VSRA News

OSHA "SHIPS" Guidance Program Update

Safety and Health Injury Prevention Sheets (SHIPS) are guidance products designed to provide the maritime industry from deck plate workers to employers with real world hazard information and solutions that have been successfully implemented at real shipyards. These guidance SHIPS offer training information in an easy to use format, with colloquial language, pictures and mini-posters, all of which were provided by the industry.

SHIPS can be used as training for new hires, as well as tool box talk material for current employees who need refresher training. Each SHIPS is structured as a stand alone product. It contains an introduction to the respective industry process, describes actual shipyard incidents and demonstrates solutions that were successfully implemented at the shipyard. For each case history, it offers an analysis of the problem and provides abatement measures specific to the situation that could have prevented the accident.

The first guide sheet - Hot Work-Welding, Cutting and Brazing was published on the OSHA website in June 2002 and updated in November 2004, to include reference to the Fire Protection Standard that became effective that year. The group is very close to publishing Shipfitting, the second in a series of seven industry guidance SHIPS. There are 5 remaining guide sheets in draft that were prioritized. These are Rigging, Shipboard , Electrical, Machining Surface Preparation, and Materials Handling .

OSHA

OSHA Offers Advice on Working in Summer Heat
Summer officially begins on June 20, but hot weather is already upon us in many areas of the country. During this time of year, it is especially important to pay attention to heat stress and other dangers posed by the summer sun. OSHA reminds readers of its free downloadable resources, such as the Heat Stress QuickCard^? (English/Spanish) that employees can use to reduce the risk of health ailments from working in hot temperatures. Also, OSHA's Working Outdoors in Warm Climates fact sheet features more information on heat stress and other summer-weather hazards.

Outreach Training Program Seminar Offered During 2008 National Safety Congress
OSHA is teaming up with the National Safety Council to offer the inaugural OSHA Outreach Training Program Professional Development Seminar during the 2008 National Safety Congress & Expo in Anaheim, Calif., Sept. 19-26. At the Sept. 24 half-day seminar for the Outreach Training Program community, representatives from OSHA, the Directorate of Training and Education, OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, and the safety training industry will provide attendees with updates, best practices, and information on new targeted programs. The seminar will include construction and general industry breakout sessions on standards, policy issues and resources. The Outreach Training Program is OSHA's primary training program for employees in the basics of occupational safety and health. In 2007, more than one-half million students received train ing through the program. For more information, call 800-621-7619.

Free Safety and Health Evaluations for Your Small Business
Visit OSHA's On-site Consultation Program Web page to get valuable information on how this program helps you to provide a safer working environment for your employees. The service is provided only at your request and is delivered at no cost. Employers who use the service to develop and operate an exemplary safety and health management system may also qualify to participate in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). For additional information, visit our Web link at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/index.html, or call 202-693-2220.

News from OSHA

• OSHA's Targeted Inspection Plan for 2008
      Approximately 3,800 high-hazard worksites are on tap for inspection under OSHA's 2008 Site-Specific Targeting Program, as of May 19. This year's program will initially target sites that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate). The list will also include sites that have a days away from work injury and illness (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher. The program stems from the agency's Data Initiative for 2007, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2006.
• NSC To Host Webinars on Hazard Communication and Building a Safety Culture
      The National Safety Council (NSC) will host a Webinar on June 18 from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT focusing on the Hazard Communication Standard. Featured speakers are David O'Connor, director of the Office of Chemical Hazards (non-metal) in OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), and Maureen O'Donnell, project officer for the rulemaking on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in DSG. On June 25, NSC will sponsor a Webinar on Building a Safety Culture featuring Wellesley E. Scott, Ph.D., P.E., manager of NSC's Consulting Services. For more information on future Webinars, visit NSC's Webinar calendar page at http://www.nsc.org/webinar/calendar.aspx.
• New England OTI Education Center to Host "Meet & Greet" Sessions on VPP
      Keene State College OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center in Manchester, N.H., is hosting "Meet and Greet" sessions on June 5, 2008, for employers interested in learning more about OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). Officials from OSHA's New England region will be featured presenters along with Ben and Jerry's and Covanta Energy VPP star sites. Visit http://www.keene.edu/conted/reg.pdf for registration information. For more details, call 1-800-449-OSHA (6742), or 617-565-3075 (U.S. Department of Labor VPP coordinator).
• Occupational Safety and Health Training Opportunities Offered at Reduced Fees
      Great Lakes Regional OSHA Training Institute Education Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center are combining programs so fees for special occupational safety and health courses can be offered at a reduced cost. Now through July 2008, the University of Cincinnati is offering trainees a 10 percent discount if they register for, and participate in, at least three courses during this time. These courses range in length from one to five days and focus on topics such as ergonomic guidelines, train-the-trainer, and disaster recovery. Most of the courses are being taught in the Cincinnati area. For more information, call Marianne at 1-800-207-9399, or visit www.cme.uc.edu/envhealth.
• OSHA's National Exhibit Travels to Kansas City, Mo., for SkillsUSA TECHSPO
      OSHA will host an exhibit featuring compliance assistance and informative materials for conference attendees at the SkillsUSA TECHSPO (Trade Show for Technical Education) in Kansas City, Mo., June 24-26. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 299,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations.

