Matching skilled workers with aerospace employers

This started in 1916 with one small-aircraft business and has now grown to 740 companies, which currently employ 96,900 workers.

"What is the aerospace industry in Washington state?" is correct!

With almost 100 years of experience manufacturing and assembling the best planes on Earth, it is no wonder Washington is the aerospace capital of the United States.

As of 2011, all commercial aircraft over 100 seats built in the United States are assembled and delivered right here. Yes, even with Boeing's new plant in South Carolina, 90 percent of the company's production is in Washington.

But it's not easy being the best and the largest in the field; it takes lots of highly skilled workers to get the job done well and maintain our outstanding reputation. That's where it gets tricky because thousands of aerospace workers will be retiring in the next few years. Meanwhile, production will continue increasing, which means the demand for a qualified workforce will also be higher.

The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing, a one-stop resource hub for the industry's education and training needs, created this nifty online tool that will make it easier for aerospace companies to find skilled workers.

The website lists graduates from 18 of Washington state's community colleges, in nine aerospace-related fields, so employers can search for graduates with specific skill sets.

There is plenty of work ahead to satisfy the industry's demand, but Washington is on it. In recent years, we have taken important steps to create and expand aerospace and manufacturing training programs. In fact, just a year ago, during the December special session, the Legislature passed three measures to shore up our aerospace industry.

Want to learn more? Back in April, Mary Kaye Bredeson, director of Everett Community College's Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing, wrote this op-ed on how community colleges are helping aerospace soar.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Washing tons of hazardous gunk out of our lives best be a top priority

Here's a delicious refrain that moms (and all good, upright dads, too) can always be counted on to sing out strong: Washing up after tasks large and small is the only real way to put a safe distance between oneself and potentially hazardous materials. No matter, my friend, if it's job-safety in the workplace or good-health practices on the home front, there's no substitute for washing up.

A very recent state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) press release reminds us that it takes but an instant of inattention, a single careless moment of one dropping one's guard for tragedy to strike. Serious, permanent injury awaits, looms for those who would dare dodge the simple, common-sense policies and procedures for safety at home and abroad.

Too, you had better believe that in the 2013 legislative session the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee will continue discussing the right ways and means for promoting high standards in workplace safety and health. Indeed, with their final pre-session update set in a Friday, Nov. 30, committee meeting, panel members are looking forward to a thorough update in this arena, including labor and business comments. The meeting will get started at 8 a.m. in House Hearing Room C, John L. O'Brien Building, right here on your Capitol Campus.

Also, Labor & Industries is holding a series of workshops (intended specifically for employers) both to bring folks up to speed on the law, in general, and to nail down hazards in the workplace, in particular. These free workshops will talk about 1) The best techniques for emergency hand-washing and eyewashing after an accident, and 2) The best techniques for preventing these accidents from even happening in the first place. The upcoming workshop schedule is:

• Mount Vernon — Wednesday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to noon.
• Kelso — Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Spokane — Tuesday, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to noon.
• Tacoma — Thursday, Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Mount Vernon — Thursday, Jan. 10, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tukwila — Wednesday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m. to noon.

There will be other workshops in 2013. To learn more and/or to register for a workshop (pre-registration is required, by the by), please click Emergency Washing Workshop, or call 1-800-574-2829.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

The Legislature in May

Spring has finally arrived, and the Legislature is not scheduled to be "in session" any more this year.

But that doesn't mean legislative work has come to a standstill. Committees will be holding public meetings and work sessions in various locations around the state all interim long.

May, for example, has the House Higher Education committee meeting at South Seattle Community College on Monday the 21st.  And the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee meeting at Sea Tac City Hall on Thursday the 31st.

These off-site hearings give legislators the opportunity to hear from community folks who might not be able to make a trip to Olympia during the regular legislative session.

Of course, plenty of other committees will be meeting in the tradition hearing rooms on the Capitol Campus in Olympia this month, too. 

You can keep track of individual committees - or all committees - by signing up for e-mail notification of upcoming meetings and work sessions.