Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - March 30, 2007
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PUERTO RICO AREA OFFICE
AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO RIO PIEDRAS CAMPUS
-
Alliance Background
Renewal
April 3, 2006Overview
To provide the Rio Piedras Campus of the UPR, through DECEP and OPASO, with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to occupational health and safety hazards. This to be achieved through training and educational, outreach and communication, and promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health goals.Implementation Team Members
From UPR-Rio Piedras Campus:
Jorge Ramos - Director OPASO
Migdalia Ruíz - DECEP
Lymarie Orellana - OPASO/DECEP (Liaison)From Federal OSHA
Madelline Medina - CASContributors
N/AEvaluation Period
From April 3, 2006 to March 30, 2007 -
Implementation Team Meetings
May 22, 2006 – in person meeting
October 24, 2006 – in person meeting
February 27, 2007 – in person meeting -
Events and Products
Training and Education
-
Events
Goal 1: Develop training and education programs on various safety and health issues and targeted to general, construction and maritime industries, employees, students and the general community.
- A five day course on Emergency Response and Incident Command System was developed and conducted by OSHA through UPR-OPASO to 25 employees.
Goal 2: Deliver or arrange for the delivery of occupational health and safety courses.
A one-day seminar was developed and conducted by UPR-OPASO and OSHA and offered to 20 craftspeople under a proposal submitted by UPR-OPASO to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company.
Following a hazard evaluation of their workplaces, two seminar sessions were offered to 33 members of the PR Police Academy in topics such as hazard identification, warehousing hazards, hazard communication, firing ranges hazards, specific hazards of explosives, powder, and lead.
Goal 3: Develop workplace safety and health curricula through the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP.
April 2006-2007: Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health - DECEP, offered every trimester, consists of 8 requisite courses of 168 contact hours and 2 elective courses of 42 contact hours, for a total of 210 contact hours equivalent to 21 units/credits. OSHA publications are used in some of the courses as they relate to the different applicable industries and the impact on the employers and employees for non-compliance with OSHA’ standards and regulations. During this evaluation period, six students completed this certificate.
Products
N/A
Outreach and Communication
- Events
Goal 1: Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic tools and links from OSHA’s and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico Web sites.
- Article written for publication in PR & USVI OSHA E-newsletter (2007) on the various activities conducted/developed by UPR-OPASO/DECEP during this evaluation period.
Goal 2: Speak, exhibit, or appear at the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico conferences, courses, workshops, local meetings, or other educational events.
A one-day seminar was developed and conducted by UPR-OPASO and OSHA and offered to 20 craftspeople under a proposal submitted by UPR-OPASO to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company.
A five day course on Emergency Response and Incident Command System was developed and conducted by OSHA through UPR-OPASO to 25 employees.
Goal 3: Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Goal 4: Promote and encourage the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico employees and students participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- As part of the Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, the instructors discussed and promote the participation of the students (safety and health professionals) and their respective companies in OSHA’s Cooperative Programs.
Goal 5: Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, of the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico worksites with others in the industry and publicize the results through outreach by the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico and through OSHA or the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico developed training, educational programs and materials.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Goal 6: Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on occupational health and safety issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Goal 7: Encourage OPASO and DECEP of the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
-
Products
N/A
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
-
Events
Goal 1: Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico safety and health leaders and professors address groups.
- September 23, 2006: Participation by the Director of OPASO in the 2006 SPPAPR Annual Assembly as a speaker on Workplace Violence.
Goal 2: Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
- No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
Goal 3: Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on occupational health and safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
- Participation of Director of OPASO in a NORA town hall meeting held at the 11th Puerto Rico Federal Safety and Health Congress & Expo.
Products
N/A
-
-
Results
Through this alliance the UPR-Río Piedras Campus has been instrumental in promoting awareness and prevention of hazards associated with the construction and general industries. Through OPASO, it has also been actively involved in reaching out to safety and health professionals in an effort to advance their knowledge and academic preparation in occupational safety and health issues. To that effect, a formal OHST/ASP Examination Preparation Course was offered to 18 participants.
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained Police Academy 33 Emergency Response and Incident Command System 25 OHST/ASP Prep Course 18 Certificate in OSH 6 11th Annual Federal S&H Congress & Expo 30 Visits to Maunabo tunnels construction 12 Respiratory protection conference sponsor by 3M 25 Safety and Health in the Crafts (8-hr seminar) 20 TOTAL 169 -
Upcoming Milestones
To develop a Safety and Health Committee intervention protocol based on the recently amended PR OSH Act, which promotes the creation of S&H committees in all industries.
Continue to develop the video in Spanish on Accident Prevention in Construction.
Develop and promote a series of 30 sec radio PSAs on general safety and health issues/concerns.