Federal guidelines for working in confined spaces and
information about dealing with a pandemic among your workforce will
be discussed during a one-day seminar next week at the University
of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The seminar, held in cooperation with the Erie office of the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will take place from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the Seneca
Building in downtown Bradford.

There is a cost for the seminar, which includes class materials,
lunch, and a certificate of attendance.

“This will be the first in a series of seminars in which we are
partnering with the regional OSHA office in Erie,” said Kate Moody,
director of outreach services.

The morning session, “OSHA Updates” will be led by Joe
Chmielewski, an OSHA compliance assistance specialist, and will
focus on OSHA updates, safety standards and accident
prevention.

Sheryl Wallace, program coordinator for the Center for Rural
Health Practice at Pitt-Bradford, will lead the lecture “Creating a
Pandemic Response Plan,” which addresses the steps every business
organization must take to prepare for pandemic influenza or other
disasters. Participants will learn how disaster plans can be
implemented in any organization, regardless of size, and how to
develop a plan to keep conducting business even if one quarter or
more of your workforce is absent due to illness in the midst of
pandemic influenza or another workforce disaster.

The last session of the day, “Confined Space” will again be led
by Chmielewski and will teach participants how OSHA addresses
confined space hazards in specific standards for general industry.
Those attending will learn how OSHA interprets those standards and
how businesses and workers can maintain safe work environments.

The seminar is WEDnet eligible. To register for this event,
contact the Office of Outreach Services.