From the President’s Desk

Dear Members,

“As many arrows, loosed several ways, come to one mark…so may a thousand actions, once afoot, end in one purpose.”
- William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act I, Sc.2

Why membership? Why AAOHN?

Membership signifies belonging. Why would an occupational health professional choose to belong to AAOHN? The answer is opportunities and limitless possibilities.

Joining AAOHN allows membership in the premier occupational and environmental health nursing organization, which is celebrating its 70th year anniversary in 2012. This is a member-driven organization. Maintaining membership offers the opportunity to steer the path of the organization. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “We must be the change we wish to see.”

AAOHN has staying power. It is a professional organization striving to adhere to its vision, and to anticipating and addressing the needs of members. It is also an organization committed to advancing, protecting, and guiding the occupational health nursing profession. Additional information regarding the organization is available on the website, www.AAOHN.org.

AAOHN is successful due to the more than 5,000 professionals who maintain membership to serve, to learn, and to educate. Connecting with these professionals provides excellent resources for occupational and environmental health information. Communication with these professionals may be facilitated through social media outlets, including Facebook and LinkedIn.

AAOHN is dynamic in its efforts to provide resources for professional growth and educational development, both nationally and internationally.

Currently, more than 100 members voluntarily serve on 12 committees representing AAOHN’s five regions, 45% of the chapters, and all sub-specialties in the practice of occupational and environmental health nursing. Each committee has established short-term and long-range goals. The committees include: Advocacy, Career, Chapter Services, Communications, National Conference Planning, Grants, International, Marketing, Membership, Practice, Sponsorship, Webinar, Special LPN/LVN Task Force.

I encourage each of you reading this letter to join or renew your membership to AAOHN. Participate in ways of your choosing and lend your expertise in continuing our endeavors to provide excellence in the field and subspecialties of occupational and environmental health nursing.

Catherine M. Pepler, MBA, BS, RN, COHN-S/CM, FAAOHN
AAOHN President

Wednesday, February 8, 2012     Erika Monterroza

IR# 12-05       Dean Fryer

Internet: www.dir.ca.gov        (510) 286-1161

Cal/OSHA Issues Hazard Alert and Launches Confined Spaces Emphasis Program

Oakland – The California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) today launched a statewide Confined Space Special Emphasis Initiative to focus attention on preventing worker deaths and injuries in confined spaces in worksites across the state.   As part of this initiative, Cal/OSHA issued a Confined Space Hazard Alert  to help employers and employees identify confined space situations and take immediate steps to protect workers.

“Employers in California are responsible for identifying and mitigating risks in the workplace,” said Department of Industrial Relations Director Christine Baker. “This initiative and the Confined Space Hazard Alert provide specific information so that employers can identify when confined space hazards exist and special precautions must be taken.”

Since confined spaces may be encountered in virtually any industry, their identification is the first step in preventing fatalities and injuries. The goals of the Confined Space Emphasis Initiative are to:

·       Increase awareness of employees and employers of these hazards.

·       Provide resources, online materials, training, and consultation to prevent injuries and deaths

·       Increase enforcement efforts to ensure all employers have adequate confined space programs and training at their workplaces.

The initiative follows investigations of confined space deaths and injuries in California—in different industries and different situations. In 2011, seven workers were killed unconfined space incidents in California, including two young brothers in Kern County overcome by toxic gases in a recycling drainage tunnel.

“Confined spaces can be deceptively dangerous.  It is even more tragic that over 60% of confined space worker deaths occur to would-be rescuers who attempt to save a worker who initially succumbs”, said Cal/OSHA Chief Ellen Widess.  “These confined space fatalities are preventable with proper programs in place. We are taking a comprehensive approach to reducing these deaths and injuries in California—through widespread education, enforcement, consultation as well as partnerships to help increase awareness and compliance.”

Cal/OSHA begins its yearlong campaign on confined space hazards in collaboration with partners in labor, industry, public safety agencies and other safety and health groups. The campaign stresses the importance of the requirement that businesses have plans in place to identify confined space at their workplaces, notify and train employees, and ensure that on-site rescue plans are in place.  These requirements include having a written confined space plan, procedures to test the air quality inside the space, proper employee and supervisor training prior to entering confined spaces and having effective rescue procedures in place which must be immediately available on site. 

