H&S AFGE Council 220

Health and Safety

Here's a lot of information and how-to's - and more 'fill in the blanks' forms than you can shake a stick at...

H1N1 Virus - CDC Guidance:

Howard Egerman recommends these five documents concerning the H1N1 virus.

From the National Labor College -- "The H1N1 (swine) flu has now infected people in the United States and in many other countries. The World Health Organization has declared it a full blown pandemic. Pandemic flu is a new type of flu virus that spreads quickly and easily around the world. We have no way to fight off this new type of virus, because we have not built up any resistance (immunity) to it.

Because no one has any immunity to this new flu virus, everyone is at risk of becoming infected. Although the current flu does not appear to be severe, this could change at any time and the flu could cause very serious illness and death. During a pandemic, many workers are at risk of being exposed to the pandemic flu virus at work and becoming sick themselves. In order to protect workers from exposure, it is essential that workplaces plan and prepare for the safety and health issues of pandemic flu now.

These fact sheets explain the basics of pandemic flu, how to best protect workers, and the actions that should be taken now.

Additional information on the H1N1 virus at SSA ...

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather - CDC Guidance:

Howard Egerman recommends this site for CDC guidance for preparedness and response to natural disasters. From earthquakes or hurricanes to winter weather or extreme heat - you will find it here.

Health and Safety Forms:

  • Abatements - a multi purpose form to request an investigation of any health and safety problem found in an inspection and/or your observations. This form is more suited to a report from a coworker or a third party...
  • Communicable Disease - Request a medical exam after interviewing a member of the public with a communicable disease.
  • Identification of Local Health Service Needs - Request for location of Low cost/No Cost local medical providers...
  • Lease - Easy to fill in request for the lease...
  • Mold - Report mold or wet conditions in your office and request abatement -Easy to fill in...
  • Temperature - Too hot or too cold, ask for inspection.
  • Violence - Easy to fill in request to investigate public actions or threats...
  • Referral of hazard to Council - If you are dissatisfied with management's actions on a report of hazard, you can request escalation to Council's H&S representative - This easy to fill in form refers the problem to the national level.
  • Incident Report - Request a copy of an incident report.
  • Imminent Danger - Use where a hazard presents an immediate and serious probability of loss of life or bodily harm.
  • Serious Condition - Request an inspection be done within 3 days
  • Smoking - Request to attend a stop smoking class...

OSHA Complaints:

How to file an OSHA complaint - It's best to file with a Local office - Don't use email if you want them to show up and investigate (they say so themselves) - Go here to find your closest office... - And here's the form... The OSHA site is a wealth of information.

Management Inspections

This guidance on the SSA-5510 was written when the inspections were joint inspections. While we no longer do the inspections, the information will help you determine whether Management did a good inspection. Note that the union still has the right to accompany management on "SSA-controlled safety inspections" and on "on health and safety inspections conducted by other governmental authorities." [Contract, Article 9, 1 or 3] - Here's the Request for Notice of an Inspection. (Contact your Local President concerning your Local's Official Time policies.)

Specific Data:

CPR

What you need to know before you perform CPR - the Agency probably won't step in if you are sued...

Contact Station

MOU...

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