The Occupational Safety and Health Program is poised to complete another successful year.  We are proud to announce new milestones within our program, which began with expanding our reach to additional unions and employers, collaboration with our Central Labor Councils and Building Trades Councils on building an "Emergency Support Response program", and developing new training programs with unions, trade associations, and academia to become the premier resource for occupational safety and health training and assistance in New Jersey.  Our program supported the State of New Jersey’s initiative on Security Awareness and Preparedness Training. Currently, 161 companies and 270 individuals have been trained in our first in the nation Security Awareness and Preparedness Train-the-Trainer course.  Presently, companies are completing on-site training for all operational employees at their respective companies. 

 

OSHEP trainers have also completed on-site training for workers at 14 companies throughout New Jersey, including:

 

DelVal Ink, Cinnaminson, NJ

Cardolite , Newark, NJ

Synray, Kenilworth,NJ
Seagrave, Coatings, Carlstadt, NJ

Grace Oil Company, Rio Grande, NJ

Grace Performance Chemicals, North Bergen, NJ

Houghton Chemical, Carlstadt, NJ

Pequannock Water Treatment Plant, West Milford, NJ

BP, Carlstadt, NJ

Ferro, Pennsauken, NJ

Hibrett Puritex, Pennsauken, NJ

Bostic, Paulsboro, NJ

Penetone, Carlstadt, NJ

Chemtura, Perth Amboy, NJ

 

Our efforts also included the implementation of “Safe Schools” training classes for vocational teachers, in partnership with UMDNJ; facilitating CPR training for members of OPEIU 153 and students at Mercer County Vocational Technical School and delivered forklift training at Lorco Petroleum Services, Grace Performance Chemicals and member of UNITEHERE Local 284.

 

Through the development of new curriculum created in partnership with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, OSHEP’s course offerings were expanded to include two new customized training programs for the pharmaceutical industry and customized laundry industry.  The pharmaceutical industry training program was delivered in April to workers representing 14 member companies of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey.  The curriculum for workers in the commercial Laundry Industry was delivered in three languages, to members of UNITEHERE Local 284 employed at 5 commercial laundry facilities, and resulted in the administration of Hepatitis B vaccinations for an entire laundry facility.

 

 

The 2007 New Jersey Occupational Safety and Health Conference was planned and commenced during the year, attended by over 120 participants.  We look forward to beginning the New Year with the same momentum, by announcing the 2008 OSHEP Conference scheduled for Thursday February, 21st at the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center in New Brunswick, NJ.

 

 

AFL-CIO and UFCW WELCOME NEW WORKER SAFETY RULE
Rule Finally Issued After Nine Year Delay and Litigation by Unions

(Washington, Nov. 14) - - The AFL-CIO and UFCW today welcomed OSHA’s announcement that the agency will finally issue the rule requiring employers to pay for personal protective safety equipment - a measure that will prevent tens of thousands of workplace injuries every year. 

 

“It is unfortunate that nine years have passed since this rule was proposed, and that it took a lawsuit by the unions and Congressional intervention before the Bush Administration would act,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.  “America’s working men and women deserve the proper equipment to keep them safe on the job, each and every day, and we will thoroughly review this rule to make sure it protects them.”

 

“Workers have spoken out for this rule and now Congress and the courts have forced the DOL to act.  Our members will be watching to see this rule is enforced in every workplace,” said Joseph Hansen, UFCW International President.  “Workers should no longer be required to dip into their own pockets to keep themselves safe from harm at work.”

 

Both the litigation and the FY 2008 Labor-HHS funding bill set a deadline of November 30, 2007, for final action by OSHA.

 

This rule is a basic requirement that codifies OSHA’s long-standing policy that it is the employer’s responsibility to pay the cost of protecting workers from safety and health hazards.  The rule makes clear that employers must pay for hard hats, goggles, face shields, chemical resistant suits, and other required safety equipment.  It does, however, include some exemptions from the employer payment requirements, most notably for safety shoes and prescription safety glasses that can be worn off the job.

 

The AFL-CIO and UFCW will be reviewing the rule in detail to determine if it provides workers with the level of protection that is needed and required by law.

 

 

DEADLINE EXTENED FOR 9/11 RESPONDERS
New Deadline August 13, 2008

 

The New York State Legislature passed a law that allows more time to file Workers' Compensation claims for 9/11-related illnesses. In order to protect your right to file WTC-related claims in the future, you must register with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board by August 13, 2008.

 

Whether or not you have already filed a claim, whether you are sick now or feeling well, we encourage you to file and protect your rights if you get sick in the future.

 

The deadline to register, with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, for the benefit is August 13, 2008.

 

Those workers or volunteers who performed rescue, recovery or cleanup work during the 366-day period between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 12, 2002: 

• Anywhere in Manhattan south of Canal or Pike Streets, or
• On the barge operation between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island or
• At the Staten Island Fresh Kills Landfill or
• At the New York City morgue

should register now.

 

Visit http://www.wtcexams.org/ for a down loadable registration form or contact the New York State Workers' Compensation Board Customer Service Toll–Free Number (877) 632-4996.

 

 

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM HOLDS FIRST JOINT MEETING

 

The New Jersey Urban Search and Recovery Unit, Task Force 1,  played host to the first joint meeting of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Emergency Response Program.  The meeting, held at the Naval Air Base in Lakehurst, NJ, was attended by members of the Cape May and Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management, members of Task Force 1, New Jersey State Police, CLC Presidents, various union representatives and New Jersey AFL-CIO OSHEP Staff.

 

The meeting consisted of a presentation and tour of the Task Force 1 capabilities and training facility.  This was followed up by a round table discussion regarding the Emergency Response Questionnaire that is being forwarded to our affiliates, and what methodology that might be used to move our program forward.

 

The meeting concluded with a presentation, by OSHEP Training Specialists, of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) 700.  The NIMS 700 training provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.

 

 

December 2007: OPEIU:153