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. The cumulative total for all
State Plan States in fiscal year 2003 was 286 VPP sites.
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.
State plan’s VPP and SHARP highlights are listed below.
- Alaska devotes substantial resources to its VPP and SHARP programs. As a result, Alaska exceeded
its goals at the end of the previous five-year strategic plan by 10 percent in VPP sites and by 20
percent in SHARP sites.
-
The Consultation Section of ADOSH is responsible for promoting and operating Arizona’s VPP
Program. In 2003 the Consultation Section did an outstanding job at promoting the virtues of VPP.
Because of their outstanding outreach and promotion of the program, ADOSH is now seeing significant
increase in employer interests and application assistance requests. ADOSH continues to interact
with and promote the Voluntary Protection Participants Program Association (VPPPA.) ADOSH
participated in regional as well as national meetings to promote safer workplaces throughout the nation.
- 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 21 VPP sites, with three more
facilities pending.
- Kentucky currently has nine VPP participants, having certified its first VPP participant in August 1997.
- Maryland is pleased they now have two VPP sites: Northrop Grumman and Frito-Lay manufacturing.
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Michigan awarded the first MVPP Star Flag in 1999. As of December 2003, MIOSHA has awarded Star
status to 10 sites, and Rising Star status to three sites. One company has achieved SHARP
recognition.
- Minnesota has offered its MNSHARP award since 1996, certifying 12 worksites by FY03. In 1999,
MNOSHA launched its more stringent Minnesota Star (MNSTAR) program, modeled after the federal VPP.
By FY03, 12 worksites have been awarded under this program.
- Nevada OSHA is proud to currently have three VPP Star sites in the program. The Nevada OSHA VPP
Team is working with many interested employers throughout the state, with program growth anticipated
to double this next fiscal year.
- New Mexico has one Zia Star VPP worksite and three SHARP worksites. The enforcement and
consultation sections have worked closely together in promoting both voluntary programs. The State
expects to double the number of both VPP and SHARP participants in the next year.
- North Carolina initiated the Carolina Star program in 1993. There are currently 63 Carolina Star
sites. Included under the Carolina Star umbrella is the Building Star program that recognizes
construction worksites that have quality safety and health programs. The newest Carolina Star
Program is the Public Sector Star which recognizes state agencies and local governments. This new
program was launched in April 2004. To assist in the expansion of all of the state’s recognition
programs with limited resources available, North Carolina has developed the Independent Star
Assessors (ISA) Program. This joint venture allows safety and health professionals in the private
sector to assist in conducting evaluations of North Carolina’s top employers applying for STAR
status. ISA has been approved as a pilot project by Federal OSHA.
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At the end of FY 2003, Oregon had 77 SHARP certified companies and seven VPP sites. Oregon SHARP
employers have formed a unique organization known as the Oregon SHARP Alliance. The mission of the
Alliance is to "promote safety and health management and cooperation among companies and government
for the betterment of all Oregon workers." The Alliance provides an opportunity for networking,
sharing best practices, and mentoring among companies and safety professionals.
- 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 has 47 approved Palmetto Star sites and continues to see increased interest and
activity in the program. A Super Star category for current Palmetto Star sites has been implemented
to recognize sites that continue to reduce their TCIR and DART rates, improve their safety and
health system, and maintain the requirements of the Palmetto Star program. Participants must have
also successfully completed one three-year re-evaluation. Sites that receive this recognition will
have their three-year reevaluation extended for one year as long as these requirements continue to
be met. Two companies are candidates for approval as SHARP participants.
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Tennessee OSHA began their VPP efforts in 1991 with the Volunteer STAR program. Interest in the
program is experiencing substantial growth as current participants network with peers and
communicate the value of the VPP Program. Tennessee OSHA currently recognizes 17 Volunteer Star
sites. In 2003, three sites were added and three sites were re-evaluated. The SHARP Program
continues to help employers improve their safety and health programs. The Tennessee SHARP Program
currently has nine employer participants. During 2003, seven were re-certified and one new employer
was added.
