The entire transcript of this virtual meeting can be viewed at www.regulations.gov at Docket Number  OSHA-2021-0001-0038


                                MEETING SUMMARY
             OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
         NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
                                   (NACOSH)
                            Tuesday, June 22, 2021

                           U.S. Department of Labor
                           200 Constitution Ave., NW
                            Washington, D.C.  20210

The meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) was called to order by Chairman Anne Soiza at 1:12 p.m., on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.  This meeting was held via WebEx and teleconference.  The following committee members and OSHA staff were present:

NACOSH Members
Anne Soiza, Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health, NACOSH Chair
Michael Belcher, SafetyPro
Leanne Cobb, Palm Beach State College
Kathleen Dobson, Alberici Constructors, Inc.
Amy Harper, National Safety Council
David Heller, AcuTech Consulting Group
Cynthia Lewis, Gulf Coast Safety Institute
Andrew Perkins, Alabama Power Company
Rebecca Reindel, AFL-CIO
Steve Sallman, United Steelworkers
William Walkowiak, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
Patricia Bertsche, PKB Consulting LLC (absent)

OSHA and NIOSH Staff
James S. Frederick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA
Andrew Levinson, Designated Federal Official, Acting Director, OSHA, Directorate of Standards and Guidance
Lisa Long, Acting Deputy Director, OSHA, Directorate of Standards and Guidance
Carla Marcellus, OSHA, Office of Maritime and Agriculture
Pamela Barclay, OSHA, Office of the Director 
Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco, OSHA, Office of Physical Hazards
Jessica Schifano, OSHA, Office of Physical Hazards
Augusta Williams, OSHA, Office of Physical Hazards
Jennifer Levin, Committee Counsel, Office of the Solicitor
Vanessa Myers, Office of the Solicitor
John Howard, Director, NIOSH
John Piacentino, NIOSH Associate Director of Science, NIOSH

Members of the Public
See Attachment 1


                 Opening Remarks, Roll-Call and Introductions
                           Anne Soiza, NACOSH Chair
 Andrew Levinson, Acting Director, OSHA, Directorate of Standards and Guidance

Ms. Soiza called the meeting to order and asked all the members to introduce themselves which served as the roll call including OSHA and SOL staff.  Everyone was present except for Patricia Bertsche.  SOL conducted an ethics review and training for the members.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the meeting minutes of the December 12, 2019, meeting transcript.  The meeting minutes were accepted and entered into the record. OSHA-2021-0001-0032
                                       
         National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health Overview
                           Dr. John Howard, Director

Ms. Soiza introduced Dr. John Howard, Director, NIOSH.  Dr. Howard thanked the members and encouraged them to offer up their ideas.  During his PowerPoint presentation, he discussed NIOSH's locations, staff and budget; the agency's prevention research programs such as research in occupational robotics; productive aging and work; maritime safety and health; motor-vehicle work; fatigue research; and workers' compensation studies.  He discussed the agency's extramural research-training program and the various centers funded by NIOSH such as the Total Worker Health centers and the Health Hazard Evaluation Program for frontline workers.  In terms of the COVID-19 response, NIOSH published 30 guidance documents, a number of manuscripts and lots of communication products.  NIOSH conducted field and virtual occupational safety and health support in 27 states and 6 Tribal Nations; held over 220 outreach events; and is working to encourage essential workers to get vaccinated.  He also discussed NIOSH's involvement in two programs  -  Energy Employers Occupational Illness and Compensation Program Act and the World Trade Center Health Program.  (pages 38-60)

The NIOSH presentation by Dr. Howard was entered into the record. OSHA-2021-0001-0033
 
      Remarks from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA
                                James Frederick

Mr. Frederick thanked everyone and commented that advisory committees are very important since they bring stakeholders together with a common objective of helping OSHA improve workplace health and safety.  He noted that OSHA celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on April 28, and the improvement in workplace safety and health over the last 50 years, but that there was still a lot of work to do.    

Mr. Frederick talked about the President's January 21, 2021 executive order directing OSHA to take several steps to help protect workers from contracting COVID-19.  OSHA revised and issued updated guidance for employers on COVID workplace health and safety in line with the latest science and shape of the pandemic, as well as issued an updated national emphasis program of enforcement on COVID-related workplace safety and health.  He said the agency also issued an emergency temporary standard which is focused on healthcare settings and covers workers most likely to come into contact with someone carrying the virus.  With the pandemic still evolving, Mr. Frederick said that OSHA would continue to monitor progress, variants and other factors in its continued efforts to protect workers.  

