THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PUERTO RICO AREA OFFICE
AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO RIO PIEDRAS CAMPUS
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
March 30, 2008

I. Alliance Background

Renewal

April 3, 2006

Overview

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
  Lymari Orellana - OPASO/DECEP (Liaison)

From Federal OSHA

• Madelline Medina - CAS

Contributors

N/A

Evaluation Period

From April 1, 2007 to March 30, 2008

II. Implementation Team Meetings

September 10, 2007
September 13, 2007 (All alliances meeting)
Jan 16, 2008
March 12, 2008

III. 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.
   
  • Training was offered in three separate sections to 46 and 30 participants, respectively, in OSHA standards for general and construction industries.
  Goal 2: Deliver or arrange for the delivery of occupational health and safety courses.
   
  • Following a hazard evaluation of their workplaces, one seminar session was offered to 20 employees of the San Juan Municipality, this in topics such as hazards identification and hazard communication.
  Goal 3: Develop workplace safety and health curricula through the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP.
   
  • April 2007-2008: Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health - DECEP, offered every trimester, consists of 7 requisite courses of 156 contact hours and 2 elective courses of between 36 to 51 contact hours, for a total between 192 to 207 contact hours equivalent to 19 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's standards and regulations. During this evaluation period, eight students completed this certificate.

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.
  
  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 two-part seminar was developed and offered by UPR-OPASO to 126 craftspeople under a proposal submitted by UPR-OPASO to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO).
  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 discuss 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.
   
  • An initiative was started to promote an alliance of alliances/ partnerships located in the island. Two meetings have been held on this particular and a third meeting is scheduled some time near August 2008. The main goal of this "mega alliance" is to maximize the resources and outreach capacity for the dissemination of safety and health education within the island.
  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.
   
  • Conversations were established with the VIDOSH office personnel to identify possible safety courses to be held between the agency and the UPR DECEP.

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.
  
  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.
   
  • Invited Dr. Seiko Matsuzawa from China as guest speaker to the Certificate in Safety and Health's Legal Aspects course, to discuss the main issues related to Chinese safety and environmental laws.

IV. 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.
 

V. 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.