- Since 2002, Utah has enhanced its Voluntary Protection Program and the program has grown from one
company in 2002 to four in 2004. Several other companies are at some stage of the review and
approval process. Utah will also participate with OSHA National Office in the three new VPP
initiatives – Corporate, Construction and Challenge. In 2002 Utah developed and implemented a SHARP
program. Two companies achieved SHARP status in 2003. Several other companies are at various stages
of the approval process. Utah has also developed a SHARP program for construction companies, but
that program is on hold until guidance is promulgated by OSHA National Office.
- 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 2003, the
Virginia VPP program continued to see increased participation and interest from Virginia employers,
certifying an additional seven Star worksites. Currently, there are 25 VPP Star worksites and 38
SHARP worksites.
- Washington recognized its first VPP site in 1996, and currently has nine VPP sites including a
construction site. The most recent recipient, Utility Vault of Auburn, makes precast concrete
products for the construction industry. It is a division of an international building materials
group headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. They are the first precast facility in the U.S. to earn the
VPP distinction.
- Wyoming’s "Cowboy VPP" has two sites enrolled with two additional sites approved for participation
and awaiting presentation of their awards. The number of SHARP sites has increased from 34 to 48 and
there are 92 companies in their third voluntary program, Employer Voluntary Technical Assistance
Program.
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.
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.
Alaska has established three new partnerships with: the wood products industry, the construction
industry, and the Municipality of Anchorage. All partnerships are managed by the consultation side
of Alaska Occupational Safety and Health. Each partnership is designed to reduce the number of
injuries, illnesses and fatalities in each industry.
Arizona
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (ADOSH) Alliances provide parties an
opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with ADOSH for purposes such as
training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace
safety and health. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both ADOSH and its Alliance
participants.
California
The first formal partnership agreement to come to fruition was signed by Cal/OSHA
and the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association. Federal OSHA approached
Cal/OSHA in January 2003 stating that they had already signed a partnership agreement wherein
members of the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association can contact federal OSHA and indicate
their interest in participating in the agreement. Employers must agree to voluntarily comply
with safety and health regulations, and agree to submit to an audit of their facilities and
programs. Cal/OSHA has conducted audits, with the understanding that any serious or imminent
hazards found must be promptly corrected. Concerned labor unions have also been involved in
reaching this agreement.
Cal/OSHA and KFM,
a joint venture contractor for the new skyway portion of the San Francisco –
Oakland Bay Bridge continue to finalize the terms of a partnership agreement. Precast roadway
segments weighing 750 tons each are made in Stockton, California, and then loaded by section on a
barge and floated to the area of bridge construction. The agreement will, among other things,
simplify jurisdictional issues between Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA relating to the bridge
construction. For example, cranes on barges on the water would be under federal OSHA jurisdiction
while stationary cranes are under Cal/OSHA jurisdiction. Cal/OSHA requires crane certification while
federal OSHA does not require such certification. The agreement provides that both state and federal
inspectors will respond to incidents occurring on the project, eliminating confusion over
jurisdictional issues and applicable regulations.
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 OSH Program 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. Kentucky offers
the OSHA 10 and 30 hour courses for Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction
Industry, exclusively and without cost, to companies and organizations that have entered into formal
construction partnership agreements with the Kentucky OSH Program.
Maryland
Maryland has been working aggressively to expand its Cooperative Compliance Partnership (CCP)
program in the construction industry. Maryland entered into seven new Cooperative Compliance
Partnerships (CCP) during FY 2003. The new partnerships are as follows: Cherry Hill Construction at
MD 450 and Quarantine Road Landfill projects; Clark Realty Builders, LLC on the Mill Pond II
project; G.A. & F.C. Wagman on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project; Cianbro Corporation at the Dundalk
Marine Terminal; Whiting-Turner at the National Aquarium Pier 3 Expansion project; Gilford
Corporation at the Reid Temple AME Church project.
The partnerships entered into during FY 2002 with Clark Construction at BWI airport and G.A. & F.C.
Wagman on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge I-295 project are ongoing and should come to completion during
FY 2004. The other new partnership that was established during FY 2002 with Willow Construction, LLC
on the Chesapeake College, Wye Mills Project was successfully completed during FY 2003 with no
injuries.
