Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program << Back to American Pipeline Contractors Association

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    January 25, 2007

    Evaluation Period
     
    January 25, 2008 through January 24, 2009

    Overview

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) are providing APCA members and others in the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly focusing on reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:
     
    Michael Buchet Office of Construction Services (OCS), Directorate of Construction (DOC)
    Robert Ibarra* OCS, DOC
    Rob Swick Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
    Danezza Quintero OCS, DOC

    APCA:
     
    Marilyn Cole APCA Consultant
    Johnny James Eagle Pipeline Construction
    J.D. Lormand Executive Director, APCA
    Ishmael Navarrette Driver Pipeline Company, Inc.

    *Robert Ibarra served on the Implementation Team until May 23, 2008
     

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    January 29, 2008                Implementation Team Meeting
    May 15, 2008                     Implementation Team Meeting
    October 8, 2008                 Implementation Team Meeting
     

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees regarding equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such information in both English and Spanish to employers and employees in the industry.
      Products

      Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees

      During the reporting period OSHA and APCA Alliance began developing a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees. When completed, the program will comprehensively address safety and health issues that impact seasonal and temporary workers in the pipeline construction industry. APCA is currently developing toolbox talks that address individual issues such as Bloodborne Pathogens and Confined Spaces to be released to the pubic as each talk is completed.
       
      Outreach and Communication Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide the 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 APCA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the pipeline construction industry.
      Products

      Best Practices Fact Sheets

      Through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA developed the following ten best practices fact sheets:

      • Backhoe Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators Excavator Operational for Supervisors
      • Dozer Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators
      • Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Operators
      • Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Excavator Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      • Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Operators
      • Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Personnel Conducting the Test
      • Sideboom Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      The facts sheets address activities germane to the pipeline construction industry. They are posted on the APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the APCA Web site and linked to from the OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page

      OSHA maintains an OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and APCA Alliance agreement, a news release, information regarding industry conferences, links to products APCA developed through the Alliance, and other resources. For information on the number of visits to the OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach Table.

      APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page

      APCA maintains an APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the APCA Web site, The Web page includes information about the OSHA and APCA Alliance and links to the OSHA Web site and other safety and health information. In addition, during the reporting period, APCA posted ten best practices fact sheets developed through the Alliance.

      Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page

      The following APCA representative serves on the OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page editorial board and provides OSHA with his expertise and comments:

      • Ismael Navarrette, Director of Safety, Driver Pipeline Co., Inc.
      Print and Electronic Media

      Articles about the OSHA and APCA Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: ASSE Government Affairs Updates and Alliance Quarterly Review. For more information on the articles, please see the “Alliance Program Reach Table.”

      • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA’s or APCA’s conferences, local meetings or other events such as the APCA Annual Meeting.
      APCA Safety Committee Meeting, Holiday Inn, Houston, Texas

      On March 27, 2008, Rob Swick, and Robert Ibarra gave a presentation "OSHA's Cooperative Programs, Construction Issues and Alliance Program Update" to 20 pipeline construction safety and health professionals and executives at the APCA Safety Committee Meeting in Houston, Texas.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding APCA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by APCA and through OSHA or APCA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

        The OSHA and APCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Promote and encourage APCA’s members’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs, such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
      Events

      OSHA Challenge Program Webinar

      On April 10, 2008, APCA arranged for a number of its members to participate in an OSHA Challenge Program Webinar. Developed by the Office of Partnerships and Recognition (OPR), DCSP for the Alliance Program, the Webinar provided information regarding OSHA Challenge, including an overview the resources available to Challenge Program participants, examples of participant successes, and how to become an OSHA Challenge participant. Representatives from the following APCA member organizations participated in the Webinar:

      • Bell South, Lafayette, Louisiana
      • Bluewater Constructors, Houston, Texas
      • Eagle Pipeline, Arlington, Texas
      • Elkhorn Construction, Evanston, Wyoming
      • Ferguson Construction Company, Lovington, New Mexico
      • Mears Group, Rosebush, Michigan
      • Sunland Construction, Eunice, Louisiana
      • Jo Max Construction, Great Bend, Kansas
      Promoting the National Dialogue Goal

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings, for small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees and equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

        2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008, Washington, DC.
         
