Synergist - October 2009

Introductions

Michael W. Watson

Introductions features profiles of OEHS professionals working in diverse sectors of the health and safety industry. As an industrial hygienist with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), an international labor union representing 1.4 million members primarily in the transportation sector, Michael W. Watson, CIH, CSP, CHMM, REHS, has responsibility for a broad range of safety and health issues, including training, collective bargaining, technical assistance and regulatory issues.

Prior to joining the Teamsters, Watson worked as a senior environmental health specialist at the Virginia Department of Health, where he performed residential indoor air quality investigations and epidemiological surveillance of rabies and West Nile Encephalitis. Previously, he worked at the Tidewater Coal Inspection Bureau, where his duties included exposure monitoring for occupational noise, asbestos, lead, and other hazards.

Watson received a BS in biological sciences and an MS in industrial hygiene and environmental and occupational health from Old Dominion University. He can be reached at (202) 624-6960 or mwatson@teamster.org.

What health and safety issues involving union members do you deal with the most? I’m assigned to the Teamsters’ Building Material and Construction Trades, Beverage and Brewery, and Parcel and Small Package Divisions. Typically, I serve as a technical adviser on issues regarding workers’ rights under OSHA and DOT, transportation safety, chemical hazards, hazard communication, construction safety, exposure assessment, and the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. Truck drivers must meet stringent medical qualifications and hours of service limits. It is my job to advise Teamster local unions on compliance with the DOT medical requirements and hours of service limits.

What is your role in negotiating safety and health language for national contracts? The IBT is party to the National Master United Parcel Service Agreement, which covers more than 230,000 UPS workers. In 2002 and 2007, I participated in bargaining sessions as a member of IBT’s National Safety and Health Committee. We successfully negotiated language that addressed safety and health equipment, accidents and reports; temporary work for injured workers; medical and return to work examinations; and drug and alcohol testing. I also participate in grievance and arbitration proceedings related to the interpretation and implementation of the negotiated agreement.

What were your experiences at the AIHA Future Leaders Institute in 2006? It was an honor to be selected to participate in the 2006 FLI. There were a variety of social activities, networking opportunities and personality evaluation exercises geared toward enhancing professional leadership skills. Attendees remained engaged throughout the entire weekend. I met a bunch of great people, and many of them remain friends to this day.

You gave a presentation on preparing for the CIH exam at AIHce 2007 and AIHce 2008. What advice do you give people who are preparing for the exam? It’s no secret that the CIH examination is one of the toughest around. In my opinion, the most important thing is to concentrate most on what you least comprehend. It is really easy, and sometimes fun, to just focus on your strengths, especially if you are using flash cards, self-quizzes, or computer software. It feels good to answer questions correctly! But it’s very difficult to focus for weeks on topics that you have trouble comprehending. My advice would be to learn it all, no matter how difficult or burdensome it might seem.

What do you think is the key to fostering young people’s interest in industrial hygiene? This is a question we have been struggling with for some time now on the AIHA® Students and Early Career Professionals Committee. Teams on the SECP have reached out to students before they enter university, and some have even reached out to kids in middle school. AIHA has done so much in this realm already—the student local sections, social networking sites, CIH preparation material, AIHF scholarships, just to name a few. In my opinion, we need to focus more on first- and second-year university students, many of whom are unsure about a prospective major.