Experts Available to Discuss OSHA's National Emphasis Program Expands Beyond Oil Refineries to Include 28,000 Chemical Plants, Industries Experiencing Frequent Combustible Dust Incidents

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TOPIC: OSHA announced it will conduct a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for 28,000 U.S. chemical plants during 2008 and has mobilized more than a third of its inspection force to carry out that effort, according to an article by The Safety Daily Advisor. The Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board found only four process safety management inspections occurred in the chemical plant sector over the past 10 years, which prompted the NEP. NEPs involve inspections and enforcing regulations for a particular industry. OSHA has also planned inspections for facilities that create or handle combustible dusts, which can cause intense burning or other fire hazards when suspended in air, and can lead to explosions, according to a report by CBS "60 Minutes". Since 1980, 350 combustible dust explosions have killed 133 people and injured hundreds more in the United States. There are at least 30,000 factories in the nation vulnerable to dust explosions. In 2007, NEP focused on reducing or eliminating workplace hazards associated with the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals at petroleum refineries. Approximately one-third of OSHA's 1,000 inspectors were trained and mobilized to conduct the refinery inspections.

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James Parish joined RWD Technologies in 2000, and serves as Executive Vice President of RWD's Performance Solutions group. Mr. Parish's group provides clients with training and process improvement solutions for lean manufacturing, back office, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, safety, and health and environmental applications. Before assuming his current position, Mr. Parish served as the manager of the ACTS Consortium workforce development project, a member of the Governance Committee of Sigma Learning (a Limited Liability Committee serving Delphi Corp.), and as a departmental director. Prior to joining RWD Technologies, he was vice president and general manager for U.S. Axle, Inc. Previously, he also held various senior management positions for Diesel Technology Company during its transition from a division of General Motors to a major supplier of diesel fuel systems. Following five years as a co-op student, Mr. Parish held progressively more responsible engineering and engineering management responsibilities at General Motors. Mr. Parish holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from GMI Management and Engineering Institute and his M.B.A. from Grand Valley State University.

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PR Contact: Sandra Eisenberg

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Al Khakoo is division director for the RWD Technologies Energy Performance Solutions division, where he has worked in a variety of technical and managerial positions improving clients' human and business process performance for the last 16 years. At a time when global economic growth and a retiring workforce create unprecedented demand on the energy industry, Khakoo and his team manage RWD's comprehensive portfolio of integrated, synergistic solutions and methodologies that enable and empower organizations to overcome the industry's internal and external challenges. Under Khakoo's direction, RWD's holistic approach has consistently accelerated the competencies of its clients' energy workforce, minimized inefficiencies and waste, overcoming cultural barriers -- all while maximizing resources, regulatory compliance, performance and profitability within organizations. It engages and encompasses all levels of an energy organization and inspires a continuous evolution of quality and safety improvement. Khakoo's global energy enterprise clients in the upstream, mid stream, downstream, petrochemical and power businesses include: ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Valero Energy, TengizChevroil, Instituto de Mexicano Petroleo (Ecopetrol), Petroleo de Mexicano (Pemex), Air Liquide, BP Refining and BP Chemicals. Prior to joining RWD, Khakoo held several positions at Schlumberger, MPR Services, PTS, and NL industries. He holds a bachelor and masters degrees in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University.

PR Contact: Deb Eisenberg

301-523-9224

deisenberg1@comcast.net

PR Contact: Sandra Eisenberg

401-919-9214

eisens1@earthlink.net

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