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 2002 was 258, with 153 SHARP sites. State
plan’s VPP and SHARP 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. They recently implemented three new programs to complement
their VPP Program: the Golden Gate for high-hazard employers, the Golden Eagle which is similar to
the SHARP, and the Golden State which is a leadership program.
- Connecticut has four SHARP certifications and another working through the process.
- Iowa initiated a program in 1992. They now have a total of 19 VPP sites, with three more
facilities pending.
- 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 awarded the first Star Flag in 1999. As of December 2002, MIOSHA has seven Star sites and
three Rising Star sites. Recently there has been tremendous interest in the MVPP program, with 11
sites in the approval process.
- 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.
- Nevada is proud to announce the implementation of the VPP Star Program in 2002. Numerous employers
are in the approval process, with the first Star awarded on April 4, 2003.
- North Carolina initiated the "Carolina Star" program in 1993, and 45 sites have received the award
since 1993. They have recently initiated the Building Star Program and the Gold Star Grower Program.
To assist in expansion of the program, they have developed the Independent Star Assessors Program.
This joint venture allows private-sector safety and health professionals to conduct Star
evaluations.
- Oregon had four VPP sites at the close of FY 2002. This number is expected to increase
dramatically in the next few years as SHARP sites take the next step to achieve VPP status. At the
end of FY 2002, 69 Oregon companies were SHARP certified, an increase of 19 from the previous year.
Oregon SHARP employers have formed the SHARP Alliance to "promote safety and health management and
cooperation among companies and government for the betterment of all Oregon workers."
- Puerto Rico has a VPP program, as well as a Taíno program designed for small businesses. They
currently have nine VPP sites, and recently granted approval to the first construction company that
earned the Guanin Award, which is equivalent to the Star.
- South Carolina’s Office of Voluntary Programs inaugurated the "Palmetto Star" in 1994.
- Tennessee has recognized 13 Volunteer Star sites. They also have continued to help small employers
improve their safety and health programs through the SHARP Program. In 2002 nine employers
participated in the SHARP Program, six were re-certified and one new employer was added.
- Utah has a VPP Star and Merit Program in Compliance, and a SHARP Program in Consultation.
- Vermont began work on a VPP Program this year. They are actively promoting the program and have
several promising candidates.
- Virginia launched VPP and SHARP initiatives patterned after OSHA’s model in 1995. In 2002, the
Virginia VPP Program continued to see increased participation from Virginia employers, certifying an
additional seven Star sites. They now have 23 VPP Star sites and 36 SHARP sites.
- Washington recognized its first VPP site in 1996, and currently has six VPP sites. Other sites are
in the approval process, and the program is experiencing increased interest from employers in the
construction industry.
- Wyoming has implemented the "Cowboy Star and Merit" VPP program, and currently has two Cowboy VPP
sites. The U.S. Vice President sent a letter of congratulations to one of the Cowboy Star sites upon
their three-year renewal. There are 34 public and private employers in SHARP. The third voluntary
program is the Employer Voluntary Technical Assistance program, which has 82 employers enrolled.
Partnerships & Alliances
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
Alaska has established a partnership with the seafood processing industry on Process Safety
Management. Alaska has a new partnership with the logging industry whereby logging companies can
partner with the consultation side of AKOSH to reduce the number of accidents and other potential
OSHA issues.
Arizona
Arizona has partnered with construction contractors to provide a visible presence on specific sites
with regular consultation visits.
Connecticut
Connecticut has entered into a partnership with the 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
employers.
CONN-OSHA has signed alliances to share information and best practices and provide training with the
Connecticut OSHA area offices and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. CONN-OSHA has a
second alliance with the Connecticut OSHA area offices and the Towing and Recovery Professionals of
Connecticut.
Hawaii
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.
Iowa
Iowa has partnerships established with certain employers with emphasis related to construction,
amputations and long-term healthcare.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Labor Cabinet was instrumental in organizing a private, non-profit safety and health
network with participants representing business, labor, academia, and government. The Network’s
mission is to increase awareness of safety and health in the workplace through educational programs,
scholarships and endowments, and statewide symposiums. The KY OSH Program, through its continued
representation on the Network’s Board of Directors, has sustained its influence and activity within
the Network.
