Massapequa WD Commissioners Among Commissioners to Participate in NSWCA Public Employee Safety Meeting

Farmingdale, NY; December 14, 2015 – Karl Schweitzer, Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District and Treasurer of Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA),of which Massapequa Water District Commissioners Thomas P. Hand and Raymond Averna serve as President and First Vice President, respectively, recently led a special presentation on Public Employee Safety and Health Employee Training Requirements during a recent NSWCA meeting hosted by Plainview Water District Chairman Joel R. Kessler, Plainview Water District Treasurer Andrew N. Bader, who serves as NSWCA 2nd Vice President, and Plainview Water District Secretary Marc B. Laykind.

Mr. Schweitzer explained who the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Public Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) are while emphasizing both the workers’ responsibilities as well as the rights and responsibilities of our water districts. “It is important for workers to follow their employer’s safety and health rules and to report any hazardous conditions to a supervisor or safety committee,” Mr. Schweitzer stated. “In turn, an employer must provide a safe, healthy workplace and follow OSHA standards.”

PESH, created in 1980, provides protection to all public sector employees at the state and local level, and enforces safety and health standards advocated under OSHA. Mr. Schweitzer gave some examples of recent PESH visits within Plainview Water District and discussed minimum employee training requirements including Emergency Action Plans and protection from possible exposure to hazardous materials.

Mr. Hand commented, “Mr. Schweitzer has years of experience promoting safety in the workplace and we appreciate the expertise he brought to this presentation.”

A Hicksville resident who is Manager of Safety and Health for Brooklyn/Queens Electric Operations at Con Edison, Mr. Schweitzer has served as Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District since 2003 and is a past President of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association.

Organized and chartered in 1981, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) is comprised of water commissioners from 21 Nassau and Suffolk County water districts. The NSWCA is dedicated to promoting environmental excellence and best practices as well as maintaining the highest standards of water quality and supply. NSWCA sponsors regular educational meetings on topics that include the environment, security, economics, rules and regulations, among other related issues.

For further information about NSWCAm contact Thomas P. Hand, President,via phone, 516-798-5269, or email, tphand@massapequawater.com.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured from left to right at a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting focused on public employee safety and healthy employee training requirements are: Westbury Water Commissioner and NSWCA Secretary Vincent Abbatiello, Plainview Water Commissioner and NSWCA second Vice President Andrew Bader, Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District and Treasurer of Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association Karl Schweitzer; Massapequa Water Commissioner and NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand, and Massapequa Water Commissioner and NSWCA First Vice President Raymond Averna.