        APCA joined with more than 50 other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 NAOSH Week. NAOSH Week, sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers, 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 new safety and health activities at all companies and organizations. The theme for the 2008 NAOSH Week was "Safety is Good Business." In support of NAOSH Week, Driver Pipeline Company, Inc. posted 2008 NAOSH Week posters at its facility in Kennedale, Texas.
         
        2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008

        APCA joined with a number of other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Drug-Free Work Week is sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program. The Week focuses on educating employers, employees, and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace. In support of the week the following APCA member companies posted information about Drug Free Work Week at their offices and jobsites, including:

        • Driver Pipeline
        • Elkhorn Construction
        • Eagle Pipeline Construction
        • JOMax Construction
        • Blue Water construction
        • Farrar Construction
        • Mears Group
        • Ranger Plant Construction
        • Wilbros RPI, Inc
        • B & H Maintenance and Construction
        • Ceco Pipeline
    2. Executive Summary

      During the reporting period, APCA worked through the OSHA and APCA Alliance to provide the pipeline construction industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety by reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation, trenching and excavation, and hydrostatic testing hazards.

      For example, through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA developed the following ten best practices fact sheets:

      • Backhoe Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators Excavator Operational for Supervisors
      • Dozer Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators
      • Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Operators
      • Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Excavator Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      • Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Operators
      • Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Personnel Conducting the Test
      • Sideboom Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      In addition, APCA began developing a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees. When completed, the program will comprehensively address safety and health issues that impact new or seasonal workers in the pipeline construction industry.

      Further, OSHA and APCA representatives are sharing their expertise through participation on OSHA’s electronic assistance tools’ editorial boards, events, and speaking and exhibiting opportunities. For example:

      • APCA representatives are serving on the editorial board for the OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page.

      • On March 27, 2008, Rob Swick and Robert Ibarra gave a presentation "OSHA's Cooperative Programs, Construction Issues and Alliance Program Update" to 20 pipeline construction safety and health professionals and executives at the APCA Safety Committee Meeting in Houston, Texas.

      • APCA representatives supported 2008 NAOSH Week, held May 4-10, 2008.

      • APCA supported and 2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008.

      • On April 10, 2008, a number of APCA members to participated in an OSHA Challenge Program Webinar.
    3. Alliance Program Reach Table
       
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and
      Electronic Distribution, etc.)      		 Number of Individuals
      Reached or Trained
      OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 2,589
      OSHA Asbestos Safey and Heath Topics Page 21,600
      APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the APCA Web site Data Not Available
      March 27, 2008: "OSHA's Cooperative Programs, Construction Issues and Alliance Program Update,” APCA Safety Committee Meeting, Houston, Texas

      Speakers: Rob Swick and Robert Ibarra      		 20
      May 20, 2008: “New OSHA and Alliance Program Participant Products,” ASSE Government Affairs Updates 5,500
      June 2008: New Information Products Enhance Employee Workplace Safety, Alliance Quarterly Review 300
      TOTAL 30,009

    4. Upcoming Milestones

      During the upcoming year, the OSHA and APCA Alliance Implementation Team will translate the ten best practice fact sheets into Spanish. When completed, the Spanish version of the fact sheets will be posted on the APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the APCA Web site and linked to from the OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      Further, APCA intends to work with OSHA through the Alliance Program to:

      • Continue to develop a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees;
      • Invite an OSHA representative to attend the APCA Alliance Committee meeting, June 11, 2009, Houston, Texas;
      • Help support 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 3-9;
      • Participate in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable;
      • Continue to serve on OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topic Page editorial board; and
      • Develop an article addressing hazards in the pipeline construction industry.
      Finally, OSHA and APCA plan to sign an Alliance Renewal Agreement. Through the renewal agreement, the organizations will continue to provide APCA members and others in the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety. APCA and OSHA will continue to focus on reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation, and hydrostatic testing hazards.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 21, 2009.