On the regulatory front, OSHA has added several items to the regulatory agenda such as rule-making on heat illness prevention in indoor and outdoor work settings.  OSHA plans to issue a request for information on this topic, and form a NACOSH work group to help engage stakeholders and better understand current best practices and challenges in occupational heat illness prevention.  The activities outlined in the regulatory agenda emphasize OSHA's renewed commitment to workplace safety and health and return the agency to its core mission that all workers have the safety and health protections they need in the workplace.

Mr. Frederick also discussed the importance of safety and health management systems with real employee involvement and workers receiving training in a language that they understand; working with stakeholders to address the issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion; reestablishing relationships with victims' families; and making sure that OSHA has the resources and staff necessary to achieve its mission.  

Mr. Frederick thanked the members and said he looks forward to working with the Committee, and values the input they provide to OSHA and NIOSH. (pages 62-85) 
                                       
             Occupational Heat Illness Prevention Efforts at OSHA
    Augusta Williams and Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco, Office of Physical Hazards

Ms. Williams and Ms. Bieniek-Tobasco discussed the agency's occupational heat illness prevention efforts and the intention to create a NACOSH work group on this topic.  Ms. Williams noted that the heat campaign, launched in 2011, focuses on educating employers and workers on the dangers of working in hazardous heat.  

OSHA is currently working to update its 2011 heat campaign, and since January 2021 the agency has had over 20 calls with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and partners to learn what additional updates and guidance are needed to prevent occupational heat illness.  OSHA has been able to update its current communication products and create some new guidance and communication materials based on these conversations.  OSHA was also made aware of the gaps, questions, and challenges workers and employers are still facing in preventing heat illness at work.  (pages 88-99)

Mr. Levinson discussed the purpose and makeup of a NACOSH workgroup, the charge that would be given to the workgroup, the timeframe which a report and/or recommendations would be due to the full committee for review and discussion, and NACOSH's recommendations to OSHA and NIOSH.  (pages 99-108)

Ms. Bieniek-Tobasco presented a draft list of possible topics for the heat illness prevention workgroup for discussion with the members. (pages 108-115)

The following items were entered into the record:
Heat Illness Prevention Efforts presentation OSHA-2021-0001-0034
NACOSH Heat Illness Prevention Workgroup OSHA-2021-0001-0035
Questions for NACOSH Heat Illness Prevention Workgroup OSHA-2021-0001-0039

             OSHA Safety and Health Programs Maturation Framework
                    Pamela Barclay, Office of the Director

Ms. Barclay discussed the safety and health program maturation framework that OSHA is developing.  The agency is thinking more critically about the components and actions needed to develop and implement a successful safety and health program.  OSHA is developing concrete and actionable tools that small and medium-size employers can use in their workplaces to make progress in improving their safety and health programs.  (pages 148-155)

The SHP Maturation Framework was entered into the record.  OSHA-2021-0001-0036

                     Risk-based Safety and OSHA Discussion
               Lisa Long, Directorate of Standards and Guidance

Ms. Long described OSHA's plan to evaluate an approach called "risk-based safety" and how this approach can help OSHA accomplish its mission.  There is recognition that while overall the rate of occupational injuries and illness has declined, that the rate of serious injuries and fatalities are declining at a slower rate than recordable incidents generally.  OSHA is thinking about how a risk-based approach could help employers prioritize the most significant hazards in their safety and health programs. OSHA also seeks input on how this approach might influence future standard setting. Ms. Long invited NACOSH members to offer their comments about risk-based safety and how NACOSH could assist in this area. (pages 155-171)

The Risk-based Safety presentation was entered into the record.  OSHA-2021-0001-0037

                 Open Discussion, Closing Remarks, Adjournment

Ms. Soiza opened up the meeting to other comments from the members and also gave the public the opportunity to speak.  There were no comments from the public.  Mr. Levinson thanked the four members departing members for their service to the agency and reiterated that OSHA's intent is for NACOSH to be more active than it was in the past.  (pages 187-198)

The meeting was adjourned at 3:51p.m. EST.

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing minutes are an accurate summary of the meeting.

