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BRIEFLY:
Pandemic Flu preparedness focus of NSC webinar
The National Safety Council (NSC) will host a Webinar on September 10 from 1:00-2:00 pm CDT, focused on the need for businesses and the healthcare industry to prepare for a pandemic. OSHA's Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic and the recently released Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers will be the highlights of the discussion. Featured speakers include OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance Deputy Director Amanda Edens and Office of Occupational Medicine Director Dr. Don Wright. To register, visit
http://www.nsc.org/webinars/pandemics.htm, or call NSC Customer Service at 800-621-7619.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2007: September 15–October 15
Originally proclaimed in September, 1968 National Hispanic Heritage Week was expanded in 1988 to a month-long celebration. America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Amber alerts to your cell phone
Statistics show the first three hours after a child's abduction are most critical to recovery efforts. Recognizing that wireless technology can help galvanize communities to assist law enforcement in the search for and return of the child, the membership of CTIA-The Wireless Association®, The Wireless Foundation, the United States Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have introduced the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative.
By combining the efforts of the wireless industry with NCMEC and law enforcement agencies, the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative will be a catalyst for the more than 200 million wireless subscribers to aid in the return of an abducted child.
Visit http://www.wirelessamberalerts.org
to sign up for this free lifesaving program.
Data security primary driver for businesses planning IT asset disposal
Businesses concerned about data security, regulatory requirements and environmental stewardship are increasingly turning to third-parties to ensure proper disposal of unwanted IT equipment, according to an international IDC survey commissioned by Dell.
The research, conducted through a survey earlier this year of more than 1,000 companies in Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S., also found evidence that the IT asset disposal (ITAD) sector is in the midst of a "major transformation," evolving from a relatively new sector to one with established processes and metrics.
Approximately one third of companies in the IDC survey use a third-party ITAD provider. North American companies are more likely to cite data security as their top motivation for using third-party IT disposal services while European companies rate requirements or mandates, such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), as the key driver for their decision-making processes.
Small companies are far less likely to use IT disposal services compared with medium and large companies, the IDC survey found. An estimated 11 percent of companies with less than 100 employees intend to use a third-party service, compared with 65 percent of companies with 10,000 or more employees.
"The findings of the IDC survey reinforce what we hear from our customers every day," said Doug Hillary, director, Business Solutions Group, Global Services at Dell. "While many businesses are serious about proper IT asset disposal, there is considerable work to be done to help small companies understand the need for reliability and affordability of disposal methods."
Other key survey findings include:
- Forty percent of organizations in North America opt for donation as a method of disposal, with the preference evenly distributed across organizations of all sizes.
- Banks (63 percent) are more than twice as likely to use third-party disposal services compared to professional services (22 percent), education (25 percent) and retail organizations (26 percent).
- More than half of financial services, health-care and retail organizations cite data security as their primary reason for choosing an IT disposal provider.
- Companies that don't currently use IT disposal services cite cost (31 percent), data security (26 percent) and preference to donate/resell systems (20 percent) as the top three factors. When asked to identify their number two reason, the issue of not knowing how to choose a qualified provider was a significant factor (15 percent).
"This survey and other IDC research indicate that leading companies recognize the necessity to manage the risks that could come from the retirement of their technology hardware," said David Daoud, IDC research manager and lead analyst on this report. "Companies are increasingly adopting the proper IT asset disposal strategy with the aim of securing corporate data, reducing their environmental footprint and complying with state, national and international law."
To request a copy of the IDC report, contact press@idc.com. Dell customers can learn more about the company's asset recovery and environmental programs at
http://www.dell.com/earth.
EPA to forge rules for nine metal fabrication area sources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be proposing new air pollution standards this fall affecting the so-called Nine Metal Fabrication Area Sources. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to develop National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for both major and area sources that are listed for regulation under the CAA.
Recently the Sierra Club sued EPA for failing to complete rulemaking establishing air quality standards as required by the act. A court has ruled that EPA has until June 15, 2008 to complete the standards to be imposed. The EPA plans to publish a set of proposed rules for the affected metal fabrication sources in urban areas.
The nine affected areas are: electrical and electronic equipment finishing operations; fabricated metal products; fabricated plate work (boiler shops); fabricated structural metal manufacturing; heating equipment except electric; industrial machinery and equipment; finishing operations; iron and steel forging; primary metal products manufacturing; and, valves and pipe fittings.
EPA is already seeking comments on draft rules. The comment period will remain open until September 20, 2007.
According to EPA, early in the development of standards to implement EPA's Integrated Urban Strategy, the states expressed concern over the burden and resources that would be required for the states to take responsibility for the implementation of the area source rules listed as part of the strategy. Specifically the states were concerned that implementing Federal requirements, in lieu of established state programs, would be overly burdensome with little or no additional emission reductions for certain source categories.
