Region 6 - Alliance Annual Report - August 7, 2012
- Alliance Background
Date Signed:
7-15-12
Alliance Overview
To provide outreach to immigrant workers, provide training on OSHA regulations, policies and procedures to Worker’s Defense Project (WDP) employees and volunteers to foster cooperation and to further the dialogue on safety and health.
Implementation Team Members
R. Casey Perkins, Area Director, OSHA
Cristina Tzintun, Workers Defense Project
Joann Natarajan, OSHA CAS
Construction Safety and Health Inc. was a signatory on the alliance, but did not participate in the alliance due to conflicts with when WDP wanted to schedule the worker OSHA 10 hour training sessions. - Implementation Team Meetings
In person meetings were held 7-19-11, 4-24-12, and 5-6-12. - Activities and Products
Evaluation Period
This report covers the period between July 15, 2011 to July 15, 2012.
Alliance Activity
- Training and Education: An OSHA office bilingual industrial hygienist did two observations of Spanish language training offered by WDP to Hispanic workers. OSHA has also provided WDP with OSHA pamphlets for their training program, and for distribution at their office throughout the year. OSHA has provided WDP with over 2000 copies of OSHA publications for distribution in their construction safety orientation classes. OSHA had an exhibit table at the WDP Cinco de Mayo event on May 6, 2012 where Hispanic workers could ask questions about workplace safety and pick up Spanish OSHA pamphlets, and learn how to file an OSHA complaint.
- Outreach and Communication: OSHA participated in WDP six in-take nights to provide Hispanic workers the opportunity to ask questions and file complaints with OSHA. WDP conducts intake nights to allow workers to make complaints about workplace safety issues and nonpayment of wages complaints. WDP has filed 10 complaints and made the local OSHA office aware of two work related accidents on behalf of Hispanic workers during this alliance evaluation period.
- Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health: OSHA and WDP have worked to promote knowledge about worker rights in Central Texas through a wide range of events targeted to reach immigrant Spanish speaking workers.
Alliance Products
- Training and Education: OSHA participated in auditing WDP construction safety orientations, intake nights, and exhibited at a WDP event. WDP has developed an OSHA 10 hour and safety orientation training that covers fall protection and focus four hazards
- Outreach and Communication: OSHA communicates with WDP staff monthly to make referrals, and to file complaints on behalf of Hispanic workers. OSHA has also received complaints during the intake nights.
- Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health: The alliance has opened the door of communication with immigrant Spanish workers in the Austin area, so that they can exercise their right to a safe and healthy workplace.
- Results
The alliance has raised the Agency’s profile with hard to reach immigrant Spanish speaking workers in the Austin area through a multi-pronged approach.
Type of Activity
(Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)Number of Individuals Reached or Trained Spanish OSHA publications provided 2000 Exhibit table visitors 200 In-take nights-workers contacted <100 OSHA 10 hour attendees 60 OSHA Complaints/referrals generated as a result of the alliance 12 TOTAL 2372 - Upcoming Milestones The alliance has impacted Hispanic construction workers by offering free OSHA 10 hour classes, fall protection, and focus four hazard training and through the development of targeted training materials in Spanish offered by WDP. OSHA and WDP plan to renew the alliance. The Texas OSHA Consultation group is planning on joining the alliance as a new member of the alliance team. The Texas OSHCON program will seek to reach small Hispanic construction employers with their safety consultation programs.
Report Prepared by: __Joann Natarajan____________