Submitted by:

__________________________________________

NACOSH Chair
Date



Attachment 1

Members of the Public

Abigail Poter
AJ Jones
Allison Kramer
Alok Oza
Amanda Edens
Amanda Walker
An Nguyen
Andrew Broadbent
Andrew Court
Reporter
Andrew Delben
Angelica
Ashley
Basil Thompson
BC
Beatrice Benning
Beeta Lashkari
Bill Hamilton
Bill Wessell
Blake Ainsworth
Brad Kushner
Brett Burg
Bruce Lundegren
Bruce Rolfsen
Camryn Tole
Celia Lizard
Channing Smith
Charles Roberson
Charles White
Chason Hale
Cherron
Cheryl Ambrose
Chris Cain
Chuck Crowell
Chuck McCormick
Caitlin McGee
Damon Bonneau
Dan Glucksman
Danielle Meyer
Darcy Wood
David Ailor
David Hickey
David Laross
David Weisaki
Davis Jenkins
Deab Crakis
Denise Pietrowski
Dennis Helka
Donna Clark
Doug Kimmel
Drew Schneider
Ed Gunderson
Elizabeth Dwayne
Elizabeth Stark
Eric Hobbs
Eunice Salcedo
Faye Brefler
Francis Meilinger
Frank Hearl
Gabe Sierra
Gopal Menon
Grace Zapata
Guy Pelland
Guy Riviera
Helen Cleary
Hoffman Carvaialino
Holly Bollin
Inanje Mintz
Ire Rivera
James Davis
James Sullivan
Jamey Wheeler
Jane Thomason
Janet Stark
Jared Robinson
Jason Hill
Jaulo Henriques
Jeffrey Wanko
Jens Svenson
Jessica Leins
Jessica Stone
Jill James
Jim Goldwater
Jin Chong
Jin Imms
Jodie
Jody Richardson
John
John Boling
John De Giovanni
John Lemanski
John Rowe
Jonny
Jonathan
Jonathan Brewer
Jonathan Horton
Jordan Bonfitto
Jose Herrera
Joseph Gurerro
Joseph Samuels
Joshua Aragaki
Joseph St. Peter
Judy Wenzel
Julianne Oggen
Justin Rattey
Katherine Norton
Kathleen Duran
Kathy Dimoff
Katie Wenzel
Keith Nelson
Kelly Hendly
Kelly Knighton
Kenneth Koroll
Kevin Lewis
Kimberly Darby
Kristine Nanasto
Lacey Williams
Laura Liebman
Laura Samus
Lauren Euling
Laurie Shelby
Leina Fausbender
Len Welsh
Lesley Witter
Lindsay
Lindsey Disalvo
Lisa Sam
Lisa Stand
Lisa Weddig
Luke Sass
Medeline Ludwig
Majorie Gonzalez
Marcia Kinter
Margett Kitt
Marisa Schnaith
Majorie McDonald
Mark Cancelosi
Mark Drindise
Mark Fila
Mark Hickok
Marsha Rivera
Martha Duggan
Mary Farian
Matt Leytown
Matt Viohn
Matthew Dobratz
Megan Smith
Micah Smith
Michael Grossman
Michael Oathout
Michele Dominguez
Michelle Newell
Mike McCullion
Nicole Matson
Nigel Ellis
Nina Breakiron
Osman Harva Helena
Patrick Kempest
Paul Gooch
Paul Nason
Paulee Crumbhouse
Phillip Wakelyn
Ram Singhal
Randy Spaciel
Rick Gruyka
Rick Newell
Ricky Bryant
Robert Bagnetto
Robert Perkins
Roger Miksa
Roosevelt Sahvers
Rosalyn Shoeman
Rosemarie Olney
Roslyn Schultz
Sahar Osmon-Sypher
Sarah Korwan
Scott Berg
Scott Ketcham
Scott Wandstrat
Sean Marker
Sean Morris
Shannon Glesing
Skipp Kropp
Stephen Woodshaw
Steve Coleman
Steven Ricca
Steven Wiltshire
Susan Flanagan
Sutton Puglin
Suzanne Kennedy
Tayra Rivera
Terrell Jones
Thad Nosal
Theresa Carter
Thomas Graf
Thomas Messing
Tim Fisher
Tokesha Collins-Wright
Tonya Brown
Verun Badel
Violet Gonzalez
Virginia Battles
Wade Robinson
Warren Patel
Wayne Creasap
Wendy Wickham
William Linneweh
William Zettler






