national worker safety and health program...national worker safety and health presented by the cosh...
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Leading the Fight for Safe
and Healthy Workplaces!
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health is a
federation of local and statewide "COSH" groups -
Committees/Coalitions on Occupational Safety and Health.
COSH groups are private, non-profit coalitions of labor
unions, health and technical professionals, and others
interested in promoting and advocating for worker health
and safety.
COSH organizations around the U.S. are committed to
promoting worker health and safety through training,
education, and advocacy.
www.coshnetwork.org
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
National Worker Safety and Health Conference 2012
Page 2: Table of Contents
Page 3-7: Day 1 Agenda - Thursday, December 6
Page 7-10: Day 2 Agenda - Friday, December 7
Page 11: Special Workshop Tracks
Page 12-13: Session 1 Workshop Descriptions
[10:45am-12:15pm Thursday, December 6]
Page 14-15: Session 2 Workshop Descriptions
[2:00pm-4:45pm Thursday, December 6]
Page 16-17: Session 3 Workshop Descriptions
[10:15am-12:15pm Friday, December 7]
Page 18-19: Session 4 Workshop Descriptions
[2:15pm-4:15pm Friday, December 7]
Page 20-21: Conference Planning Committee
Page 22: List of Local COSH Groups
Page 23: Endorsers and Acknowledgements
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AGENDA
Day 1: Thursday, December 6
7:30am-8:30am BREAKFAST
8:00am-9:00am Conference Registration
9:00am-10:30am Welcome and Conference Overview
[CLASSROOM 1]
PLENARY PANEL: Building Our Movement for Worker
Health and Safety! Moderated by Barbara Rahke, PhilaPOSH
National Health and Safety Battles
Peg Seminario, AFL-CIO
Engaging Immigrant Workers as Leaders
Josefina Luna, MassCOSH
CONT NEXT PAGE…..
Pre-Conference Session Auditorium
Wednesday, December 5:
Join us for a special Pre-Conference Session on planning our next steps in Health and Safety
Activism for 2013 and beyond!
7:00pm-9:00pm What Do the Election Results Mean for Our National Policy Priorities?
Policy Summit follow-up and other proposed plans to move forward on
actions to advance a Health & Safety activist agenda
Panel followed by breakout groups on specific topics.
Panel: Peg Seminario [National AFL-CIO]; Eric Frumin [Change to Win];
Steve Schrag [SEIU/ConnectiCOSH]; Nadia Marin Molina [National Day
Laborer Organizing Network]
Moderated by Rick Engler [New Jersey Work Environment Council]
5:00pm-7:00pm Conference Registration
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Worker Health and Safety in Non-Union Workplaces: the Flex-N-
Gate Experience Chris Schwartz, United Auto Workers
Fighting for Safe and Healthy Conditions for Warehouse Workers
Veronica Alvarado, Warehouse Worker United
“Our Loved Ones Died at Unsafe Workplaces” Video
PARTICIPANT SPEAK OUT!
10:45am-12:15pm WORKSHOP SESSION 1
WORKSHOP
ROOM
1. Basic Worker Health & Safety Rights under OSHA, NLRB and Other
Agencies Mark Catlin [SEIU]; Marsha Love [University of Illinois at Chicago]
A302
2. Four Dangerous Myths That Destroy Health and Safety Programs Jim Howe [Safety Solutions]; Bill Hoyle [Chemical Safety Board]
A303
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns
How Health & Safety Can Be An Important Issue In Organizing
Campaigns - Part 1 of 4 Eric Frumin [Change to Win]; Barbara Rahke [PhilaPOSH]; Chloe Osmer [AFL-CIO],
Chris Schwartz [United Auto Workers]; Veronica Alvarado [Warehouse Workers
United]
A305
4. Fighting Under-Reporting of Injuries and Illnesses – Experiences from
the Field Nancy Lessin [United Steelworkers]; Richard Fairfax [OSHA]; Steve Mitchell [UAW
974]; Mike Phillips [UAW 8275] Moderator: Jim Frederick [United Steelworkers]
A306
5. Reaching the "Yet-To-Be-Reached": Non-Traditional Strategies for
Reaching Out to Workers Shirley Alvarado-del Aguila [SoCalCOSH]; Loyda Alvarado [National Day Laborer
Organizing Network]; Marien Casillas Pabellon [New Labor]
DECK A
6. Young Worker Health and Safety Melissa Hector and Nancy Luc [MassCOSH]; Susan McQuade [NYCOSH]
DECK B
7. Inherently Safer Technology and Worker Protection, Incorporating
Hierarchy of Controls and Strategies to Win Rick Engler & Denise Patel [NJWEC] Kim Nibarger [USW] Rafael Moure-Eraso [CSB]
DECK C
8. Spanish Track 1: Identifying Hazards - Using Hazard Maps and Other
Tools to Identify Hazards Luzdary Giraldo [NYCOSH]; Al Vega and Rick Raben [MassCOSH]
DECK E
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12:30pm-1:45pm LUNCH
[Dining Room]
2:00pm-4:45pm WORKSHOP SESSION 2
WORKSHOP
ROOM 1. Contract Negotiations for Health and Safety
Jim Howe [Safety Solutions]; Diane Brown [AFSCME]; Mike Wright [United
Steelworkers]
A302
2. Popular Education Techniques for Health and Safety Training - Training
for Action Fernando Tapia [The Labor Occupational Health Program]; Kristin Ryan [UFCW 881];
Hillary Blecker [PhilaPOSH]; Carl Wilmsen [Alliance of Forestry Workers and Harvesters]
DECK C
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns
Case Studies – What Do We Know About Successes and Failures?
