The trusted business partner for global EHS excellence
* Engage in candid and confidential discussions of critical business issues with other corporate thought leaders
* Engage in formal and informal benchmarking to assist in developing business strategies and solutions for effective EH&S management
* Develop plan actions to address selected issues of interest to members
OSHA At Forty: Assistant Secretary Michaels Outlines New Challenges and Directions
In a July 19 letter to OSHA staff, Assistant Secretary David Michaels wrote: "After forty years, OSHA needs a fundamental transformation in the way we address workplace hazards, and in our relationship to employers and workers." His letter outlined the goals (identified by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis) for which OSHA shares responsibility with other Department of Labor agencies, i.e., securing safe and healthy workplaces, particularly in high-risk industries; and ensuring workers' voice in the workplace, and attached a list of strategies formulated by the Secretary for
Survey Report - Workplace Smoking Policies
This survey asked about the smoking policies in effect at ORC member companies. Twenty-one companies responded to the survey questionnaire with 19 indicating that their companies did have a smoking policy and two indicating that they did not. Only 7 responders indicated that there was a total ban on smoking on company property, the remainder indicated that that smoking was prohibited only in certain areas. One responder said they were planning to initiate a total ban in 2011. Thirteen responders indicated that employees could smoke in their personal cars when parked
ORC Task Force on Walking/Working Surfaces / Fall Protection
ORC is forming a Task Force to address the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 24. (See http://orc-dc.com/?q=node/3576 to get a copy of this proposal.) Currently comments and requests for public hearing are due by August 23, 2010.
OSHA Announces Proposed Penalty Policy Changes to Regional Administrators
An April 22, 2010 memorandum from OSHA Administrator David Michaels to the agency's Regional Administrators outlines "Administrative Enhancements to OSHA's Penalty Policies" that will be implemented as agency personnel are trained over the next several months. The action is being taken in response to an agency work group's finding that "
the Agency's penalties are too low to have an adequate deterrent effect." The changes are intended to result in higher average
Asia-Pacific HSE Forum, July 15-16, 2010
Event Dates:
July 15, 2010 - 9:00am - July 16, 2010 - 2:00pm
Location:
Sydney, Australia
Four Points Sheraton, Darling Harbour
161 Sussex Street
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Australia
Phone: (61)(2) 9290 4000
National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health: 2010 Roster
OSHA's Roster of National Advisory Committee members for Fiscal Year 2010 is attached below. We are pleased that two ORC members hold positions on NACOSH.
Survey Report - European Employee Injury & Illness Incident Classification
This survey was prompted by an ORC member seeking information on how other multinational companies manage recordkeeping consistency between workplace safety and health incidents in Europe compared with other parts of the world. Specifically, very similar incidents occurring in different regions result in very different recordkeeping outcomes/classifications (based on the US OSHA recordkeeping system).
TRB Announces International Conference on Commercial Driver Health and Wellness
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), are hosting an International Conference on Commercial Driver Health and Wellness, November 8–10, 2010, in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Conference objectives are:
States Enact Laws Aimed at Cellphones and Texting
State Laws on Distracted Driving
Some states and territories have enacted bans on hand-held devices or texting to help reduce the dangers to the public from distracted driving.
DOT Focus on Distracted Driving Prompts Creation of Distraction.gov
Ending distracted driving is a top priority for Secretary LaHood and the Department of Transportation. The department recently launched a federal website, www.distraction.gov, with comprehensive information on distracted driving, as well as a national PSA featuring Secretary LaHood to raise awareness about this dangerous driving behavior.
DOT Announces Creation of FocusDriven
On January 12, 2010, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher announced the creation of FocusDriven, the first national nonprofit organization devoted specifically to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The group will be led by Jennifer Smith, who has been an outspoken advocate against distracted driving since her mother was killed by someone talking on his cell phone while driving in 2008.
Government Failing to Protect America from Grave Threats of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism
On January 26, 2010, former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism.
OSHA Announces Stakeholder Meetings on Combustible Dust
OSHA has announced two additional informal stakeholder meetings on the workplace hazards of combustible dust. OSHA plans to use the information gathered at these meetings in developing a proposed standard for combustible dust.
ORC Task Force on Combustible Dust
ORC is forming a Task Force to address the issues associated with regulation of combustible dust. One of the first tasks is to review the questions set out in OSHA's October 21 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and to develop an ORC response to the issues raised in the notice. ORC plans to hold at least one Task Force meeting to develop the comments.
Global Safety and Health Forum Meeting - Nov 2010
Event Dates:
November 11, 2010 - 1:30pm - November 12, 2010 - 11:30am
Location:
Washington, DC
The Park Hyatt Washington DC
24th & M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-789-1234
Reservations: 1- 800-778-7477
Senate Confirms Sunstein to Head White House Regulatory Policy Office
The nomination of Cass Sunstein to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), the White House Office of Management and Budget's regulatory policy office, was confirmed by the Senate 57-40 on September 10. OIRA has
National Emphasis Program (NEP) for PSM Covered Chemical Facilities Launched
On July 27, OSHA published Directive CPL 02-09-06 “PSM Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program” covering its new program for inspecting facilities to verify employers’ compliance with 29 CFR 1910.119, OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard. Under the NEP, programmed inspections (defined as “inspections of worksites which have been scheduled based upon objective or neutral selection criteria”) will take place in Regions I, VII, and X in facilities that are known by OSHA as having a risk of catastrophic releases.
National Response Team "Guidance for Managing Worker Fatigue During Disaster Operations"
OSHA and the other members of the U.S.
