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ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and American Shipbuilding Association (ASA)
June 22, 2010
  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    July 15, 2003

    Date Renewed

    January 13, 2006
    August 22, 2007

    Evaluation Period

    July 16, 2008 – July 15, 2009

    Overview

    Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, the organizations are using their collective expertise to provide the association's members and others in the shipbuilding industry with information and guidance to help protect workers' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to shipyard safety and health hazards.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Todd Briggs, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP), Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Steve Butler, Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), Office of Maritime Enforcement (OME)
    Paul Comolli, DEP, OME
    Deborah Gabry, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM), Office of Science and Technology Assessment
    Amy Wangdahl, Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), Office of Maritime Standards (OMS)
    Danielle Watson, DSG, OMS

    ASA:

    Stacy P. Ballow, General Counsel, ASA
    Jim Thornton, Director, Environment, Health & Safety, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems – Newport News Operation

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings
     
    • November 10, 2008 Joint Implementation Team Meeting with National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) and Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) Alliances
    • December 15, 2008 Safety Alert Development Workgroup Meeting
    • January 15, 2009 Safety Alert Development Workgroup Meeting
    • February 2, 2009 Safety Alert Development Workgroup Meeting
    • March 16, 2009 Joint Implementation Team Meeting with NSRP and
      SCA Alliances
    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 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 ASA’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
      Products

      OSHA and ASA Alliance Web Page

      OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web site. The page includes the Alliance agreements, news releases, activities and events, and milestones and successes. The page also links to compliance assistance and outreach products developed though the Alliance, including safety alerts and toolbox talks.

      Publications and Newsletters

      Articles on the OSHA and ASA Alliance activities have appeared in print and online publications, including: Ship Repair News. For more information see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages and eTools
      ASA representatives serve on the editorial boards for the following Safety and Health Topics pages on the OSHA Web site: Maritime Industry and Ship Building and Repair. ASA representatives also serve on the editorial board of the Shipyard Employment eTool.
       
      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ASA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ASA and through OSHA- or ASA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

        The OSHA and ASA Alliance has not started work on programs or projects during this reporting period.
         
      • Promote and encourage ASA 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 ASA Alliance has not started work on programs or projects during this reporting period.
         
      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific maritime industry issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
         
      Products

      Safety Alert: Welding and Hot Work Procedures in Shipyard Employment

      Through the Alliance Program, ASA worked with representatives from SCA, NSRP, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Alliances to develop "Safety Alert: Welding and Hot Work Procedures in Shipyard Employment." The Alert provides tips and reminders to help maintain a safe work environment by identifying situations and hazards associated with hot work. The Safety Alert was posted on the SCA Web site in February 2009 and linked to from the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry

      Through the Alliance Program, ASA worked with representatives from SCA, NSRP, AIHA, and ASSE Alliances to develop "Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry." The toolbox talks address a number of hearing conservation-related topics, including shipbuilding noise levels and selecting hearing protection. The toolbox talks also include a hearing protection checklist for workers in shipyard employment. The documents were posted on the SCA Web site in April 2009 and linked to from the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment

      Through the Alliance Program, ASA worked with representatives from NSRP, SCA, AIHA and ASSE Alliances to develop "Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment" The Alert focuses on how to use LOTO procedures to protect employees from the dangers posed while they are working on or near electrical circuits and equipment during the servicing and maintenance of machines and electrical systems on ships and at shipyard shore facilities. The document was posted on the SCA Web site in December 2008 and linked to from the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
       
      • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on shipyard safety and health hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
      North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3-9, 2009, "Safety Means Always Coming Home"

      On May 3-9, 2009, ASA and 57 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by ASSE, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home." ASA along with a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the Week.
       
    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and ASA continue to work together to address safety and health issues in the maritime industry and continue their productive working relationship. For example, the OSHA and ASA Alliance worked on several projects with SCA, NSRP, and other maritime industry-related Alliances to develop two safety alerts and a toolbox talk focusing on safety and health issues in shipyard employment.

      ASA representatives are sharing their expertise through participation on the OSHA electronic assistance tools’ editorial boards. ASA representatives continue to serve on the Maritime Industry and Ship Building and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages’ editorial boards and the Shipyard Employment eTool’s editorial board.

      Through the Alliance Program, ASA worked with ASSE and 57 other Alliance Program participants to support and promote 2009 NAOSH Week, May 3-9, "Safety Means Always Coming Home."

      Lastly, ASA is continuing to hold joint Implementation Team meetings with SCA and NSRP, which include OSHA national office representatives from DCSP, DEP, DSG, and DTSEM.
       
    3. Alliance Program Reach

       
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 2,321
      Maritime Industry Safety and Health Topics page 37,844
      Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics page 7,978
      Shipyard Employment eTool 6,665
      September 10, 2008, "Lockout/Tagout Safety Alert Published"

      Virginia Ship Repair News      		 Data Not Available
      TOTAL 54,808

       
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, the OSHA and ASA Alliance will undertake a number of activities and develop various outreach and compliance assistance products for the maritime industry. For example, the OSHA and ASA Alliance will continue to work with NSRP, SCA, AIHA, and ASSE to complete "Safety Alert: Ventilation Procedures in Shipyard Employment." The group may also develop additional safety alerts addressing other safety hazards, including incidents related to falls or confined spaces. The Alliance Program will promote the maritime industry developed products in its Alliance Quarterly Review (AQR) and through sending the information to the OSHA Regional, Area Office, On-site Consultation Program and State Plan State representatives. ASA representatives will also review and provide feedback on OSHA-developed products, including a series of maritime-related fatality fact sheets and QuickCards focusing on aerial lifts.

    In addition, ASA representatives will continue to serve on the OSHA Maritime Industry and Ship Building and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages’ editorial boards and the OSHA Shipyard Employment eTool’s editorial board.

    Further, ASA will support 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces" and will promote the Alliance Program and the Agency’s compliance assistance and outreach materials to workers in shipyards.

    Finally, OSHA is working with ASA, NSRP, and SCA to conclude their individual Alliances and sign one maritime-related cooperative agreement in August 2010 that will address the same goals and safety and health topic areas.


    Report prepared by: Todd Briggs, Program Analyst, OOSA, June 22, 2010.