I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
September 23, 2002
Dates Renewed
October 26, 2004
January 29, 2007
Overview
The OSHA and ABSA Alliance focuses on promoting healthy and safe workplaces. The organizations use
their collective expertise both to enhance workplace health and safety and to assist employers,
including small businesses, in developing a preventive focus for biological safety issues facing the
American workplace.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
|
Jack Longmire
Sandi Khan
Melody Sands
Dionne Williams |
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)
DEP |
| |
|
| ABSA: |
|
Penny Holeman
Rich Rebar
Ed Styger |
Johnson & Johnson
GlaxoSmithKline
Executive Director |
Evaluation Period
September 23, 2006 – September 22, 2007
II. Implementation Team Meetings
December 13, 2006
April 3, 2007
August 24, 2007 |
Conference Call, Washington, DC
Meeting, Washington, DC
Meeting, Washington, DC |
In addition to these formal meetings and conference calls, the Alliance
coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor
the Alliance's progress and results.
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education materials for OSHA
Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) regarding Biosafety and to provide expertise in
communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
Products
Essentials of Biosafety: Assessment and Strategies
ABSA members provided OSHA with information and best practices during the Agency's development of
"Essentials of Biosafety: Assessment and Strategies" training course for OSHA Compliance Safety and
Health Officers (CSHOs). In addition, OSHA representative, Dionne Williams, Team Leader, Office of
Health Enforcement, DEP, USDOL-OSHA and ABSA representatives, John Keene, Diane Fleming, Barbara
Johnson conducted OSHA's, "Essentials of Biosafety: Assessment and Strategies," training course for
35 OSHA CSHOs on October 2-6, 2006 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of
workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information
(e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and ABSA's Web sites) to
employers and employees in the industry.
Products
ABSA and OSHA Alliance Web Page
ABSA continually updates the ABSA and OSHA Alliance Web page, which has links to OSHA's Safety and
Health Topic pages including Avian Flu, Biological Agents, Indoor Air Quality and Small Pox and to
information on the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site including the OSHA and ABSA
Alliance agreement, annual reports and milestones and successes.
OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web Page
OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web
site. The page includes links to the OSHA and ABSA agreement, news releases, events, milestones and
successes and a link to the ABSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on ABSA's Web site.
OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages
ABSA's Technical Review Committee members serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety
and Health Topics pages:
- Anthrax
- Avian Flu
- Biological Agents
- Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
- Botulism
- Foodborne Disease
- Hantavirus
- Hazardous Waste
- Indoor Air Quality
- Ionizing Radiation
- Legionnaires' Disease
- Mold and Fungi
- Plague
- Ricin
- Smallpox
- Tularemia
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
Please see Appendix A for a list of the ABSA reviewers.
OSHA's Hospital eTool
As part of the OSHA and ABSA Alliance, ABSA's Technical Review Committee members are participating
on the agency's update of its Hospital eTool. The Committee submitted an extensive review of a
number of the tools modules including bloodborne pathogens, laboratory and health care wide hazards.
Please see Appendix A for a list of the ABSA reviewers.
- Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA's or ABSA's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as
ABSA's Annual Conference.
Events
49th Annual Biological Safety Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, October 15-18, 2006
A number of OSHA representatives participated in the ABSA's 49th Biological Safety Conference,
October 15-18, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. Melody Sands, Director, Office of Health Enforcement,
DEP, USDOL-OSHA, Dionne Williams, Team Leader, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP, USDOL-OSHA, and
Karen Heckmann, Directorate of Training and Education, USDOL-OSHA provided OSHA's Professional
Development Course, "Introduction to OSHA for Biosafety Professionals," during the pre-conference
training session on October 14, 2006. In addition, Dionne Williams and an ABSA representative, Rich
Rebar, staffed the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Program exhibit booth during the conference.
2007 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 6-12, 2007
ABSA joined with more than 15 other Alliance Program participants to support 2007 NAOSH Week and the
Kick-off event on May 7, 2007 at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. NAOSH Week,
sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant,
focuses on increasing the understanding of the positive benefits of investing in occupational
safety, health and environmental programs among employers, employees and the public; raising
awareness of the role and contribution of safety, health and environmental professionals; and
reducing workplace injuries and illness by encouraging safety and health activities at all companies
and organizations.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
ABSA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ABSA and
through OSHA or ABSA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or
any other applicable forum).
OSHA and ABSA Alliance-Developed Fact Sheets
Through the OSHA and ABSA Alliance, ABSA developed and OSHA is reviewing a number of Biohazard fact
sheets including, Principals of Good Microbiological Practice; Principals of Biosafety; Universal
Precautions for Handling Human Blood; Body Fluids and Tissues in the Clinical And Research
Laboratory; List of Bloodborne Pathogens, their Symptoms and Epidemiology; List of Zoonotic Diseases
and Pathogens and Biosafety Levels. The fact sheets will be completed in 2008. posted on the ABSA
and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organizations Web site and OSHA will link to the fact sheets from
the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page on the agency's Web site.
- Executive Summary
During the reporting period, OSHA and ABSA renewed its Alliance agreement on January 29, 2007. The
organizations are continuing to use their collective expertise both to enhance workplace health and
safety and to assist employers, including small businesses, in developing a preventive focus for
biological safety issues facing the American workplace.
For example, the OSHA and ABSA Alliance maintained several informational resources about the
Alliance, biological hazards and other safety and health materials. The OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web
page on the Agency's Web site features links to the Alliance agreement, the renewal agreement,
related documents, activities and events, and milestones and successes. The ABSA and OSHA Alliance
Web page on the organization's Web site features a biological hazards page that provides ABSA
members and other visitors to the site with resources for addressing biological hazards, including
links to the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page, OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages and compliance
assistance materials. Additionally, ABSA's Technical Review Committee members helped to review and
provide OSHA with information for many of the agency's Safety and Health Topics pages and eTools
covering such issues as hazardous waste, Legionnaires disease, mold and fungi, tularemia and viral
hemorrhagic fevers through serving on the tools' editorial boards. ABSA representatives are also
participating in the agency's update of its Hospital eTool.
In addition, OSHA representatives, Melody Sands, Director, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP, Dionne
Williams, Team Leader, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP, and Karen Heckmann, Directorate of
Training and Education, provided the OSHA Professional Development Course, "Introduction to OSHA for
Biosafety Professionals," during a pre-conference training session at ABSA's 49th Annual Biological
Safety Conference on October 14, 2006. OSHA and ABSA representatives also staffed an Alliance
Program exhibit booth and shared safety and health information and products with the attendees
covering OSHA's cooperative programs and compliance assistance resources; particularly the Alliance
and On-site Consultation Programs.
