Document DGOOZdwNzBqDkeLNyKGDM5e9M

I INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE METALS DIVISION yc> i " P. 0. BOX 579 -4625 ROYAL AVE., NIAGARA FALLS. NEW YORK 14302 To (Name) Division Location Mr. J. L. Myers UCC - Metals Niagara Falls, NY Copy to /' Messrs. R. E. Byrne, Jr. R. F. X./fusaro ^ F. 0. SJnortsleeve ^ Date Originating Dept. December 4, 1978 "Calidria" Asbestos Answering letter date Subject OSHA Consulting Service in Louisiana PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT UC-343 A free, basically anonymous, OSHA consulting service is now available in Louisiana. It is suggested that we let our customers in that state know that it is available. Please let me have your comments. HBR/rmm Attachment Harrison B. Rhodes Occupational Health & Safety Letter, Novei; . 22. ' 97.` management affect both. The author is John M. IIoch.stras.ser, Ph.D., now with Tenncco Chemicals but formerly with C.D. Searle Co. It's interesting, not onK from the personal experiences, but also within the context of a con tinuing debate about the independent: of the industrial hygienist, or lack of same-a debate which some times reaches A1HA meetings. \ y He divides the authority of hygienics between recognition and evaluation phases and the control phase. The hygienist's professional experience in the former is rarelvjjtrfstioned, but in the control phase ;ome problems may and do arise, Hochstra^cr notes. Industrial^sy^enc, he says, is a staff function, reporting to "line" authority. \ For the most part, industrial hygienists ca\only rgedmmend control activities and it is up to the line authorities to determine whether or not to accepWb^m- Although the hygienist is thus considered not accountable, he nevertheless should use every sjrilfna convenience line officers to implement the control, he says. yS \ "If all attempts to convince line firiC' Hochstrasserwrote, "the industrial hygienist must have open lines of communication with uppepylfanagement, secure trceir support and thus bring pressure to bear on the line to implement the contpoV' he wrote. ". . .1 believe it to be totally unreasonable for upper management to hold an industrial hygienist `accountable' for imp1epi6ntation of a control if functional staff authority has not been granted in writing and communicated ,U5 the line." OSHA PROVIDES FREE HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVICE FOR LOUISIANA FIRMS: Free, on-site health and safety consultation for Louisiana employers is now available under a con tract signed by OSHA with JRB Associates, Vienna, Va. OSHA Regional Administrator Gilbert J. Saulter explained that Federal law prevents regular OSHA inspectors from providing such on-site consultation. "OSHA's contract with JRB Associates stipulates that the identity of an employer who requests a consultation will not be made known to OSHA," Saulter said. "So there should be no fear that asking for help might `trigger' an OSHA inspection. "The only exception to the confidentiality rule would be in case an employer refuses to correct a hazard that could result in death or serious injury." JRB is well trained in OSHA health and safety requirements and will give priority in responding to requests from smaller businesses, especially those in high risk industries, because many small businesses cannot afford such consultation, Saulter said. A consultation visit will include an opening conference with the employer at the workplace, an on site review of health and safety conditions, a closing conference to report findings and a follow-up report to the employer. It will note any hazard identified and recommend ways for correction, including cost estimates. "When businesses want to eliminate or control the hazards in their workplaces voluntarily, but need assistance to do so, we want to offer such assistance to the full extent our resources permit," Saulter said. "Employers and employees both benefit when such voluntary action is taken and the possibility that we will have to resort to enforcement is removed. "The goal is to encourage employers to establish a job safety and heath program, based on the con sultants' recommendations, which will make safety and healthful work practices and conditions a routine part of the work." A consultation visit can be arranged by writing to Louisiana Safety and Health Consultation Project, P.O. Box 692, Vienna, VA 22180; (800) 336-0488. SOKII TO SPONSOR MEETING ONJ'HSTICmES-AND TELLS INDUSTRY WELL IN ADVANCE: The Society for Occupational ami tinvironMiental Health will sponsor a conference on pesticides and human health Dec. 10-13 at Washington sMyptt Regency Hotel-and this time industry will not be able to complain, as it did last year, that it was noLdnWed or was given short shrift. Aware of the problems which grew/nit of thv 1977 meeting, SOEII wrote in early November to Dr.