SGMA confab highlights industry’s improvements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has noted improvements on the island’s apparel manufacturing industry during a well-attended training session hosted by the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association.

Local and federal safety officials met with over 80 factory representatives in an effort to bring the industry up to the highest American standards for worker safety and health.

During the three-day conference held at the Hyatt Regency, OSHA officials commented favorably on the significant efforts by Saipan’s factories to create model conditions for the industry’s 15,000 employees.

“You can be very proud to be the best in America. There’s no doubt you’re going to end up with model organizations. Virtually all factories have made great improvements in the past year, a lot of capital improvements,” said Regions IX OSHA Administrator Frank Strasheim in his opening remarks.

Mr. Strasheim said when OSHA looks for sweatshops, the agency looks for hazardous work environments, practices like employees being locked down at night, forced abortions

“This doesn’t occur here. I see a work force pleased to be here. I see dormitories any college kid would be pleased to stay in,” he said.

As one of the event’s highlights, conference attendees and OSHA toured one of Saipan’s largest factories, as well as participated in learning sessions provided by the Division of Environmental Quality, Department of Public Safety Traffic and Fire divisions.

Despite the fact that clean drinking water is not yet available from public resources, DEQ officials echoed comments by OSHA that water quality had greatly improved in Saipan’s garment factories and worker dormitories.

Lt. Nicolas DeLeon Guerrero for the Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Section talked about pedestrian safety, which has been a great concern for garment workers who often walk to work or for recreation.

DPS offered to visit any factory on Saipan to help educate workers about traffic. Virtually all factory participants asked for better monitoring of driver safety on such roads as Middle Road, which has gained a reputation as a dangerous Saipan speedway.

Two representatives from the Fire Division presented a module on fire safety, and offered to visit factories upon request to teach safety drills and conduct inspections to help members understand a new local fire code, which as yet has no printed rules and regulations for enforcement.

3M Company representative Frank Florig talked about hazardous material handling and the use of respirators and other equipment for employee safety. The private firm will soon offer “train the trainer” sessions to SGMA and to its individual members on these and other topics.

Terrence Trotter of the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division presented brief remarks on upcoming enforcement activity on Saipan, touching on ambiguous regulations concerning subcontracting.

SGMA members requested more education on this topic, which the labor representative referred to US officials at the Department of Labor’s Texas office for educational outreach.

A closing highlight of the conference was the awarding of more than 100 certificates of participation in SGMA’s Code of Conduct Training to factory personnel.