‘Work
Shouldn’t Hurt’... a world-class conference
By DEBORAH A. MILES
The “Work Shouldn’t Hurt” statewide health and safety conference held in Albany
left the 350 participants who attended armed with knowledge and facts about new
laws, government reforms and goals, and direction on how to eliminate job
related illness and injury.
The three-day March event was geared to health and safety activists and state
managers, and included keynote speaker Acting Commissioner of Labor M. Patricia
Smith. It was the first time in nine statewide health and safety conferences an
agency commissioner attended.
Smith, who kicked-off the conference on behalf of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, said, “The
time has come for us to chart a new course and new relationships.”
The commissioner’s background includes a 20-year gig in the Labor Bureau of the
New York State Attorney General’s office.
“I know what has gone on at the Labor Department and Workers’ Compensation Board
during the past administration,” Smith said. “I saw the policy and personnel
changes and the impact those changes had on workers, working relationships and
workplace environments. I heard about business friendly models and compliance
assistance initiatives and the message was loud and clear. I understand the
problems you faced and you will not have to preach to the choir with me.”
Workshops get rave reviews
Participants raved about the 18 workshops that ran the gamut from office
ergonomics to workplace violence prevention.
“This workshop gave me a fresh look on workplace violence and how much more
needs to be done on the local level,” said John Lichak, council leader at the
Capital District Psychiatric Center.
“Management needs to understand there must be consequences. When a patient
strikes you, hurts you in any way, it is a crime and should be treated as a
crime. The workshop provided direction on how to accomplish this by working with
managers and local law enforcement,” Lichak said.
A panel discussion on the new workplace violence prevention law also drew a
large audience. Among the panelists, Maureen Cox, Division of Safety and Health
director from DOL, talked about the basic requirements and distributed draft
regulations for comment.
“This was a real departure from the way the Labor Department has promulgated
regulations in the past, as they did not involve union stakeholders until the
draft regulations were published in the State Register,” said Jonathan Rosen,
PEF director of occupational safety and health.
Winding up with action plans
The last day of the conference attracted more than 100 members to a panel
discussion on key health and safety elements, followed by small action planning
groups.
“This was intended to inspire participants to start their own action plan based
on the knowledge and energy flowing from the conference,” said Kathy D’Arminio,
PEF co-chair of the statewide health and safety committee.
Rosen said the conference also demonstrated a commitment of PEF leadership,
cooperation from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and financial
support from the PEF Membership Benefits Program.
“These are the key ingredients to putting on a world-class program that prepares
our leaders and their management colleagues to implement worker-protection
programs in the state agencies,” Rosen said.
The Communicator April
2007
Features
Longevity pay on the way
NYSHIP premiums adjust
DOT manages monster storm
Union weighs
NYS budget
Location
pay: PEF, CSEA, UUP
Health & Safety conference
Departments
President's Message
You Said It: Letters To The Editor
Retirees In Action
Getting To Know PEF
Member Mobilization
Member Highlights
Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
Workers'
comp get overhaul
Privatization nomination form
E. Board seats filled & more open
Stonehills way was a good one
PEF trustee gets
LCLAA award
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Communicator Feedback
Prefer The Online Edition?
How To Advertise with PEF
The Communicator Staff
Website questions
? Email the
Communicator
Webmaster