Part 2 of 4 Eric Frumin [Change to Win]; Barbara Rahke [PhilaPOSH]
A305
4. Advanced Legal Rights including OSHA’s General Duty Clause and
the Appeals Process Steve Schrag [SEIU]; Vince Gallagher [Safety Research, Inc.]
A303
5. Stop the BS! Confronting Practices that Blame Workers and
Discourage Injury/Illness Reporting Nancy Lessin [United Steelworkers]; Bill Kojola [AFL-CIO]; Steve Mitchell [UAW 974];
Mike Phillips [UAW]; Jim Frederick [USW HSE]
A306
6. Worker Health and Safety Protections in the Aftermath of Natural
Disaster -Sandy Chip Hughes [NIEHS] , Deborah Weinstock [NIEHS National Clearinghouse/MDB
Inc.]; Rick Engler [NJWEC], Maureen LaMar, [NYCOSH ]
DECK A
CONT NEXT PAGE…
Speaker: Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health [OSHA]
Mr. Barab has worked for the U.S. House of
Representatives, U.S. Chemical Safety
Board, AFL-CIO, and AFCSME. He is the
creator of the award winning blog
“Confined Spaces”
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7. Elements of Effective Health, Safety & Environment Committees Jonathan Rosen [Rosen & Associates, LLC]; Anna Fendley [United Steelworkers];
Valeria Velazquez [Labor Occupational Health Program]
DECK B
8. Spanish Track 2: Controlling Hazards and Basic Worker Rights
Luzdary Giraldo [NYCOSH]; Al Vega and Rick Rabin [MassCOSH]
DECK E
5:00PM-6:30pm ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
[CLASSROOM 1]
There will be brief 5-minute presentation on each of these topics
followed by an opportunity to have roundtable discussion in 2 of
the listed topics below.
Assess Your Health and Safety Management System - Using
ANSI Z10 Diane Brown [AFSCME]; Jim Howe [Safety Solutions]
Post-Election Strategy - What Proposals For Action Can We
Generate To Bring To The Delegates At The Conference Given
The Results Of The Election? Steve Schrag [SEIU/ConnectiCOSH]; Mike Wright [United Steelworkers]
Health & Safety for Construction Workers Keith Wrightson [Public Citizen]
Strategies for Working with Wage & Hour and OSHA Maria Gutierrez and Dianne Enriquez [Interfaith Worker Justice]
The New Wave of Health and Safety Activists United Food and Commercial Workers Representatives and Others
Close Call Reporting Systems
Ed Watt [Transport Workers Union]
RESOURCE TABLES: There will be resource tables with information and
materials on display throughout the conference by local COSH groups, labor
and community organizations, and government agencies. Tables will be on
display through Friday afternoon.
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7:30pm DINNER & AWARDS BANQUET [Dining Room]
MUSIC PROVIDED BY ANNIE AND JONATHAN ROSEN!
Day 2: Friday, December 7
7:30am-8:30am BREAKFAST
8:30am-10:00am Overview of the Day
[CLASSROOOM 1]
Worker and Family Panel Moderated by Jessica Martinez [National COSH]
Katherine Rodriguez [United Support Memorial for Workplace
Fatalities]
Reynalda Cruz [New Labor]
Oscar Alfaro [Casa Maryland]
Jim Savage [United Steelworkers 10-01]
COSH Network VIDEO
Speaker: Clarissa Martinez de Castro, National
Council of La Raza [NCLR]
Clarissa Martínez De Castro is the Director of
Immigration and National Campaigns at the
National Council of La Raza, the largest national
Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization
in the United States. Her expertise is in
immigration legislative advocacy and strategy;
Latino electorate, voter mobilization, and civic
participation; state advocacy efforts; coalition-
building; and management.
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10:15am-12:15pm WORKSHOP SESSION 3
WORKSHOP
ROOM
1. What You Need to Know About Third Party Lawsuits in Safety Marty Brigham [Raynes McCarty]; Vince Gallagher [Safety Research, Inc.]
