Alaska
Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) purchased a high-speed scanner capable of scanning
entire case files in minutes. This allows AKOSH to transfer case files to compact discs or other
storage space to speed up the Freedom of Information Requests (FOIR). The FOIR clerk will only have
to edit the file once in its electronic format and store it to disc. Subsequent requests can then be
printed with little or no additional editing.
California
Use of videoconference equipment in meetings and training
Having several locations in the state of California that support videoconferencing, the program has
extensively used videoconference as an effective tool for managers to attend meetings locally,
rather than traveling to the meeting location. This has been a benefit to many managers and an
effective use of time. Training can now be viewed at several locations throughout the state.
Testing and development of wireless communication
Fieldwork is best supported by the concept of the virtual office. Today, there are many options to
link with the Internet, information network and federal Integrated Management Information System
without having to be in the office. Cellular phones and a wireless data link provide information and
act as a conduit to receive and send information.
Fourth-generation digital camera deployment
Advances in digital photography, coupled with a law enforcement system for data retrieval and
cataloging, provide field personnel the ability to review pictures of the site immediately and
prepare cases without having to wait for film processing. The new systems can also take short video
clips using the same camera, effectively giving the field personnel a camera and camcorder in one
unit.
Update of industrial hygiene equipment and testing of new
products in the market
Updating of equipment and testing of new products has been ongoing. As a result, some old equipment
has been replaced with modern versions that are easier to carry and are user friendly, such as photo
ionization detector equipment and personal air sampling pumps.
Improvement of Web sites – Technology Services and Laboratory
Improved Web sites have resulted in increased access and better information management. Posting the
information at the site that can be accessed from all locations, information can easily be sent and
updated to all interested parties.
Use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a locating tool
to accurately describe the site when landmarks or street information is not available
Field personnel have increasingly used GPS information to give an accurate location of the site. GPS
is also used to guide field personnel to the site using geological maps.
Text messaging on cell phones
Text messaging is used to inform field personnel of assignments and scheduling of work. It also is
an inexpensive way of broadcasting information to all field personnel or to selected groups of field
personnel.
Connecticut
Connecticut OSHA (CONN-OSHA), working with the Connecticut Housing Authority Association, has
delivered the 10-hour outreach course to multiple locations throughout Connecticut via
teleconferencing media.
Industrial hygiene equipment is continually being upgraded when technological improvements are
available. CONN-OSHA staff members are on their fourth generation of digital cameras.
CONN-OSHA has purchased a 15-station interpreter sound system that will allow trainers to present
training programs in a foreign language. Currently, CONN-OSHA has access to a Hispanic-speaking
interpreter.
Kentucky
Kentucky continues to update its Internet capabilities to provide improved access to standards,
education and training materials, and forms. Kentucky now provides online registration for its
Population Center training sites.
Maryland
Maryland continues to address the timeliness of citation issuance to achieve quicker abatement and
resolution of safety hazards in the workplace. During the past year, Maryland Occupational Safety
and Health (MOSH) initiated a pilot program to issue citations at the regional level. This pilot
program quickly reduced case processing time by 15-plus days to an average of 27 days. MOSH is now
in the process of phasing in this program in the other regions.
Michigan
During 2005, Michigan OSHA (MIOSHA) developed an innovative safety training
CD, MIOSHA Walkthrough for Manufacturers. The CD contains 22 modules and was
produced by eMedia Solutions at Universal Studios, Orlando, Fla., using its professional production team
and Disney animators. The CD is a high-end, interactive training tool that makes safety and health
training interesting and memorable. MIOSHA partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
the Lansing Area Safety Council and the private sector to produce the CD. In February 2006, the CD was
distributed to 30,000 Michigan manufacturers at no cost.
MIOSHA continues to improve access to safety and health material on its Web site. During fiscal-year
2005:
- a search capability was added to MIOSHA policy and procedures as part of the Web document
management system;
- the Web site was used to announce commission and advisory committee meetings (15 notices), agendas
of meetings (nine) and minutes (six); and
- the MIOSHA CET Division established an electronic mailing list (LISTSERV) to inform subscribers of
training programs and announcements.
Minnesota
Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) evaluates potential new equipment and technology throughout the year. In
fiscal-year 2005, MNOSHA purchased new noise dosimeters for field investigators with PC interface
and infrared communication capabilities. The capability of this technology represents a better and
more efficient way to present monitoring results to employers. Air-monitoring testing capabilities
were expanded with the purchase of an updated version of an indoor-air-quality meter and an
additional photoionization detector. The use of handheld computer devices was expanded to a total of
nine field investigators throughout the state.
Digital voice recorders are used routinely by both Discrimination and Compliance staff members. Not
only are the recorders small and lightweight, they do not require staff members to carry extra tapes
or to worry about the tape running out during a crucial point in an interview. The recorders, with
upgraded memory cards, can contain up to 22 hours of interviews before having to download the
information. The recorders can be used with the agency’s phone system to record phone interviews.
Downloading from the recorder to the hard drive of an investigator’s computer allows for the
investigator to put all of the interviews for a given case on a single CD to be put into the file.
This also allows easy access for the department’s transcription team if the interview needs to be
transcribed; the finished transcript can be e-mailed to the investigator. Having a recorded
interview helps to keep the integrity of an investigation solid; memories fade over time.
