STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1431

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 460

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 460, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board

G.M. No. 460

JOAQUIN M. DIAZ, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Joaquin M. Diaz to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Mr. Diaz was submitted by one state agency and seven individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Diaz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University.  He is currently a Safety Director at Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company.  His previous positions include Regional Safety Manager at Dick Pacific Construction Co., Ltd., and Safety Manager at M. Shiroma Construction Company.  Mr. Diaz is a Certified Safety Professional, certified by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, and a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

     Mr. Diaz is an American Red Cross volunteer and served in the United States Marine Corps for nearly three years before being honorably discharged.  He is highly experienced as a manager in the occupational safety and health fields.  In addition to holding numerous credentials relating to occupational safety, he has also served as an OSHA Training Institute Instructor for the University of California – San Diego and Director of the Executive Committee for the local chapter of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and has served as a member of several occupational safety-related committees.

     Mr. Diaz is extremely well-qualified and possesses extensive experience in and a depth of knowledge of occupational safety and health issues.  He is familiar with the issues facing both the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board and the State in terms of occupational safety.  Mr. Diaz would contribute valuable insights based on experience, and specific suggestions on ways to address those issues, which would make him an extraordinary asset to the Advisory Board.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair