Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Over the years, several LHSFNA staff members have served as labor representatives on OSHA’s federal Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). As part of this committee and its work groups, Fund staff promote progressive safety and health guidelines and regulations that protect union members and level the playing field for signatory contractors. LHSFNA staff also work with state OSHA programs on the promulgation of worker safety and health rules and have served on OSHA state programs’ Board of Advisors.
OSHA also has a number of alliances with industry and labor. Along with the LIUNA Training and Education Fund, ARTBA, NAPA, NIOSH, ISEA and other partners, the Fund participates in the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners’ Alliance, which promotes safe and healthful roadway work zones, advances legislative initiatives to fund safe work zones and supports federal agencies in developing safe work zone guidelines and requirements. Fund staff also participate in DOL Alliance Program Construction Roundtable work groups and initiatives.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
NIOSH researches occupational safety and health issues and maintains industry sector research councils that contribute to the agency’s National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). Fund staff participate on the construction sector council, which sets research priorities for construction safety and health. The LHSFNA has a representative on NIOSH’s Board of Scientific Counselors, which reviews NIOSH’s research program and makes recommendations to the agency. Fund staff also serve on NIOSH’s Prevention through Design (PtD) work group.
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Safety and Health Committee
Within the AFL-CIO, the NABTU Safety and Health Committee includes representatives from most building trades unions. Fund staff currently chair this committee, which works to protect union members and signatory contractors by maintaining a broad coalition of support across the building trades for a variety of safety and health issues. Division staff also chair the NABTU Heat Illness Prevention subgroup, which developed the NABTU’s heat illness prevention policy in response to OSHA’s notice of proposed rulemaking for heat illness.
AFL-CIO Staff Subcommittee on Occupational Safety and Health
The AFL-CIO Staff Subcommittee monitors regulatory activity at OSHA, MSHA, NIOSH and in Congress and how the labor movement can influence occupational safety and health policy. LHSFNA staff are active on this committee and its work groups.
National Safety Council (NSC)
The NSC is a leading nonprofit safety advocate whose mission is to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death so people can live their fullest lives. Several of their areas of focus – workplace safety, roadway safety and impairment – overlap with topics covered by the LHSFNA’s mission. OSH Division staff are very involved in the NSC and serve as Vice President for the NSC’s Labor Division, on the NSC’s Board of Directors and as a co-chair to the NSC’s Delegates Committee.
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
The ASSP is a global association that supports occupational safety and health professionals in their efforts to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities. They provide education, advocacy, standards development and a professional community to advance the OSH profession as a whole. Fund staff are members and are actively involved in the National Capital Chapter of the ASSP.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI develops voluntary, national consensus standards with the involvement of industry stakeholders. The standards are sometimes adopted by federal agencies and often accepted in court as indicators of industry best practices. ANSI standards are also used by OSHA and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission during standard interpretations and help set legal precedence.
Fund staff chair several ASSP/ANSI A10 committees that develop safety standards for construction and demolition operations, including A10.46 Hearing Loss Prevention, A10.47 Work Zone Safety for Roadway Construction, A10.6 Safety and Health Requirements for Demolition Operations and A10.49 Control of Chemical Health Hazards in Construction. Fund staff also participate in numerous ANSI standard development subgroups and review and vote on proposed standards.
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
The AIHA is the largest association dealing with occupational health in the United States. Fund staff has participated on a number of its committees, such as construction, noise, ergonomics, social concerns and oil and gas. The committees plan sessions at the annual AIHA conference and develop position statements and publications.
American Public Health Association (APHA)
The APHA is a large public health organization representing more than 50,000 epidemiologists, occupational health nurses, health educators and other health professionals. Fund staff serve on the Occupational Health and Safety Section, which promotes progressive public policy for healthful and safe working environments.
CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training
The CPWR is affiliated with NABTU and performs research on construction safety and health issues through its partnership with NIOSH. Fund staff work closely with CPWR on many of its research projects and work groups.