Nevada
Nevada OSHA and the Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) continue to use digital cameras
as an integral part of their inspections and consultation visits. Since their introduction,
compliance officers found the digital cameras invaluable for documenting violative conditions. And
for consultants, the cameras proved to be helpful in providing visuals that assisted employers in
recognizing and correcting hazards. The camera’s impact in reducing operating costs that, in the
past, were associated with conventional cameras, such as film and photo processing, was also
noteworthy.
SCATS instituted an e-mail service to notify customers when the Tip of the
Month was posted on the SCATS Web site. Additionally, requests for training services can now be
accessed online.
North Carolina
North Carolina has fully implemented the CSHO and Consultant applications. This is a stand-alone
system that supports time-efficient report preparation in the field. This approach translates into
less report-writing time and more on-site inspection activity. The state has also become a key
player in the IMIS redesign effort through participation on the Information Systems Council. The
state installed video conferencing equipment in field offices to reduce travel time and costs.
Oregon
In fiscal-year 2005, Oregon upgraded its Web site (both intranet and external sites)
with the use of content management software that helps to cull "moldy" Web pages. Use of the
Internet and intranet is becoming an increasingly important tool for tying the central and regional offices
together, as well as providing on-the-spot technical information during site visits. From 2000 to 2005, the
site has experienced a 500-fold increase in hits to the Web site.
The OR-OSHA field staff has been supplied with digital cameras (which have short video-clip
capability), which enhances the quality and efficiency of producing reports. Through experience,
Olympus cameras were purchased, which appear to meet the robustness needs of field work.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico OSHA (PR OSHA) engaged in the implementation of a new communication system that will
allow communication during emergency situations among the program’s area offices and headquarters,
the office of the Assistant Secretary for Management Affairs, the Emergency and Disaster Management
State Agency (AEMEAD, by its Spanish acronym), the Puerto Rico Police, the Fire Department and the
Medical Emergencies Corps.
In addition, in a cooperative effort to cover more employees, PR OSHA will join MSHA to provide
miners with information, education and training that will help them to prevent injuries and
illnesses, and protect their safety and health in the mining industry.
Tennessee
Tennessee OSHA has equipped all compliance officers with five megapixel digital cameras capable of
recording digital video. The digital photographs are used to document case files and can also be
used as a training aid.
All closed files are currently scanned to eliminate the need for file storage space and to allow
compliance officers and consultants desktop access via Internet access.
Utah
Utah has commenced using special software that allows still frames to be made from inspection
videos. The still frames are used to document specific safety and health violations. Utah also uses
special hardware to allow inspectors to view inspection videos on their computer monitors.
Utah now uses cellular telephones with two-way communications capability to improve communications
with inspectors in the field.
Vermont
Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) has purchased digital cameras and digital voice recorders for all staff
members. The photos are put on a shared drive and are available to all VOSHA staff members. The
digital voice recorders have proven reliable and helpful when conducting accident investigations and
discrimination investigations.
Virginia
Virginia uses both the PC CSHO and Consultation applications for input of safety/health inspections
and consultation visits. These applications input inspection data from the field into the two
central IMIS systems. Virginia currently uses the IMIS systems strictly for report generation and
processing corrections. All data entry is performed in the stand-alone Oracle-based applications.
The Information Technology (IT) division is currently implementing cost-saving measures by moving
from the more expensive leased telecommunication lines to less expensive DSL circuits. An analysis
was performed earlier and it was determined that DSL technology is available in all parts of the
state where agency offices are located.
Last year, all agency CSHOs and consultants were upgraded to reliable digital camera technology.
Cameras with high focal strength and 4.0 or greater megapixel image capacity were introduced to the
staff. To date, this has resulted in savings compared to film-based, conventional cameras and
affords the inspector/consultant the ability to store digital images directly in the case file on
the PC.
Virginia’s IT division has also started a dialogue with federal OMDS to provide technical expertise
for enhancements and/or fixes to the PC CSHO/Consultation application.
Washington
In 2002, Washington began implementation of a Web-based system for collecting
inspection and consultation visit data and feeding it to the federal Integrated Management Information
System (IMIS). The consultation application in the WISHA Information Network (WIN) was implemented in
August 2002. The compliance application was implemented in April 2003. Consultants and compliance
inspectors now enter visit and inspection data directly into the WIN system. This has significantly
reduced the lag-time for issuing citations. Before WIN, paper forms were either hand-completed or
typewritten and submitted to the central office for data entry into IMIS.
Another benefit of WIN is that many data fields are pre-filled. Employer information from
Washington’s industrial insurance system is linked to the WIN system, improving consistency and data
integrity. Another significant advantage of WIN is the ability to build in "business rules," so all
required information must be entered correctly before the record can be saved and forwarded to the
supervisor for review and approval. The supervisory review process includes electronic approval
signatures, but supporting documentation in paper files is still reviewed as well. While there have
been some unexpected challenges to overcome, the development and implementation of Washington’s WIN
system, and its resulting efficiencies and improved timeliness, has been a resounding success.
Phase two of the WIN system was started in August 2005. It adds Washington’s appeals and collections
data to the system and will remove the dependency on IMIS to get citations issued. By October 2006,
Washington expects to be able to issue citations directly from the WIN system. Data will still be
transmitted to keep the federal IMIS system up to date, but it will not be a necessary step in the
citation issuance process.
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State incentives: promoting voluntary compliance»
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