Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis appoints 5 new members to National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health

NACOSH meeting scheduled for Jan. 19-20, 2011

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced appointment of five new members to the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The department's emphasis on worker safety and health was enhanced by these new appointees, who will serve two-year terms, and are leaders in the fields of medicine, academia and safety program development.

"The new NACOSH members possess a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience on a wide range of worker health and safety matters," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "I am confident these new members, representing the interests of labor, management, safety and health professionals, and the public, will use their expertise to provide valuable advice and recommendations on important workplace safety and health issues. We share the goal of good, safe jobs for all American workers."

Public representatives appointed include Lida Orta-Anes, Ph.D., professor, University of Puerto Rico, Graduate School of Public Health Medical Sciences in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Gary R. Rosenblum, M.S., C.I.H, A.R.M., risk manager for the City of Palm Desert, Calif. The management representative appointed is James Johnson, group vice president, Workplace Safety Initiatives for the National Safety Council in Itasca, Ill. The safety representative appointed is Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP, general partner of Rixio Medina & Associations L.P. in Corpus Christi, Texas. The health representative appointed is William B. Bunn III, M.S., J.D., M.P.H., vice president of health, safety, security and productivity for Navistar Inc. in Warrenville, Ill.

NACOSH has advised the secretaries of labor and health and human services for nearly 40 years on worker safety issues.

NACOSH will meet next on Jan. 19 and 20 at the Labor Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., where the members will discuss workplace issues including the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup, injury and illness prevention programs, and recordkeeping. For more information on the meeting and how to participate, please see the notice in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-31587.htm.

The 12-member committee meets at least two times a year. The newly appointed members will join seven current members. For more information on the committee, visit OSHA's NACOSH page at http://www.osha.gov/dop/nacosh/nacosh.html.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.