Kentucky is the first state program to enter into a Platinum Partnership with the Associated
Builders and Contractors and has entered into CHASE partnerships with the Western Kentucky
Associated General Contractors and the Associated General contractors of Kentucky.
Maryland
Maryland has been working aggressively to expand its Cooperative Compliance Partnership (CCP)
program in the construction industry. Three new cooperative compliance partnerships were approved
during federal FY 2002. Another partnership with Clark Construction was established on a three
million square foot parking garage at BWI airport. Training with the laborers and carpenters are key
additions to this partnership agreement. The other new partnerships are with G.A. & F.C. Wagman, on
the Woodrow Wilson Bridge I-295 project and Willow Construction, LLC, on the Chesapeake College, Wye
Mills Project. In FY 2003, Maryland will extend this partnership program to include general industry
employers.
Michigan
Michigan signed a groundbreaking partnership on March 18, 2002, with Ford Motor Company, the Visteon
Corporation, and the United Auto Workers Union (UAW). The partnership’s primary goals are not only
to reduce injuries and illnesses at each location, but also to create a proactive safety and health
culture, and a non-adversarial relationship that stresses cooperation. Each Ford and Visteon
location covered under the agreement will conduct a MIOSHA Day meeting which will include a review
of the injury and illness reports, an overview of their safety and health progress, and an informal
walk-through of the facility.
Michigan also has signed formal partnership agreements with:
- The Michigan Road Builders Association with the goal of assuring road and bridge worker safety;
- The Associated General Contractors of Michigan to achieve construction workforce safety; and
- The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), to provide a safe workplace for all workers in
the plastics processing industry.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Workplace Safety Consultation has partnership agreements with five contractors on five
large construction sites. Minnesota has recently signed partnership agreements with the Association
of Building Contractors, the Association of General Contractors, the National Association of Tower
Erectors, and Ford Motor Company. The implementation of these partnerships is still in process.
Nevada
Nevada has an ongoing effort with the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC). Nevada’s
Safety Consultation and Training Section conducted the programs and NSBDC advertised them. One of
the most successful programs conducted was the Injury and Illness Recordkeeping program.
Nevada also started a partnering/alliance effort with the National Association of Minority
Contractors (NAMC). The Safety Consultation and Training Section presents a 10-hour Construction
Course as part of the overall training NAMC provides. Nevada is also working with the state’s Risk
Management to enhance safety awareness for state employees. To better leverage limited resources,
Nevada conducts an 8-hour State Safety Supervisor course that all state supervisors attend.
They also have an alliance was with the Department of Emergency Management to provide guidance on
required OSHA training for emergency responders, and assist in developing training for emergency
responders. This training program will be taught as a "Train the Trainer" for the Highway Patrol,
and many other agencies.
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 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 scheduled
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, NC Community
Colleges, National Association of Tower Erectors and American Furniture Manufacturers Association.
Oregon
Oregon OSHA has a strong commitment to working with stakeholders as evidenced
by the number of groups participating in various initiatives.
- Forest Activities Advisory Committee: This committee worked many months to rewrite Oregon’s Forest
- Activities Standard. The new standard has been adopted and becomes effective on December 1, 2003.
- Multi-Employer Worksite Policy Stakeholder Group: This stakeholder group developed guidelines for
the issuance of multi-employer worksite citations. The guidelines became effective January 1, 2003.
- Ergonomic Advisory Group: The goal of this committee is to look for new and innovative ways to
further good ergonomic practices across all industries.
- Administrator’s Partnership Committee: The Oregon OSHA Administrator convened this committee to
provide guidance to the division on a wide variety of current issues.
- Public Safety Advisory Committee: This standing committee meets quarterly to discuss current
issues facing public safety professionals.
- Joint Emphasis Program (JEP): The Oregon construction industry and OR-OSHA are working together to
reduce construction injuries and fatalities. The JEP is a cooperative effort among management,
labor, and government to design and implement focused training sessions. To date, the committee has
developed training materials on fleet safety, health hazards in construction, respiratory
protection, and scaffold safety training.
