Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - December 3, 2012

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
December 3, 2012

  1. Alliance Background

    Original signing: January 22, 2004
    1st Renewal: April 3, 2006
    2nd Renewal: April 15, 2008
    3rd Renewal: September 30, 2010

    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 - Director OPASO/ (Liaison)
    Migdalia Ruíz - DECEP
    Sandra Torres- IRT

    From Federal OSHA
    Madelline Medina - CAS

    From PR – OSHA
    Ilza Román

    Evaluation Period

    From September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    March 23, 2012 at OPASO Anexo Facundo Bueso, Rio Piedras, PR
    April 27, 2012, at DECEP Plaza Universitaria, Rio Piedras, PR

    APPA Meetings

    April 19, 2012, at IRT Plaza Universitaria, Rio Piedras, PR
    June 7, 2011, Conference call
    October 22, 2012 at OPASO Anexo Facundo Bueso, Rio Piedras, PR

  3. Events and Products

    Raising Awareness of OSHA’S Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

     

    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

       

      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

      • A 10hr course on Construction Industry was offered to the Office of Planning and Physical Development of Campus at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 25 employees attended the course.
      • A 16hr course on Electrical Safety Course was offered to the Electrical and Refrigeration Division of the campus at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 12 employees attended the course.
      • In June 21 and 22, 2012, participated in the PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit. A seminar on “Combustible dust hazards” was offered to a total of 38 participants.

    Training and Education

    • Events

      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.

      • An 8hrs HAZWOPER refresher for six people and a 40hrs course for 16 were offered to personnel from the Emergency Management Office-Bayamon Municipality.
      • The University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus provided health and safety topics courses/lectures at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Institute of Labor Relations
        • Faculty of Natural Sciences - during the second semester of the 2011-2012 academic year, as part of ongoing Course #CINA4995: Environmental Permitting Regulations and emergency response. A total of 12 undergraduate students attended the class.
        • Institute of Labor Relations –During the academic year 2011-2012, as part of ongoing Course # RELA3131: Occupational Health and Safety. A total of 22 undergraduate students attended the class.

      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.

      • A 10hr course on General Industry was offered to Public Services Union employees, which was held at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus on September 2012. A total of 39 participants attended the course.

      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.

      • September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012: Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health - DECEP, offered every quarter, 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 standards and regulations. Eight students participated in the Certificate.
      • One 30hrs on Construction Industry course, attended by 7 participants was offered from May to June 2012.

    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
      • During the commemoration of the Worker Memorial Day, a communication is prepared and sent to participants of the Alliance for distribution in the courses and seminars, as well as employees of the institution. To inform the community and the workforce from around the island 1621 e-mails were sent.
      • In June 21 and 22, 2012, participated in the PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit.
      • During the 11th PR OSHA Annual Health and Safety Conference held in December 2011, DECEP offered continuing education credits.
      • No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      • The 3rd Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico coordinated by APPA offered two conferences: “How to respond to an earthquake emergency?” and “Emergency Planning and Continuity of Operations”. The Conference took place October 28, 2011, at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus. A total of 83 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.

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

    Number of Individuals Trained

    Approx. Number of Individuals Reached
    Construction Industry Course (10 Hours) 25 75
    Electrical Safety Course (16 Hours) (UPR) 12 48
    Combustible dust hazard at PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit 38 152
    HAZWOPER refresher training 8 hrs (OME Bayamón) 6 18
    HAZWOPER training 40 hrs (OME Bayamón) 16 48
    Environmental Permitting Regulations and Emergency Response Class 12 36
    Occupational Safety and Health Class 22 66
    General Industry Course (10 Hours) (SPU) 39 195
    Construction Industry Course (30 Hours) DECEP 7 35
    Worker Memorial Day e-mails 1621 3242

    SUB-TOTAL   

    		1799 3920
    APPA    
    3rd Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico 83 415

    TOTAL   

    		 1,882 4,335

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    • To hold the 5th Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico (two-day event) in October 2013.
    • To prepare a flyer or quick card on basic ergonomic concepts to be distributed among at least 50% of UPR employees by April 2013 (which would initially consists of approximately 2000 employees). This initiative could be extended to the university community as a whole, in the near future.