Region 2 - Alliance Annual Report - January 20, 2015

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 20, 2015

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

    From Federal OSHA

    Madelline Medina - CAS

    From PR – OSHA

    Ilza Román

    Evaluation Period

    From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • April 10, 2014 at PR Area Office (Federal OSHA), Guaynabo, PR
    • June 27, 2014 at PR Area Office (Federal OSHA), Guaynabo, PR
    • September 8, 2014 at PR Area Office (Federal OSHA), Guaynabo, PR
    • November 17, 2014 at PR Area Office (Federal OSHA), Guaynabo, PR

  3. Events and Products

    Raising Awareness of OSHA’S Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

    • 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.

      • In April 29, 2014, a seminar on What Every Employee Should Know About OSHA was offered to a total of 57 participants.


      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.

    • In June 19 and 20, 2014, participated in the PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit. A seminar on “Board of Certified Safety Professionals Certifications” was offered to a total of 30 participants.


    Training and Education

    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

      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.

      • The University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus provided health and safety topics courses/lectures at the Institute of Labor Relations. During the academic year 2013-2014, as part of ongoing Course # RELA3131: Occupational Health and Safety. A total of 28 undergraduate students attended the class.
      • A 2 hours seminar on “Hazard Communication: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” coordinated with the Local Emergency Planning Committee, San Juan Area, was offered to the Emergency Management Office Personnel, governmental employees and general community. On September 17, 2014, a total of 75 participants attended the seminar.

      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 10 hours Construction Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico - Humacao Campus’ employees and Emergency Management Office personnel on March 11 and 18, 2014.  A total of 31 participants attended the course.
      • A 30 hours Construction Industry course was offered to Ferrovial Agroman employees on March 27, 28, April 3, 4, and 11, 2014.  A total of 21 participants attended the course.
      • A conference “What every employee should know about OSHA” was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employees on April 29, 2014.  A total of 56 participants attended the seminar.
      • A 30 hours Construction Industry course was offered to the PR Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP, for its Spanish acronym) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) employees on April 22, 24, 25, 29, and April 8, 2014.  A total of 28 participants attended the course.
      • A 10 hours Construction Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus employee on August 3 and 4, 2014.  A total of 17 participants attended the course.
      • A 30 hours General Industry course was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employees and young workers (doctoral graduate students) on September 18 and 19, October 9, 10, and 16, 2014.  A total of 23 participants attended the course.
      • No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

    Outreach and Communication

    • Events

      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.

      • During the commemoration of the Worker Memorial Day, a communication via e-mail was prepared and sent to approximately 4,000 recipients to inform the community and the workforce from around the island of this event.
      • On April 29, 2014, the conference “What every employee should know about OSHA” was offered to University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus employee. A total of 56 participants attended the conference.


      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.

      • On June 19 and 20, 2014, participated in the Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association (PRMA) Safety and Occupational Health Summit.

      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.

      • No products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      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.

      • The 5th Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico “Make Health and Safety your life commitment", offered a 2-day conference, which took place October 23 and 24, 2014, at the Arecibo Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. A total of 330 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.

    Construction Industry Course (30 Hours) (Ferrovial Agroman )

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

    Number of Individuals Trained

    Approx. Number of Individuals Reached
    Construction Industry Course (10 Hours) (UPR- Humacao Campus)

    31

    93

    21

    63
    Worker Memorial Day e-mails

    4000

    6500
    What Every Employee Should Know About OSHA (Worker Memorial Day Conference)

    56

    168
    Construction Industry Course (30 Hours) (DTOP/FHWA)

    17

    51
    PRMA Safety and Occupational Health Summit

    30

    90
    Construction Industry Course (10 Hours) (UPR- Mayaguez Campus)

    17

    51
    Hazard Communication: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (Local Emergency Planning Committee, San Juan Area)

    75

    225
    Occupational Safety and Health Class (IRT)

    28

    84
    General Industry Course (30 Hours) (UPR-RP employee and young workers )

    23

    69
    5th Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico

    330

    990
    TOTAL

    4,639

    8,417

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    • To hold the 6th Annual Safety and Health Conference of Puerto Rico (two-day event) in October 2015.