- American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE): Oregon OSHA and the Columbia Willamette Chapter of
ASSE partnered to organize the 2003 Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference. The
conference was held in March 2003.
- Construction Advisory Committee: The primary focus of this committee is to address fatalities in
the construction industry and explore ways to raise awareness.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico and federal OSHA signed an agreement with the Associated General
Contractors, Puerto Rico Chapter, to achieve construction workforce safety through shared goals and
objectives. The goal is to develop a contractor/government partnership that will encourage Puerto
Rico construction contractors to: improve their safety and health performance; strive for the
elimination of the four major hazards (falls, electrical, caught in/between, and struck-by hazards),
which account for the majority of the fatalities and injuries in this industry; prevent serious
accidents through implementation of enhanced safety and health programs; increase employee training;
and recognize those contractors with exemplary safety and health programs.
Tennessee
Tennessee OSHA is negotiating partnership agreements with several construction associations.
Tennessee uses an approach that has yielded tremendous benefits: Industry-TOSHA discussion groups
are formed when new standards and requirements are proposed, such as bloodborne pathogens, hazard
communication, and electrical power generation, transmission and distribution standards.
Utah
Utah has partnerships with the Associated General Contractors, Utah Manufacturing Association, the
Local Trade Council, 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. Each year Utah OSHA joins with the local chapters
of the American Society of Safety Engineers, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Utah Safety
Council and the Rocky Mountain Center to support the Annual Utah Conference on Safety and Industrial
Hygiene. Utah also appreciates its long-term working relationship with its federal partners of the
Salt Lake Technical Center’s health response team, laboratory staff and computer experts.
Vermont
Vermont OSHA has strategic partnerships with the Associated General Contractors, the Vermont Nursing
Home Association, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. They have also formed alliances with the
Vermont Ski Areas Association and the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
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 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.
FY 2002 State Plan Positions By Title
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Training & Education Programs Conducted |
10,433 |
|
| Total EmployEEs/ERs Provided Training |
805,157 |
|
FY 2002 On-Site Visits By Type
Text Version of Chart:
Title: FY 2002 On-Site Visits By Type
Type: Horizontal Bar Graph
Graph Elements: 6 - One bar for each type of on-site visit showing the number of visits
- Compliance = 58,074
- Consultations = 14,272
- Seminars = 10,433
FY 2002 State Plan Employers & Employees Covered
| Total Employers Covered |
3,039,274 |
|
Private Sector
Public Sector |
2,842,805
196,469 |
|
| Total Employees Covered |
56,643,431 |
|
Private Sector
Public Sector |
46,098,277
3,545,154 |
|
Consultation, Training & Education Initiatives
During the fiscal year 2002, 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.
In fiscal year 2002, state programs conducted more than 10,000 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.
Alaska
The Alaska Consultation and Training Unit provides training to a variety
of employers and employees in the urban areas of Alaska, as well as areas that are remote and difficult
to access.
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.
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.
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.
Safer Workplaces 2000 performance outcome measures showed a 90 percent increase in the employers
participating in the program over the past four years. These interventions are time consuming, but
result in positive feedback from the participating facilities.
Maryland
Maryland continues to develop ways to improve and conduct extensive training sessions for employers
and employees. New seminars on compliance auditing, workplace hazard assessment, emergency response
and disaster preparedness, injury and illness recordkeeping, introduction to industrial hygiene for
the non-industrial hygienist, introduction to safety and health for supervisors, mobile crane
safety, and workplace hazard assessment were developed and presented.
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 2002, Michigan provided the following consultation, education and training services: 4,931
safety and health consultations; 406 onsite consultations; and 2,493 workshops, seminars, apprentice
training and special programs. They also distributed 850,000 of safety and health literature. The
total number of participants in Michigan CET programs was: 26,523 employer participants and 21,804
employee participants.
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.
Nevada
Nevada, in an effort to increase awareness of safety and health hazards and what is needed to
control the hazards, conducted 293 formal training sessions reaching 5,078 participants using 59
different programs. Some of the programs include Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness, Confined Space
Awareness, Control of Hazardous Energy-Lockout/Tagout, Fall Protection, Hazard Communication, Injury
and Illness Recordkeeping, Powered Industrial Truck, Workplace Violence, and Written Workplace
Safety Program. CEU’s are available through a partnering effort with the state’s community colleges.
