2012 Membership Awards Available

Notes for CSAOHN Gov’t Affairs Conference Calls – May 11 and 12, 2012

at 8:30 am

Our next Conference Calls for Gov’t. Affairs will be:

July 20 and 21, 2012 at 8:30 am

Sept. 21 and 22, 2012 at 8:30 am

Nov.  9 and 10, 2012 at our State Conference in San Diego – time to be determined

Friday, May 11 at 8:30 am – Kriste Crane, Susan Hazy, Alan Helyer (Oregon), Dr. Paul Papanek (WOEMA) and Pam Dannenberg participated.

Saturday, May 12 at 8:30 am – Jan MacAuley, Anna Reilly, Roy Tatlonghari, Mary Gene Ryan and Pam Dannenberg participated.

These topics were discussed.

1. DWC Meetings were held throughout Calif. in April with Administrative  Director Rosa Moran of the DWC. Kriste Crane and Dr. Paul Papanek participated.  Comments were made with 2-3 minute time limits.  We expect there will be WC reform this year.  Stay tuned at DWC website:

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_home_page.htm

and

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_newsline.html

Both CSAOHN and WOEMA want to put together more formal comments to give to DWC.  WOEMA has submitted formal written comments, and Pam will distribute those by email for information purposes.   We will each submit our own comments from CSAOHN and WOEMA.

1. 2.    Safe Patient Handling – Cal/OSHA Implementation Program – two hearings were held and now Cal/OSHA is working on Implementation Guidelines.  See http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/5120Meetings.htm

and the Draft Implementation Document for Safe Patient Handling – attached to this email.

CECRAOHN is having a panel on this topic at their meeting on May 18 in San Francisco at UCSF.  For info contact Marlene Muir at marlene.muir@abbott.com.  Linda Campbell attended both hearings.

3. HEAC Hearing on May 31, 2012 at 9:30 am at:

Elihu Harris State Building
1515 Clay St, 13th floor, Room 1304
Oakland, CA

Go to http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/5155Meetings_2011.htm for info on this and prior meetings.

If you are able to go to this meeting, let Pam know at pamdannenberg@msn.com.

4. The Standards Board meeting in Sacramento on May 17 voted 4-3 to not have an advisory committee on Hotel Workers and Ergonomics.  The Cal/OSHA Ergonomics Standard covers hotel workers and ergonomics.  If you are an OHN who works with hotel workers, you may want to share ideas on equipment and practices that help prevent ergonomic injuries among hotel workers.  Should CSAOHN facilitate putting together a list of items?
5. AAOHN 2012 in Nashville – There were about 25 OHN’s from California in attendance and this was a very successful conference with lots of good topics, speakers and networking.  There were many young nurses with lots of good energy and ideas.  This is inspiring for those of us who have been in AAOHN for many years.
6. CSAOHN in San Diego Nov. 9-10, 2012 – Board meeting will be Nov. 8.   Save the Date and Plan Now to Attend!

1. WOEMA and other partnering relationships – Pam has put together a list of our collaborative partners.  If you think of other partners, please forward information to Pam regarding the contact name, organization name, email and phone number of the contact person.  The idea is that when there are issues that we would like others to pay attention to, then we can get the info to them quickly for action, as needed.

We are partnering with WOEMA and met together with DWC Admin. Director Rosa Moran on Oct. 24, 2011 and with Cal/OSHA Chief Ellen Widess and her staff members, Deborah Gold, and Dr. Janice Prudhomme on Jan. 20, 2012 .