A302
2. Fighting the Fear Factor: Whistleblower Protection Campaign
Steve Schrag [SEIU]; Steve Mitchell [United Auto Workers]; MassCOSH Workers Center
A303
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns
Key Tactics for Integrating H&S into Organizing Campaigns
Part 3 of 4 Eric Frumin [Change to Win]; Barbara Rahke [PhilaPOSH]
A305
4. Performing Incident/Accident Investigations - Part 1 of 2 Jim Howe [Safety Solutions]; Steve Sallman [United Steelworkers]
A306
5. Workplace Violence: Effective Programs to Protect Workers from
Violence at the Worksite Jonathan Rosen [Rosen & Associates, LLC ]; Matt Kozak and Janet Foley [Civil
Service Employees Union - CSEA]
DECK A
6. Hazards and Controls of Silica in Construction and Fracking
Operations Jim Platner & Pam Susi [The Center for Construction Research and Training -CPWR];
Walter Jones [Laborers Union, Laborers Health and Safety Fund]
DECK C
7. Substitution and Elimination: Using OSHA's New System for Managing
Chemicals to Achieve Safer, Healthier Workplaces - OSHA GHS Charlotte Brody [Blue Green Alliance]; Diane Brown [AFSCME]; Gail Bateson
[Worksafe]
DECK B
8. Spanish Track 3: Popular Education Techniques – Training for Action! Hillary Blecker [PhilaPOSH]; Fernando Tapia [Labor Occupational Safety and Health
Program]
DECK E
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12:30pm-2:00pm LUNCH
[Dining Room]
2:15pm-4:15pm WORKSHOP SESSION 4
WORKSHOP
ROOM
1. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns
Next Steps for Developing Health & Safety Issues in Campaigns
Part 4 of 4 Eric Frumin [Change to Win]; Barbara Rahke [PhilaPOSH]
A305
2. Performing Incident/Accident Investigations - Part 2 of 2 Jim Howe [Safety Solutions]; Steve Sallman [United Steelworkers]
A306
3. Management by Stress: Addressing the Health and Safety Impacts of
Work Restructuring Nancy Lessin [United Steelworkers]; Marsha Love [University of Illinois at Chicago];
Joe Zanoni [University of Illinois at Chicago]
A302
4. Worker’s Compensation Jonathan Rosen [Rosen & Associates, LLC ]; Joie Chowdury [National Economic &
Social Rights Initiative]; Joel Shufro [NYCOSH]
A303
5. Activating Workers in Health and Safety Campaigns Dave LeGrande [Communication Workers of America]; Ed Watt [Transportation
Workers Union] Tolle Graham [MassCOSH]
DECK A
CONT NEXT PAGE…
Speaker: Larry Cohen, President of
Communication Workers of America
[CWA]
Mr. Cohen was elected president of the
Communications Workers of America in
2005, after serving as Executive Vice
President for seven years.
Based on his long-held belief that unions
must unite with other like-minded
groups to further goals of economic
justice, Cohen founded Jobs with
Justice in 1987.
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6. Using Social Media to Promote Workplace Health & Safety Mark Catlin [SEIU]; Dorry Samuels [National COSH]
DECK B
7. Success with Families and Getting Families involved in Health &
Safety Advocacy Katherine Rodriguez, Tammy Miser Tonya Ford [United Support and Memorial for
Workplace Fatalities]
DECK C
8. Spanish Track 4: Organizing through Health and Safety/Taking
Action! Chloe Osmer [AFL-CIO]; Eduardo Victoria [UFCW]
DECK E
4:30pm-5:00pm CONFERENCE CLOSING
[CLASSROOM 1]
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SPECIAL WORKSHOP TRACKS
Health & Safety Tools in Organzing Campaigns
Track Workshop Topic Room Track 1
Thursday, December 6
10:45am-12:15pm
How Health & Safety Can Be An Important Issue In
Organizing Campaigns
A305
Track 2
Thursday, December 6
2:00pm-4:45pm
Case Studies – What Do We Know About Successes
and Failures?
A305
Track 3
Friday, December 7
10:15am-12:15pm
Key Tactics for Integrating Health & Safety into
Organizing Campaigns
A305
Track 4
Friday, December 7
2:15pm-4:15pm
Key Tactics for Integrating H&S into Organizing
Campaigns
A305
Incident/Accident Investigation
Track Workshop Topic Room Track 1
Friday, December 7
10:15am-12:15pm
Performing Incident/Accident Investigations Part 1
A306
Track 2
Friday, December 7
2:15pm-4:15pm
Performing Incident/Accident Investigations Part 2
A306
Spanish Workshop Track
Track Workshop Topic Room Track 1
Thursday, December 6
10:45am-12:15pm
Identifying Hazards - Using Hazard Maps and Other
Tools to Identify Hazards
DECK E
Track 2
Thursday, December 6
2:00pm-4:45pm
Controlling Hazards and Basic Worker Rights
DECK E
Track 3
Friday, December 7
10:15am-12:15pm
Popular Education Techniques – Training for Action!
DECK E
Track 4
Friday, December 7
2:15pm-4:15pm
Organizing through Health and Safety/Taking Action!