The training conducted concentrated on high-hazard industries or targeted areas. Nevada’s Safety
Consultation and Training Section has a safety and health video lending library for Nevada
employers. A total of 23,179 individuals have viewed the videos.
New Mexico
New Mexico conducted joint training with the New Mexico Department of Health
and University of New Mexico Medical School.
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 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 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 Department of Labor safety and health
inspectors and industrial hygienists, provided additional information. Feedback was very positive.
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 present a live
and interactive videoconference on the hazards associated with work zone safety.
North Carolina also conducted construction forums throughout the state on the topic of workplace
fatalities. The training was presented in partnership with the Carolinas AGC, Home Builders
Association, and safety conscious and successful North Carolina construction companies. The
companies shared their "lessons learned."
Oregon
Oregon OSHA provides a wide variety of occupational safety and health workshops, special request
training sessions, and on-line courses. A CD-ROM containing Oregon rules, regulations, training
materials, and publications is published and distributed approximately every quarter.
Oregon OSHA has developed the ‘Safety for Small Business’ program to help small business owners
implement safety and health programs in their workplaces. The program, specifically designed to
accommodate the special needs of small business owners, consists of two free one-hour "brown bag"
workshops. Participants learn how to integrate a safety and health program into their business plan,
receive industry-specific resource materials, and are introduced to the program’s 10 short-duration
safety and health training modules. The workshops are presented two weeks apart giving participants
an opportunity to implement a portion of their safety and health program prior to the second
session. This unique approach allows the employer to return to the second session with real life
experience.
Puerto Rico
Because the demand for training in employer in workplaces is high, Puerto Rico continues 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. Some themes covered in the training sessions
are: How to Develop and Maintain an Effective Safety and Health Program; Safety and Health in the
Woodworking Industries; Safety and Health in the Auto-Repair Shops: Safety and Health in the
Construction Industry.
Puerto Rico emphasizes training to small employers of less than 100 employees. As part of its
Strategic Plan, PROSHO has chosen agricultural production-crops (SIC 0170) and nursing homes as
target industries. These employers receive preference in consultation visits and training. Puerto
Rico also developed two booklets of safety and health matters related to each target industry. In
addition, Puerto Rico translated two OSHA publications into Spanish.
Tennessee
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. Tennessee OSHA addressed ergonomic
risk factors and needlestick hazards in the nursing home industry in seminars provided for nursing
home employer and employees held in conjunction with the Tennessee Healthcare Association. These
hazards were also addressed in a nursing home targeting initiative
Utah
Utah passed a bill in 1995 authorizing a percentage of workers’ compensation premiums, about $1
million, to support workplace safety and health programs. This allowed the hiring of two state fully
funded consultants to provide additional consultation and training. Utah continues to provide
training, education and consultative services for associations, employers and the public requesting
assistance.
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.
Virginia
Virginia’s Consultation Program conducts formal training programs across the state by working in
cooperation with various associations and groups.
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 online
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.
Wyoming
Wyoming developed several training programs for specific workforce segments:
- Three-Day Collateral Duty Health and Safety Program for personnel having safety duties in addition
to their primary duties.
- Management Excellence Seminar directed toward corporate officers and business owners to
demonstrate the value of safety efforts, which can reduce workers’ compensation premiums, increase
profits, as well as other benefits.
- Construction safety programs for general construction, excavations, scaffolding, fall protection,
residential, and roofing operations.
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 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.
California
California workers’ compensation reform legislation passed in 2002 included a provision for the
establishment of a Workers’ Occupational Safety and Health Education Fund for the purpose of
creating a worker-training program. The program is designed to address skills needed for workers who
will take an active role in Workplace Injury and Illness Prevention Programs and joint
labor-management committees.
A certificate program will be available for employees who complete a certain number of core and
supplemental modules. Expanded "train the trainer" courses will also be developed for those
interested in using the curriculum to train other workers.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s five percent workers’ compensation premium discount is offered for workplace safety and
health programs certified effective.
