‘Fall hazards, poor water quality’

Fall hazards and poor water quality remain the major challenges in occupational health and safety in the Commonwealth, according to a visiting U.S. Department of Labor official.

Frank Strasheim, administrator of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Region 9, said that the federal agency, in inspections conducted locally, found most of the serious hazards in the construction industry.

The general industry, which includes hotels and small businesses, continue to be burdened by water contamination and electrical hazards.

But despite these problems, local businesses have shown a great deal of improvement in complying with workplace safety and health requirements, Strasheim observed.

“[The compliance rate in the CNMI] is better than what you might expect. We are finding fewer violations each year. This year, we’re doing a few more inspections than we did last year, but we’re finding fewer and fewer hazards. That means people are doing voluntarily what they were supposed to do,” said Strasheim.

He also noted that the downward trend in violations was clear evidence that OSHA’s tactics worked in the CNMI. He was referring to the training and consultation, as well as the enforcement, that OSHA has been conducting in the Commonwealth.

Last week, OSHA trained 43 instructors from the CNMI and Guam, providing them the training to teach occupational safety and health in the construction business.

This week, OSHA and the Northern Marianas Alliance for Safety and Health will hold the Governor’s 3rd Annual Safety and Health Conference at the World Resort Saipan.

This year’s conference, entitled “Striving for Excellence in Worker, Public, Environmental Safety and Health Protection” will commence with Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s signing ceremony proclaiming Aug. 15-22 as “Commonwealth Health and Safety Week.”

The proclamation will be delivered at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, followed immediately by a NMASH annual board meeting.

The conference’s opening ceremonies on Aug. 16, Tuesday, will feature addresses by Babauta, Strasheim, and NMASH officials. Nelson Befitel, Hawaii’s director of labor and industrial relations, will offer the keynote address.

Aside from Guam and the State of Hawaii, other island nations and territories are also expected to send representatives to the meeting.

The conference will include morning plenary sessions by the OSHA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the OTI and local safety trainers and the CNMI Departments of Public Health, Public Safety and the Emergency Management Office.

NMASH will offer afternoon breakout training sessions in three separate tracks: construction industry, general industry, and public sector training, where participants can receive OSHA 502 and 503 certification.

On Friday, Aug. 19, first aid and CPR training in English, Tagalog, and Mandarin Chinese will be held for conference participants. Maritime and shipyard training will be conducted that Friday as well.

The conference costs $50 and includes all sessions from Aug. 15-19, including First Aid and CPR training, all construction and general industry certification courses, all conference packages and materials, and morning and afternoon light refreshments all week.