DECK E
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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
WORKSHOPS IN SESSION 1: Thursday, December 6 10:45am-12:15pm
1. Basic Worker Health & Safety Rights under OSHA, NLRB or Other Agencies
This workshop, aimed at folks new to workplace health and safety, will cover basic
workers’ and unions' health and safety rights under OSHA and under federal collective
bargaining law. We’ll examine the right to know about hazards in the workplace, the right
to protection from hazards, the right to training in safe work practices, the right to report
hazards, and the right to refuse hazardous work. We’ll discuss how to exercise
these rights most effectively, including when to use OSHA rights or collective bargaining
rights or both. We’ll also provide resources from unions, worker centers, COSH groups,
universities, and government agencies to assist you in using these rights to solve
workplace health and safety problems.
2. Four Dangerous Myths That Destroy Health and Safety Programs
There are a number of concepts that have been widely promoted and often broadly
accepted that undermine the effectiveness of a health and safety program. We have all
heard people say “health and safety is nothing more than common sense.” Myths like
this often prevent well-intentioned managers, safety professionals and members of safety
committees from maximizing efforts to reduce injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
Come to the workshop and learn what research and experience has taught us about
these concepts
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns: How Health & Safety Can Be An
Important Issue In Organizing Campaigns - Part 1 of 4
Help Organizers, Researchers and H&S activists learn new skills to advance organizing
campaigns. They will also better understand the importance of the close collaboration
needed amongst various parts of a campaign to maximize the effectiveness of H&S
tactics as part of an overall strategy.
Key topics will include research methods; moving health and safety issues with workers;
public messaging; and legal rights.
4. Fighting Under-Reporting of Injuries and Illnesses – Experiences from the Field
What is discouraging workers from reporting their job injuries and illnesses? What are the
problems associated with the underreporting of workplace injuries and illnesses? What are
some laws that can be used to prevent/address underreporting and under-recording of
work-related injuries/illnesses? A panel of labor representatives and an OSHA official will
speak from their experience, answer participants’ questions, and gather suggestions on
what should happen to assure every worker the right to report job injuries/illnesses without
fear of retaliation
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5. Reaching the "Yet-To-Be-Reached": Non-Traditional Strategies for Reaching Out to
Workers
In this workshop we will share and learn from each other about successful strategies that
are examples of effective worker outreach efforts beyond our base. We will learn about
the importance of being present in non-traditional spaces to meet workers where they
are and establishing partnerships and collaborations to increase our chances for effective
outreach.
We will focus on discussing strategies and tools to engage with workers in non-traditional
settings such as consulates, health clinics, street corners, etc.
Goals:
To highlight successful outreach efforts in non-traditional settings.
To learn each other’s outreach efforts, successes and challenges when engaging
community.
To gain a set of skills and tools to improve our outreach efforts to reach the “yet-to-
be-reached” worker.
6. Young Worker Health and Safety
Learn about MassCOSH’s Teens Lead at Work Program, a youth-led health and safety
initiative. This training will offer ways to engage and educate high school teens about
young worker rights and safety and health at work. The program provides skills-building
opportunities for young activists as they begin to play a larger role in the labor and social
justice movements. Programs for educating community-based leaders, and efforts to
better integrate occupational safety and health education into classroom curriculum will
also be discussed
7. Inherently Safer Technology and Worker Protection, Incorporating Hierarchy of
Controls and Strategies to Win
Preventing deaths on the job and harm to our communities and environment requires
that we examine the underlying causes of chemical accidents – and implement changes
to how chemicals are produced. This workshop will discuss: why adoption of “inherently
safer technology (IST)” can be the best way to reduce hazards; New Jersey’s landmark
policy for IST reviews; EPA’s authority to use it’s Clean Air Act General Duty clause to
promote IST; and the role of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and United Steelworkers in
chemical accident prevention.
8. Spanish Track: Identifying Hazards – Using Hazard Maps and Other Tools to Identify
Hazards
When you work in a place everyday it is easy to overlook some hazards. In this session
participants will learn about a range of health and safety hazards that may be found in a
workplace. In addition, participants will learn to use hazard maps and other tools to
collectively identify hazards with co-workers.
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WORKSHOPS IN SESSION 2: Thursday, December 6 2:00pm-4:45pm
1. Contract Negotiations for Health and Safety
While the union is continually negotiating health and safety with management, formal
contract negotiations provide a unique opportunity to review the entire health and safety
program, mobilize members and make substantial gains. Writing a few last-minute health
and safety demands and pounding on the table won't cut it. Success takes planning and
a systematic approach.
2. Popular Education Techniques for Health and Safety Training - Training for Action!
This workshop is focused on training adults how they learn best. We will provide you with
tips to be a more effective occupational health and safety trainer as you apply some of
the participatory tools shared. We'll try out different approaches to engage the strengths
and knowledge of people in the room to move towards action. We'll discuss how and
when to use different techniques. We welcome people who are new to training as well as
those who would like to sharpen some of their skills.
