A link from Alicia Henderson of Raleigh North Carolina.

Alicia requested adding the link to the chapter website after using the chapters website during her classes research. Below is a note from Alicia.

I wanted to let you know of an article I have also been referencing in my Raleigh NC 9th grade student Amy. http://www.partsgeek.com/mparts/auto_resources_safe_driving_tips.html (great resource page on auto safety) that one of my 9th graders found

Open Letter to Employers on Distracted Driving

U.S. Department of Labor 

Assistant Secretary for
Occupational Safety and Health
Washington, D.C. 20210
October 4, 2010

Dear Employer:

Distracted driving has become an epidemic in the United States, and its often fatal consequences are a threat to your workers, your business and the public.

Because millions of workers’ jobs require them to spend part or all of their work day driving ― visiting clients and customers, making site visits, or delivering goods and services ― the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Transportation (DOT) are joining forces in a campaign to stop distracted driving and save lives. Read More...


Year after year, the leading cause of worker fatalities is motor vehicle crashes. There’s no question that new communications technologies are helping business work smarter and faster. But getting work done faster does not justify the dramatically increased risk of injury and death that comes with texting while driving.

The human toll is tragic. DOT reports that in 2009, more than 5,400 people died in crashes linked to distraction and thousands more were injured. “Texting while driving” has become such a prominent hazard that 30 states now ban text messaging for all drivers.

OSHA is partnering with others across government, industry and the public to bring together important information and tools to attack texting while driving and other distracted driver hazards. We invite you to learn more about combating this problem at www.osha.gov and at DOT’s distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov.

Most employers want to do the right thing and protect their workers, and some have already taken action to prohibit texting while driving. It is your responsibility and legal obligation to create and maintain a safe and healthful workplace, and that would include having a clear, unequivocal and enforced policy against the hazard of texting while driving. Companies are in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act if, by policy or practice, they require texting while driving, or create incentives that encourage or condone it, or they structure work so that texting is a practical necessity for workers to carry out their job.

To combat the threat of distracted driving, we are prepared to act quickly. When OSHA receives a credible complaint that an employer requires texting while driving or who organizes work so that texting is a practical necessity, we will investigate and where necessary issue citations and penalties to end this practice.

I invite you to join us in observing "Drive Safely Work Week," October 4-8. During this week and throughout the year, let’s work together to prevent workers from being injured and killed on the road.

David Michaels, PhD, MPH

 

DOL/OSHA Schedules Conference on Latino Worker Safety and Health

WASHINGTON – Following a Labor Day announcement from Secretary Hilda Solis, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will convene a National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety, April 14-15 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. The conference is co-sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Read More....

The conference will bring together workers and representatives from employer associations, labor unions, the faith community, community organizations, the medical community, safety and health professionals, educators, government officials, Consulates, the entertainment community and other non-traditional partners.

Construction will be the primary industry targeted. Latino immigrant workers comprise almost one quarter of the construction industry workforce and suffer the highest rate of construction-related deaths. The conference will also target other high-risk industries that employ large numbers of Latino workers.

“Far too many Latino workers have needlessly lost their lives just trying to earn a living and it must stop,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. “At the summit, we will shine a spotlight on the hazards and challenges faced by this vulnerable sector of the nation’s workforce so that we can begin crafting new, badly needed strategies to prevent thousands of injuries and deaths every year.”

The conference will also showcase innovative partnerships, demonstrate successful education and training strategies, and develop effective enforcement and communication strategies.

Those interested in attending can register online at www.osha.gov beginning Wednesday, January 13.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

New Meeting Format for 2009-2010 Chapter Year

The chapter’s board has been busy setting up meetings that provide value to you the members. This year’s meetings are going to be more of a group presentation - with topic experts presenting, responding, and answering your questions. There are meetings set for both sides of the Hudson River and some will occur in the morning and others in the late afternoon. Also being SHE professionals ourselves there will be food at the meetings. With the addition of food there are additional costs so the “dinner” meetings will cost between $5 and $10. The morning meetings will cost $5. Also the board is pursuing Continuing Education Credits awarded for each of the meetings (with the exception of the Vendor Palooza in January). This is in an effort to ensure you receive value from being a part of the Hudson River Valley Chapter of the ASSE and encourage your attendance at the meetings.

Is Your Crew Reactive or Proactive?

By Timothy Lovley

Part of a successful safety program and injury prevention is the move to a Proactive mindset. The questions many managers don’t ask is –

Here are some questions to find out if your crew is Reactive.

  1. You see emergency OT or labor hours trending upwards.
  2. Yesterday’s jobs and problems take up 90% of your daily meetings.
  3. Employee’s go from best worker to worst employee ever in just one day.
  4. Employees are working “late” at least 2 days a week.
  5. Parts and equipment are ordered express delivery.
  6. Site reliability problems present operating at the targeted capacity.
  7. Quick fixes are the norm.

Reactive performance means you don’t control the schedule of what work is done when. A familiar saying I am always fighting fires, and the individual is not a fireman/ woman.
Unfortunately a reactive performer is not moving the organization or the individual forward. A reactive performer is inefficient, costly and bad for moral. Both their own and those around them.

How do you break the Reactive/ Proactive cycle. A decision must be made to stop. A transition of personnel assigned reactive jobs can be assigned proactive jobs. Every couple of month’s review the number of reactive jobs and continues to reduce the number of employees assigned to reactive jobs until the majority of the staff are focused on proactive activities. This is not an easy process. In this case the hard work is worth the reward.

This article was created using information from Ricky Smith, a contributing author for www.planservices.com.

American Society of Safety Engineers Announce New Hudson River Valley Chapter

Contact: Suzanne May, 845-978-2090, smay4@wm.com

CARMEL, NY (March 2006) – The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the establishment of the new Hudson River Valley Chapter in New York. The new ASSE Hudson River Valley Chapter formed out of the Westchester Section of the existing New York City-based ASSE Metropolitan Chapter due to the growing needs of members north of New York City. With the addition of the new chapter, ASSE now consists of 150 chapters globally.

The new chapter includes ASSE members from geographical areas north of New York City including the Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and surrounding counties. Meetings will be held at various locations throughout those areas. The new chapter executive board includes: Suzanne May, President; Stacy Irvine, President-Elect; Gary Hohenstein - Secretary; and James Bohren - Treasurer.

According to the executive board, commuting to New York City for Metro Chapter meetings was difficult for those in their geography – often requiring the better part of a day. Having meetings closer to members’ homes and offices provides Hudson River Valley members with a more time-effective way to participate, network with other professionals and gain technical knowledge.

Some of the activities ASSE Hudson River Valley Chapter members plan on developing are working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to help train high school students at local technical schools in safety and health and sponsoring or co-sponsoring a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preparation course.

The immediate goals of the chapter include building membership, continuing collaboration with other area safety organizations, such as the American Society of Quality (ASQ), as well as getting the word out about the new chapter. Hudson River Valley will continue to collaborate with the ASSE Metropolitan Chapter with joint meetings and social events as well as sharing information about meetings.

Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and has more than 30,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor and education. For more information check ASSE’s website at www.asse.org.