Region 3 - Alliance Annual Report - April 12, 2013

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT

Philadelphia Area Office ~ the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia, PA

April 12, 2013

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed:

    April 15, 2011

    Alliance Overview: OSHA and the Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia (Consulate) formed an Alliance to establish a collaborative relationship to provide Mexican Nationals and other Hispanic workers in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area information, guidance, and access to education and training resources to promote workers' rights in protecting their occupational health and safety, particularly with regards to hazards associated with the Construction, Restaurant and Migrant Farming Industries such as fall hazards, struck-by hazards, amputations, and electrical hazards, and to help them understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act).

    Evaluation Period:

    April 15, 2012 - April 14, 2013

    Implementation Team Members.

    Natalia Jiménez Alegría Cónsulate of México Head of Protection Services
    Yarazetd Mendoza-Camargo- Institute for Mexicans Abroad - Consulate of Philadelphia
    James Touey, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA Philadelphia, PA
    Maria Armstrong-Osorio Compliance Officer, OSHA Philadelphia, PA

    Contributors: Consul of Mexico

    Carlos Giralt-Cabrales, Consul of Mexico Philadelphia
    Albert D'Imperio, Area Director, Philadelphia, PA OSHA
    Isabel DeOliveira, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA Region III
    Ivette Vigano, DOL of Labor Wage and Hour Assistant Director Philadelphia PA with Nancy Rotundo DOL Wage and Hour Division
    Rocio Torres-Solano DOL Wage and Hour Division
    Magnolia Torres, Compliance Officer, OSHA Philadelphia, PA Area Office
    Dale Glacken, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA Harrisburg Area Office
    Dalia Nichols, Compliance Officer, OSHA Wilmington Area Office
    Hillary Blecker, Instructor Philaposh

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    First Implementation Team Meeting May 9, 2012- Mexican Consulate/Bourse Building- Discussed Alliance's first year achievements and set goals for second year.

    Second Alliance Implementation Team Meeting August 16th, 2012, Mexican Consulate/Bourse Building: Team discussed participation in the upcoming Consulate's Bi-National Health Week and Labor Rights weeks to be held in the fall of 2012.

    Third Alliance Implementation Team Meeting November 19, 2012 Mexican Consulate/Bourse Building: Attended by Regional CAS and PHAO CAS- Discussed Alliance achievements and planning for an upcoming "Get to Know DOL OSHA/Wage and Hour" training session for the Consulate Staff as well as Mobile Consulates. The team also discussed the potential for an Alliance renewal and or expansion of Alliance to cover Region III.

    Fourth Alliance Implementation Team Meeting February 8, 2013- Mexican Consulate/Bourse Building: Attended by Consul of Mexico and staff, OSHA's Regional CAS and PHAO Area Director and CAS: Formal discussions with Consul and staff about expansion of Alliance Agreement.

  3. Activities and Products

    Alliance Activity
     
    • Training and Education
    April 24, 2012 - Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office Compliance Specialist and a bi-lingual Compliance Officer provided the participants with a two hour comprehensive safety seminar which focused on the OSHA general industry regulations as well as Safety and Health Management Systems for a cross-section of representative from various Hispanic owned small businesses.

    June 10, 2012 - The staff of the Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia participated in the OSHA Region III Summit for Latino/Immigrant Workers conducted in Seaford DE. At the event the Consulate provided a resource table as well as speaker who discussed the Alliance and the benefits of working cooperatively with OSHA. Leading up to the Summit the Consul promoted the event through their weekly radio show.

    Formal Training Consulate Staff- January 29, 2013- Department of Labor OSHA (DOL) and Wage & Hour Division "Get To Know the DOL- Worker's Rights Training Session" was conducted for 18 members of the Mexican Consulate's staff members. The training focused on employee rights, filing complaints as well as defining the functions and limitations of the two DOL agencies.
     
