Nov. 3, 2014
Contact: Office of Communications
Phone: 202-693-1999

OSHA schedules meeting of Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and
Health and requests nominations for membership

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health Dec. 3-4, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Workgroups will meet Dec. 3 and the full committee will meet Dec. 4.

ACCSH, established under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, advises the secretary of labor and assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health on construction standards and policy matters.

The agenda includes remarks from Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, updates on Directorate of Construction rulemakings and issues, including the communications tower initiative, recommendations on proposed rules on New Quantitative Fit Testing Protocol: Amendment to the Final Rule on Respiratory Protection, Clarification of Employer's Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain Accurate Records of Each Recordable Injury and Illness and Removal of Coke Oven Emissions Construction Standard in Standards Improvement Project - IV, and a presentation on 29 CFR part 1926, Subpart V, Power Transmission and Distribution.

Workgroup meetings will be held concurrently from 1- 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 3 in Room N-4437 A-C at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. The full committee will meet from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Dec. 4 in Room N-4437 A-C. The meetings are open to the public. Comments and requests to speak may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, by mail or facsimile. See the Federal Register notice for details. Comments and requests to speak must be submitted by Nov. 12, 2014.

Additionally, OSHA is accepting nominations for eight new members to serve on the 15-member committee. Nominations will be accepted from those interested in representing employee (3), employer (3), public (1) and state safety and health agency (1) groups. Nominations may be submitted at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Submissions may also be sent by mail or facsimile. See the Federal Register notice for details. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 2, 2015.

Six members were recently appointed by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez to serve two-year terms.

Two members represent the employer:

• Cindy DePrater, vice president and director, Environmental Health and Safety, Turner Construction Co. (new appointee)
• Donald L. Pratt, president and CEO, Construction Education and Consultation Services of Michigan

Two members represent the employee:

• Palmer L. Hickam, director, Safety Code Training and Curriculum Development, National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (new appointee)
• Roger Erickson, trainer, Mobilization, Optimization, Stabilization and Training, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO

One member represents the public:

• Jeremy Bethancourt, co-owner and program director, Arizona Construction Training Alliance

One member represents the State safety and health agency:

• Steven D. Hawkins, administrator, Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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