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 2002, Michigan awarded 18 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 grants are designed to address
emerging issues like workplace violence; ergonomics issues, particularly in the health care field;
fall protection; new employee safety training; plastic injection molding hazards; and a wide range
of other safety needs. Many of the grants offered interactive computer-based training modules and
may include: text, video, interactive questions, and retention testing.
The MIOSHA CET Division recognizes successful Michigan companies that have established a
comprehensive safety and health program that positively impacts their workplace. The CET Division
presented the following CET Awards during the 2002 fiscal year: one Bronze Award for improved safety
and health program; three Silver Awards for a one-year, one Gold Award for a two-year, one CET
Plaque for a five-year achievement of outstanding MIOSHA injury and illness records; and three
Ergonomic Innovation Awards for innovative ideas which have been implemented to reduce worker
strain. The recognized companies were awarded their certificates at ceremonies attended by state and
local elected officials and MIOSHA staff.
Minnesota
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
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’s training grant program, funded from the civil penalties paid by employers, awards grants
for the development of innovative educational programs. Grants are awarded to assist in the
development of education programs that can be used by an entire industry or a specific work process
to reduce or eliminate hazards.
Oregon OSHA encourages grant applications for the development of training programs that support
their strategic plan. Materials produced with grant funds become the property of the Oregon OSHA.
The final products are available for loan to the public from the OR-OSHA Resource Center. Training
programs developed with the grant funds include such topics as: lifting guidelines; a dairy farmers
checklist and video; pictograms for training mentally challenged individuals on hazards in the
workplace; a home builders’ manual and videos in Russian, Spanish, and English; and a pilot
educational program for prevention of ergonomic-related injuries for nurses.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s Quick Fix program provides a 15 percent additional reduction
in penalties for safety and health violations abated during the inspection.
Utah
With the support of $1 million from workers’ compensation premiums, the Utah
Labor Commission promotes workplace safety and health through consultation, media outreach and
workplace safety grants.
Wyoming
Wyoming reduces penalties for employers in informal conferences when their workers’ compensation is
less than one and/or if they correct the hazard in the presence of the inspector. When an employer
has eight or more claims, an offer to reduce penalties by 75 percent is made if the employer can
reduce claims by 25 percent over the following 12 months. During every fixed establishment
inspection and consultation visit, the employer is given an analysis of his workers’ compensation
account. Shown are the injuries by body part, the cost of those injuries by body part, how much was
paid on past year’s premiums and a one- or two-year premium projection. Also, shown is the monetary
loss, which is the difference between premiums paid versus the least amount that could be paid. The
intent is for an employer to make the connection between increased safety awareness and increased
profits.
Multilingual Communications
California
In an effort to better serve the growing number of limited and non-English speaking workers in
California, Cal/OSHA has actively sought to overcome language barriers
between Cal/OSHA staff and the public it serves. Recent publications have been translated into
multiple languages, depending on the type of industry that they address.
Significant efforts have been made to identify bilingual (mainly Spanish-English) staff to assist in
enforcement and consultation interventions at bilingual worksites and to respond to inquiries in the
office or on the telephone.
Cal/OSHA has supplemented these efforts by contracting with an external translation service. This
service is able to provide translation services via a teleinterpreter, 24 hours a day and in 150
different languages. Each Cal/OSHA office displays a multi-lingual poster so that if it is not
possible to identify the language spoken by the other party, the person can simply point to his/her
language on the poster. The majority of requests are for Spanish interpretation but requests for
interpretation by Russian, Thai, Romanian, Japanese, and Vietnamese have been received.
Over 75 on-site consultation visits were conducted at worksites where the primary language of the
employer and/or employees was Spanish. Bilingual assistance was provided primarily in agriculture,
garment, manufacturing and construction.
Maryland
Maryland prints its Safety and Health Protection On
The Job poster in English and Spanish. MOSH also publishes their Closing
Conference Guide in Spanish. This booklet explains employer rights following an inspection.
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.
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. Minnesota OSHA consultation has
added a position to help train non-English speaking people working in the construction industry.
Nevada
Nevada has produced promotional videos in Spanish and English on their consultation
program, and spot announcements aired on local television stations.
