Region 4 - Alliance Annual Report - March 31, 2024

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Ft. Lauderdale Area Office
1000 South Pine Island Road, Suite 100
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33324
(954) 424-0242; Fax (954) 424-3073
And the
WeCount!

March 31, 2024

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed:

      March 31, 2023

    2. Evaluation Period

      March 30, 2023 – March 31, 2024

    3. Overview:

      OSHA and WeCount! in Homestead, Florida agreed to form an Alliance to provide WeCount! members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect vulnerable workers, including low-wage and immigrant workers, by reducing and preventing their exposure to hazards in the agricultural and construction industries and increasing their understanding of the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

    4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA
      Condell Eastmond – Area Director
      Leny Chango – Compliance Assistance Specialist

      Alliance Participant
      Oscar Londoño, Co-Executive Director
      Claudia Navarro, Co-Executive Director

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    1. November 3, 2023
    2. December 4, 2023
    3. January 17, 2024
    4. February 12, 2024
    5. March 20, 2024

    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period, including phone calls and emails, to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

  3. Results

    The following table summarizes the Alliance's activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement. In addition to these activities, WeCount! and OSHA participated in ongoing EMPLEO Taskforce Meetings with other USDOL stakeholders. OSHA also shared educational information, materials, and updated guidances to WeCount! through email, which WeCount! disseminated to members and the general public through year-round outreach and education efforts.

    Dissemination
    Type Date Description Emphasis Area(s) Number Reached
    Dissemination/ Stand & Speak Activity for National Farmworker Awareness Week 03/30/23 During National Farmworker Awareness Week, the OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) for the Ft. Lauderdale Area Office, representatives from WeCount!, and a representative from the US Department of Labor – Wage & Hour Division (WHD) visited seven (7) plant nurseries in Homestead, Florida, to provide brief presentations regarding workplace rights and heat illness, to agricultural workers. Agriculture, Hispanic/Latino Workers, and Heat Illness Prevention

    112 (direct)

    950 (indirect)
    Dissemination/ OSHA Alliance Signing Activity and Workshop 03/31/23 On Cesar Chavez Day and the end of National Farmworker Awareness Week, OSHA and WeCount! conducted an Alliance signing ceremony in Homestead, Florida. An educational workshop with WeCount! members was also conducted. OSHA participants included the OSHA Area Director for the Ft. Lauderdale Area Office and the CAS. Agriculture, Hispanic/Latino Workers, and Heat Illness Prevention 55 (direct)
    Dissemination/ Stand & Speak Activity for Workers Memorial Week 04/25/23 During Workers Memorial Week, the OSHA CAS and WeCount! visited day labor corners in North Miami, Florida, to educate construction workers on OSHA and heat illness prevention. Construction, Hispanic/Latino Workers, and Heat Illness Prevention 40 (direct)
    Dissemination/ Stand & Speak Activity for Labor Rights Week 09/07/23 During Labor Rights Week, the OSHA CAS, WeCount!, and WHD visited five (5) plant nurseries in Homestead, Florida, to provide brief presentations regarding workplace rights and heat illness, to agricultural workers. Agriculture, and Hispanic/Latino Workers 212 (direct)
    Dissemination/ Worker Roundtable 09/13/23 On 09/13/23, WeCount! hosted a roundtable focused on agricultural workers, which included USDOL Acting Secretary Julie Su, the Area Director, and the CAS. Other local and regional USDOL representatives also participated. The event including a discuss of labor violations, enforcement in the agricultural industry, as well as heat illness prevention. This event was conducted in Homestead, Florida. Agriculture, Hispanic/Latino Workers, and Heat Illness Prevention 10 (direct)
    Dissemination/ Health and Safety Education Workshop 02/17/24 On 02/17/24, WeCount! hosted a “Know-Your-Rights” workshop with construction workers in Miami, Florida. The event was focused on educating workers on OSHA requirements, workers' compensation, as well as general health and safety issues. OSHA's CAS attended the workshop and addressed worker's rights and the OSHA complaint system. Construction, Hispanic/Latino Workers, Fall Prevention 15 (direct)
    Dissemination/Strategic Partnership Panel at National Conference in Washington D.C. 03/04/24 On 03/04/24, WeCount!, OSHA CAS, and WHD participated in a panel on strategic partnerships at the National DOL Strategic Enforcement Partnership (DSEP) Project in Washington, D.C., organized by the National Employment Law Project and Workshop, to present on the Alliance and best practices in collaboration. N/A N/A
    Dissemination/ Training 03/23/24
    03/24/24    		 On 03/23/24 and 03/24/24, WeCount!, with the support of an authorized trainer from MassCOSH, hosted a free OSHA 10-hour course for 33 construction workers in Miami, Florida. The OSHA CAS promoted the event to employers and employees. Construction, Hispanic/Latino Workers, Fall Prevention, and Heat Illness Prevention 33 (direct)

Report Prepared by: Leny Chango, OSHA Compliance Assistant Specialist