Common types of confined spaces include tanks, silos, pipelines, sewers, storage bins, drain tunnels, and vaults.  These are widespread in many industries, and also in non-industrial workplaces such as health care, education, retail and services.

Cal/OSHA has posted confined space hazard materials on its website at www.dir.ca.gov/dosh.    Online webinars and other outreach programs will also be held throughout the year to help educate employers become aware of the risks inherent of working in confined spaces and necessary steps to prevent injuries and deaths. 

For more help on working safely in confined spaces, contact the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service toll-free at 1-800-963-9424.  Also visit www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/consultation.html for more information.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints can call the California Workers’ Information Hotline at 1-866-924-9757. 

Author:         Summary:
S.B. No. 81     Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Budget Act of 2011.
S.B. No. 95     Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Criminal justice realignment.
S.B. No. 98     Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Budget Act of 2011.

Thank you everyone who called, emailed or faxed your legislator.  It made a difference.  Early this morning the bill was heard on the Assembly Floor.  It was passed by a vote of 55 ayes, 13 no’s and 12 not voting.
The Republican’s were concerned about the process and many of them did not vote or voted no.  The only Democrats that did not vote for the bill was Hayashi and Lara.  Hayashi had procedural issues with the bill.  I do not know why Lara did not vote for the bill.  Calderon, Galiani, Gorell and Valadao were excused absenses.

The bill was transmitted immediately to the Senate and then referred to the Senate Budget Committee. I testified on behalf of ANA\C and nurses throughout the state.  The Repubican’s had procedural concerns.  I spoke to a number of them privately after the hearing.  One of them added on the floor as an Aye vote, Andesron, and only four members voted no:  Berryhill, Blakeslee, Gaines and Walters.  All the rest of the Republicans were non voting.  No one spoke up against the bill on the Senate Floor which was a major victory!

Please send a thank you to the members who voted for the bill.  This was a major victory!  I will write an article about the process, pitfalls and wins in our next newsletter!

Honorable Tricia Hunter, RN, MN
Executive Director and Lobbyist 
ANA\Ca
1121 L Street Suite 409
 Sacramento, CA 95814
 Cell 916- 837 -1620 
Office 916-447-0225 
thunter930@aol.com

Book your AAOHN Hotel Reservation Now for a Chance to Win!

Conference Dates:
Pre-conference: April 20-22, 2012
Conference Dates: April 22-25, 2012
Exhibit Dates: April 22-25, 2012

New: Conference will start on Sunday and end on Wednesday

If you have a need or interest in this course, contact Crystal Beall at 801-581-4055 or visit our web site at:

http://medicine.utah.edu/rmcoeh/ContEdProg/8-hour%20operations1.pdf

Thanks so much for our meeting last Friday. Here is the picture we took with a list of those in the picture.

Cal OSHA meeting

Picture – from left to right –Dr. Roman Kownacki (WOEMA), Dr. Janice Prudhomme, Public Health Officer (Cal/OSHA), Chief Ellen Widess (Cal/OSHA), Pam Danennberg, RN, COHN-S, CAE (CSAOHN), Julie Rochefort, RN, MSN, NP-C (CSAOHN), Dr. Paul Papanek (WOEMA), Deborah Gold, MPH, CIH, Deputy Chief for Health and Engineering Services (Cal/OSHA)

Also present was Don Schinske, Legislative Advocate (WOEMA) (not pictured)

We look forward to continuing to work with you and have communicated to the CSAOHN members that you are seeking an OHN to work for Cal/OSHA in Northern California.

Key Points:

1. Vote by Feb 1 on AAOHN web sire, 70th annual convention is in Nashville, TN this year, let AAOHN know if you are staying at the convention site hotel. There are a variety of awards, essay contest, scholarships and grants available through the AAOHN web page.
2. Membership is up over 4600 with a goal of 10% increase this year  ( be sure to renew-online is fastest- and encourage your members to renew).
3. AAOHN is much healthier than they were three years ago with  a lot of work by Kay Campbell, Exec Director.
4. The AAOHN mag has a new look and a new name “ Workplace Health and Safety”.  Look for it in your mailbox.