Health and safety conference d


Hot-button topics Resolving workplace violence issues in


an institutional setting was one of the hot- button topics at the conference. “Dozens of people attended this


workshop and the presenters detailed the arduous steps that must be taken to resolve violent attacks on staff,” said PEF Executive Board member William Nolan, who moderated the workshop. Nolan, a 30-year PEF


STAYING SOUND — Keynote speaker Maureen Kellman engages health and safety activists with an informative presentation on wellness.


member, attended the conference for the first time to learn ways to bolster the health and safety committee at the state Office of Children and Family Services in Buffalo. “The level of


NOLAN


information that was available at the workers’


By DEBORAH A. MILES “A Call to Action” was the title of the


2013 statewide Health and Safety Conference sponsored by the state and PEF, and it empowered participants with a wealth of information. Nearly 350 health and safety activists


attended workshops, networked, and left the mid-April conference, which was held in Albany, armed with educational facts to share with members and co-workers. Depending on whom you talked to and


where they worked, everyone had a special interest. The 14 workshops focused on timely topics, designed to enlighten and motivate people to make necessary changes to improve occupational health and safety. The event kicked-off April 18 with


welcoming remarks from PEF President Susan Kent and Gary Johnson, director of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations. Rocco Brindisi, PEF Article 18 committee chair, was the master of ceremonies. Guest speaker Eileen Franko, acting


director for the state Department of Labor (DOL) division of safety and health, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of working together to ensure a safer New York. Keynote speaker PEF Trustee Maureen


Kellman engaged the audience with a highly informative presentation focusing on wellness. The presentation included tips


Page 4—The Communicator May 2013 WATSO


on recognizing and preventing various occupational illnesses. It also focused on the importance of creating a healthy lifestyle at home and at the job. “Right from the


beginning, this conference was beneficial,” said Denise Watso, a PEF Division 177 steward at the state Department of Transportation (DOT). “People were sharing lessons learned. There is an abundance of knowledge you can get from hearing about other


incidents and how they were handled. It’s vital to gather that information so we can be prepared for the next incident. I want to educate myself so I can help others.” A work-related situation prompted


Watso to attend the workshop on the rights and responsibilities of PESH (Public Employee Safety and Health bureau). “I experienced a bullying incident at my


workplace and the outcome has motivated me to learn more about working with PESH. Health and safety has always been a high priority in my life. We have to address issues such as workplace violence to make people aware this is a real problem in many different offices,” Watso said.


compensation workshop was incredible,” Nolan added. “The statistics used by the presenters magnified how much of a savings in health care costs and productivity can be garnered by implementing a proper health and safety program.”


Preventing injuries Eric Teller, a PEF


steward at DOT in Syracuse, said the conference afforded him an opportunity to bring back information to his members. “I wanted to learn


TELLER


more about facilitating committees. We have approximately 250-300 members, and I want to


instill the message that everyone needs to be vigilant about safety and to be aware of the health risks we face every day working on highways,” Teller said. For members who don’t work outdoors,


the office ergonomics workshop attracted a good crowd. The presenter, Jonathan Dropkin, designed a hands-on approach enlisting participants in a variety of office-related tasks. “I learned a lot from


DEMARCO


this workshop,” said Albert Demarco, a public health specialist in environment. “What I learned today will help me prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other desk and office injuries. Most


PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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