted joint training with the New Mexico Department of Health
and University of New Mexico Medical School. Utah continues to provide training, education and
consultative services for associations, employers and the public requesting assistance, using
current guidelines from NIH, CDC, NIOSH and states such as New York and California.
Tennessee, Nevada
Tennessee OSHA is working to develop partnerships with associations and stakeholders, striving to
improve the strategic planning process and targeting programs, and has produced a 20-minute video
overview of special emphasis programs for statewide distribution. Nevada
has produced promotional videos in Spanish and English on their consultation program, and spot
announcements aired on local television stations.
Utah
Utah passed a bill in 1995 authorizing 25 percent, about $1 million of
the workers’ compensation premiums, for workplace safety and health programs including consultation
and training. Utah uses pre-construction conferences extensively for large projects. A single point
of contact helps customers with their questions and concerns.
Connecticut
Connecticut continues to conduct many training programs to enhance the safety and health of the
firefighting community through outreach, training, consultation and coordination with the state’s
Fire Academy.
Financial Incentives, Awards & Grants
Washington
Business and labor organizations in Washington
requested legislation to appropriate some of the state’s medical aid fund for an occupational safety
and health impact grant program. The medical aid fund is a portion of the workers’ compensation
system into which workers pay dividends, and its use must benefit workers. Approved by the 1999
Washington State Legislature, with $5 million appropriated for the first biennium and $5 million each
successive year, the grant program is administered by the Department of Labor and Industries in
consultation with the WISHA Advisory Committee.
The grants are intended to help prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives, and educate Washington
employers and employees about workplace hazards and safe work practices. The program is particularly
aimed at small businesses that lack the injury and illness prevention resources of larger companies.
Using a competitive application process, grants can be awarded to trade and business associations,
employers, employee groups or organizations and labor unions. Applicants can form partnerships with
educational institutions and other organizations.
The four grant categories are: education and training; technical innovation to develop engineering
controls or other technical solutions for injury and illness problems; best practices for the
application of hazard control; and innovative statewide programs to address safety and health.
Nearly 200 applications with $38 million in requests were narrowed to 32 recipients with collective
budgets totaling $4.7 million. The expected outcome and results of each project will be built into
the grant contracts and monitored by staff to ensure completion of milestones. The projects reflect
a diversity of Washington industries, companies, labor unions and government agencies.
Indiana
Three Indiana companies received the inaugural Governor’s Workplace Safety Award in March 1999 at
the Hoosier Safety Council’s 13th Annual Convention. The awards recognize the most innovative safety
and health initiatives among Indiana’s workplaces. All of the award recipients have taken a
proactive stance to educate workers, develop new safety technology and forge partnerships to
maintain a safe workplace. Sponsored by the state’s Department of Labor, Bureau of Safety Education
and Training in partnership with the Hoosier Safety Council, the awards salute companies who believe
safety in the workplace should be the number one priority of every employer.
Michigan
The Michigan CET Grant Program was established in 1979 to enhance the services provided by the
Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division. In FY 2001, Michigan awarded 17 CET Grants
totaling $1 million to promote workplace safety and health.
Most of the grants focused on the performance goals identified in the MIOSHA strategic plan. The 17
statewide projects included a wide range of training activities and proficiency levels. Many of the
grants offered interactive computer-based training modules and may include: text, video, interactive
questions, and retention testing.
Minnesota, North Carolina
Minnesota has a Safety Grants Program that awards matching funds up to $10,000 to qualifying
endeavors for projects designed to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses. North Carolina
celebrated the 55th year of its Safety Awards Program receiving 2,516 applications and presenting
1,704 Annual Awards at 29 banquets.
Oregon
Oregon administers two grant programs for public- and private-sector employers to improve workplace
safety and health. Training grants awarded for developing innovative educational programs are funded
from the civil penalties paid by employers. The Oregon Worksite Redesign Program provides grants
from workers’ compensation funding sources to conduct research and development for worksite
modifications designed to reduce non-disabling claims or preclude them from becoming disabling
claims, to preclude on-the-job injuries from recurring, to reduce disability by returning injured
workers to the job sooner, and to help injured workers remain employed.
Wyoming
Wyoming gives employers a 75 percent penalty reduction if they lower their workers’ compensation
claims 25 percent over a 12-month period, and offers employers a 50 percent penalty reduction if
they fix hazards the same day. Another option is to waive all penalties if the employer agrees to
work cooperatively with consultation for three years.
Utah, Puerto Rico, Hawaii
With a 25 percent workers’ compensation premium tax, the Utah
Labor Commission promotes workplace safety and health through consultation, media outreach and
workplace safety grants. Puerto Rico’s Quick Fix program provides a 15
percent additional reduction in penalties for safety and health violations abated during the inspection.