OSHA Announces 2008 Site-Specific Targeting Plan

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that its 2008 Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Plan will focus on approximately 3,800 high-hazard worksites on its primary list for unannounced comprehensive safety inspections over the coming year.
"We will make effective use of our inspection resources to focus our targeted inspection program on those workplaces with the highest injury and illness rates," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "This program emphasizes to employers the importance of our enforcement efforts in ensuring safe working conditions for employees."
Over the past ten years, OSHA has used a site-specific targeting inspection program based on injury and illness data. This year's program (SST-08) was developed using the agency's Data Initiative for 2007, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2006.
This program will initially cover about 3,800 individual worksites on the primary list that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate). The primary list will also include sites based on a "Days Away from Work Injury and Illness" (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher (9 or more cases that involve days away from work per 100 full-time employees). Employers not on the primary list, who reported DART rates of between 7.0 and 11.0, or DAFWII rates of between 5.0 and 9.0, will be placed on a secondary list for possible inspection. The national DART rate in 2006 for private industry was 2.3, while the national DAFWII rate was 1.3.
The agency will also randomly select and inspect about 175 workplaces (with 100 or more employees) across the nation that reported low injury and illness rates for the purpose of reviewing their actual degree of compliance with OSHA requirements. These establishments are selected from those industries with above the national DART and DAFWII rates.
Finally, the agency will include on the primary list some establishments that did not respond to the 2007 data survey.

From www.osha.gov

2008 Tradesmen of the Year Honored

Before an overflow crowd of over 500 attendees , the 2008 Ship Repair Tradesmen of the Year were honored during National Maritime Day ceremonies in Norfolk.  With the MARAD ship Cape Ray as the backdrop, the festivities were held at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on the sunny, warm day Friday, May 23rd.

This was the second year that the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation has honored a Junior and Senior tradesman.  Each nominee came from one of the 179 members of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.  The winners were judged by a panel of industry experts on their level of professional expertise, leadership qualities, safety records, and quality of work.  The competition was stiff, the choices very difficult.

The nominees for the Junior award were workers who had less that 5 years experience, and who demonstrated a high degree of motivation, and eagerness to learn, and the potential to become master level tradesmen.  The 2008 Junior Tradesman of the Year is Lydell Mitchell.  Lydell is a 3rd year Marine Electrician Apprentice employed by BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair.  In the short time he has been learning his craft, he has successfully completed three major electrical modifications on Navy Aegis cruisers that passed all first run tests with ZERO failures.  He is absolutely committed to learning all he can about his trade, currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA in his apprentice courses at Tidewater Community College.

The nominees for the Senior award were trade workers with five of more years of experience who are actively engaged in their trade and stand well above their peers in expertise and mentorship, while performing at the highest level of quality in their work.  The 2008 Senior Tradesmen of the Year is William "Billy" Hunt.  "Billy" has been a welder for more than 30 years, most of that time with BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair.  His focused, quality work consistenty sets the standards for marine welding.  His leadership has resulted in numerous accolades for his work center, particularly in the past year.  He has personally been recognized with Commendations from the Commanding Officers of the USS BARNEY and USS NORMANDY.  His level of expertise and attention-to-detail consistently result in zero discrepancy work.  It should be no surprise that he is ofter relied upon to complete the most difficult and sensitive welding projects.  He is well deserving of the Senior Tradesmen award and serves as a mentor and role model for the industries emerging experts.

