Meet PEF health and safety staff
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes at PEF headquarters?
PEF President Ken Brynien would like members to know a little more about the
people who work at HQ.
From time to time, The Communicator will feature the various departments within
PEF, so you will have a better understanding of how the PEF staff works for you.
Our first “getting to know PEF” story features the Occupational Health and
Safety Department.
“Health and safety is a major concern for PEF and its members. That’s one reason
why we have a union,” said Jonathan Rosen, who directs the department.
“The essential function of the union is to negotiate a collective- bargaining
agreement to establish terms and conditions for employment,” Rosen said.
“But if you’re facing unsafe and unhealthy conditions on the job, that can make
the job unbearable. For example, if you’re subject to being assaulted, infected,
have a back injury or breathe bad air, it can affect not only your job, but your
life,” he said.
To help members with these and other health and safety concerns, Rosen and his
staff — Matt London, health and safety specialist; Shawn Bobb and Geraldine
Stella, health and safety trainers; Jennifer Tropiano, health and safety
assistant — work as a team.
“Each person is devoted to his or her job and working with our leaders to
eliminate job hazards. I’m fortunate to work with people who are compassionate,
knowledgeable and have a fire in their belly. We function as a team, yet each
staff person has their own area of expertise,” Rosen said.
This self-motivated team covers many areas, such as supporting PEF’s network of
130 joint health and safety committees. The department provides training
programs on indoor air quality, office ergonomics, infection control, bloodborne
pathogens, and a Navigator program, designed to help injured members deal with
the workers’ compensation system.
The department works on several levels. It was instrumental in PEF’s “Stop
Workplace Violence” campaign — a successful mobilization effort and media blitz
— which resulted in Gov. George Pataki signing the Workplace Violence Prevention
bill into law on June 7.
It also works in tandem with PEF’s legislative and public relations operations
to advocate for strong health and safety standards and laws.
The staff helps members with emergency preparedness, infection control, asbestos
problems, PESH complaint procedures and in assisting injured members.
For more in-depth information on this vital part of PEF, visit the PEF Web site
at www.pef.org and click on health and safety.
The Communicator Oct. 2006
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