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, which were renewed in 2003 for an additional
three years, 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
MNOSHA Compliance has signed partnerships with the Association of General Contractors and the
National Association of Tower Erectors. MNOSHA is working cooperatively with all members of Federal
Region V to establish a joint partnership with Ford Motor Company. MNOSHA Workplace Safety
Consultation has numerous informal alliances with various entities. In FY04, these alliances will be
formalized through signed agreements.
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, who are able to attend any programs on
Nevada’s quarterly schedules. 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 is continuing the Reciprocity Agreement with Region VI – OSHA. The agreement will
recognize the participants in the AGC Partnering Agreement and will extend recognition of state
incentives to areas of federal jurisdiction in NM. The state is negotiating with the Associated
Builders and Contractors to renew a Partnership Agreement and, if signed, a Reciprocity Agreement
will also be enacted for participating contractors.
New Mexico is working on specialty trade contractor emergency response training based on SMART card
system. Participants include: AGC contractors, operators union, laborer’s union. Presently, looking
to expand participation with railroad, forest service, Sandia National Laboratory, Kirtland AFB and
Native American Tribes.
The Compliance Section will assist with the management of partnership programs as needed and help
with the verification process in roles permitted within the agreements. Additionally, enforcement
activities will be conducted to assure the effectiveness of partnerships in the residential
construction industry.
New Mexico has signed an Alliance with
the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) of New Mexico. The Alliance signing,
was the first agreement for any NUCA Chapter in the Nation.
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,
Carolina Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc, and Patterson and Wilder
Construction.
Oregon
At any given time, Oregon OSHA has around 20 active stakeholder collaborations and partnerships.
Major revisions of standards are always undertaken with the involvement of a stakeholder committee,
conferences are planned in partnership with various industry groups, and new training initiatives
often involve stakeholders.
Of particular note in the area of partnerships in Oregon is the Oregon Forest Activities Advisory
Committee. This committee of logging employers and employees, state and federal forestry agencies,
industry associations, academia, equipment manufacturers, and Oregon OSHA employees met on a monthly
basis over a five year period to completely revise Oregon’s forest activities standard.
This partnership resulted in a highly effective, innovative standard supported by business, workers
and government. The process of developing these rules moved Oregon OSHA, industry and equipment
manufacturers from an adversarial relationship to a true partnership with a common goal.
Examples of other stakeholder collaborations in Oregon not already mentioned include:
- During FY 2003, Oregon OSHA entered into a unique agreement with two local electric power
providers to train OR-OSHA compliance staff on power generation, transmission and distribution. The
training sessions were delivered on-site by power company staff.
- Along with WISHA, Oregon partnered with the Northwest Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship and
Training Trust to assist them in modifying their national training program on steel erection.
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 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.
FY 2003 State Compliance Assistance Activities
|
|
| Formal Training |
5,228 |
77,799 |
|
| Workshops/Seminars |
1,470 |
29,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultation, Training & Education Initiatives
During the fiscal year 2003, 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.
Alaska
The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Consultation and Training section 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.
Arizona
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health continued to offer top quality hazard
recognition training to over 3,000 employers and conducted training to over 4,500 employees. Our
three trainers continued to provide training services throughout the state of Arizona. Participation
from employers in rural areas increased significantly during 2003. Many of the responses provided to
us concerning the training provided, have been overwhelmingly appreciative of the agency’s efforts
to bring the services out to the rural areas of Arizona.
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.
Kentucky
Kentucky instituted a strategy for reaching employers whose injury/illness rates are three times the
private sector rate in Kentucky as indicated by the OSHA Data Collection. The division directors
determined that every employer identified as meeting these criteria would be visited either by a
Division of Education and Training consultant or a Division of Compliance inspector. By coordinating
the BLS injury/illness SIC information to establish the most hazardous industrial classifications in
the state and the employer-specific information produced by the OSHA Data Collection, Kentucky
embarked on a series of Targeted Outreach Programs (TOP’s).
Smaller employers, whose occupational safety and health records indicate high rates of injuries
and/or illnesses were given the option of receiving on-site consultation. A list of larger employers
and employers who chose not to request consultative assistance was provided to the Division of
Compliance.