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns: Case Studies – What Do We Know
About Successes and Failures? - Part 2 of 4
Help Organizers, Researchers and H&S activists learn new skills to advance organizing
campaigns. They will also better understand the importance of the close collaboration
needed amongst various parts of a campaign to maximize the effectiveness of H&S
tactics as part of an overall strategy.
4. Advanced Legal Rights including OSHA’s General Duty Clause and the Appeals
Process
This session will explore OSHA’s use of the general duty clause to abate hazards not
regulated by an OSHA standard. It will discuss what the general duty clause covers and
limits on the general duty clause imposed by the Review Commission and the Courts. The
session will provide practical insight into drafting complaints seeking general duty clause
inspections, negotiating with OSHA and employers to resolve general duty clause
citations, and how litigation in general duty clause cases may differ from citations for
violations of standards. Participants will be asked to discuss hazardous situations they
have encountered where OSHA did not have a standard addressing the hazard. The
OSHA Appeals process and other issues will also be covered.
5. Stop the BS! Confronting Practices that Blame Workers and Discourage
Injury/Illness Reporting
This workshop will discuss participants' experiences with safety incentive programs, injury
discipline/"accident repeater" policies, and behavior-based safety observation and
related programs and practices – all of which focus on workers' so-called "unsafe
behaviors" rather than on identifying and eliminating or reducing workplace hazards and
hazardous conditions. Pitfalls of these programs – including discouraging workers from
reporting injuries/illnesses, and negative impacts on union solidarity and collective voice
and power – will be examined. Approaches for dealing with harmful programs and
practices will be explored, and strategies will be identified for putting a focus back on the
identification, correction and prevention of hazardous workplace conditions.
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6. Worker Health and Safety Protections in the Aftermath of Natural Disaster -Sandy
Disasters of enormous proportions have drastic consequences of people’s lives.
Communities and governments try to respond quickly to these emergency situations to
restore some normalcy to people’s lives. But a consideration often neglected is protecting
the workers who are the first brigade to clean up the rubble and destruction and rebuild
the structure of a community. Recent disaster events such as Katrina, World Trade Center,
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and others have been fraught with abuses and dangers for
clean-up workers that were often not fully realized until after the work was finished. This
workshop will review the lessons we have learned from past events and what the current
experience is with clean-up efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Recommendations for improving worker education, information and protections will be
discussed along with strategies to achieve these basic worker rights.
7. Elements of Effective Health, Safety & Environment Committees
Health and safety committees are an essential element of an effective health and safety
program. They provide an ongoing process for identifying and controlling workplace
hazards. In this workshop, participants will discuss the universal goals, key activities and
strategies that lead to successful committees.
8. Spanish Track 2: Controlling Hazards and Basic Worker Rights
This session will identify and evaluate different methods for reducing or eliminating
hazards. Participants will learn that not all solutions to hazards are equally effective and
will explore the hierarchy of controls to brainstorm solutions for different case studies. In
addition, participants will learn the functions of OSHA and some basic worker rights.
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WORKSHOPS IN SESSION 3: Friday, December 7 10:15am-12:15pm
1. What You Need to Know About Third Party Lawsuits in Safety
Vince Gallagher and Marty Brigham will moderate a workshop on the importance of third
party lawsuits, both as a financial resource for injured workers and to promote workplace
safety. By reviewing video vignettes from actual workplace accidents, they will highlight
the initial key issues that the worker needs to consider and the critical steps that unions
can play in supporting workers’ cases. Vince has investigated over 500 workplace
accidents to determine if there are potential third-party claims; Marty has represented
injured workers and their families in third party lawsuits for over 30 years.
2. Fighting the Fear Factor: Whistleblower Protection Campaign
The fear of retaliation for workers exercising their rights to a safe and healthy workplace is
the greatest barrier to worker involvement in H&S. Yet management has many ways to
discourage worker involvement, including outright discrimination, discipline and incentive
programs that use peer pressure to discourage workers from reporting injuries, illnesses
and close calls. Technically, these are all illegal under the OSHA Act, yet they are
routinely employed in company programs and unchallenged by a powerless system
within OSHA. This workshop will explore issues surrounding the whistleblower program of
OSHA and possible improvements.
3. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns: Key Tactics for Integrating H&S into
Organizing Campaigns - Part 3 of 4
Help Organizers, Researchers and H&S activists learn new skills to advance organizing
campaigns. They will also better understand the importance of the close collaboration
needed amongst various parts of a campaign to maximize the effectiveness of H&S
tactics as part of an overall strategy.
4. Performing Incident/Accident Investigations - Part 1 of 2
This workshop will give you the tools to effectively investigate accidents. The class will
cover preparation, interviewing witnesses, a powerful method to create a timeline by
sequence events, collecting and documenting information, photographing the scene,
and cause and effect charting to identify root causes and developing of reports. Major
shortcomings and pitfalls of popular methods of accident investigation will be covered.