8. WOEMA Partners – Dr. Paul Papanek, Dr. Scott Levy, and Don Schinske have been invited to attend our conference calls.   WOEMA has their  Opioid Guidelines posted on their website – a very useful tool for medical providers to use.  To use this helpful guideline, please go to their website at http://www.woema.org/linkstoresources.vp.html.  They have discussed  SB 923, ERC Funding, and how to improve the Workers’ Comp System (quicker RTW and smoother  use/approval times), how to improve the MPN’s and UR, and other things.  Their conference is Sept. 13-15, 2012 in San Francisco.  http://www.woema.org/WOHC.vp.html will give you more info on their conference.
9. Lead Standard Update – Mary Gene Ryan and WOEMA were at the meeting last year in Feb. 2011.  They are looking at a lower PEL, more frequent monitoring for those whose blood lead levels are at 20 mcg./dl, earlier medical removal, training, and other issues.  Pam Dannenberg and WOEMA members attended the 2nd meeting on 1/17/2012 and made comments.  Next meeting anticipated to be in June-Sept. 2012.   Lead Advisory Committee meetings have been occurring for about 2 years now and action should be taken.  Cal/OSHA is waiting for the State Health Dept. to produce their Risk Assessment Document.  If no action in 3-4 months, we will probably move to at least get some action on the medical removal level.
10. First Aid Standard Update – Kriste Crane, Mary Gene Ryan and WOEMA were at the first meeting of this committee in June 2011 – Comments were sent to Mike Horowitz at mhorowitz@dir.ca.gov from CSAOHN and from some of our members.  (CSAOHN member Mary Kochie is also a member of this committee and works for Cal/OSHA.)  Kriste has been following up with Mike H. regarding the next steps.  Nothing new has appeared on the website.  Mike has been busy with some other Cal/OSHA business including at least one investigation into a serious occurrence.
11. Hepatitis Discussion / Update – Mary Gene continues to give us updates –  July 28, 2011 was World Hepatitis Day and May 19, 2012 is the first scheduled Hepatitis Screening Day  — some public health agencies will be doing awareness activities – please do get info from the attached websites and share this with your worksites and in public health forums in your community.  www.hepc.tv

http://www.youtube.com/hepctv#p/c/BB44534E27D1F38E/0/Zl_kw8qHGTI

With more screening more people can be made aware they have Hep B and C and can learn ways of taking better care of themselves.  Hep C can be cured.  Go to the websites for educational info.  Many of these can be printed and distributed freely.  The resources below are all downloaded from the internet at free sites.  Lunchtime forums may be a good place to disseminate information at worksites and to the public.

12. Follow-up on Use of Methyl Iodide on strawberry fields – The manufacturer has withdrawn registration and Methyl Iodide will not be used in the U. S.  WE WANT TO BE SURE NO OTHER PESTICIDES ARE USED IN STRAWBERRY FIELDS – Stay vigilant!  Pam has asked Lori Douglass to look into this as she lives in a strawberry growing area in the Central Valley.  Lori will do so when there is activity in the fields.  We also would like others in Gilroy/Monterey and San Diego to look at this in their areas to see how people are growing strawberries (organic or using pesticides), if using a pesticide – what are they using, are they wearing PPE, are workers educated, and is the public educated?  What about potential ground water contamination?  We still want to be alert to what is being used, in fields that are not grown organically.   Public Health is important.  If you find out information, even if it is that fields near you are grown organically (without pesticides, etc.), please do let us know.  Suggestion is to buy organic strawberries.  If you are a neighbor or consumer, please ask for an MSDS on any chemicals being used.
13. Update on Heat Illness and Survey of our Members – Pam will send out a survey monkey on this topic.
14. BPA (Bisphenol A) on cash register receipts and in plastic food and beverage containers – update from Marilyn Foster pending.  In San Francisco majority of clerks are using protective gloves, but when asked, they say they are using protective gloves due to flu season.  What are they doing in your area?  Further research needed.  CSAOHN has an informational piece on the website on BPA.  Suggestion is to buy BPA-free products.  OHNs can educate workers and the public.  CSAOHN has asked the Cal/OSHA HEAC to look further into info on this chemical.
15. www.canp.org – CANP legislative update on the CANP website – Dawn Stone and Mary Hale – please update us on future NP legislation that CSAOHN should follow.
16. Nutrition, Obesity and What We Can Do in our Schools and other Places – Several chapters had Obesity as focus of a meeting in 2011.  If anyone has educational pieces they are using at their worksites or chapters, please share, and we can even put this info on our CSAOHN website with proper  approvals.
17. Fit to a T – Information on Bone Health Seminar that you can hold at your worksite and in your community.  See info on CSAOHN website.
18. Update on Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee Meetings.  Pam Dannenberg went to the meeting on Feb. 9.  New Chief Ellen Widess is committed to listening and speeding up the regulatory process and running a more professional and efficient dept.  THEY ARE HIRING A NURSE IN NORTHERN CALIF AND A PHYSICIAN IN the Los Angeles AREA for Cal/OSHA.  For info go to www.dir.ca.gov.  or go directly to http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/advisory_committee.html

Minutes are eventually posted online.  We are also posting Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee links on our website.