The first round of promotional outreach resulted in a response rate of nearly 30 percent and lead to
breakthrough contacts with nursing home and assisted living associations for statewide training. A
second round of promotion resulted in a response rate nearly as successful.
Kentucky also has developed a training campaign involving a week of safety and health seminars
offered annually at each of the state’s seven largest population centers. The "Pop Centers" campaign
has proven to be extremely successful over the years in reaching employers and employees in the
Commonwealth’s farflung industrial centers. The population center training campaign averages over
3,000 attendees each year and offers nearly 60 classes on a wide variety of occupational safety and
health subjects.
As a service to contractors who have entered into a partnership agreement with the Kentucky OSH
Program, the OSHA 10 hour and 30 hour construction safety courses are offered exclusively and
without cost.
Maryland
Maryland continues to develop ways to improve and conduct extensive training sessions for employers
and employees. New seminars on Construction Site Safety, Ergonomics in Construction Industry, Heat
Stress, Injury Prevention, Infectious Disease Control, MSDSs for General Industry, Office
Ergonomics, Practical Approach to Choosing PPE, and Safety Pays 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. Michigan is required to report its CET
activities annually to the Michigan legislature. In fiscal year 2003, Michigan provided the
following consultation, education and training services: 3,418 safety and health consultations; 353
hazard surveys; 357 onsite consultations; and 1,834 workshops, seminars, apprentice training and
special programs. They also distributed 620,000 pieces of safety and health literature. The total
number of participants in Michigan CET programs was: 39,522 employers and employees.
CET Initiatives are activities related to significant changes in MIOSHA standards or emerging safety
and health issues. In fiscal year 2003, the CET Division continued providing outreach activities to
promote five initiatives: Bloodborne Infectious Diseases - five seminars; Recordkeeping - 12
seminars; Firefighting - four seminars; Overhead and Gantry Cranes - a training program, employee
manual and sample permits were developed and used for nine workshops; Steel Erection - 10 workshops.
The CET Division also conducted 137 initiative consultations.
Minnesota
Recognizing that construction is an especially high-hazard industry, Minnesota established a series
of Construction Breakfast training seminars specifically for the industry that are attended by
construction employers, employees and union representatives. Topics include an analysis of recent
construction accidents, new standards, workers’ compensation and other safety and health topics
pertinent to the construction industry. Scheduled and requested compliance training sessions for all
types of industries in FY03 reached more than 1,200 individuals. Training sessions conducted by
Workplace Safety Consultation were attended by more than 18,000 participants statewide.
Logging is another high-hazard industry in Minnesota. To emphasize the importance of safety in
lowering workers’ compensation costs in the logging industry, Minnesota provides free, eight-hour
LogSafe safety seminars to 95 percent of the state’s logger employers and their employees each year.
Minnesota’s sawmill owners pay 30 cents for every cord of wood they purchase or process annually
above 5,000 cords into a special logger’s fund. Of the money paid into the fund each year, $125,000
covers the LogSafe program costs. Participating logging companies receive the remainder as rebates
on their workers’ compensation premiums after providing proof of workers’ compensation insurance and
proof of annual LogSafe attendance for each employee. In addition, Minnesota OSHA offers a lending
library of more than two dozen videos to interested parties.
Nevada
Nevada, in an effort to increase awareness of safety and health hazards and what is needed to
control the hazards, conducted 379 formal training sessions reaching 7,300 participants using 78
different programs. Of these, 26 formal training sessions, reaching 756 participants, and using
seven different programs, were conducted in Spanish. 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 29,864 individuals have viewed the
videos.
New Mexico
New Mexico has developed a residential construction partnership program. The partnership program,
Construction Agreement for Residential Employee Safety (CARES), is focused on the large Hispanic
construction workforce in the residential construction industry. It is a joint effort between the
Enforcement and Consultation sections of the State OSHA program. There are currently more than 100
subcontractor companies participating in the CARES program.