5. Workplace Violence: Effective Programs to Protect Workers from Violence at the
Worksite
Workplace violence is a major cause of injury, death, and stress on-the-job. Developing
effective programs to prevent and respond to workplace violence is critical to the well
being of workers and the workplace. This participative workshop will review the New York
State experience in establishing workplace violence prevention programs and state
legislation, key elements of an effective program, best practices, and strategies for
getting programs started. The growing problem of co-worker violence and bullying will
also be addressed.
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6. Hazards and Controls of Silica in Construction and Fracking Operations
Exposure to silica is pervasive in construction. More recent reports from NIOSH and OSHA
indicate that silica exposures associated with hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) operations
may also be significant and pose a health risk. Silica is associated with silicosis and
increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and
autoimmune disorders. While there is currently no comprehensive OSHA standards for
silica, one is expected to be released in the near future. This workshop will review the silica
hazards associated with construction and fracking, methods for controlling exposure and
the anticipated content of a new OSHA Silica Standard. Useful information resources will
also be presented.
7. Substitution and Elimination: Using OSHA's New System for Managing Chemicals to
Achieve Safer, Healthier Workplaces – OSHA GHS
OSHA’s recent adoption of the Globally Harmonized System for Managing Chemicals will
give American workers a new way to learn about the chemical hazards in their
workplace. The requirement that all workplaces that use chemicals train their employees
on how to read the new labels and safety sheets by December 1, 2013, gives organizers
and trainers one more way to engage workers and communities in safety and health
campaigns.
Just in time for GHS implementation, the Chemical Haxard and Alternatives Tool,
designed by workers for workers, has been launched to identify the health hazard of
chemicals and the availability of safer alternatives.
GHS isn’t the only new development on chemicals. The implementation of green
chemistry laws in California, Washington and Maine create more opportunities for action.
Come to this workshop to try out new teaching tools on GHS and safer chemicals and to
learn about new education and organizing resources on chemical issues.
8. Spanish Track 3: Popular Education Techniques – Training for Action!
This workshop is focused on training adults how they learn best. We will provide you with
tips to be a more effective occupational health and safety trainer as you apply some of
the participatory tools shared. We'll try out different approaches to engage the strengths
and knowledge of people in the room to move towards action. We'll discuss how and
when to use different techniques. We welcome people who are new to training as well
as those who would like to sharpen some of their skills.
18 | P a g e
WORKSHOPS IN SESSION 4: Friday, December 7 2:15pm-4:15pm
1. Health & Safety Tools in Organizing Campaigns: Next Steps for Developing Health
& Safety Issues in Campaigns - Part 4 of 4
Help Organizers, Researchers and H&S activists learn new skills to advance organizing
campaigns. They will also better understand the importance of the close collaboration
needed amongst various parts of a campaign to maximize the effectiveness of H&S
tactics as part of an overall strategy.
Key topics will include research methods; moving health and safety issues with workers;
public messaging; and legal rights.
2. Performing Incident/Accident Investigations – Part 2 of 2
This workshop will give you the tools to effectively investigate accidents. The class will
cover preparation, interviewing witnesses, a powerful method to create a timeline by
sequence events, collecting and documenting information, photographing the scene,
and cause and effect charting to identify root causes and developing of reports. Major
shortcomings and pitfalls of popular methods of accident investigation will be covered.
3. Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation, the nation’s oldest social insurance program, was created by
state legislation in the early part of the 20th century. In most cases, the comp system is the
only recourse for workers hurt on the job to receive medical coverage and lost wage
replacement. Yet today workers’ compensation is a deeply dysfunctional system
rampant with employer and insurance industry abuses that deny millions of workers
adequate, timely coverage. This interactive workshop will explore the basics of workers’
compensation and highlight the increasingly brutal legislative assaults on workers’ rights in
this field. Come learn the ways that workers’ compensation is intended to assist workers
and let us brainstorm together solutions and strategies to better advance the rights of
workers with occupational injuries and illnesses.
4. Activating Workers in Health and Safety Campaigns
This workshop will feature a panel discussing Health and Safety programs and campaigns
that have been implemented to involve and protect workers. Panelists will talk about
programs such as “Close Call” reporting systems in negotiated programs, Heat Stress
education, and other ways that safety and health can be used to energize and educate
workers about their rights. The panel will be followed by roundtables to discuss strategies
that participants can use in their workplace settings. Health and Safety con be a powerful
tool to involve, energize and organize workers, so next steps for doing just that will be on
the agenda here. Come and solidify your plan for attack!
5. Using Social Media to Promote Workplace Health & Safety
This workshop, aimed at folks just beginning to explore the use of social media, will cover
the major types of social media available today, including blogs, Facebook, YouTube
and Twitter. We’ll examine how they can be integrated into our existing health and safety
work with examples from COSH groups, unions and other organizations. We’ll then discuss
possible uses of these new tools in our campaigns, education and outreach.
