On May 7 and 8, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Office team held an OSHA 10-hour general industry outreach training for Region 2 locals in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
The training, which was facilitated by OSH Office Director Roy McAllister and OSH Specialist Victoria Valentina, included regional staff, local union representatives, organizers, local rank and file members and executive board members from UFCW Locals 27, 392, 1208, 1776 and 1994. Workers from the first unionized Whole Foods in Philadelphia were present at the training, as well.
The OSHA 10-hour training emphasized the importance of including safety and health conversations when organizing and servicing our members and future members. The training equipped union staff and Whole Foods workers with the tools to enter a workplace and identify hazards and OSHA violations, and utilize these skills to leverage safer workplaces, demand timely implementation of hazard controls, and encourage management cooperation.
The training covered mandatory topics such as an introduction to OSHA; walking and working surfaces; personal protective equipment; electrical safety; hazard communications; and exit routes and fire prevention plans. Participants also learned about elective topics such as safety and health programs and workplace violence. During the training, participants worked together on hands-on exercises to brainstorm solutions and controls for workplace safety hazards that they encounter daily in the food and non-food retail space. These hazards include slips, trips and falls; ergonomic issues; and workplace violence.
At the conclusion of the training, several participants expressed how excited they were to receive their OSHA cards in the mail so they could go into stores and show the employer they are certified and trained in identifying hazards in the workplace. Another participant also expressed an interest in becoming an OSHA authorized trainer to spread the knowledge and practical skills he learned in the class.
“As a region, we came together to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the OSH Office, adopting a strategic organizing approach to health and safety,” said Region 2 Director Kate Meckler. “Together, we are not only enhancing workplace conditions and safeguarding lives, but also empowering workers to advocate for a safe workplace and their right to protect it.”
If your local is interested in coordinating an OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour outreach training with the OSH Office team, contact OSH Office Director Roy McAllister (rmcallister@ufcw.org), Assistant Director Justin Tristan (jtristan@ufcw.org), or OSH Specialists Victoria Valentina (vvalentina@ufcw.org) and Samara Moseley (smoseley@ufcw.org).
