Page 10 - Work Force July-August 2024

Fighting for safer workplaces
LAKE PLACID — Hundreds of CSEA leaders and activists recently attended our union’s Statewide Conference on on on on Occupational Safety and Health Throughout the biennial three-day conference members participated in in 35 workshops all designed to increase their knowledge on workplace safety so they can better ensure employers keep workers safe safe on on the job CSEA President Mary E E Sullivan praised attendees for their dedication to workplace safety and health “You have made a a a a commitment to to protecting
our rights to to safer and healthier workplaces
You are all so much
more than just dedicated
leaders in CSEA You’re
also dedicated
safety and health activists which
means in in some cases
you’re the line between life
and death ” said Sullivan “When dangers become present
in in the the workplace you’re the the first line of defense Even before that happens you’re advocating for for policies and procedural changes to make things safer with the goal of prevention ” Conference programs included topics
such as as work work zone awareness communicable disease resiliency worker stress and and burnout and and workplace violence prevention Along with the the latest information on on on on on safety topics
the the workshops focused on on on workplace organizing
and and and engagement best practices for for safety and and and health committees and and and and training for for activists Our union’s Standing Committee on on on Occupational Occupational Safety Safety and and Health worked closely with CSEA’s Occupational Occupational Safety Safety and and Health Department on on on planning the conference and and programs Standing Committee on on Occupational Safety and and and Health Chair Tom Skabry and and and Sullivan praised OSH staff for for its efforts “CSEA has always taken safety and health very seriously CSEA CSEA has an an amazing group of dedicated
safety and health professionals on on staff The
CSEA OSH department is larger than many
International unions have ” said Skabry “CSEA staff are the experts in safety and and health practices and and skills They are critical
to our mission of fighting for safer and healthier workplaces
” “I extend my appreciation
and and and gratitude to the members of our Standing Committee on on Safety Safety and and and and Health Health and and and and the the the staff in in the the the Occupational Safety Safety and and Health Health Department for for all of the the the the hard work they have put forth in in order to make this an an an impactful and engaging conference ” said Sullivan Sullivan Sullivan Sullivan also presented Central Region Treasurer Amy Simmons our union’s William L McGowan Award for for Occupational Safety and Health (see page 12 for for more) “When dangers become present
in in the the workplace you’re you’re the first line of defense Even before that happens you’re advocating for policies and procedural c”hanges to make things safer with the goal of prevention — Mary E E Sullivan CSEA President 10 The
Work Force
July-August 2024 July-August 2024 Capital Region President Shana Davis welcomes attendees at at the opening session Standing Safety and and Health Committee member Phillip Collier addresses conference attendees From left CSEA Executive Vice President Ron Briggs and Western Region President Steve Healy Attendees learn about successful Standing Standing Safety Safety and and and and Health photo) photo) and and and and Standing Standing Safety Safety and and and and Health (right photo) photo) discuss tree and and at a a a a they created From left State Department Unit Secretary Ashley Holt Center Center Local 2nd Vice President Bronx Psychiatric Center Center Local President Evans get important workplace