OSHA announced today the first ever virtual stakeholder meeting for June 28, 2010. Information and comments gathered from the virtual event will be used to develop a proposed standard on combustible dust. The topic is combustible dust workplace hazards, but the real story may be OSHA’s efforts to use technology to engage a more diverse audience, particularly the harder to reach small-businesses.
The virtual meeting starts with a live Web chat at 1 p.m. EDT on June 28; after that, participants will be able make comments and participate in discussions via the Department of Labor Blog through July 7, 2010.
Additional evidence that OSHA is looking to make better use of technology to communicate and elicit feedback from stakeholders can be found in its push to modernize its injury and illness data collection process as well as its use of the website regulations.gov.
Calling itself an “Online source for U.S. government regulations from nearly 300 agencies,” regulations.gov is similar to the Federal Register in that the website allows visitors to search for and read government documents online. What makes regulations.gov unique is that it also allows users to add their own comments and read the submissions of others. Currently, OSHA uses both the Federal Register and regulations.gov in its communication strategy.
According to OSHA, the drive to engage the public through technology is rooted in President Obama’s Open Government Initiative which seeks to improve transparency, participation, and collaboration in government.