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6. Management by Stress: Addressing the Health and Safety Impacts of Work
Restructuring
Employers are continuing to re-organize work, often resulting in too few workers doing too
much work, sometimes over too many hours. This work restructuring is contributing to
workplace injury, illness and stress. In this workshop we’ll discuss the ways in which work is
being re-organized and restructured in your workplaces. We’ll look at the impacts this is
having, and share recent research about the hazards of particular forms of work
restructuring. We will explore different ways to challenge harmful work restructuring, and
create plans for workplace campaigns that you can take back to your workplaces.
7. Success with Families and Getting Families involved in Health & Safety Advocacy
This workshop will present ideas on how worker centers, labor unions, COSH groups and
training centers can ease fears and work with family members who have lost a loved one
from work-related hazards. By working together, the effectiveness of the groups'
advocacy can be enhanced. At the end of the session, participants will be able to:
List at least two ways families can different from the traditional Health and Safety
organizations;
Describe at least 3 ways their group could help ease fears of a family-member
victims to get them involved;
List at least two ways to keep family member victims involved;
List resources that USMWF is able to provide; list resources other groups are able to
provide.
8. Spanish Track 4: Organizing through Health and Safety/Taking Action!
This workshop will focus on using health and safety in worker organizing efforts, particularly
with immigrant workers. Learn about successful strategies used in Los Angeles and
Chicago for taking action in the workplace, engaging government agencies and using
popular education on safety to support worker organizing and improve conditions. Work
with other union, worker center and safety activists to apply these strategies and tactics in
your own organizing efforts.
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CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Tom O'Connor is the Executive Director of the National Council for Occupational
Safety and Health. He has over 20 years of experience working as an advocate for
workers’ health and safety. He also coordinates the national policy advocacy efforts of
the Protecting Workers Alliance, a broad-based group of worker health and safety
advocates. Tom has written extensively on issues affecting immigrant workers, including a
2011 White Paper for NIOSH on effective training and education methods for immigrant
workers. He also wrote a study commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences
entitled “Reaching Spanish-Speaking Workers and Employers with Occupational Safety
and Health Information.” He has a B.A. in History from Duke University and a Master of
Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He is based in
Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jessica E. Martinez serves as the Assistant Director for the National Council for
Occupational Safety and Health. A native of Los Angeles, CA, Ms. Martinez has over 12
years of social justice endeavors throughout the United States, Venezuela, and Brazil. At
National COSH, she contributes her many skills to project trainings, program planning and
implementation, and network development. She served as Program Coordinator for the
UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH) Program and Coordinator for the
Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (SoCalCOSH)
committing herself to the promotion of safety and health within the labor movement with
a special focus on immigrant and young worker populations. In 2010, she was awarded
the Peace and Social Justice Award by the Southern California Institute for Popular
Education (IDEPSCA) and most recently was awarded the Lorin Kerr Award by The
American Public Health Association. She holds a B.A. in International Development
Studies from UCLA and a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois, Chicago
School of Public Health.
Dorry Samuels is the Communications Manager for the National Council for
Occupational Safety and Health. She joins the COSH network after a few years as Public
Citizen's press office coordinator, where she was actively engaged in a variety of
projects relating to worker safety and health and the battle against anti-regulatory
legislation, and as a reporter for the Loudoun Independent newspaper in Northern
Virginia. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from American University and is currently enrolled
in a Masters’ program in Digital Communications at Johns Hopkins University. Dorry
manages National COSH’s press outreach, social media engagement, and video
editing, and has begun developing mobile apps and a wiki for the COSH Network.
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Peter Dooley (MS, CIH, CSP) is a safety and health project consultant for National
COSH and President of LaborSafe. He worked for the UAW International Union
coordinating educational programs for more than 20 years. Previously, he worked for
Michigan State University in Labor Education. His work specializes in worker education,
with an emphasis in participative adult education and innovative programs to educate
and motivate workers about improving health and safety in their workplaces. Mr. Dooley
has or is currently providing educational services to OSHA, NIOSH, The United Steelworkers
Union, National COSH Network and many other organizations and institutions. Mr. Dooley
consulted in the meatpacking industry while consulting with UFCW International Union
where worker trainings and workplace assessments where performed. Peter currently
serves as a member of the NACOSH advisory board to federal OSHA as well as holding
positions in USMWF [United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities] and APHA
[American Public Health Association].
Tolle Graham is a senior occupational health educator/organizer at MassCOSH, the
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. For over 20 years, Ms.
Graham has coordinated MassCOSH health and safety campaigns with unions and
environmental health coalitions, promoting policy development to secure safe and
healthy workplaces and communities. She has extensive experience developing
participatory/popular education curriculum and conducting trainings on all aspects of
worker safety and health including: hazards identification and control, ergonomics,
workplace violence, indoor air quality, building health and safety committees. Tolle is a
member of the USW and has been a health and safety advisor with the International
union.
