# Presentation: 541016

## Field Federal Safety & Health Councils

- (Insert FFSHC Name)
- (Insert Name & Title of Presenter)
- (Insert Date of Presentation)

**Notes:**
I am (insert name) from the (insert FFSHC name).  
I serve as (insert FFSHC role) for the Council.  
I work as (Insert title) for the (insert federal agency).  
This presentation provides a brief overview of what the Field Federal Safety and Health Councils are and how they operate.  

## Authority and Guidance

**Field Federal Safety and Health Councils (FFSHCs) authorized by:  **
- Section 7902, Title 5, United States Code
- Section 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
- Executive Order 12196
**Policy and procedures regarding the operation and administration of the FFSHCs provided by: **
- 29 CFR Part 1960, Subpart K
- FFSHC Operations Manual

## 1937 – Federal Interdepartmental Safety Council (FISC) organized, by request of President Roosevelt
Six cabinet officers and chaired by the Secretary of Labor

1950 – Executive Order 10194 replaced the FISC with Federal Safety Councils
Expanded participation to include local field activity level

1980 – 29 CFR Part 1960 published
Subpart K authorizes Secretary to sponsor and provide guidance to existing FFSHCs and establish new ones

2007 – FFSHC Operations Manual published

- Six cabinet officers and chaired by the Secretary of Labor
***1950***** –** Executive Order 10194 replaced the FISC with Federal Safety Councils
- Expanded participation to include local field activity level
***1980***** –** 29 CFR Part 1960 published
- Subpart K authorizes Secretary to sponsor and provide guidance to existing FFSHCs and establish new ones
***2007 *****–** FFSHC Operations Manual published

***Milestones***

**Notes:**
In 1937, President Roosevelt established the Federal Interdepartmental Safety Council to address the growing number of injuries in the Federal government.  
The Council consisted of six (6) cabinet officers and was chaired by the Secretary of Labor.

In 1950, Executive Order 10194 replaced the Federal Interdepartmental Safety Council with independent Federal Safety Councils
These Federal Safety Councils expanded participation to include federal agency participation at the local field activity level. 

In 1980, 29 CFR Part 1960 was published.
Subpart K authorizes the Secretary of Labor to sponsor and provide guidance to councils that previously existed and to establish new ones. 

In 2007, the Council Operations Manual was published. 

As of January 2008, there are 45 active councils nationwide. 

## Purpose

**FFSHCs are Federal inter-agency groups chartered by the Secretary of Labor to promote the advancement of occupational safety and health throughout the Federal government. **
**FFSHCs provide support to Federal agencies by:**
- Conducting training
- Serving as a clearinghouse
- Offering technical advice
- Sharing best practices
- Establishing cooperative relationships

**Notes:**
The councils are Federal inter-agency groups chartered by the Secretary of Labor to promote the advancement of occupational safety and health throughout the Federal government.  
They seek to reduce the incidence, severity, and cost of occupational accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
FFSHCs provide support to Federal agencies by:
Conducting training; 
Serving as clearinghouses of occupational safety and health information; 
Offering technical advice; 
Sharing best practices; and
Facilitating the establishment of cooperative relationships.

## Active FFSHCs by Region

_**Forty-five (45) Active FFSHCs**_
***(As of January 2008)***

***Region X***
**(1)**

***Region VIII***
**(2)**

***Region VII***
**(5)**

***Region V***
**(6)**

***Region I ***
**(2)**

***Region II***
**(5)**

***Region III***
**(6)**

***Region IV***
**(13)**

***Region VI***
**(2)**

***Region IX***
**(3)**

**Notes:**
This is a map of the active councils found in each of OSHA’s 10 regions.  
As of January 2008, there are currently 45 active councils across the country.
The number in parentheses represents the number of active councils within that Region.

## Membership

**FFSHC membership comprised of Federal agency occupational safety and health personnel **
**Members officially designated by Federal agency activity heads**
- Equal number of management and non-management from each member agency
- Agency participation is voluntary
- Non-federal associate membership
**ONLY designated federal agency members can:**
- Vote
- Serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary or
- 	Chairperson of a committee

**Notes:**
Council membership is comprised of Federal agency occupational safety and health personnel including:	
Safety and health managers;
Collateral duty personnel;
Line management officials; and
Federal agency labor representatives
Members are officially designated by their local Federal agency activity head. 
An equal number of management and non-management representatives should be appointed from each member agency. 
Agency participation is voluntary.
Councils are allowed to have non-federal “associate” members.
ONLY designated federal agency members can:
Vote; or
Serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary or Chairperson of a committee. 

