True and Essential Meats officially launched its Meat Professional program on January 30, 2013.  Alyssa Elliott became the first participant in the first and only state-approved registered apprenticeship program to train meat professionals.  Elliott was officially inducted as T&E Meats’ first apprentice.  T&E Meats received funding from the Shenandoah Valley-On-the-Job Training.  The grant will defer a portion of her wages from the employer to the grant.  The grant will also pay for any classroom related instruction that T&E Meats has developed as part of their program.

T&E Meats began meeting with the Division of Registered Apprenticeship in February 2012.  Several agencies came together to work on this program with the Department of Labor and Industry; including the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board, Virginia Community College System and Virginia Department of Business Assistance. 

Trades such as the meat industry are shrinking as workers in this field grow older, yet T&E Meats has experienced a 25% growth rate each year for the past several years.  Companies such as T&E Meats are unable to find enough skilled workers to fulfill their business needs.  “This program shows the flexibility of Registered Apprenticeship,” Director Bev Donati said.  “The employer has a need and we find solutions for employers.” 

T&E Meats spent many hours identifying the skill sets and related classroom instruction that would comprise their program.  T&E Meats’ apprentices will learn every aspect of the local meat processing industry.  Apprentices admitted to the program will complete three years of on-the-job training and classroom learning.  Apprentices with experience in the field can apply this experience for credit and shorten the length of their program.   

“The program is evidence of how Registered Apprenticeship not only serves a wide diversity of occupational areas, but can truly benefit the employer with their future workforce training needs,” Representative Cook said.  Registered Apprenticeship Director Bev Donati and Registered Apprenticeship Representative Todd Cook were both on hand at the Program Launch.  More information on the Division of Registered Apprenticeship can be found  here .  

 

The Safety and Health Codes Board, the Department’s rulemaking body for occupational safety and health and boiler safety, is scheduled to meet on March 14 at the John Tyler Building at 13^th and Main St. in Richmond, Second Floor, Court Room “A” of the State Corporation Commission.  On the agenda is the proposed adoption of several federal OSHA identical regulations, changes to boiler operator certification regulation and asbestos project notification regulations, and the authorization to begin regulatory review of certain other regulations of the Department under the Board’s authority.   Information about the meeting, including the agenda and minutes, are available on Virginia's Regulatory Town Hall website .  

On February 20, 2013, Governor Bob McDonnell signed HB 1681, the Child Labor Permits bill, into law.  The new law will automate the permit process and becomes effective July 1, 2013.  Both the Commissioner and Department staff are excited to update the system.  

Implementing the transition from the triplicate paper to the electronic process required a legislative change.  On November 16, 2012, Commissioner Malveaux signed the paperwork from the Productivity Investment Fund (PIF) giving DOLI the funds it needs to develop a web-based program for youth employment certificates. The legislation removed current requirements for public school division superintendants to appoint individuals capable of issuing employment certificates to minors entering the workforce. It reserves this responsibility for DOLI Department staff to determine hazardous or prohibited occupations prior to issuing a certificate.  The new process also eliminates the requirement and associated costs for Department staff to travel throughout the state to train school officials.  Once the changes are incorporated, the Department’s online system will allow the minor, employer, and parent to submit applications directly to the Department and receive their certificate online - providing a more efficient and effective delivery of service.

We continue to have a number of new companies interested in applying for the VPP in Virginia.  Many new sites and companies have been in contact with our office to investigate their potential participation.  There are now 40 approved and active VPP sites in Virginia. 

In a new study about to be published, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health investigate cases of Campylobacter infections among workers at a Virginia poultry-processing plant and suggest ways to lessen the risk of infection. Researchers conducted the study as part of a health hazard evaluation requested by plant management. The study will appear in the February issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. For more information, see the full study  here .  

In keeping with its commitment to raise awareness among Spanish-speaking workers and employers, OSHA recently released nine residential construction fact sheets in Spanish. The Fact Sheets address fall hazards while working in attics, installing roofs and more.