New York
New York continues to respond to the needs of public employers and small private employers by
developing model written plans such as, the Bloodborne Pathogen, Exposure Control and Permit
Required Confined Space Plan’s. These plans were updated to reflect the recent regulatory changes.
The Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) and the
21D On-Site Consultation Bureau sponsored numerous
Employee Injury Prevention in Long Term Care Conferences throughout New
York which focused on major causes and prevention strategies of employee injuries. Nationally
renowned speakers presented cost/benefit information pertaining to zero-lift policies as well as how
to get started implementing such policies. The experts and vendors provided valuable hands-on
demonstrations of resident handling equipment. Other conference topics included slips, trips and
falls and an update on the changes to the recordkeeping regulation. The publication "Patient
Handling Solutions" was also distributed.
The On-Site Consultation Bureau (21D) and PESH presented OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training to the
NYS Department of Transportation and their contractors at a variety of locations throughout the
state. Hundreds of employees were provided valuable safety training. We anticipate this training
effort to be expanded the coming year.
PESH continues to coordinate with Town and Village Highway Departments and is providing conference
style safety training sessions to employees and their supervisors. Vendors are invited to show their
safety equipment and supplement training. The On-Site Consultation Bureau has developed a youth
initiative focusing on the future employees and the young worker, providing safety training and
hazard recognition.
North Carolina
North Carolina conducted Construction Forums on Workplace Fatalities throughout the state. The
training was presented in partnership with the Home Builders Association, and safety conscious and
successful North Carolina construction companies. Breakout Panels for Commercial, Residential, and
Public Sector construction activity were included in the forum agenda to respond to specific
customer concerns.
North Carolina’s Labor One, a mobile training vehicle, is a very useful training tool, especially in
the construction industry. On-site training is offered in both Spanish and English to employees who
might not attend training in a formal class room setting.
Oregon
In the area of training, Oregon OSHA offers a wide variety of occupational safety and health
workshops, special request training sessions, and on-line courses. To keep employers up-to-date,
Oregon OSHA updates, publishes, and distributes quarterly a CD-ROM containing Oregon rules,
regulations, training materials and publications.
In a unique approach to outreach, Oregon OSHA held the first "Safety Break for Oregon" on
May 14, 2003. The event was organized to remind people of the
need to focus on improving workplace safety to reduce injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The "Safety Break" encouraged employers to sponsor events at their work site highlighting the value of
safety and health. Several thousand employees at work sites across the state participated in a wide
range of events designed to raise awareness. Oregon OSHA is planning to make "Safety Break for
Oregon" an annual event.
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.
South Carolina
South Carolina has conducted two OSHA 10-hour General Industry classes this year and an OSHA 10-hour
class for Construction is scheduled for October.
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 has several initiatives in progress to address workplace safety for Spanish-speaking employees.
Utah has cooperative programs in place with the Mexican Consulate and other state agencies with the
main purpose of educating Spanish-speaking employees on their rights and the services available to
them from the state. Utah actively participates in Hispanic fairs (e.g. Paisano Picnic) and events
such as Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The intent is to educate Spanish-speaking employees on the
safety and health resources available to them. Utah also has a state-sponsored program in
conjunction with the Utah Chapter of the AGC, Associated Builders and Contractors, Utah Farm Bureau
Federation, Utah Chapter AFL-CIO and Utah Restaurant Association and the University of Utah’s Rocky
Mountain Center of Environmental and Occupational Health to train Spanish-speaking trainers on
workplace safety issues so they, in turn, can train Spanish-speaking employees.
Utah is also working on several fronts to educate students on the benefits of workplace safety and
health. In a cooperative effort with a recent VPP recipient, Utah trained several hundred middle
school students on workplace safety and health fundamentals.
Additionally, Utah is working with Utah’s major universities to establish formal programs to educate
students about to enter the workplace. In these programs students will work with Utah compliance
personnel on actual workplace inspections.
The Utah Workplace Safety Program also conducts an annual safety poster contest
for Utah middle school students. The grand prize for the contest is $500 to the winner and
$500 to the winner’s school. Each year the top 12 posters are used to create a Workplace
Safety Calendar that is distributed by the Utah Labor Commission.
