Region 1 News Release:   BOS 2002-004
Mon, January 9, 2002
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: (617) 565-2074

Attention: Business News/Calendar Editor:

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is co-sponsoring a special forum on safety and health in general industry for small employers in Western Massachusetts. The free program will be held Fri., Jan. 18, 2002, from 8:00a.m. to noon, at Western New England College, 1215 Wilbraham Road in Springfield.

Safety and health professionals from the government and the private sector will provide participants with details, examples and information on how some companies have created and implemented successful programs on Ergonomics as well as confined space entry. Also, detailed information will be provided on machine guarding and the new OSHA recordkeeping rule which goes into effect on January 1, 2002.

Partners in the forum are the Safety Council of Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Development Center, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Safety Consultation Program and OSHA's Springfield Area Office.

There is no fee but advanced registration is required. To register, contact the Safety Council of Western Massachusetts at 413-783-1632 or online at www.scwm.org. Registration forms may also be faxed to the Safety Council at 413-783-1042.