|
NAHB's Thibodeaux Appointed OSHA Committee Chair
 Michael J. Thibodeaux, an NAHB member from Wimberley, Texas, has been invited to become the committee chairman of OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). It is the first time an NAHB member will serve in this committee leadership role.
“Your experience in, and knowledge of, the construction industry are greatly valued by the ACCSH and OSHA,” said Elaine Chao, the secretary of labor under the Bush Administration, in a letter asking Thibodeaux to accept the appointment. “We believe that your further contributions and leadership as the ACCSH chairman will be of great value.”
The ACCSH was established to advise the assistant secretary for occupational safety and health on setting construction standards and policy matters affecting federally financed or assisted construction.
“Having a representative on the ACCSH is critical to ensure that home builders’ viewpoints and opinions are taken into account prior to OSHA issuing construction safety regulations,” said Colin Campbell, chairman of NAHB’s Construction Safety & Health Committee and a builder from Charleston, S.C. “I can’t think of a more qualified, dedicated individual than Michael to make sure our industry’s voice is heard.”
Thibodeaux is a longtime member of NAHB and has been an active member of the Construction Safety & Health Committee for 14 years.
“Due to the breadth of issues addressed by the ACCSH and the fact that home building is distinctly different from heavy commercial construction and other sectors being regulated by OSHA, this is an extremely important appointment for our builder members,” said NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard.
Thibodeaux currently owns a risk management and safety consulting business serving the home building industry. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years as the executive director for risk management for Lennar Corporation in Houston. Since 1981, he has been the presiding judge for the Hunters Creek Municipal Court, also in Houston.
The 15 ACCSH committee members are appointed by OSHA’s assistant secretary; they are comprised of five who represent employers, five who represent employees, two representing state safety and health agencies, two representing the public and one member designated by the secretary of health and human services.
NAHB provides members and others in the residential construction industry with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety. A variety of safety resources and guidebooks — including the English-Spanish NAHB Fall Protection Handbook and the Fall Protection Video — are available through www.builderbooks.com/safety.
For more information on NAHB construction safety issues and training programs, e-mail Rob Matuga at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8507.
|