    • Outreach and Communication
    Mobile Consulates: Throughout the second year second year of the agreement OSHA provided support at five "Mobile Consulates" conducted in various locations throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. At these events OSHA as well as Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division provided bi-lingual representatives to answer to questions posed concerning safety and health and wage related issues. Informational resource tables were provided with publication provided in both English and Spanish. OSHA also used these events to promote employment rights and the OSHA inspection, complaint, whistleblower procedures and placed special emphasis on their current Heat and Fall Protection Campaigns

    Pittsburgh, PA Saturday, April 14, 2012 - 400 attendees

    Gettysburg/York, PA May 12, 2012 - 450 attendees

    Reading, PA May 19, 2012 - 300 attendees

    Harrisburg, PA August 18, 2012 - 300 attendees

    Dover, DE - September 8, 2012 - 400 attendees
     
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health
    May 23, 2012- The Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia invited a bi-lingual PHAO representative to broadcast a live interview performed on their community based weekly radio program (Radio Uni-K 1680 AM a.k.a. Radio México Para la). The interview was used to discuss OSHA's National Office Heat Stress and Fall Campaigns as well as promoting the Region III Latino Summit which was held in June in Seaford, DE

    August 27, 2012: Mexican Consulate National Labor Rights Week Events- OSHA Philadelphia Area Director, accompanied by Region III Labor Liaison and Compliance Officer attended the Labor Rights Week "Kick Off" event at the Consulate. AD D'Imperio was formally introduced and provided a briefing on the achievements of the ongoing PHAO/Mexican Consulate Alliance. OSHA provided a resource table with emphasis on Employee Rights in the Workplace.

    August 28, 2012: Mexican Consulate Labor Rights Week. Philadelphia Area Office Compliance Assistance Specialist and a bi-lingual Compliance Officer provided a joint Small Group Presentation with Philaposh which was conducted for approximately 25 Mexican Nationals. The focus of the training was on "Understanding Your Legal Rights under the OSHAct.

    September 16, 2012 Mexican Independence Day Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. OSHA's Regional CAS and PHAO Area Director joined the Mexican Consulate for the Independence Day Event and provided a resource table with emphasis on Employee Rights in the Workplace as well as OSHA's Heat and Fall Protection Campaigns.

    October 1, 2012 - Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration participated in the 12th Annual Bi-National Health Week event sponsored by the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia. During the event, OSHA Area Director Albert D'Imperio spoke to more than 60 workers about OSHA's commitment to lowering the fatality rate for the Hispanic community and ensuring the health and safety of all workers.

    October 4, 2012 - 12th Annual Bi-National Health Week- OSHA Regional Compliance Assistance Specialist Isabel DeOliveira provided a resource table at the Consulate and answered questions and distributed information on employee rights as well as other OSHA initiatives.

    October 14, 2012 - 12th Annual Bi-National Health Week Pennsauken Health Fair - Representatives for OSHA's Region II provided staffing and a resource table for this event held in Pennsauken NJ.

    OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office and the Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia continued to work jointly throughout the year to promote OSHA's National Office Heat Stress Campaign as well as focusing on worker's rights. The Consulate displays the Heat Stress Campaign Posters in their waiting rooms and the Consulate's web-site has links to the OSHA campaign website.

    Alliance Products.

    There were no Alliance specific products developed during this evaluation time frame.

  4. Results
     
    1. The Alliance had a very effective second year. The entities continue to work closely together to reach the Mexican Community though a variety of different venues. The Alliance has strengthened an already healthy relationship between the parties and will be utilized as a model for future Philadelphia Area Office Alliance Agreements.

    2.  
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      Alliance Implementation Team Meetings (4) 21
      Mobile Consulates (5) 1850
      Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Training Seminar 11
      OSHA Region III Greater Philadelphia Summit for Latino/Immigrant Worker Summit Seaford DE 125
      Labor Rights Week Event (2) 56
      Mexican Independence Day Event 50
      DOL "Know Your Rights" Consulate Staff Training Session 18
      12th Annual Bi-National Health Week (3) 285
      TOTAL:                                                        18 2416
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The parties are seeking to expand the Area Office Alliance into a Regional agreement between the parties. The goal is to expand the effects of the cooperative programs on a larger geographical area. The Consulate will continue to provide OSHA with assistance in making contacts within the Hispanic business community in an effort to heighten the understanding of the role of OSHA. OSHA will also continue to provide representatives for the Consulate's "Mobile Consulates" as this has been determined to be a successful means to engage the Mexican community concerning labor issues. OSHA will also continue to coordinate with DOL's Wage & Hour Division to ensure their participation in Alliance sponsored training and events.

    Report Prepared by: James Touey, Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office

    For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to OSHA's Website.