• Region VII /
• Alliance Annual Report - April 13, 2014

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the
Mexican Consulate of Omaha
1/13/2013 – 4/13/2014

1. Alliance Background

Date Signed

1/13/2006 – original signed

1/13/2008 – expiration date of original

10/23/2008 – re-signed

4/17/2012 – signed a new agreement with the Des Moines Area Office

Pending Renewal: April, 2014

Overview

The parties intend, through this Arrangement, to establish a collaborative relationship to provide information, guidance and access to training resources in an effort to help Mexican citizens working in Nebraska to protect their working conditions and labor rights, including their health and safety. The agreement also focuses on a number of goals including:

Training and education:

• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of workers’ rights courses and courses regarding health and safety in food processing, construction, and cleaning services.

Outreach and communication:

• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Consulate’s conferences, local meetings, or other appropriate events.
• To participate in ‘Mobile Consulate’ activities and events.

Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• To raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health and workers’ rights whenever leaders from the Participants address groups.
• To share information on applicable labor laws and standards, including those relating to workers’ rights and responsibilities of employers.

Implementation Team Members

Mexican Consulate of Omaha

• Valeria V. Rodriquez Mora, Department of Protection

OSHA – Omaha Area Office:

• Doug Fletcher, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS)
• Bernard Hauber, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS)

OSHA – Des Moines Area Office:

• Larry O. Davidson, Sr., Area Director

Nebraska Workers Compensation Court

• Glenn W. Morton, Administrator

Nebraska Department of Labor

• Catherine D. Lang, Commissioner of Labor

Evaluation Period

01/13/13 – 04/13/14

2. Implementation Team Meetings
• NOTE: Due to Federal budget restraints and sequestration and following the August 22, 2012 meeting, no face-to-face meetings were held until June 2013. Most contact during that period was via email.
• 06/26/13 Planning meeting for Labor Rights Week with Consulate staff and CAS. OSHA intends to provide an informational booth at Health Fair.
• 08/26/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
• 08/27/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
• 08/28/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
3. Events and Products

Training and Education

Events:

• See Outreach and Communication below.

Outreach and Communication

Events:

• Labor Rights Week; 8/26 – 8/28/2013 – this is the largest activity of the year for the Alliance. On 8/26/13, an opening ceremony was held at the Consulate, featuring Mr. Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes, Consul, and Mr. Doug Fletcher, Acting Omaha Area Director. Following the ceremony, Mr. Fletcher and an Omaha bi-lingual CSHO provided an overview of OSHA services and fielded questions from the attendees and Consulate patrons. During the week, a variety of labor-related government agencies and local businesses that serve the Latino community were scheduled to visit the Consulate, set up a booth and provide literature and information to Consulate customers. This group included the US DOL – Wage & Hour as well as the Nebraska Department of Labor. The events were publicized by the Consulate on Radio Lobo, NE Public Television, and via the Consulate email.
• The Omaha Area Office and other participant agencies regularly provide materials for distribution at the Consulate, and for use at Mobile Consulate activities held in Nebraska and Iowa.
• The Mexican Consulate has continued to be available for translation assistance to the Omaha Area Office as part of this alliance. Additionally, the Consulate is available to assist the Omaha Area Office whenever correspondence needs to be delivered to recipients in Mexico.
• On March 10, 2014, Rodrigo Grisalva from the Consulate made an inquiry concerning workplace safety at a construction site. Although he did not have much specific information and the Omaha Area Office could not, therefore, take any action, this is an example of the Consulate making inquiries concerning workplace safety and potential Whistleblower violations to the Omaha Area Office. The Area Office has developed an outstanding relationship with the Consulate staff.
• On March 25, 2014, the CAS began work on the Alliance renewal agreement. It is understood that a template has been pre-approved, which should improve the review process. The CAS has contacted the Region 7 alliance coordinator, the Des Moines Area Director and Valeria V. Rodriquez Mora from the Consulate to begin this process.

Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

Events: Nothing to report

4. Results

Type of Activity	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
US – Mexico National Labor Rights Week 08/26 – 8/28/12	Opening Ceremony ~ 50 OSHA Presentation/Q&A ~ 50 Additional Agency presentations and local business outreach may have been performed; however, no data was unavailable
Totals	100 – face to face

5. Upcoming Milestones

Renewal of this alliance in April 2014 may once again prove to be lengthy. Regardless, the Omaha Area Office will continue to work with the Consulate to find ways to reach and educate Latino workers in Nebraska.

Report Prepared by: Bernard Hauber, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Omaha Area Office

For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.

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