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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    January 25, 2007

    Evaluation Period
     
    January 25, 2009 through January 24, 2010

    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:
     
    Fran Dougherty Office of Construction Services (OCS), Directorate of Construction (DOC)
    John Franklin OCS, DOC
    Sandra Khan Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
    Rob Sanders Office of Small business Assistance (OSBA), DCSP
    Rob Swick* OOSA, DCSP

    APCA:
     
    Marilyn Cole APCA Consultant
    J.D. Lormand Executive Director, APCA

    *Rob Swick served as the OSHA Alliance coordinator until January 13, 2010.
     

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    February 4, 2009              Implementation Team Meeting
    April 1, 2009                    Implementation Team Meeting
    September 23, 2009         Implementation Team Meeting
    January 13, 2010              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

      Toolbox Talks

      Through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA completed eight toolbox talks. The toolbox talks were finalized as part of APCA’s goal to develop a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees. OSHA and APCA finalized the following Toolbox Talks during the reporting period:

      • Confined Spaces
      • Bloodborne Pathogens
      • Electrical Safety
      • Abrasive (Sand) Blasting
      • Excavation and Trenching
      • Hazard Communication
      • Personal Protective Equipment
      • Respiratory Protection
      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

      Fact Sheets
       
      Through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA translated ten previously created OSHA and APCA Alliance developed fact sheets into Spanish. These products are part of APCA’s goal to develop a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees. OSHA and APCA finalized Spanish translations for the following Fact Sheets during the reporting period:

      • Backhoe Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators 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 Personnel Conducting the Test
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Sideboom Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page

      OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and APCA Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. It includes the Alliance agreement, renewal agreement, news releases, links to APCA Alliance developed products, including Best Practice Fact Sheets and Toolbox Talks, activities and events, and milestones and successes of the OSHA and Safe Tank Alliance. 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 added eight toolbox talks and ten Spanish translations of Fact Sheets to the page that were developed through the OSHA and APCA Alliance.

      Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page

      The following APCA representative serves on the OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page’s 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 Underground Construction, Trenchless Technology, ISST News, OSHA Up To Date, 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.
      Events

      APCA Safety Committee Meeting, Holiday Inn, Houston, Texas

      On June 11, 2009, James Shelton, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, Region VI, Houston North Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA Update and Safety and Health Management Systems" to pipeline construction safety and health professionals and executives.

      • 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.

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

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects, including trenching and excavation, which are developed through the Alliance Program.

      OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups

      APCA is continuing to participate in the Design for Safety (DFS) and Fall Protection Workgroups of the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable. During the reporting period, APCA participated in the following meetings:

      • On February 24, 2009, Marilyn Cole and J.D. Lormand joined representatives from other construction-related Alliances and participated in a joint meeting of the Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups in Washington, DC. During the meeting, the group discussed common construction-related interests and received updates on outreach campaigns, including the American Society of Safety Engineer's (ASSE) 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and the Department of Labor's Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign. The group also received an update from OSHA's DOC, including information on the Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health meeting, Susan Harwood Training Grants and OSHA proposed rules, such as the Cranes and Derricks and Confined Space in Construction. DOC also provided an update on the construction-related products being developed such as QuickCards and guidance documents focusing on skylights, night work and electrical safety. An overview of a proposed campaign focusing on DFS and fall protection issues in the construction industry was presented as a possible future Roundtable project.
      2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3-9, 2009, Washington, DC.
       
      APCA joined with more than 55 other Alliance Program participants to support 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week 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 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home. Marilyn Cole attended the Kick-off event as well as the afternoon seminar Alliance Program participants.
       
      2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-25, 2009

      APCA joined with a number of other Alliance Program participants to support 2009 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.

    2. Executive Summary

      Due to the continued success of the OSHA and APCA Alliance, the organizations renewed the Alliance on February 25, 2009. 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 to protect employees' health and safety by reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation, trenching & excavation, and hydrostatic testing hazards.

      For example, through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA developed the following eight toolbox talks:

      • Confined Spaces
      • Bloodborne Pathogens
      • Electrical Safety
      • Abrasive (Sand) Blasting
      • Excavation and Trenching
      • Hazard Communication
      • Personal Protective Equipment
      • Respiratory Protection
      Additionally, through the OSHA and APCA Alliance, APCA has translated the following ten Fact Sheets into Spanish:

      • Backhoe Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel and Operators 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 Personnel Conducting the Test
      • Pressure Testing Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
      • Sideboom Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers
      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:

      • Marilyn Cole attended the Construction Roundtable held at DOL on February 24, 2009.
      • Marilyn Cole attended the Construction Roundtable held at DOL on November 9, 2009.
      • APCA representatives are serving on the editorial board for the OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topics page.
      • On June 11, 2009, James Shelton, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, Region VI, Houston North Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA Update and Safety and Health Management Systems" to pipeline construction safety and health professionals and executives.
      • Finally, as part of their outreach efforts, APCA, supported the 2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-25, 2009, and 2009 NAOSH Week, May 3-9, 2009.
    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 2,152
      OSHA Asbestos Safey and Heath Topics Page 19,878
      APCA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the APCA Web site Data Not Available
      March 16, 2009: “Trenching and Excavation Addressed in a Renewed Alliance between OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association”
      Environmental Resource Center      		 17,613
      April 4, 2009: “OSHA Renews Alliance with the American Pipeline Contractors Association”
      Safety Management Group      		 Data Not Available
      May 2009: “North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week/Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day 2009 Partners,”
      ASSE News Room      		 5,500
      June 2009: “APCA Releases Best Practices Fact Sheets” Alliance Quarterly Review 300
      December 2009: “Products Developed by Alliance Program Participants: FY 2009” Alliance Quarterly Review 300
      TOTAL 45,703

    4. Upcoming Milestones

      During the upcoming year, the OSHA and APCA Alliance Implementation Team will translate the eight toolbox talks that were finalized in 2009 into Spanish. When completed, the Spanish versions of the fact sheets will be posted on the APCA and OSHA Alliance-related 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 toolbox talks towards a larger goal of creating a Safety and Health Program for Seasonal and Temporary Employees;
      • Invite an OSHA representative to attend and give a presentation at the APCA Committee meeting in Houston, Texas.
      • Help support the 2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.
      • Participate in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable.
      • Continue to serve on the OSHA Asbestos Safety and Health Topic Page editorial board.

Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 6, 2010.