Applications for ASSP Foundation academic scholarships ended on February 15, 2024.

There is also an ASSP Foundation Career Development Grant Program and ASSP Foundation Family Scholarship options and both of these deadlines are 12/31/2024.

More details on these scholarships can be found: ASSP Foundation | Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships are available for students within the occupational safety and health field, preparing for their careers or looking to supplement their careers with additional college coursework.  Programs of study must be either directly related to the occupational safety and health field or will be utilized to support the occupational safety and health field. This can include a variety of degrees. If your degree is not directly related to occupational safety and health, you will be asked to clarify how you will be using your degree to support the field of occupational safety and health.

OSHA’s proposal to update an existing standard and expand safety and health protections for emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical service providers and technical search and rescue workers. ASSP is collecting comments:

1. Please submit any comments to Scott Baranowski, Scottbaranowski@mindspring.com by 4/26/24.  Scott will consolidate and forward to ASSP.
2. Even though the deadline for the comment period is 6/21/24, ASSP wants time to consolidate all the comments prior to submittal.
3. The proposed rule was issued on February 5, 2024

OSHA has issued an alert about severe injury hazards in the food processing industry. According to industry data for 2015-22, food and beverage processing machinery and butchering machinery were the primary contributors to severe injuries in the industry.

Compliance inspections completed in 2022-23 show an increase in fatalities and amputations among young workers in the industry, the agency reports, pointing to insufficient training as a root cause. “Employers should focus appropriate attention to ensuring younger and inexperienced workers receive sufficient instruction and oversight,” OSHA say. Increased reliance on temporary and contract workers is another contributing factor. The alert advises employers to conduct job hazard assessments of all machinery, drawing specific attention to OSHA’s lockout/tagout regulations (29 CFR 1910.147) and the proper use of measures such as guards, presence-sensing devices and trip devices.

OSHA published a final rule clarifying the rights of employees to authorize a representative to accompany a compliance offer during an inspection of their workplace.

According to the final rule, a non-employee representative may be “reasonably necessary based upon skills, knowledge or experience,” which may include knowledge or experience with hazards or conditions in the workplace or similar workplaces, or language or communication skills to ensure an effective and thorough inspection.

“These revisions better align OSHA’s regulation with the OSH Act and enable the agency to conduct more effective inspections, “OSHA says, adding that its “regulations require no specific qualifications for employer representatives or for employee representatives who are employed by the employer.”

President

Michelle Hyatt, COSS (Certified Occupational Safety Specialist) is the HSE Specialist for IPEX USA LLC (P2) in Pineville, NC and has worked in the safety industry for over 11 years.  She has served on the Executive Committee for the Tarheel ASSP Chapter for the past 2 years.  She currently is responsible for the health, safety, and environmental activity programs for a thermoplastic pipe fittings manufacturer. The facility is scheduled to be fully automated by end of year 2024. Michelle has been involved in the designs and training regarding the implementation of the automated equipment. Michelle’s responsibility during this multi-million-dollar implementation, has been to ensure machines are designed with healthy ergonomics, safety features, and environmental considerations for the overall success of the facility.  Her previous experience also included HSE Consultant for KPA, and Safety Specialist for Wheel Pros (Hoonigan Industries).  Michelle has an extensive history of volunteer service to her community and to her church and is looking forward to continuing her support of the members and leadership of the Tarheel ASSP Chapter.