Finally, OSHA and ABSA representatives Dionne Williams, John Keene, Diane Fleming, and Barbara
Johnson conducted OSHA's, "Essentials of Biosafety: Assessment and Strategies," training course for
OSHA CSHOs on October 2-6, 2006 in Bethesda, Maryland.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained |
| OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site |
4,785 |
| ABSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on ABSA's Web site |
Data not available |
Members of ABSA serve on 17 of OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages:
- Anthrax
- Avian Flu
- Biological Agents
- Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
- Botulism
- Foodborne Disease
- Hantavirus
- Hazardous Waste
- Indoor Air Quality
- Ionizing Radiation
- Legionnaires' Disease
- Mold and Fungi
- Plague
- Ricin
- Smallpox
- Tularemia
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
|
|
|
October 2-6, 2006: Essentials of Biosafety:
Assessment and Strategies
Bethesda, Maryland |
35 |
March 1, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with American
Biological Safety Association
Laboratory News |
Data Not Available |
March 5, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with American
Biological Safety Association
Safety Online |
Data Not Available |
March 5, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with American
Biological Safety Association
Environmental Resource Center |
Data Not Available |
March 5, 2007: Alliance Renewed Between OSHA and
American Biological Safety Association
New Equipment Digest |
Data Not Available |
May 2007: NAOSH Partners
The American Society of Safety Engineers |
Data Not Available |
May 14, 2007: OSHA renews alliance with ABSA
Industrial NewRoom |
Data Not Available |
October 15-18, 2006
49th Annual Biological Safety Conference
Boston, Massachusetts
Alliance Program Exhibit |
600 |
October 15-18, 2006
49th Annual Biological Safety Conference
Boston, Massachusetts
OSHA presentation: "Introduction to OSHA for Biosafety Professionals"
Speakers:
Melody Sands, Director, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP
Karen Heckmann, Directorate of Training and Education
Dionne Williams, Team Leader, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP |
50 |
| TOTAL |
5,470 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
In the upcoming year, OSHA and ABSA will renew the Alliance agreement and continue to promote
awareness of the Program and use their collective expertise to enhance workplace health and safety
and to assist employers, including small businesses, in developing a preventive focus for biological
safety issues facing the American workplace. For example, OSHA and ABSA Alliance implementation team
members are committed to maintaining and updating the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page on the
Agency's Web site and ABSA's Alliance-related Web page on the organization's Web site.
In addition, ABSA's Technical Review Committee members will continue to contribute their expertise
and serve on editorial boards for 17 OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages. ABSA's Technical Review
Committee will also continue to work with other Alliance Program participants, including the Laser
Institute of America and The Joint Commission/Joint Commission Resources, to update OSHA's Hospital
eTool. ABSA members will also review biological safety and health documents developed by OSHA, as
requested.
OSHA representatives, Melody Sands, Karen Heckmann, and Dionne Williams, will deliver OSHA's
Professional Development Course, "Introduction to OSHA for Biosafety Professionals," at ABSA's 50th
Annual Biological Safety Conference on October 7-10, 2007, in Nashville, Tennessee. Ms. Williams
will also give a presentation, "OSHA Protection; Past, Present and Future OSHA Efforts Concerning
Workers on October 7. In addition, ABSA is providing exhibit space for an Alliance Program booth.
Finally, OSHA and ABSA will complete the development of the Biohazard fact sheets in 2008 and post
them on the ABSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organizations Web site and OSHA will link to the
fact sheets from the OSHA and ABSA Alliance Web page on the agency's Web site.
Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
October 15, 2007.
Appendix A
Editorial Review Board
Matthew J. Bankowski, ViroMed (LabCorp), Minnetonka, MN
Franklin R. Champlin, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Mary L. Cipriano, Abbott, Abbott Park, IL
Robert P. Ellis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Glenn A. Funk, ABSA President
Raymond W. Hackney, Jr., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Philip Hagan, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Robert J. Hawley, Midwest Research Institute, Frederick, MD
Richard Henkel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Debra L. Hunt, Duke University, Durham, NC
Peter C. Iwen, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
John H. Keene, Biohaztec Associates, Inc., Midlothian, VA
Paul Michael Kivistik, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Joseph P. Kozlovac, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
Jens H. Kuhn, Harvard Medical School, Southborough, MA
Margy S. Lambert, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
R. Thomas Leonard, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Paul J. Meechan, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA
Mark Nicas, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Beryl J. Packer, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Tim Ravita, Constella Health Sciences, Atlanta, GA
Richard Rebar, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, King of Prussia, PA
Jonathan Y. Richmond, Jonathan Richmond & Associates, Inc., Southport, NC
Deanna S. Robbins, Department of Veterans Affairs, Baltimore, MD
Richard J. Shaughnessy, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
Allan Showler, USDA-ARS, Weslaco, TX
Cecil R. Smith, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Gerard J. Spahn, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Donald Vesley, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Catherine L. Wilhelmsen, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID),
Fort Detrick, MD
Linda B. Wolfe, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
Jeffrey D. Wolt, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Alan G. Woodard, International Environmental Health Alliance, Gansevoort, NY
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