## How DOL/OSHA Interacts with the FFSHCs

_**Secretary of Labor **_– Charters FFSHCs
_**Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health**_ – Promotes agency participation in FFSHC activities
_**OSHA Regional Administrators (RAs) **_**– **Monitor, advise, and recommend approval or disapproval on issues concerning FFSHCs
_**OSHA Federal Agency Program Officers (FAPO)**_ -  Liaison between OSHA field staff and Federal agencies.
- Provide leadership in organizing new FFSHCs
- Assist FFSHCs with operations and activities including meetings, membership, and training
_**OSHA - Office of Federal Agency Programs (OFAP)**_** –** Develops policy concerning FFSHC activities and provides overall direction and guidance for their operation

**Notes:**
The Department of Labor, through OSHA, interacts with the councils in several ways.   
The Secretary of Labor charters new councils. 

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health promotes agency participation in council activities.  

The OSHA Regional Administrators monitor, advise and recommend approval or disapproval on issues concerning FFSHCs.

OSHA Federal Agency Program Officers serve as liaisons between the OSHA field staff and Federal agencies. 
They provide leadership in organizing new councils; and 
Assist councils with operational tasks and activities such as training, planning, etc.

OSHA’s Office of Federal Agency Programs develops policy concerning council activities and provides overall direction and guidance for their operation.

## Chartering a FFSHC

**Local Federal agency safety and health personnel determine interest in organizing an FFSHC**
**Proposed FFSHC holds initial meeting**
**Proposed FFSHC d****evelops Articles of Organization**
**Regional office reviews Articles and submits request to be chartered to OSHA National Office**** **
**OSHA - ****OFAP reviews Articles for compliance with 29 CFR Part 1960 & FFSHC Manual**** **
**If compliance requirements met, OFAP produces a charter and forwards Articles and charter to the Secretary of Labor for approval**

**Notes:**
The steps taken in chartering a council are as follows:  
Local Federal agency safety and health personnel determine there is interest in organizing a council. 
Next, the proposed council should hold an initial meeting.
Proposed council develops Articles of Organizations
The Regional OSHA office reviews the council’s draft Articles.
OFAP reviews, and if approved, OFAP produces a charter and forwards the Articles and charter to the Secretary for approval.

## FFSHC Annual Report

**All FFSHCs required to submit an Annual Report**
**Annual Report Guidelines issued from the OSHA National Office**
**Based on previous calendar year activities**
**Due March 15th of each year**
**Annual Reports include information on: **
**Meetings, training, and other occupational safety & health related events**
**Membership and agency participation**
**Special FFSHC initiatives**
**Goals and objectives for the reported calendar year and upcoming year**
**Annual Reports used to: **
**Generate reports and briefings on the status of the FFSHCs nation-wide**
**Determine OSHA National Office Recognition Awards based on performance **

**Notes:**
All councils are required to submit an Annual Report.
The OSHA National Office issues the Annual Report Guidelines, which councils are encouraged to use in generating their reports. 
Annual reports are based on the previous calendar year activities, 
And, are due on March 15th of each year.

The Reports should include information on: 
Meetings, training, and other occupational safety and health related events that the council has participated in that year;  
Membership and agency participation;
Special council initiatives; and 
The council’s goals and objectives for the reported calendar year and upcoming year.
Annual Reports are used to: 
Generate reports and briefings on the status of the council’s nation-wide
And, to determine the OSHA National Office Recognition Awards. 

## Awards

**Annual National Office Recognition Awards**
- Based on FFSHC size category
- Category I: Federal employee population of > 24,000
- Category II: Federal employee population of 12,000 to 24,000
- Category III: Federal employee population of < 12,000
- Three (3) award levels
- Superior Performance
- Meritorious Achievement
- Notable Recognition
- Up to nine (9) awards given
**Regional Awards**

**Notes:**
OSHA National Office awards are given in recognition of activities undertaken by the council during the previous calendar year to promote the advancement of occupational safety and health in the federal government.

Award level is determined by comparing the council’s performance to other councils within the same size category. 
Size categories are based upon the size of the Federal employee population served by the council. 
Category One (1) contains councils serving a federal employee population of more than 24,000. 
Category Two (2) contains Councils with a federal employee population between 12,000 and 24,000. 
And, finally Category Three (3) is for Councils serving less than 12,000 federal employees.

There are three award levels within each size category. 
These are Superior Performance, Meritorious Achievement, and Notable Recognition.
Up to nine (9) awards are given each year. 

Some OSHA Regional Offices may also provide council awards or other forms of recognition. 

## Additional Information

***(Insert Council Name)***** FFSHC**
- Chair Name:
- Chair Phone:
- Chair Email:
***(Insert OSHA Regional FAPO Name)***
- FAPO Phone:
- FAPO Email:
**OSHA Office of Federal Agency Programs website:**
- www.osha.gov/dep/fap/index.html

**Notes:**
For additional information regarding the (Insert FFSHC Name) council please contact (Insert FFSHC Chair’s Name). 

For additional information on other councils in the Region contact (insert FAPOs name).  

Finally, for more information on occupational safety and health in the Federal government, visit the Office of Federal Agency Programs website at www.osha.gov/dep/fap/index.html