Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - February 09, 2016

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PUERTO RICO AREA OFFICE,
THE PUERTO RICO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES
AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO RIO PIEDRAS CAMPUS
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
February 9, 2016

  1. Alliance Background

    Original signing: January 22, 2004
    1st Renewal: April 3, 2006
    2nd Renewal: April 15, 2008
    3rd Renewal: September 30, 2010
    4th Renewal: December 18, 2012
    5th Renewal: December 17, 2014

    Overview

    To provide the Rio Piedras Campus of the UPR, through Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (DECEP for its Spanish acronym), the Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety Office (OPASO for its Spanish acronym) and the Institute of Labor Relationships from the Faculty of Social Sciences (IRT for its Spanish acronym) 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:
      Lymari Orellana - OPASO/ (Liaison)
      Carlos Rosado - DECEP
      Sandra Torres- IRT

    From Federal OSHA
      Madelline Medina – Safety Engineer

    From PR – OSHA
      Ilza Román – Director of Voluntary Program

    Evaluation Period

    From January 1st, 2015 to December 31, 2015

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    While some meetings were held in person, most communications occurred periodically through e-mails and phone calls:

    • January 16, 2015 - conference call meeting
    • March 13, 2015 – in person meeting
    • July 23, 2015 – in person meeting
    • September 18, 2015 – conference call meeting
  3. Events and Products

    Raising Awareness of OSHA’S Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

    Goal 1: To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.

    The University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus provided health and safety topics courses/lectures.

    Goal 2: To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction, general and maritime industry hazards, including the psychosocial hazards such workplace violence, as well as emergency managements issues, and legal aspect focused on employees’ right under the OSH Act, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

    • Events
      • On April 28, 2015, a seminar on “Implementation of Puerto Rico Road Safety Strategic Plan 2014-2018” was offered to a total of 75 participants.
      • On November 17, 2015, an Introduction to OSHA seminar was offered to employees of the Puerto Rico State Department; a total of 16 participants attended the seminar.
      • On June 25 and 26, 2015, participated in the Puerto Rico Manufacturing Association (PRMA) Safety and Occupational Health Summit.
      • Coordinated for PRMA an OSHA Regulatory Update for over 130 participants.

    Training and Education

    Goal 1: To develop effective training and education program for employees, students and the general community regarding construction, general and maritime industry related hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.

    Goal 2: To develop effective training and education program for construction, general, and maritime employees and employers to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.

    Goal 3: To deliver or arrange for the delivery of the safety and health courses through the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP.

    • Events
      • A 3-hour seminar on “The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” and on Blood borne Pathogens was coordinated with and offered to:
        • Unión General de Trabajadores/Asociación de Servicios de Emergencias Médicas (UGT/ASEM) on April 15, 2015; a total of eight (8) participants attended the seminar.
        • UGT/ASEM on April 22, 2015; a total of 20 participants attended the seminar.
        • Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) on June 19, 2015, a total of 32 participants attended the seminar.
        • UMET on July 31, 2015; a total of 23 participants attended the seminar.
        • UGT/ASEM on August 19, 2015; a total of 23 participants attended the seminar.
      • A 3-hour seminar on “Health Hazards in the Food Processing Industry” was coordinated with and offered to:
        • School cafeteria workers on March 21, 2015; a total of 26 participants attended the seminar.
        • UGT/ASEM on April 29, 2015; a total of 12 participants attended the seminar.
      • A 2-hour seminar on “The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” was offered to employees of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (laboratory personnel, emergency responders) on December 4, 2015; a total of 25 participants attended the seminar.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to employees of the Planning Board Union and the Independent Public Building Authority Employees Union on March 17 and 19, 2015. A total of 16 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to the General Workers’ Union (UGT) employees on March 24 and 26, 2015. A total of 22 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA Construction Industry course was offered to employees of the Insular Union of Industrial and Electrical Construction Workers’, Inc. (UITICE) on April 11 and 18, 2015. A total of 18 participants attended the course.
      • A 30-hour OSHA Construction Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico employees (Molecular Sciences and Planning and Structural Development Office), on May 5, 7, 12, 14 and 21, 2015. A total of 17 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employees (HEEND) on June 2 and 4, 2015. A total of 14 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employees (Sindicato de Trabajadores UPR and HEEND) on September 14 and 15, 2015. A total of 24 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to International Institute of Tropical Forestry and University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus Environmental, Health and Safety employees on September 24 and 25, 2015. A total of 13 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employees (Sindicato de Trabajadores UPR and HEEND) on November 3 and 4, 2015. A total of 30 participants attended the course.
      • A 10-hour OSHA Construction Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus employees on November 10 and 12, 2015. A total of 19 participants attended the course.
      • Prepared the new academic offerings for the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP courses to be offered from February to May 2016.

