News & Events
News & Events
From the Executive Director’s Office……….
Registration Now Open for Annual Governor's Safety and Health Conference
The 25th Annual Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference, to be held August 27-29 at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, AL, is now open for registration. This year’s agenda promises an outstanding learning opportunity for safety and health professionals throughout Alabama and the surrounding region.
For starters, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. will address the conference theme, “25 years of Championing Safety and Health,” during the opening session in recognition of the Conference’s 25th anniversary. Mr. Foulke served as head of Federal OSHA from April, 2006 to November 2008, after being named to this role by President George W. Bush. During his tenure at OSHA, workplace injuries, illnesses and fatality rates dropped to their lowest level in recorded history. He also served as Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Mr. Foulke is the only person ever to serve as both head of OSHA and Chairman of the Review Commission.
More than 50 breakout sessions are also planned to offer a wide variety of topics to choose from, with session speakers all being leading experts in their fields. Breakout session topics can be found at http://alabamasafestate.ua.edu/education-training/_files/breakout_topics_2012.pdf .
Conference topics have been organized into eight “learning tracks” that include construction, industrial hygiene; risk management and worker’s compensation; manufacturing and general industry; transportation; safety leadership; best practices; and principles for new safety professionals. Attendees can focus on one track or “mix and match” sessions from various tracks to gain knowledge in a variety of areas. It’s up to you, and there’s no need to decide in advance. Just come to the conference and attend whichever sessions best suit your professional development needs.
Don’t miss this chance to attend the premier safety and health conference in the southeast. Register now to qualify for the “early bird” registration discount, which ends on August 10th. To register or learn more about the conference, please go to: www.algovshc.ccs.ua.edu. Click on the video link to hear attendees from past conferences tell you in their own words how valuable the conference has been for them.
Continuing education credits are available for conference attendees by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Alabama State Nursing Association and American Nursing Credential Commission.
In addition to an exceptional professional program, lots of fun activities are planned. A host of valuable prizes will also be given, and one lucky conference participant will win a luxurious 5-night cruise. Be sure to bring your spouse and family along for the fun. Discounted rooms are available at the resort, as are guest meal packages. The conference guest package includes three breakfasts, two lunches and attendance at both the exhibitor reception and the always popular casino night.
2nd Quarter OSHA Training Institute Education Center Classes
UA SafeState’s OSHA Training Institute Education Center will be hosting many popular classes during the upcoming quarter. In addition to the “core” Standards and Trainer courses, which are held on a revolving basis, several specialty courses will also be held this quarter including Machinery and Machine Guarding, Lockout/Tagout, Permit Required Confined Spaces, Bloodborne Pathogens, Electrical Standards and Fall Arrest Systems.
To view the complete schedule, click http://alabamasafestate.ua.edu/documents/2012-OTI-Course-Schedule.pdf .
If you’d like more information on these classes, or UA’s Safety and Health Certificate Programs, please go online to http://alabamasafestate.ua.edu/education-training/_files/Catalog.pdf or contact Joe Pilleteri, CSP at (205) 348-2765.
UA SafeState Environmental Makes a Difference
In today’s economy, the difference between a company being profitable or going out of business can depend on how well they manage their environmental requirements. Most small- to medium-sized businesses are not staffed with experienced environmental professionals, and usually the person given the environmental job duties “wears more than one hat”. UA SafeState Environmental is a perfect fit to help companies in this situation.
For example, United Roofing in Eutaw, Alabama is a family-owned, roofing felt manufacturer with about 100 employees. Faced with new environmental regulations requiring frequent monitoring of their manufacturing processes and regular reporting to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, United Roofing called UA SafeState Environmental for help.
“We needed assistance understanding a new regulation that was specific to our industry”, says Tracey Robertson of United. Continuing, she says, “The regulation is hard to understand and we were not sure what we were required to do, or how best to accomplish the monitoring that was required by the regulation, or how to reduce the data for the semi-annual reporting, or what was required to be in the report - we just needed help!”
Having previously used UA SafeState’s Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program for health and safety issues, Tracey called Larry Overstreet from UA SafeState’s Environmental Consulting Group. “Simply put, we at United Roofing are thrilled that we made that call - today we are fully compliant with all our requirements. We would not have been able to accomplish this without the help of Larry and UA SafeState.
