November Virtual Meeting

Topic Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Update

The newly appointed Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Michael J. Stracka, CSP will address our group virtually and discuss what is happening within MOSH – Personnel and structural program changes, working policy and procedural changes, regulations newly adapted or anticipated.

MOSH is one of 28 OSHA-approved State Plans. State Plans are OSHA-approved job safety and health programs operated by individual states instead of federal OSHA. MOSH has jurisdiction over all public and private sector workplaces in the state with the exception of federal employees; the United States Postal Service; most private sector maritime activities (shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring); and military bases which are covered under OSHA jurisdiction.

Speaker Michael J. Stracka, CSP

Mr. Stracka comes to the State of Maryland with a diverse background in managing safety and health programs for both public sector employees and in private industry over the last 15 years. He most recently worked with the US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey serving as the Chief of the Environmental Management Branch. He also has a strong regulatory background serving in various capacities at the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). While at OSHA, Mr. Stracka started out in the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs at the National Office as an On-Site Consultation Program Regional Coordinator. From there, he spent time as a Compliance Safety and Health Officer in the Englewood, Colorado and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Area Offices before becoming the Assistant Area Director and then Area Director of the Baltimore Washington D.C. Area Office. He also spent time as the Acting Area Director of the Norfolk, Virginia Area Office.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Occupational Safety and Environmental Health from Millersville University of PA and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). He currently resides in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Krista, and their corgi Norman and boxer Lily. When he is not working, he enjoys cold water scuba diving and is a timekeeping official for JV and High School football games with the Washington District Football Officials Association in DC and Maryland schools.