Oregon
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of Hispanics in Oregon grew by 144 percent, representing over 8
percent of the Oregon population. The Oregon economy relies heavily on industries that employ a
large number of workers with limited English skills, including nursery, agriculture, manufacturing,
forestry, construction, food processing, restaurants, hospitality, and services.
During FY 2002, Oregon OSHA completed development of a Spanish-English/English-Spanish
Dictionary of occupational safety and health terms targeted at English-speaking employers and limited
English-speaking Latino/Hispanic workers, supervisors and employers who wish to improve their
communication on occupational safety and health issues. The dictionary contains a section on basic
terminology, including such things as directions, telling time, basic safety and health expressions,
and work titles. The dictionary is available on the OR-OSHA web site and has become the most
accessed document on the site.
To serve the increasing number of Spanish-speaking construction workers, Oregon OSHA has partnered
with safety and health professionals in the construction industry to develop industry specific
safety training materials in both English and Spanish. These materials are specifically designed to
provide English-speaking supervisors materials from which to train their Spanish-speaking employees
on construction safety.
Oregon OSHA also offers a variety of publications in Spanish, including the Safety and Health
Protection on the Job poster, Clothes Washing for Pesticide Handlers, Directory of OR-OSHA Services,
Field Sanitation Notice, Safe Practices When Working Around Hazardous Agricultural Chemicals, and a
pamphlet for operators of seasonal farm worker housing. Oregon also offers workshops in Spanish and
a web page for Spanish speaking Oregon workers provides occupational safety and health information
and resources.
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.
Tennessee
Tennessee OSHA has translated several publications into Spanish and developed an alliance with the
Tennessee Foreign Language Institute to assist compliance officers when a Spanish interpreter is
needed. Tennessee has participated in the Hispanic Community Outreach Program sponsored by the
Mexican Consulate Office in Atlanta, GA.
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.
Safety & Health Conferences
Alaska
The Alaska Governor’s Safety Conference is an annual event and brings hundreds of employers,
employees, safety professionals, and vendors from all over the state and out-of-state together to
discuss new and existing safety topics.
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.
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, with combined attendance of more than
1,000 participants.
Maryland
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. Maryland also participates in
several other annual conferences with local associations targeting construction and public-sector
employees.
Michigan
With more than 5,500 attendees annually, the Michigan Safety Conference is
one of the largest and most informative state conferences in the nation. The conference goal is to
help participants improve worker safety and health, reduce workers’ compensation costs, and increase
productivity and profitability. In April 2002, nearly 100 MIOSHA safety and health professionals and
support staff were involved in planning and facilitating more than 14 seminars.
In February 2002, Michigan sponsored the 51st Annual Industrial Ventilation
Conference. 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 69 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. Minnesota
OSHA also participates in the Association contractor Safety Days in both the Duluth and St.
Paul/Minneapolis areas.
Oregon
Oregon OSHA partners with businesses, trade and safety organizations to offer numerous safety and
health conferences around the state. Oregon’s biennial Governor’s Conference draws approximately
3,000 participants to the Portland Convention Center. The conference, co-sponsored by Oregon OSHA
and the Columbia Willamette Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, is one of the
largest events of its kind on the west coast. Oregon OSHA also co-sponsors three regional safety and
health conferences around the state as well as the Western Pulp and Paper Workers Safety and Health
Conference.
Puerto Rico
On December 2002, Puerto Rico held its Ninth Occupational Safety and Health
Conference, a three-day safety and health conference with workshops on compliance requirements and
updating professionals in safety and health and related disciplines.
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.
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands sponsors a biannual safety and health conference on St. Croix
and an annual conference on St. Thomas.
Virginia
Virginia’s Annual Occupational Safety and Health Conference was first held in 1996. Held each year
in June, the conference now has approximately 350 participants and 40 exhibitors. Locations rotate
from the Tidewater area to Roanoke.
Washington
This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the Washington State Governor’s Industrial
Safety and Health Conference, which will be held September 17 & 18, 2003, at the Washington
State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle. Expected attendance is 4,900. The annual conference
alternates between western Washington in Seattle/Tacoma and eastern Washington in Spokane.
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