NMASH claims success in recent confab

Northern Marianas Alliance for Safety and Health officials described the recently conducted NMASH Governor’s 3rd Annual Safety and Health Conference “a huge success” in educating private and public sector employers and employees on workplace safety, environmental issues and health concerns.

The conference, with the theme “Striving for Excellence in Worker, Public, and Environmental Safety and Health Protection,” was held on Aug. 16-19 at the World Resort Saipan Hotel’s new banquet facilities and conference halls, and attracted a total of 385 participants.

The participants received OSHA training and certification, 1st Aid/CPR training, construction train-the-trainers courses, and plenary sessions featuring federal and local government presentations on their respective offices duties and projects in the Northern Mariana Islands.

This year’s conference included visitors and conference participation from the CNMI, Guam, Hawaii, the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap and Palau.

Hawaii director of Labor and Industrial Relations Nelson Befitel was appointed by Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle to deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremonies on Aug. 16, 2005, after CNMI Gov. Juan N. Babauta proclaimed August 15-21, 2005, as Commonwealth Health and Safety Week, and Frank Strasheim, OSHA Region 9 Administrator, offered welcoming remarks.

NMASH co-chair Richard A. Pierce said this year’s conference was the best yet delivered by NMASH to the residents of the Pacific entities.

“Just like the Royal Taga became the Diamond Hotel became the World Resort Saipan Hotel, this conference just demonstrates how far we’ve come in our work in making Saipan’s workplace safety a priority, and improving the environment of each workers’ jobsite to improve themselves,” said Pierce.

“Everyone came together and provided terrific opportunities for health and safety enlightenment. NMASH wishes to thank all our visitors from off-island, all the conference participants, booth operators, the trainers from the OSHA Training Institute, everyone involved in the conference production work, the World Resort Saipan, and most especially the employers who chose to invest their time and money in developing their health and safety personnel for their businesses and departments,” added Pierce.

NMASH co-chair Al Johnson added: “I encourage everyone to put into practice what they’ve learned this week because that is what will improve our safety and health.”

Befitel read aloud a letter from Lingle to Babauta: “This conference will provide a valuable opportunity to promote the bonds of friendship, cultural exchange and goodwill among our neighbors in the global community, as many Hawaii residents and visitors proudly trace their ancestral roots to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”

Befitel stated that OSHA had been cast with a reputation of being heavy-handed and adversarial in enforcing safety and health laws in the past. NMASH, with its collaborative efforts, had demonstrated strides and inroads into the new ways of changing workplace standards for the better via trust and respect between OSHA and the business sector, he said.

“NMASH is perhaps the most active safety and health alliance in Region 9,” said Strasheim. “The collaborative planning and tangible support of all alliance members made the conference a tremendous success.”

Guam Labor director Maria S. Connelly said that the conference needs further inclusion of other Pacific island entities and that the event should be moved from island nation to island nation. Connelly was appointed by Guam Gov. Felix Camacho to attend.

NMASH is comprised of OSHA Region 9, the OSHA Training Institute, the Northern Marianas College, CNMI departments of Public Health, Public Safety, Labor, and Public Works; Division of Environmental Quality, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, the Saipan Contractors Association, the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. (PR)