May 5, 2000

Strasheim: More has to be done

By Rene P. Acosta
Variety News Staff

VARIOUS companies in the CNMI have taken positive steps toward meeting federal requirements on health and safety issues, but more needs to be done to improve work conditions in the islands.

This according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regional Administration Frank Strasheim who lauded the progress made by CNMI businesses in improving the workplace.

He however pointed out that his office still finds some serious problems in certain areas.

Strasheim expressed admiration at how the different companies and industries, specifically the garment sector, have achieved reforms over the years resulting to a more suitable working environment.

He, however, stopped short of making generalizations.

"We don't really see enough to drop conclusions but we continue to find significant problems in labor barracks and construction, although I have seen a lot of improvements," said Strasheim.

He cited as an example the ongoing trenching job along Beach Road, in Garapan wherein he had observed the workers were wearing safety protection gear and were using better equipment.

"So it is improving although not as quickly as we would like," he added.

He thus posed a challenge to the different industries to continue with the effort.

"We've seen some of the companies develop safety and health programs to better the situation for the worker. We see the change of attitude, perhaps the most important thing," he said.

The OSHA official said ten companies that have now applied for a partnership arrangement with OSHA and that this indicates they are making commitments at the chief executive officer level.

" They are basically opening up their doors to OSHA," said Strasheim.

This change of attitude by 10 garment firms, he said, covered an agreement to set up a health pro gram where companies are going to conduct their own inspection in addition to OSHA checks.

Also, the garment firms, he said have agreed to involve their workers and setup an internal complaint process, hire full time safety people, and make an annual report on any improvement that they have undertaken.

The safety officers, Strasheim said, will have the authority to shut down job operations if they see hazards.

He said however, that all of these plans and changes may have never been implemented by the garment companies without the support of executive director of the garment association, Richard Pierce.

"With the change of attitude, comes the potential of compliance with the law. Not all the companies, but a majority of the companies can get there. Some of the companies are clearly there and we are willing to work with-them," he said.