Our sincere congratulations go to all the nominees who were singled out from some 24,000 trades professionals.  They are truly "The Strength Behind the Fleet."

Small Shipyard Assistance Program Amendment

TWIC - Realigned National Compliance Date

TWIC stakeholders,
Attached is the  recent DHS Compliance Date Press Release regarding the realigned national compliance date for the TWIC program of April 15, 2009. While this new date provides a seven month extension, it is important to note that enforcement will begin as early as October 15, 2008 at local levels. For example, owners and operators of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels located within Captain of the Port Zones Boston, Northern New England, and Southeastern New England are required to comply by October 15, 2008. These three ports were selected based on favorable conditions that facilitate near-term implementation. Additional ports will be announced in the near future, and the U.S. Coast Guard will provide at least 90 days notice prior to enforcement.

Affected transportation workers are very much encouraged to enroll as soon as possible and all 147 enrollment centers will be deployed nationwide by September 2008. Additional information can be found on the Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil, and on the Transportation Security Administration’s web site at www.tsa.gov/twic.

Blair Middle School Robotics Team Captures LEGO Trophy

The Robotics Team from James Blair Middle School won the SECOND Annual VSRF Ship Repair Industry Awareness LEGO Competition yesterday (4/30/2008), besting five other talented teams representing the middle schools of Meadowbrook, Northside, and Norview.

The competition was stiff, with few points separating the schools.  Second Place went to Meadowbrook Team 2, with Meadowbrook Team 1 capturing Third.

Each team spent the last several weeks researching the ship repair industry and the many occupations necessary to accomplish this most important work.  Since the primary customer of the ship repair industry in Virginia is the U.S. Navy, the repair work is vital to our national defense.  Each team then utilized LEGO software to design a ship or portion of a ship.  The design had to incorporate something innovative that was not found to currently exist through their research.  The teams then produced a PowerPoint presentation on their project, which they then orally presented to a team of five industry and technical experts who were the judges in the competition. Thank you to Chris Challoner , Main Industries, Inc., Tyrone Goodman,  Norfolk Public Schools, Buck Hodges, Auxiliary Systems, Inc., Frank Jemmison, Valco Piping Products, Inc., and Brian Miller, Earl Manufacturing.

Blair's winning design was a cruiser which incorporated a wind turbine as a supplemental power source.  As part of the turbine design, they included a proximity sensor as a safety feature which stopped the turbine if a large object approached.

In addition to a $500 check won for their school, VSRA will send the Blair design to LEGO where it will be kitted.  The school will then produce their ship in the LEGO pieces as their trophy.  The second place team secured a $250 check for Meadowbrook.

The poise, innovation, and imagination of all the students were extraordinary. Our sincerest thanks to the teachers, mentors, and parents of all the teams.  A special thanks goes to Dr. Stephen Jones and the Norfolk Public Schools for their strong support of this competition. 

The First Place Blair Robotics Team members pictured above with VSRA President, Malcolm Branch are Pedro Cain, Joshua Carter, Mitchell Cleary, Walker Cleary, Deion Dean, Samantha Ford, Carson Merritt, Schyler Vedros, Chris Whetzel, and Khamani Williamson.  Team Leader/Teachers are Mrs. Nanette Dean and Mr. Paul Abramson.  David Burt with AMSEC, LLC served as Technical Advisor.

Second and Third Place went to Team 2 and Team 1 of the  International School of Studies at Meadowbrook.  Both teams were led by teacher, Mr. Alex Witowski.  George Pyles with Metro Machine, Inc. served as Technical Advisor. Second Place Team 2 members are Jamile Adams, Brandon Allison, Richard Dizon, Briana Robinson, Alden Rohrer, and Denzel Thomas.  Third Place Team 1 members are Eric Harris, George Plank, Nate Tedrow, and Griffin Watts.

2008 SSRAC Registration and Proposal Submission

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