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ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
American Heart Association (AHA)
January 6, 2009

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    November 20, 2003

    Date Renewed

    September 8, 2006
    February 2, 2008

    Overview

    The OSHA and AHA Alliance focuses on advancing a culture of awareness, prevention and action while sharing best practices and technical knowledge to reduce death and disability from heart disease and stroke in the workplace and addressing employee wellness programs in the workplace. These efforts include a focus on providing information for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:
    Sally Grady Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM)
    Sandra Khan Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Darla Royal* DTSEM
    Don Wright* DTSEM
    Kay Dellinger DTSEM
    Amanda McTier DTSEM

    AHA:
    Karen Orso Director, National Accounts and Commercial Markets
    Robin Crawford Marketing Manager

    *Darla Royal was a member of the OSHA and AHA Alliance Implementation Team until December 2008
    *Don Wright was a member of the OSHA and AHA Alliance Implementation Team until December 2008

    Evaluation Period

    November 20, 2007 – November 19, 2008

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings
     
    • March 6, 2008 Department of Labor Safety Day
    • April 2, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • August 14, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • September 18, 2008 Workgroup Conference Call
    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance’s progress and results.

     
  3. Results
     
    1. Events and Products

      Outreach and Communication Goals
       
      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition of medical emergencies and implementation of AED programs, CPR and first aid training programs, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s and AHA’s Web sites) to employers and employees.
      Products

      OSHA and AHA Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to update the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and AHA Alliance agreement, renewal agreement, products and resources and milestones and successes.

      AHA and OSHA Alliance Web Page

      AHA redesigned its AHA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization’s Web site. The Web page includes a number of links to OSHA’s Web site, including the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page, milestones and successes and OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages such as AEDs and Medical and First Aid.

      OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics Pages

      AHA representative, Karen Orso, serves on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages: Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), AED’s in the Workplace, and Medical and First Aid.
       
      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or AHA’s conferences, local meetings, or other Alliance partner events such as the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update.
      Events

      2008 Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 12-15, 2008

      Representatives from Nevada-OSHA staffed an Alliance Program exhibit and distributed compliance assistance and Alliance publications, including the OSHA and AHA Alliance Activities Summary, to attendees at the 2008 Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update, June 12-15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

      AHA Exhibits

      AHA representatives promoted the OSHA and AHA Alliance and distributed the OSHA and AHA Alliance Activities Summary from the AHA exhibit booth at several conferences throughout the United States including, the 2008 American Occupational Health Conference, April 13-16, 2008 in New York, New York. In addition, AHA also exhibited at other Alliance Program participants’ conferences such as American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Symposium and Expo, April 28-30, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare’s Annual National Conference, September 17-20, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.
       
      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AHA’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by the AHA and through OSHA’s or AHA’s developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
      Department of Labor (DOL) Safety Day, Washington, DC, June 11, 2008

      The DOL’s Safety Day was held on June 11, 2008 in Washington, DC for DOL employees. During the event, a number of organizations shared safety and health information with the attendees. Drenda Roberson, Training Network Account Manager, AHA, staffed an exhibit booth at the event and distributed information and answered questions about AHA’s Programs and AEDs and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) issues.
       
      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on AED, CPR and first aid training programs that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
      Events

      2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008

      The American Heart Association and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business.” Sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

      On May 5, 2008, AHA representatives, Karen Orso and Robin Crawford attended the NAOSH Week Kick-off event at the U.S. Department of Labor. Donald Shalhoub, Deputy Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA; and ASSE’s former-President, Michael Thompson; were the keynote speakers. Mr. Shalhoub presented "Safety is Good Business" to OSHA and Alliance Program participants and other safety and health representatives.

      2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008

      The American Heart Association (AHA) and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
       
      • Encourage AHA chapters to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including AED Program implementation, CPR and first aid training.
      Products

      AHA Relationship Building

      AHA incorporated relationship building with OSHA’s Regional, Area and State Plan offices into its Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) field staff’s performance objectives. The ECC field staff holds a monthly conference call to share information, ideas and strategies including opportunities to work with the local OSHA Offices.
      Promoting the National Dialogue Goals
       
      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on AED Programs, CPR and first aid training issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
      Products

      First Aid Advisory Task Force

      Kay Dellinger, Medical Officer, Office of Occupational Medicine, DTSEM, USDOL-OSHA serves on the AHA and American Red Cross First Aid Advisory Taskforce. The Taskforce identifies and reviews international science and knowledge relevant to first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) and to generate consensus on treatment recommendations every five years.
       
