I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
July 23, 2003
Overview
Recognizing the value of enhancing public safety through quality testing, OSHA and ACIL are using
their collective expertise to help increase awareness of OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratory (NRTL) program that is a part of OSHA’s Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine
(DSTM). The OSHA recognized laboratories determine if equipment and products that are specified in
the Agency’s regulations meet consensus-based safety standards and can be used safely in the
workplace. A NRTL puts its nationally registered mark on the products it tests, which certifies that
they meet OSHA-endorsed standards.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
|
Maryann Garrahan
Rick Harris
Karen Heckman
Bob Isiminger
Lee Anne Jillings
John Linkletter
Long Loo
Sherrey Nicolas
Bernard Pasquet
Lisa Ramber
David Wallis |
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine
(DSTM)
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Office of Training and Education (OTE)
Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
OOSA
OTE
DSG
DSTM
DSTM
OOSA
DSG |
| |
|
| ACIL: |
|
Milt Bush
Joan Cassedy
Len Frier
Doug Geralde
Walt Vance |
The M Companies
Executive Director
MET Laboratories
CSA International
CSA International |
Evaluation Period
July 23, 2004 – July 22, 2005
II. Implementation Team Meetings
July 23, 2004
February 8, 2005
April 15, 2005
June 8, 2005 |
Team Meeting
Team Meeting
Team Meeting
Team Meeting |
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education Goal
- Review existing OSHA training programs and determine where information on the NRTL program can be
incorporated into the curriculum.
Products
OSHA PowerPoint® Presentations
ACIL completed their review and provided comments on three OSHA PowerPoint® presentations that are
used by the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in its courses: Electrical Hazards, Hazardous Materials
for general audiences and Hazardous Materials for specific audiences.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including links from
OSHA’s and ACIL’s Web sites.
Products
OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web Page
OSHA continues to update the OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. The page
includes a copy of the OSHA and ACIL Alliance agreement, a photograph of the signing ceremony, news
releases and activities and events; products and resources; and milestones and successes. In
addition, a link was added to the page to the OSHA and ACIL Alliance Annual Report for 2003-2004.
ACIL Web Page
ACIL has added a link from its “Special Programs” focus box on its Web site’s homepage to the OSHA
and ACIL Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site.
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page
Joan Cassedy, Executive Director of ACIL, continues to serve on OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratories, Safety and Health Topics page editorial board. The page was updated on March 29, 2005
and June 8, 2005.
Publications
ACIL’s eNewletter, News from…
In the June 2004 edition of ACIL’s monthly enewsletter, News from…, ACIL published an article, OSHA
Compliance Assistance Resources, that discussed two new compliance assistance resources available
from OSHA, the Hispanic Outreach Fact Sheet and the Young Worker Fact Sheet. The article highlighted
OSHA’s numerous Spanish-language compliance assistance and training resources, which may assist
employers of Spanish speaking employees. It also provided information on OSHA's young worker
compliance assistance and training materials for employers of young workers.
NRTL Certification Marks Pocket Card
The OSHA and ACIL implementation team continues to work on the development of a laminated pocket
card, with the NRTL certification marks from the testing laboratories throughout the U.S. and
Canada. The completed pocket card will be an informational resource for students who attend OTI’s
courses and the Agency’s National, Regional and Area Offices’ staff as well as OSHA Consultation
Program personnel.
Currently, the draft pocket card contains certification marks from each of the NRTLs; the Alliance
Program and ACIL logos; the Web site addresses for ACIL, OSHA and OSHA’s Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory Safety and Health Topics page and information from OSHA's standard, 29 CFR
Chapter XVII.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events to raise awareness of
the NRTL program, such as the ACIL Mid-Winter Meeting and meetings of the American Council for
Electrical Safety (ACES).
Events
American Council for Electrical Safety (ACES) Meetings
Maryann Garrahan and Bernard Pasquet attended the ACES meeting, organized by ACIL, on April 14, 2005
in Baltimore, MD. Maryann Garrahan made a presentation on OSHA’s proposed Satellite Notification and
Acceptance Program (SNAP). SNAP, if approved, would allow satellite laboratories affiliated with a
NRTL, to test and certify the electrical equipment as safe for use in the workplace. Bernard Pasquet
gave informal talks on issues and topics relating to OSHA’s NRTL Program and participated in a
question and answer session immediately following his discussions.
- Develop informational materials and cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health
professionals on the NRTL program and the products and equipment that are required to have a mark.
Products
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program: Marking or Labeling on Products, Safety and
Health Information Bulletin (SHIB)
Maryann Garrahan shared with ACIL a draft outline of a SHIB entitled, “Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratory (NRTL) Program: Marking or Labeling on Products”, for ACIL to review. Another SHIB on
counterfeit certification marks and products may also be developed.
Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:
- Providing stakeholders with information and guidance on the purpose and requirements of the NRTL
program.
Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACIL maintain Web sites which provide stakeholders and others, with
safety and health information relating to the requirements for the NRTL Program. The OSHA and ACIL
Web sites are updated as appropriate, on an ongoing basis.
- Raising awareness and understanding of the value of the NRTLs marks on safety products and
equipment.
Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACIL maintain Web sites which provide stakeholders and others, with
safety and health information which informs the Web site visitors about the value of NRTL marks on
safety products and equipment. The OSHA and ACIL Web sites are updated as appropriate, on an ongoing
basis.
- Raise awareness of the NRTL program when ACIL’s leaders address groups.
The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Participate together in forums to promote the value of workplace safety.
The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Encourage ACIL’s members to act as liaisons and resources for OSHA’s cooperative programs.
The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Executive Summary
Through the OSHA and ACIL Alliance, OSHA and ACIL continue to share information related to the NRTL
Program and OSHA’s compliance assistance resources.
For example, ACIL completed its review of OTI's PowerPoint® presentations, Electrical Safety,
Hazardous Materials for general audiences and Hazardous Materials for specific audiences. In
addition, Joan Cassedy remains as a member of the editorial board for the NTRL Safety and Health
Topics page. During this reporting period, two updates were completed on the NTRL Safety and Health
Topics page.
The implementation team has discussed developing several outreach materials related to the NRTL
Program including a SHIB on counterfeit equipment in the workplace and a fact sheet on genuine
certification marks and location of genuine certification marks on equipment approved for use in the
workplace. ACIL will also develop an article on the detection of counterfeit certification marks and
products for OSHA staff.
The implementation team also continues to pursue efforts to develop a laminated card with
information and samples of all of the genuine certification marks from each NRTL. The laminated card
will contain information on available resources such as OSHA’s and ACIL’s Web sites and text from
OSHA’s standard for electrical equipment approval in the workplace. The card will be distributed to
OSHA personnel and is intended to be a resource to OSHA staff during inspections.
OSHA and ACIL continued sharing information during the reporting period. OSHA implementation team
members learned a wealth of information from ACIL on the growing problem of counterfeit products and
counterfeit certification marks on those products that are appearing at workplaces through out the
U.S. This information sharing included a presentation by ACIL member Doug Geralde, CSA
International, at the June 8, 2005 implementation team meeting. In addition, Maryann Garrahan gave a
presentation on OSHA’s proposed SNAP Program to the attendees at the ACES Meeting in Baltimore, MD,
which is hosted by ACIL. OSHA implementation team Member Bernard Pasquet routinely attends the ACES
meetings, providing informal talks and answers questions from ACES attendees.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained |
June, 2005 - “OSHA Compliance Assistance Resources”
News from… - ACIL Newsletter |
1,000 |
| OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web page |
4,800 |
| NRTL Safety and Health Topics Page |
32,400 |
| TOTAL |
38,200 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
OSHA and ACIL remain committed to work together through the Alliance Program and will sign a renewal
agreement. As part of the renewal efforts, OSHA and ACIL will work on number of projects to support
the agreement.
For example, the Alliance will finalize the laminated pocket card for posting on ACIL’s Web page,
with links to it from the OSHA's Web site, as appropriate. The laminated card is intended to inform
the public and OSHA staff about the NRTL certification marks.
In addition, ACIL Executive Director Joan Cassedy will continue to be a member of the Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratory Safety and Health Topics page’s editorial board.
ACIL will also consider conducting training sessions on the NRTL Program for OSHA staff and others
in several of the regions. Topics that will be discussed during the potential training sessions
include how to identify genuine and counterfeit NRTL certification marks and the location of genuine
NRTL certification marks on approved equipment and detecting counterfeit NRTL certification marks on
electrical equipment.
OSHA and ACIL will also continue to work together to identify opportunities to promote and educate
others on the NRTL program through speaking opportunities. During 2005-2006, Bernard Pasquet may
participate in the ACES meeting in November 17, 2005 in Baltimore, MD. In addition, OSHA may be
invited to speak at ACIL’s Mid-Winter Meeting in Washington, DC in February 2006.
Finally, the OSHA and ACIL implementation will be addressing issues associated with counterfeit NRTL
certification marks and their placement on products in the workplace. The Alliance implementation
team will consider working together to produce a SHIB on counterfeit electrical equipment and
developing an article and fact sheet on how to detect counterfeit certification marks and their
placement on products.
Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances,
November 15, 2005
|
Printing Instructions
Back to Top
www.osha.gov
