Region 1 News Release:   BOS 99-079
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
Contact: John M. Chavez
PHONE : (617) 565-2075

Advisory for Business News Editor / Business Calendar Editor:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold its first forum specifically for the benefit of small businesses in New England on June 3, 1999 in Boston.

According to Ruth McCully, New England Regional Administrator for OSHA, the Region I Small Business Forum will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 1999, in the auditorium of the O'Neill Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Interested companies may register by phone -- on a first come, first served basis -- by calling (617) 565-9860 by May 26.

"The purpose of the forum," McCully said, "is to provide smaller companies in the region with the opportunity to do some one-stop shopping to learn all about the many resources available to them which can assist them in meeting their legal requirement to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces."

McCully noted that the forum will include both presentations and exhibits, as well as the availability of a comprehensive handout package, the highlight of which will be a free copy of the computer CD-ROM: "OSHA Example Tools for Small Business." Said McCully, "The CD contains a wealth of information for small employers, including technical advisors covering areas such as respiratory protection, silica and logging, among several others. There is an excellent video covering ergonomics in the workplace; and the CD provides direct links to the OSHA website on the Internet for further assistance on a wide variety of safety and health topics."

McCully and OSHA's Regional Small Business Liaison will open the program, which will include presentations from OSHA's Small Business Liaison from Washington, the Boston area director of the Small Business Administration, as well as other regional OSHA officials. Topics to be covered include OSHA's free consultation program for small business, OSHA's current priorities in the region, the agency's Voluntary Protection Programs, and the safety and health compliance concerns of small employers.

Exhibits will include: a running demonstration of the OSHA Tools for Small Business CD-ROM; the OSHA Training Institute's educational center at Keene State College, which will provide information on safety and occupational health courses available in the region; the Massachusetts 21(d) consultation program, which will provide information on the program in Massachusetts as well as similar programs, which are free of charge to employers, run by the other New England states; and the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), which will provide information on the assistance available to help a company prepare for participation in one of the programs.

"We hope," said McCully, "that small employers throughout New England will take advantage of this opportunity to find out how easy it can be to get the help they need in order to meet their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act."

Again, interested employers can call to register for the June 3rd forum at (617) 565-9860.

The information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (617) 565-2072. TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) Message Referral Phone: 800-347-8029.