Hawaii’s 5 percent workers’ compensation premium discount is offered for
workplace safety and health programs certified effective.
Multilingual Communications
Bilingual and multilingual publications on workplace safety and health are produced by California,
Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Utah, and Virgin Islands.
Most of the state plans publish their Safety and Health Protection on the Job
poster in English and Spanish.
California
California publishes posters and booklets in English and Spanish for the agriculture workforce. A
brochure on job safety and a booklet on bloodborne pathogens are published in English, Spanish,
Tagalog, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
Minnesota
Minnesota publishes its Safety and Health Protection
on the Job poster in English, Spanish, Hmong, Cambodian, Vietnamese and Laotian. The poster
summarizes employee rights under the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has two official languages, Spanish and English. All government and private transactions
are usually conducted in Spanish, and all state laws and regulations must be in both languages. The
safety and health poster advising employers and employees of their responsibilities and rights is in
both languages, as are some NIOSH and OSHA publications, all the state-adopted occupational safety
and health standards, and citations issued. This reduces the probability of violating employer or
employee rights through lack of understanding the language.
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands distributes Spanish literature and brochures provided by
Puerto Rico OSH to its extensive Spanish-speaking workforce. In 1999
its consultation program offered a course, Derechos de el Empleado Bajo la
Ley OSHA (Employees’ Rights Under the OSHA Act), which was attended by Spanish-speaking public employees.
Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Wyoming, Nevada
Oregon developed workshops in Spanish on hazard identification and ergonomics
awareness. South Carolina and Virginia publish a
bilingual workplace safety and health poster. Wyoming publishes its strategic
and performance planning material in Spanish. Nevada produced promotional videos for their
consultation program in Spanish.
Michigan
Michigan prints its Safety and Health Protection
on the Job poster in English and Spanish. MIOSHA also publishes two brochures, Your
Rights and Responsibilities under MIOSHA, and the Michigan’s Employee Right to Know in
Spanish. The MIOSHA video, MIOSHA: Your Workplace Partner - Onsite Consultation
Program, was dubbed into a Spanish version.
Safety & Health Conferences
Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and
Washington held or participated in safety and health conferences.
Iowa
Iowa has held an annual Governor’s Safety and Health Conference for 26 years. The conference is
organized by a committee of representatives from labor, industry and the public sector, and draws
attendance from many segments of the state population. Nationally known speakers are featured. The
conference is so successful the committee established scholarships totaling $9,500 for seven college
students who are safety and health majors.
Oregon
Oregon’s biennial Governor’s Conference draws more than 3,000 participants to the Portland
Convention Center. Education in a conference format is also offered in all the state’s geographical
regions, as well as a second major safety and health conference every other year in Eugene.
Washington
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Washington
State Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference, which was held September 26-27, 2001 at the
Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle. Expected attendance is 4,500. The annual
conference alternates between western Washington in Seattle and eastern Washington in Spokane.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s annual Governor’s Conference was first held in 1985. This joint effort of business,
labor, government and academia is facilitated by the Kentucky Labor Cabinet and Kentucky Safety and
Health Network. It averages 50 sessions, 115 exhibitors and 1,800 participants. Complementing the
Governor’s Conference held in Louisville each spring are mid-year symposiums offered at a variety of
locations throughout the commonwealth during the late fall.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Safety Congress, sponsored by TOSHA
and Tennessee chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers, is an assembly of safety and
health professionals sharing information and ideas on programs and educational techniques that
promote good workplace safety and health practices. The Congress is nationally recognized for its
high quality and diverse activities.
Michigan
For more than 50 years Michigan has sponsored an annual conference on industrial ventilation
systems. Staffed by ventilation experts of the United States and Canada, the weeklong conference
features general ventilation information and the newest control technologies.
Minnesota
Minnesota OSHA is an active participant in the annual Minnesota Safety and Health Conference
sponsored by the Minnesota Safety Council. The conference has been held for the past 66 years and
draws more than 1,700 participants. The conference includes exhibitor/vendor booths and numerous
seminars on safety-related topics–including regulatory compliance, ergonomics, behavioral issues,
risk control, commercial vehicle safety, basic workplace safety and safety management.
Maryland, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Virginia
Maryland’s OSH, along with its safety council and a number of safety
organizations, sponsors an annual safety and health conference that draws an average 500 people.
Puerto Rico has an annual three-day safety and health conference with
workshops on compliance requirements and updating professionals in safety and health and related
disciplines. Virgin Islands sponsors a biannual safety and health
conference on St. Croix and an annual conference on St. Thomas. In June 2000 Virginia
hosted its fifth annual safety and health conference, which brought employers, employees
and associations together to discuss current safety and health initiatives in Virginia.
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