1. There was a meeting in Oakland on Title 8, General Industry Safety Orders, Chapter 4, subchapter 7, Section 5199 – ATD Respirator Requirements held on March 7 at the Elihu Harris State Building.  See info at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/5199Meetings.htm
2. Business Cards – to use when attending meetings on behalf of CSAOHN – Template is attached to make business cards with Avery labels #5376 or call a Board Member if you need help with this.
3. Newsletter and Website submissions – Deadline is June 30.  Send Pam any information or articles that you want in the next CSAOHN Newsletter or GA Update on the website.  You may post any of the GA info on your chapter website also or provide a link to the CSAOHN website.
4. 22.  To find your federal legislators, go to http://capwiz.com/aac/dbq/officials/  and this link will list your Senators and US Representative.  WE ENCOURAGE ALL AAOHN AND CSAOHN MEMBERS TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH AND MEET WITH THEIR STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEGISLATORS TO BE BETTER ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS THEY OCCUR.  Your input is important in the legislative and regulatory process!  Now is a good time to get to know your legislators as it is an election year.
5. 23.  Other Items

1. National GA Conf calls – Dancy does not have the staff to do national GA conf calls any more due to budget constraints.  If anyone would like to help with this in a volunteer role, let Mary Hale or Mary Gene Ryan know.
2. AB 2774 – Penalties if your IIPP is not up to date – ensure you are reviewing and revising and that you have a process in your plan and are following up and correcting hazards.
3. Heat Illness Standard – be sure you have a plan and are doing education for your managers and workers, and complying with all aspects of this standard.  Materials are available on the Cal/OSHA website.

Upcoming Conference Calls for Gov’t. Affairs – CSAOHN

July 20 and 21, 2012 at 8:30 am

Sept. 21 and 22, 2012 at 8:30 am

Nov.  9 and 10, 2012 at our State Conference in San Diego – time to be determined

Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee 2012 MEETING SCHEDULE

Feb. 9, 2012 in Oakland  – Pam D attended

June 7, 2012 in Oakland – Pam D attended.

Oct. 4, 2012 in Oakland – Pam D planning to attend

We welcome others at these meetings.   Please come when you are able to.

Minutes are posted on the website of the Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee at www.dir.ca.gov and at:

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/meeting_minute.html

2012 HEAC and FAC Meetings Scheduled – Marilyn Foster has been attending for CSAOHN

• Thursday May 31, 2012
• Next meeting will be in the fall – committee is being reconfigured

Info on future meetings and past minutes at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DoshReg/5155Meetings_2011.htm

Please let me know if you have info for people to read at any time and you may go ahead and send to me and to the people in this email.

Thanks for your time in looking over this information and for attending the conference calls as you are able and for spreading the word in your chapters and your community.  MOST OF ALL thanks for meeting with your local, state and federal legislators and attending Cal/OSHA Advisory and other Committee meetings.

Pam Dannenberg

415-999-2855

Government Affairs Liaison

Attachments to this email:

Notes from May 11 and 12  Gov’t. Affairs Conference Calls – also posted on website

Business Card Template  – you can make your own CSAOHN business cards for when you attend legislative and regulatory meetings

Info on Safe Patient Handling Act

Info on BPA and HEAC meeting for May 31, 2012

Information on our CSAOHN Website:

CSAOHN Letter of Support for ERC’s

CSAOHN Letter of Concern on Methyl Iodide (used in strawberry fields)

CSAOHN Letter to Governor Jerry Brown on Methyl Iodide

CSAOHN Letter to Senators Boxer, Feinstein and Leader Pelosi on Methyl Iodide

Cell Phone Information

BPA Information

Hepatitis Information

Fit to a T – Bone Health Information

GA Meeting Notes

GA Board of Directors’ Reports

We will add info and links to:

Cal/OSHA Advisory, HEAC, First Aid, Safe Patient Handling,  Lead Standard and other committee meeting minutes to the CSAOHN website.

If you have suggestions, please do let me know.