HANMI gets pat in the back from OSHA

A ranking U.S. Labor official has commended the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands for promoting health and safety at the workplace through a new partnership agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“Hotels are doing this because it is the right thing to do. They want the workers to understand that they are interested in their well-being,” said Frank Strasheim, OSHA regional administrator.

The proposal to enter into a partnership agreement with OSHA was first raised two years ago, said Strasheim. Actual efforts to implement this started in August, and were initiated by the officers of the association.
“We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm [among HANMI members to join the partnership agreement],” said Strasheim.

Seven of HANMI’s 14 member hotels have signed up: Aqua Resort Club, Aquarius Beach Tower, Century Hotel, Coral Ocean Point Resort, Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Saipan World Resort.

Two others—Saipan Grand Hotel and Mariana Resort and Spa—have pending applications.

Under the agreement, HANMI member hotels’ top management enter into an executive commitment with OSHA to develop health and safety programs in the workplace and employees housing, subject to annual review for further improvements.

The commitment covers 10 elements:
* Employee involvement

* Periodic safety and health inspections.

* Training and education.

* Employment of a safety and health professional.

* Record-keeping/injury illness analysis.

* Company-provided staff housing.

* Sanitation at the workplace and company-provided staff-housing.

* Fire safety.

* Safety and health program analysis.

* Cooperation with OSHA.

HANMI is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1985 to provide a forum for the sharing of ideas and common issues for the CNMI’s hotel industry. The group will celebrate HANMI’s 20th anniversary on Sept. 10 with a dinner-concert featuring ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and an eight-course menu prepared by six executive chefs representing Saipan’s resort hotels.

Shimabukuro, who is currently touring Japan, is considered to be the best ukulele player in the world.

Tickets for the dinner are now available for $75. For reservations or more information, call 233-3773. (PR)