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 continues to expand use of the Internet and other electronic media in delivering safety
information and training. WISHA has online interactive courses in many areas including forklift
safety, flagging safety, ergonomics awareness, noise exposure, engineering controls to reduce
needlestick injuries, fall protection, respiratory protection, noise exposure, confined spaces,
concrete pumpers, ladder safety and lawn mower safety. In an effort to better communicate and share
workplace safety and health information with Spanish language communities, in 2002 WISHA launched a
Spanish version of the WISHA website.
Our newest online resources are "training kits" to provide employers with materials and information
needed to meet WISHA safety and health training requirements. Each kit includes PowerPoint
presentations and other materials with detailed instructions on how to present the training. Topics
include silica and lead in construction, respirator safety, chemical hazard communication, hearing
protection, and ergonomics awareness education.
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.
The value of Wyoming’s continued training and enforcement activities in construction can be shown in
the reduced number of excavation fatalities that occurred in the last 21 years. During the 80’s from
1983 through 1990, there were six trenching fatalities, in the 90’s there were four, and from 2001
to mid 2004 there have been none.
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.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Labor has added a position in the Commissioner’s Office whose
responsibilities are to provide outreach to the Hispanic-speaking employers and employees of the
Commonwealth.
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. MOSH sent several employees to a two-day training session titled Spanish for
Construction Sites. This training enabled staff to learn the proper pronunciation and definition of
key words used by Spanish-speaking individuals on construction sites. As a follow up to that
training MOSH staff established a shortened version for the remainder of our field employees. MOSH
has also been aggressively working on preparing a Spanish for Construction Sites seminar for
inclusion in our free public training schedule.
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. The CET Video Loan Library now includes
Spanish-speaking construction safety videos.
Minnesota
Minnesota publishes its Safety and Health Protection on the Job poster in 11 languages: Arabic,
Cambodian, English, Hmong, Laotian, Oromo, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. The
poster summarizes employee rights under the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Act. Minnesota
OSHA consultation added a temporary 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.
New Mexico
New Mexico is working with several organizations to promote safety and health among the state’s
Spanish-speaking workforce. Bilingual consultants have participated in an information fair sponsored
by the Mexican Consulate and a call-in show on a Spanish radio station.
North Carolina
North Carolina has a number of safety and health documents in Spanish including the Safety and
Health Protection on the Job poster, and inspection forms that describe specific employees’ rights
and responsibilities. The State also communicates a safety and health message to the Hispanic
population through the availability of Spanish language videos with over 50 Spanish titles. Safety
and Health videos in Spanish have also been developed for use on Spanish-speaking television
outlets. Efforts have been made to increase the number of staff that speaks Spanish. This has been
accomplished through hiring practices and training. Currently the State has 19 employees who speak
Spanish.
Oregon
Oregon has been very proactive in addressing the needs of its large population of Spanish-speaking
workers. The Oregon OSHA Dictionary of Occupational Safety and Health Terms, available in English to
Spanish and Spanish to English, is one of the most popular documents accessed on the OR-OSHA web
site. To serve Spanish-speaking construction workers, Oregon OSHA partnered with the construction
industry to develop industry specific training materials in both English and Spanish. The program,
known as PESO, is designed to provide English-speaking supervisors materials from which to train
their Spanish-speaking employees on a variety of construction safety issues.
Oregon OSHA 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 OSHA also has a Spanish-language web
page that provides workers 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.
Utah
Utah is pursuing an opportunity to work in cooperation with the Consultation programs of Colorado
and Florida to develop training materials for Spanish-speaking employees.
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.
Virginia
VOSH publishes the following documents in Spanish as well as English: Emergency Preparedness Manual;
Fall Protection; Occupational Safety and Health – Job Safety and Health Protection Poster; and Guide
for the Employment of Teenagers.
Washington
In partnership with the construction industry, Washington developed online videos for residential
construction on siding, roofing, and framing safety. All of these are available on the web in both
English and Spanish. WISHA has now added online videos for back injury prevention, ergonomics
awareness, nursing home hazards and solutions, and preventing road rage (aggressive driving).
Next Section: State Responsibility: Providing Worker Protections»
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