Compliance Solution LLC
What is New?

 

Our research paper "A Water Damaged Home and Health of Occupants: A Case Study"  on mold was recently published.  It all started from a very unusual mold inspection in a single family house.  The family dog acted funny during the inspection.  The unborn baby (at the time of inspection) was adversely affected too. 

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The recent jurisdiction change in HIOSH and OSHA may affect your operations.  If you are working as a private contractor on a military base, then you now fall under OSHA regulations now, not HIOSH regulations anymore.  OSHA and HIOSH regulations are almost identical, but not exactly the same.  For example, OSHA allows up to 15 business days to contest the citations.  On the contrary, HIOSH allows 20 calendar days.  By the way, the change is in effect. 

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OSHA is going to improve Whistleblower protection program.  The idea of the program is to protect employees who exercise their legal rights without fear of retaliation.  The improvement includes some major approaches.  First, the program will be placed under the assistant secretary office directly.  Translation: direct and close supervision. 

Secondly, more training will be provided to the investigators as well as solicitors.  Translation:  Were they trained properly in the beginning?

Thirdly, the investigation manual will be updated.  The last update was back in 2003.  A revision is way overdue.  Translation:  Should the manual be updated or at least reviewed regularly like the Lockout/Tagout program?

Lastly, the data collection system and audit program have been revised to ensure complaints are processed timely.  Based on professional experience, we saw some cases that were so delayed that employees lost the right to file the complaints. 

 

A report can be viewed at

http://www.whistleblowers.gov/report_summary_page.html

 

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In May, OSHA opened public record on proposed record-keeping rule to add work-related musculoskeletal disorders column.  Translation:  ergonomic standards may come back alive again.  Few years ago, OSHA once tried to enforce ergonomic standard, enforcement guidelines were out, and compliance officers were going through training, but OSHA later cancelled it.   It will be interesting to see how far ergonomic standards will go this time!

 

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Ms. Jennifer Shishido has become the administrator again for HIOSH.   Since she has been in charge, HIOSH has been issuing more serious citations with higher penalties.   She was put on special assignment when Linda Lingle was the governor.   During that period, HIOSH reported to the labor department director directly.   Serious citations were few, then. 

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HIOSH does not have enough inspectors to conduct inspections.  OSHA threatens to take over the state plan.  See the news below.

Safety gaps worry feds - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com

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Recently, OSHA opened a new area office for region 9 in Honolulu, HI.  It will be interesting to see how many more inspections region 9 may conduct in the Pacific. 

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We did it again.  We have been selected for the 20009 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category.  

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Compliance Solution has been selected for the 2009 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

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We have been selected for the 2008 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category.

The U. S. Local Business Association "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.