Document QJ39LN24Mo6NmRZ29KEOJ94d7

WORKERS' INSTITUTE FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH MAIN OFFICE: 271 EAST STATE STREET. COLUMBUS. OHIO 43215 - 614/224-8271 WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1126 L6ch St., Washington, D.C. 20036 - 202/463-6 November 4, 1980 MEMORANDUM TO: George Parker l'KOM: Joe Velasquez RE: WORKERS * ICT PROGRESS REPORT Attached is the progress report for the Workers' Compensation project for the month of October. If you have any questions or comments concerning this project please call me at 202/463-6081. I look forward to meeting you shortly to discuss the Workers' Compensation project as well as the other projects the Institute has underway. I'm interested in discussing the operation of the Institute and how it can best meet the needs of your union. I BB 0000955 | October 27 WORKERS' INSTITUTE FOR SAFETY AND KEALT MAIN OFFICE: 271 EAST STATE STREET. COLUMBUS. OHIO 43215 - 614/224-5; WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1126 16th St., Washington, D.C. 20036 - 202/46: THIS nnr.i imf.vt \mac m^-t ,,---------------- i MEMORANDUM TO: Don Ridzon, ESA FROM: Ed Bergin, Workers' Compensation Project Director, RE: October Progress Report - Contract flJ-9-E-0-0183 On September 30, 1980, Howard Samuel, President of the Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO, formally signed the contract for the Workers' Compensation Training and Education project. This is a report of the major activities undertaken under the contract. Since the Institute is a new organization, a request for a two month cash advance under the contract was prepared and submitted. This will enable the Institute to hire key staff and sign formal contracts with key consultants. A draft concept paper for the pilot occupational disease training program in Ohio was prepared and circulated. Comments on this attached paper are invited. HEW's office of medical education, directed by Max Lum, was contacted with respect to materials developed under HEW contract for educating physicians in occupational environmental diseases. Seventeen curricula modules have been developed by HEW contractors consisting of video tapes, slides, and text materials. While the materia were written to the level of physicians, the Institute is investigating the possibili of adapting these materials to the needs of workers. Dr. Michael R. Gray, M.D., MPH, University of Arizona, Occupational Medicine Director Arizona Center for Occupational Safety and Health, met with the Institute's staff in Washington to discuss the HEW physicians' educational project and the possibility of adapting the materials for workers. Dr. Gray was optimistic that the materials1* A meeting was held with Dr. Fhil Polokoff, a specialist in occupational medicine who has developed an organization on the West Coast to screen workers and refer occupat ional disease cases to a panel of attorneys specializing in compensation and product liability matters. A meeting was held with Warren Smith, Supervisory Trustee and Jpe Velasquez, Executi1 Director of the Institute to discuss implementation plans and staffing for the pro ject. A decision was made at the meeting to start with the states of Florida and Connecticut. A decision was also made to issue a $500.00 sub-contract to the CAC0SH (Chicago Council on Occupational Safety and Health) organization to produce a lit erature search and compilation of worker-oriented compensation materials for the Institute. 01 4099 Mr. James Mason Progress Report-Contract #J-9-E-0-0183 Page Two Planning for the late November Ohio State conference was Initiated. A decision was made to limit participation at the conference to the individuals and organizations involved in the first two state programs, Connecticut and Florida. Contact with Dick Ginnold, labor Educator, University of Oregon was made. Mr. Ginnold is an expert in workers' compensation and has previously established a workers' compensation training program in Wisconsin, one of the target states. The Institute intends to continue the dialog with Mr. Ginnold and others who have experience in this field and will develop specific areas where these skills can be utilized. Contact was made with Dr. Hector Blejer, M.D., M.P.H., a west coast specialist and expert in occupational diseases and workers' compensation. The Institute intends to. use Dr. Blejer as an expert consultant in developing the pilot occupational disease program. At the request of ESA COTR, a meeting was held with Dr. Ernie Drucker of Montefiorie Hospital. The Department of Social Medicine at Montefiorie Hospital also holds a contract from ESA, specifically to develop a pilot program of finding occupational disease cases in a hospital setting. The Institute's staff was asked to coordinate our project with theirs and to work together where possible to solve mutual problems. The Institute's staff responded to a number of calls from Unions, COSH groups, and the press with respect to the project. An interview with the Milwaukee Journal was conducted. An agenda for the planning meeting in Ohio and a list of participants was prepared. Detailed planning for the meeting is in progress. An agenda for a meeting with key labor people in Connecticut was prepared. This meeting has been scheduled for November 6-7. A number of meetings have been held with various production agencies including word processing companies, artists, illustrators, and editorial staff. These meetings were held with the directors of four firms, three of whom were women owned businesses. These firms include: Bill L'Hommidieu Graphics, E&L Business Services, The Perfect Solution, and JRB Associates, the only firm which is not a small business. A meeting was held at the Labor Department involving key institute staff, DOL's COTR, and the key staff from DOL's contracting office. The purpose of the meeting was to develop procedures for filing reports and invoices arid to clarify some issu* t-wt-w respect to the contract | BB 0000957 | Recruiting of key staff was an important activity. Over 200 resume's were received and reviewed in response to advertisements for writers and editors. Tentative decisions have been reached to hire a program assistant with experience in education, compensation, and safety and health programs. A decision was also reached to hire an administrative secretary. A briefing on the Workers' Compensation project was presented at the monthly staff meeting of the Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO, cc; James Mason, Contract Officer 01 4100