Karl Schweitzer, Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District and Treasurer of Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA),of which Massapequa Water District Commissioners Thomas P. Hand and Raymond Averna serve as President and First Vice President, respectively, recently led a special presentation on Public Employee Safety and Health Employee Training Requirements during a recent NSWCA meeting hosted by Plainview Water District Chairman Joel R. Kessler, Plainview Water District Treasurer Andrew N. Bader, who serves as NSWCA 2nd Vice President, and Plainview Water District Secretary Marc B. Laykind.
Mr. Schweitzer explained who the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Public Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) are while emphasizing both the workers’ responsibilities as well as the rights and responsibilities of our water districts. “It is important for workers to follow their employer’s safety and health rules and to report any hazardous conditions to a supervisor or safety committee,” Mr. Schweitzer stated. “In turn, an employer must provide a safe, healthy workplace and follow OSHA standards.”
PESH, created in 1980, provides protection to all public sector employees at the state and local level, and enforces safety and health standards advocated under OSHA. Mr. Schweitzer gave some examples of recent PESH visits within Plainview Water District and discussed minimum employee training requirements including Emergency Action Plans and protection from possible exposure to hazardous materials.
“Mr. Schweitzer has years of experience promoting safety in the workplace and we appreciate the expertise he brought to this presentation,” said Hand.”
A Hicksville resident who is Manager of Safety and Health for Brooklyn/Queens Electric Operations at Con Edison, Mr. Schweitzer has served as Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District since 2003 and is a past President of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association.
For more information, contact Thomas P. Hand at 516-798-5269 or email tphand@massapequawater.com.
