U.S. Department of Labor Schedules Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health Meeting; Announces Committee Appointments

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor will hold a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) on July 17-18, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

The tentative agenda includes updates from OSHA directorates and a discussion of proposals to add a reference to the definition of "confined space" that applies to welding activities in construction and clarify the requirements for the fit of personal protective equipment in construction.

The committee will meet from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 17, and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 18. Both meetings will be held in Conference Rooms N-5437 A-D at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210. The meeting is open to the public.

Comments and requests to speak may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal, by mail, or facsimile. Read the Federal Register notice for submission details. Comments and requests must be submitted by July 5, 2019.

Additionally, the Department recently selected 15 new and reappointed members to serve on the committee. The members represent the public, employers, employees, and federal and state government interests. Each serves a two-year term. The newly appointed members are:

Employee Representatives:

• Mark S. Mullins, National Coordinator, Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund
• Richard Tessier, Director of Safety, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Representative Research & Education Joint Trust
• Christina Trahan Cain, Safety and Health Director, North America's Building Trades Unions

Employer Representatives:

• Fravel Combs, Corporate Manager, EHS, M.A. Mortenson Company
• Greg Sizemore, Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development, Associated Builders and Contractors
• Wesley L. Wheeler, National Director of Safety, National Electrical Contractors Association

Public Representative:

• Christopher A. Fought, Global Construction & North America Contractor Safety Manager, General Motors LLC

State Representative:

• Christopher "Scott" Mabry, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Labor

Federal Representative:

• Dr. G. Scott Earnest, Ph.D., C.S.P., P.E., Deputy Director, Office of Construction Safety & Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The reappointed members are:
Employee Representatives:

• Palmer L. Hickman, Director of Safety and Code Training and Curriculum Development, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Electrical Training Alliance
• Randall A. Krocka, Administrator and Project Director, Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers

Employer Representatives:

• Kevin R. Cannon, C.S.P., Senior Director, Safety and Health Services, Associated General Contractors of America (ACCSH Chair)
• Cindy DePrater, Senior Vice President, Chief Environmental, Health & Safety Officer, Turner Construction Company

Public Representative:

• R. Ronald Sokol, C.S.P., President & CEO, Safety Council of Texas City

State Representative:

• Charles N. Stribling, C.S.P., OSH Federal-State Coordinator, Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Department of Workplace Standards

Established under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, ACCSH advises the Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary of Labor for occupational safety and health on construction standards and policy matters.

Under the OSH Act, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.