Larry was very knowledgeable about the regulations and our industry.” “Most of all”, she adds, “Larry took a personal interest in helping us to reach our compliance goals. With his help, we identified a cost-effective solution for a monitoring and data capture system that prevented us having to manually record readings every 15 minutes. It is a system that matches the need and allows for future expansion at a very reasonable cost.”
“Honestly I cannot say enough about the assistance we received”, says Tracey. “I would recommend UA SafeState’s environmental services hands-down to any firm requiring direction.”
Have You Obtained Alabama State Lead Renovator Certification Yet?
This is now a requirement for all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting (RRP) projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
The Safe State Environmental Program and the Alabama Department of Public Health are now responsible for RRP as part of our current Lead-Based Paint Contractor Accreditation Program. Individuals seeking to become Certified Renovators in Alabama must now apply through Safe State; and Renovator Companies must register with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Please contact Jason Brasfield at 800-421-7141 for assistance with RRP certification. Also, please continue to visit renovatealabama.com as information, applications, training provider listings and other forms of compliance assistance will be appearing as the state regulation goes into effect.
UA SafeState Issues 2nd Quarter Environmental Training Schedule
Now’s your chance to get trained and certified to do renovation work, remove lead-based paint or inspect buildings for asbestos. UA SafeState’s Environmental Training Section is offering these courses, required by EPA and the State of Alabama to engage in these types of work, this upcoming quarter. If you already have these credentials and need to keep them updated, the required update classes in these disciplines are being offered as well.
Our annual “Managing Asbestos in Schools or Buildings” class is also being taught, which as the name implies, teaches how to manage asbestos on your properties.
All classes are taught by exceptional instructors who have a wealth of real-world experience in the field. Most classes include “hands-on” sections, where needed skill sets, as well as safe work practices, are taught.
To view the complete schedule, click http://alabamasafestate.ua.edu/documents/2012-Environmental-Courses.pdf .
These classes are all offered at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa. To register, please call our registration office at 205-348-3000, or you can register on-line at training.ccs.ua.edu.
For more information, please contact Peter Hodgson at 205-348-4603 or email him at phodgson@ccs.ua.edu. Any of these classes can also be held at your location. Contact Peter for details.
Bathtub Refinishers at High Risk for Methylene Chloride Exposure
Methylene chloride (MC) has long been recognized as an excellent solvent for the surface removal of durable paints, varnishes and other coatings. Studies and OSHA investigations have linked numerous deaths to the use of MC in bathtub refinishing. In many cases, the MC used to strip off old epoxy-based tub coatings was not intended for that particular application. Aside from being a probable carcinogen, exposures to high levels of MC vapor in enclosed spaces like bathrooms can lead to dramatic elevations in blood carboxyhemoglobin levels that can have fatal outcomes.
OSHA has regulated the use of methylene chloride under 29 CFR 1910.1052 and is focusing on the application of MC in bath fixture refinishing. Any employer involved in this type of work is urged to contact UA SafeState to arrange a priority health consultation as soon as possible. As always, our small business consultation services are free, confidential and aimed at helping you prevent injuries and illnesses in your working environment.
OSHA Hazcom Standards Merges with GHS
OSHA has issued a final rule officially merging its Hazard Communication Standard with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classifying and labeling chemicals. Modifications to the Hazcom standard include revised criteria for classifying chemical hazards; revised labeling provisions that include requirements for use of standardized signal words, pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements; a specified format for safety data sheets; and related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard, and requirements for employee training on labels and safety data sheets.
The standard goes into effect 60 days after publication. UA SafeState can help you learn more about how to comply with these new provisions. For help with these or any other of your workplace safety and health challenges, UA SafeState is ready to help with free, confidential onsite consultation support. To make a request or get more information about our consultation services, give us a call at 1-800-452-5928 or email Matt Hollub at mhollub@ccs.ua.edu.
OSHA Issues New Round of High DART Rate Letters to Employers
In recent weeks, letters from OSHA were mailed out to select employers whose “Days Away from Work, Restricted or Transferred” (DART) rates were determined to be excessively high. The data driving this initiative was culled from the OSHA workplace injury and illness surveys conducted in 2011.
If your company has received one of these letters and you would like to receive free safety and health consultation assistance from UA SafeState, please feel free to call us at 1-800-452-5928. Any of our staff consultants can take your request. When doing so, please be sure to mention that you’ve received one of these letters to ensure the earliest possible scheduling of service.
