New Occupational Safety & Health Regulatory Office Established

Risk Management has strengthened the Choctaw Nation’s Occupational Safety & Health programs by establishing the Occupational Safety & Health Regulatory Office.

The Occupational Safety and Health Regulatory department will be led by Wayne Howard (Robert W. Howard in Outlook). Wayne has been in this role for almost a year. Prior to that, Wayne spent six years in the private-business sector for a high-hazard industry spanning the United States and Canada.

Wayne’s title is CNO Regulatory Safety & Health Officer with the primary responsibility of creating a strong bridge between State, Federal and Tribal Governments who create, and enforce Occupational Safety and Health Code of Federal Regulations. Wayne and his team will be tasked with developing, implementing, and enforcing Occupational Safety and Health Codes within our CNO Reservation. In addition to Government-to-Government responsibilities, Wayne’s office will serve as a liaison between our associates, CNO Occupational Safety & Health staff, and our operations management teams.

“Our overarching goal is to protect our CNO sovereignty and create a Safety culture that is world class,” says Risk Management Executive Director, Daron Sharp, who points out that Risk Management is “proud that the National Safety Council recently honored the Choctaw Nation as one of only 35 organizations in the U.S. to be selected to receive a 2024 Industry Leader Award for excellent safety performance.”

Wayne currently reports to Andreasen Matson, Sr. Director of Occupational Safety & Health. Drea points out that there will be no change to each department’s/facility’s operational safety group who currently reports to Director, Crystal Battles. All teams will continue to have their current CNOSH safety manager and can still reach out to CNOSH for any concerns and needs related to operational safety and health.