Barbara Rahke retired from the national organizing staff of the UAW in 2003, where
she worked closely with its Health and Safety Department and led many successful
national and regional organizing campaigns. In 2005 she became Director of the
Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health (PhilaPOSH), a non-profit
founded in 1975 whose mission is the prevention of work-related fatalities, diseases and
injuries through training, technical assistance and advocacy. At PhilaPOSH she has
worked with area local unions, community organizations and agencies to develop
effective strategies to advance safety and health. Since 2007 this has included funding
from OSHA to provide outreach and training to small residential construction contractors
and workers.
Rick Engler is Director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), a
collaboration of 70 labor, community, and environmental organizations working for safe,
secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Because of WEC’s leadership,
New Jersey has the strongest state policies for prevention of accidental chemical
releases in the nation. This includes the first policy to engage workers and their union
representatives during environmental inspections of high hazard facilities, which later
became national EPA policy, and a requirement that certain facilities review whether
they can potentially adopt safer chemicals and processes.vMore information about WEC
is at www.njwec.org.
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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COSH GROUP:
Arkansas Coalition on Safety and Health
2801 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
Contact: Steve Copley
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (501) 626-9220
Chicago Area Committee on
Occupational Safety and Health
(CACOSH)
940 W Adams St, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60607
Contact: Emanuel Blackwell
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (708) 359-3303
Connecticut Council on Occupational
Safety and Health (ConnectiCOSH)
683 N. Mountain Road
Newington, CT 06111
Contact: Mike Fitts
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (860) 953-2674
Fax: (860) 953-1038
Web: www.connecticosh.org
Maine Labor Group on Health (MLGH)
PO Box 5197
Augusta, ME 04332
Contact: Peter Crockett
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (207) 622-7823
Fax: (207) 622-3483
Web: www.mlgh.org
Massachusetts Coalition for
Occupational Safety and Health
(MassCOSH)
1532B Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02122
Contact: Marcy Goldstein-Gelb
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (617) 825-7233
Fax: (617) 822-3718
Web: www.masscosh.org
Mid-State Education and Service
Foundation
123 S. Cayuga Street Suite 204
Ithaca, NY 14850
Contact: Tony Del Plato
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (607) 277-5670
Fax: (607) 277-8344
New Hampshire Coalition for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NHCOSH)
161 Londonderry Turnpike
Hooksett, NH 03106
Contact: Brian Mitchell
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (603) 232-4406
Fax: (603) 232-4461
Web: www.nhcosh.org
New Jersey Work Environment Council
(NJWEC)
142 W. State Street 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08648
Contact: Rick Engler
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (609) 695-7100
Fax: (609) 695-4200
Web: www.njwec.org
New York Committee for Occupational
Safety and Health (NYCOSH)
61 Broadway - Suite 1710
New York, NY 10006
Contact: Joel Shufro
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (212) 227-6440
Fax: (212) 227-9854
Web: www.nycosh.org
Philadelphia Project on Occupational
Safety and Health (Philaposh)
3001 Walnut Street 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Contact: Barbara Rahke
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (215) 386-7000
Fax: (215) 386-3529
Web: www.philaposh.org
Rhode Island Committee on
Occupational Safety and Health
(RICOSH)
741 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Contact: Jim Celenza
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (401) 751-2015
Fax: (401) 751-2105
Southern California Coalition for
Occupational Safety and Health
(SoCalCOSH)
1000 N Alameda Street, Suite 240 Los
Angeles, CA 90012
Contact: Shirley Alvarado-del Aguila
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 346-3277
Fax: (213) 808-1009
Web: www.socalcosh.org
Western Massachusetts Coalition for
Occupational Safety and Health
(WesternMassCOSH)
640 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Contact: Mike Florio
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (413) 731-0760
Fax: (413) 731-6688
Web: www.westernmasscosh.org
Western New York Council on
Occupational Safety and Health
(WNYCOSH)
2495 Main Street, Suite 438
Buffalo, NY 14214
Contact: Germain Harnden
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (716) 833-5416
Fax: (716) 833-7507
Web: www.wnycosh.org
Wisconsin Committee on Occupational
Safety and Health (WISCOSH)
1535 W. Mitchell St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Contact: Jim Schultz
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (414) 933-2338
Web: www.wiscosh.org
Worksafe
55 Harrison Street, Suite 400
Oakland, CA 94607
Contact: Gail Bateson
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (510) 302-1011
Fax: (510) 835-4913
Web: www.worksafe.org
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ENDORSERS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR CONFERENCE ENDORSERS:
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO)
Change to Win
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Service Employee International Union (SEIU)
United Steelworkers (USW)
Communication Workers of America (CWA)
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
International Chemical Workers Union (ICWUC)
The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)
University of Chicago Illinois School of Public Health
Interfaith Worker Justice
United Suppport Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF)
APHA OHS Section
The COSH Network would like to acknowledge the generous support of the American
Federation of Teachers in providing funds for scholarships for this conference and the
Service Employees International Union for printing this program and other materials
for the conference.