Complete information on the proposal can be found on the IMA website at http://www.ima-net.org/usepa.cfm.
EPA is requesting as much technical detail in comments submitted to Dr. Donna Lee Jones, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. Dr. Jones can be reached at 919-541-5251 or by email at
jones.donnalee@epa.gov to respond to specific questions.
Taking air quality policy out of the clouds
By Gregory W. Baise, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Illinois competes with many states in the nation to be a beacon for manufacturing. Currently, manufacturing provides more than 675,000 workers with good paying jobs and benefits. Despite opinions to the contrary, our country is still the world's top manufacturing economy and justifiably the envy of the world.
But those jobs are at a serious risk due to frictional costs. The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that the three million manufacturing jobs lost since 2000 — nearly 200,000 in Illinois alone — are due in part to America's self-inflicted policies, such as high environmental compliance costs and unjustifiable regulations. NAM estimates that American industry is at a distinct disadvantage (31.7 percent, to be exact) compared to our major trading partners.
A clear example of regulatory over-reaching is shown by recent EPA public comment period on new, questionable standards for ozone emissions, along with the current standard of .080 parts per million (ppm). Chicago played host to the EPA during recent public hearings on this very subject.
However, it's unproven whether there are any health benefits to justify a stricter standard and the technology to get us there will require billions in investment and R&D, if it can be developed at all. Stricter rules don't always correlate to better health, and the cost of unfeasible regulations put countless jobs and businesses at risk.
That's not to say that Illinois or the nation is sitting idly by when it comes to environmental issues concerning public health. Industry and state regulators are diligently working toward implementation of the current standard. Keep in mind that our air is cleaner now than in the past and will continue to get cleaner: according to the EPA, air pollution has declined by 54 percent in the United States since 1970 — even with a growing economy and millions more vehicles on the road. We can expect even further improvement in the near future since the current ozone standards haven't been fully implemented yet.
But, if the EPA continues down the risky path toward unjustifiable and ever-changing standards, there will be serious consequences to the economy, employers, and the taxpayers. Local communities and taxpayers cannot afford to play the odds – pitting economic growth and employees' paychecks against scientific and technological uncertainty. Our elected officials must weigh the scientifically verifiable evidence before risking jobs and prosperity.
The Bush Administration should focus on working with each state's implementation plans for current standard, and continue implementing the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), and the highway and non-road diesel engine rules – all of which will provide the co-benefit of reducing ozone emissions.
The case against an unproven standard is clear: the costs are too high and the benefits too uncertain to impose this new burden on America's manufacturers, the people they employ, and the communities they sustain.
DATES OF NOTE:
More information/events may be found at http://www.ima-net.org/calendar.cfm and
http://www.ima-net.org/MIT/open.cfm
September 14, 2007
Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Skills
DePaul University's O'Hare Campus, 3166 River Road, Des Plaines
Learn to delegate with confidence, plan and execute productive meetings, prioritize daily activities for ultimate results, develop techniques for planning and achieving goals.
September 18, 2007
Problem Solving - 8D
952 E. Eldorado, Suite 102, Decatur
September 19, 2007
Problem Solving - 8D
DePaul University, 150 W. Warrenville Road, Naperville
Designed to demonstrate effective problem solving methods, this workshop will focus on root cause analysis, cause and effect diagrams, five "Why" techniques, team oriented problem solving and containment measures.
September 20, 2007
From Barriers to Bridges: Improving Communication with Your Spanish Speaking Staff
DePaul University's O'Hare Campus, 3166 River Road, Des Plaines
Employers have much to gain from helping their workers bridge the cultural and language divide — increased productivity and performance, greater trust and loyalty among workers and improved safety, which translate into higher profits. Bridge that gap by attending this one-day interactive workshop.
September 20, 2007
Kanban/Pull System/Inventory Reduction, DePaul University,
150 W. Warrenville Road, Naperville
A key component of most Lean Manufacturing strategies, this one-day Kanban workshop incorporates basic skills necessary to participate in Kanban implementation. Designed for individuals who may use or facilitate the use of Kanbans to move material and reduce waste. Kanban automates manufactured and purchased parts inventory cycles to reduce unwanted inventory and create waste-free processes.
October 3, 2007
Mistake Proofing
DePaul University,
150 W. Warrenville Road, Naperville
Designed to expedite effective application of mistake proofing methodology, this workshop focuses on effective methods of applying mistake proofing as a practical method of improving and maintaining process.
Order the IMA's 2007-2008 Benefits Report at https://www.ima-net.org/ben_report_order.cfm
Order the IMA's 2006 Annual Compensation Report at http://www.ima-net.org/reportorder/login.cfm
For more information, go to one of the links above, or contact Janie Stanley at 800-875-4462, ext. 3020, or email: jstanley@ima-net.org
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