Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - January 26, 2017 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - January 26, 2017

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
January 26, 2017

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

Alliance Background

Original signing: January 22, 2004
1^st Renewal: April 3, 2006
2^nd Renewal: April 15, 2008
3^rd Renewal: September 30, 2010
4^th Renewal: December 18, 2012
5^th 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 Relations 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)
Jorge Ramos – OPASO, Director
Carlos Rosado – DECEP, Director
Tania García – IRT, Acting Director
Julie Martínez – IRT, Program Officer
Sandra Torres – IRT, Program Officer
From Federal OSHA

Madelline Medina – Safety Engineer, Region 2, Technical Support
From PR – OSHA

Ilza Román – Director of Voluntary Program
Omar Hidalgo – Safety and Health Specialist/Acting Compliance Assistance Specialist
Evaluation Period

From January 1^st, 2016 to December 31, 2016
Implementation Team Meetings
- March 1, 2016 - in person meeting (OPASO)
- April 6, 2016 - in person meeting (IRT)
- May 27, 2016 – in person meeting (PROSHA)
- August 12, 2016 – in person meeting (OSHA)
- September 8, 2016 – in person meeting (DECEP)
- October 3, 2016 - in person meeting (DECEP)
- October 17, 2016 – conference call meeting
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, 2016, a seminar on "ZIKA 101: Emerging Disease of the Americas" was offered to a total of 77 participants.
  - Federal OSHA, through their Technical Support Division, offered an OSHA Update on October 21, 2016 to 145 attendees.
  - On June 25 and 26, 2016, 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 2-hour seminar on "The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals" was offered to:
    - Dominican Republic Worker National Confederation on April 21, 2016. A total of 13 participants attended the seminar.
    - Employees of University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus employees on August 19, 2016. A total of 41 participants attended the seminar.
  - A 3-hour seminar on "Pressure vessels" was offered to Administration of health services at the Rio Piedras Medical Center employees (UGT) on June 8, 2016. A total of 13 participants attended the seminar.
  - A 3-hour seminar on "Accident investigation" was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Campus and federal employees on September 7, 2016. A total of 23 participants attended the seminar.
  - A 3-hour seminar on "Radiation and dosimetry" was offered to Administration of health services at the Rio Piedras Medical Center employees (UGT) on November 7, 2016. A total of 15 participants attended the seminar.
  - A 4-hour seminar on "Recording and reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness" was offered to Public, private and federal employees on August 26, 2016 and November 17, 2016. A total of 54 participants attended the seminar.
  - A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus and Rio Piedras Campus employees (HEEND) on March 30 and April 1, 2016. A total of 18 participants attended the course.
  - A 10-hour OSHA Construction Industry and General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science, Rio Piedras Campus, Public, private and federal employees (Food and Drug Administration, United States Postal Services)and United steel workers (Local 6871) on September 13, 15, 20 and 22, 2016. A total of 27 participants attended the course.
  - Prepared the academic offerings for the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP courses to be offered during 2016-2017.
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 5,000 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, 2016, a seminar on "ZIKA 101: Emerging Disease of the Americas" was offered to a total of 77 participants.
  - On June 25 and 26, 2016, 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 "7th Annual Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico: Why living safe and healthy is important for you. The Conference took place on October 20 and 21, 2016, at the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. A total of 297 participants attended this activity.

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 Relations 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
A 10-hour OSHA General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus and Rio Piedras Campus employees (HEEND)	March 30 and April 1	18	54
The Hazard Communication Standard: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (Dominican Republic Worker National Confederation)	April 21	13	39
Workers' Memorial Day e-mails	April 28	5000	10000
"ZIKA 101: Emerging Disease of the Americas" (Worker Memorial Day Conference)	April 28	77	231
Pressure vessels (UGT)	June 8	13	39
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 (UPR- Medical Sciences Campus)	August 19	41	123
Accident investigation (UPR - Humacao Campus: HEEND)	September 7	23	69
General Industry and Construction Industry Course (10-hour)	September 13, 15, 20 and 22	27	81
7^th Annual Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico	October 20 and 21	297	891
OSHA Update 2017	October 21	145	435
Radiation and dosimetry (UGT)	November 7	15	45
Recording and reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (General public)	August 26 and November 17	54	162
Total		5,853	12,559

Upcoming Milestones
- To hold the 8^th Annual Safety, Occupational Health and Environmental Conference of Puerto Rico (2-day event) in October 2017.
- To renew the alliance during the 2^nd Q FY 2017.