    Outreach and Communication

    Goal 1: To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s, PR OSHA’s and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

    Goal 2: To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s, PR OSHA’s or the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico conferences, local meetings, or other educational events.

    Goal 3: To share information among OSHA and PR OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professional regarding the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico’s good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshop, seminars, and lectures developed by the participants.

    Goal 4: To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on construction, general and maritime industries, that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

    • Events
      • Prior to the Workers’ Memorial Day commemoration, a communication is prepared and sent to approximately 3,000 e-mail recipients throughout the Island to provide information on the importance and significance of this commemoration. Recipients are people from the academic community, stakeholders, and workers/employees from the general, construction, and maritime industries.
      • On April 28, 2015, a seminar on “Implementation of Puerto Rico Road Safety Strategic Plan 2014-2018” was offered to a total of 84 participants.
      • On June 25 and 26, 2015, participated in the PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit; over 130 participants attended this activity.
      • No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      • Coordinated, planned and held the “6th Annual Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico: Integrity”. The Conference took place on October 1 and 2, 2015, at the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. A total of 476 participants attended this activity.
  4. Results

    The UPR-Río Piedras Campus continues to be instrumental in promoting awareness and prevention of hazards associated with the construction, general and maritime 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. The integration of the Institute of Labor Relationships has been of great help to reach union and hard-to-reach workers.

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)

    Date

    Number of Individuals Trained

    Aprox. Number of Individuals Reached
    General Industry Course (10 –hour: Minillas employees)

    March 17 and 19

    16

    48
    Health Hazards in the Food Processing Industry(School Cafeteria Workers)

    March 21

    26

    78
    General Industry Course (10-hour: UGT employees)

    March 24 and 26

    22

    66
    Construction Industry Course (10-hour: UITICE employees)

    April 11 and 18

    18

    54
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Blood borne pathogens (UGT/ASEM)

    April 15

    8

    24
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Blood borne pathogens (UGT/ASEM)

    April 22

    20

    60
    Workers’ Memorial Day e-mails

    April 28

    3000

    9000
    Implementation of Puerto Rico Road Safety Strategic Plan 2014-2018 (Worker Memorial Day Conference)

    April 28

    84

    252
    Health Hazards in the Food Processing Industry (UGT/ASEM)

    April 29

    12

    36
    Construction Industry Course (30-hour: UPR Central Administration)

    May 5, 7, 12, 14, and 21

    17

    51
    General Industry Course (10-hour: UPR-Rio Piedras Campus employees)

    June 2 and 4

    14

    42
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Blood borne pathogens (UMET)

    June 19

    23

    69
    PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit

    June 25 and 26

    130

    390
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Blood borne pathogens (UMET)

    July 31

    23

    69
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Blood borne pathogens (UGT/ASEM)

    August 19

    23

    69
    General Industry Course (10-hour: UPR-Rio Piedras Campus employees)

    September 14 and 15

    24

    72
    General Industry Course (10-hour: International Institute of Tropical Forestry and EHS UPR-Medical Science Campus employee)

    September 24 and 25

    13

    39
    6th Annual Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico

    October 1 and 2

    476

    1,428
    Introduction to OSHA (PR State Department)

    November 17

    16

    48
    General Industry Course (10-hour: UPR-Rio Piedras Campus employees)

    November 3 and 4

    30

    90
    General Industry Course (10-hour: UPR-Medical Science Campus employees)

    November 10 and 12

    19

    57
    The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (Environmental Quality Board)

    December 4

    25

    75

    Total

    		  

    4,039

    12,117
  5. Upcoming Milestones
    • To hold the 7th Annual Safety, Occupational Health and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico (2-day event) in October 2016.
    • To renew the alliance during the fourth quarter of CY 2016.