    2. Executive Summary

      Through the OSHA and AHA Alliance, the organizations are continuing to work together to develop products and resources to reduce death and disability from heart disease and stroke in the workplace and addressing employee wellness programs in the workplace. During the reporting period, the Alliance’s Implementation Team worked on several programs and projects and shared information on OSHA’s compliance assistance activities and cooperative programs. For example:
       
      • OSHA continues to update the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. In addition, AHA redesigned its OSHA Alliance Program Web page on the AHA Web site with links to the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page, OSHA’s resources and other safety and health information on OSHA’s Web site.
      • An AHA representative serves on the editorial boards of OSHA’s AEDs, AEDs in the Workplace and Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics pages.
      • AHA joined OSHA and other Alliance Program participants in supporting and promoting the 2008 NAOSH Week, May 4-10, 2008.
      • Representatives from Nevada OSHA staffed an Alliance Program exhibit at the 2008 Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update, June 11-15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
      • AHA staffed an exhibit booth at the 2008 DOL Safety Day on June 11, 2008 in Washington, DC.
      • AHA incorporated relationship building with OSHA’s Regional, Area and State Plan Offices into its ECC field staff’s performance objectives. The ECC field staff holds monthly meetings and discusses opportunities to work with the local OSHA Offices.
      • Kay Dellinger, Medical Officer, Office of Occupational Medicine, DTSEM, USDOL-OSHA serves on the AHA and American Red Cross First Aid Advisory Taskforce.
      • AHA promoted the OSHA and AHA Alliance and distributed the OSHA and AHA Alliance Activities Summary from the AHA exhibit booth at several healthcare-related conferences throughout the United States including the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Symposium and Expo, American Occupational Health Conference, and the American Occupational Health Conference.
      Based upon the ongoing successes realized through the OSHA and AHA Alliance the organizations agreed to renew their Alliance. The organizations will sign the renewal agreement in November 2009.
       
    3. Alliance Program Reach

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and
    Electronic Distribution, etc.)    		 Number of Individuals
    Reached or Trained
    OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page 4,187
    AHA and OSHA Alliance Web page Data Not Available
    Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics page 28,198
    Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Safety and Health Topics page 22,205
    AED’s in the Workplace Safety and Health Topics page 24,236
    April 13-16, 2008
    American Occupational Health Conference
    New York, New York

    Exhibit    		 750
    April 20-21, 2008
    AAOHN 2008 Symposium & Expo
    Salt Lake City, Utah

    Exhibit    		 1,000
    June 13-15, 2008
    2008 Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update
    Las Vegas, Nevada

    Exhibit    		 1415
    September 17-20, 2008
    AOHP Annual National Conference
    Denver, Colorado
    Exhibit    		 400
    TOTAL 82,391

    4.  
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and AHA Implementation Team will collaborate on a number of projects to support the goals of the Alliance agreement. For example, OSHA and AHA will continue to update the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site and the AHA and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AHA Web site with safety and health resources. AHA representative, Karen Orso will continue to serve on the editorial boards of OSHA’s Medical and First Aid, Automated External Defibrillators and AED’s in the Workplace Safety and Health Topics pages.

    OSHA and AHA are also developing plans to promote the Alliance through a number of speaking and exhibiting opportunities including, the 2010 Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update International Educational Conference and Expo. In addition, AHA will promote the OSHA and AHA Alliance and distribute the OSHA and AHA Alliance Activities Summary at several healthcare-related conferences, including the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Symposium and Expo, American Occupational Health Conference, and the Society of Critical Care Nursing Conference.

    An AHA representative will give a presentation at the 2009 Annual On-site Consultation Training Conference, April 27-30, 2009 in San Diego, California.

    Through the Alliance, AHA will also develop wellness informational products and OSHA will review and provide feedback on them to AHA. The products will be posted on the AHA and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AHA Web site and OSHA will link to the informational products from the OSHA and AHA Alliance Web page as well as the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the Agency Web site.
    Finally, AHA is planning to support and promote 2008 NAOSH Week, May 3-9, 2009, exhibit at the Department of Labor’s 2009 Safety Day and support and promote the 2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-25, 2009.


    Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, January 9, 2009.