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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the
Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance
October 28, 2008

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

October 5, 2005

Date Renewed

October 29, 2007

Evaluation Period

October 5, 2007 – October 4, 2008

Overview

The OSHA and Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI), and Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA), Alliance (known as the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance) is providing crane, hoist and monorail systems owners and operators in general industry and construction with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, including Spanish-speaking, and other high-risk or vulnerable "hard-to-reach" employees, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health issues such as electrical hazards, falls from elevations or being struck by moving equipment.

Implementation Team Members
 
OSHA:
Todd Briggs Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Material Handling Institute of America (MHIA):
F. Hal Vandiver Executive Vice President
CMAA:
Greg Miskowiec Yale Lift-Tech
HMI:
John Perkins Ingersoll-Rand Company
MMA:
John Paxton Demag Cranes and Components Corporation


II. Implementation Team Meetings
 
December 12, 2007
April 3, 2008
August 21, 2008		 Implementation Team meeting
Implementation Team meeting
Implementation Team Meeting

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.

III. Results
  1. Events

    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 the CMAA, HMI, and MMA Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
    Products

    Through the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance, CMAA, HMI, and MMA developed the following safety tips sheets which were posted on the MHIA Web site in May 2008 and linked to from the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site:
     
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 5 Employee Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting Loads"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 6 Management Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting Loads"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 7 Hazard Evaluation Checklist for Lifting, Carrying, Pushing or Pulling"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 8 Alternates to Manual handling of Individual Containers"

    OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web Page

    OSHA updates the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The page includes information about the Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance including agreements, news releases, and activities and events. The safety tips sheets and fact sheets, which were developed through the Alliance and focus on safety topics in the material handling industry, are also posted on the Web page.

    Crane, Hoist, and Monorail and OSHA Alliance Web Page

    MHIA developed a Crane, Hoist, and Monorail and OSHA Alliance Web page on the MHIA Web site. The page has information on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance including fact sheets and safety tips sheets developed through the Alliance.

    Publications and News Releases

    Articles and news releases on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance signings and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in publications such as Modern Material Handling and Material Handling Management. For more information on the articles and news releases, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

    OSHA Editorial Boards

    MHIA serves on the editorial board for the OSHA Basic Steel Products Safety and Health Topics page on the Agency's Web site.

    • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or CMAA, HMI, and MMA conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the NA2008 (North American Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference), ProMat 2009 and the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) Annual Membership Meetings.
    Events

    MHIA Spring Meeting, March 12, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina

    On March 12, 2008, Hal Vandiver, Executive Vice President, MHIA, delivered an update on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance to 245 people at the MHIA Spring Meeting on March 10-12, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    NA 2008 Conference, April 21-24, 2008, Cleveland, Ohio

    On April 21, 2008, Hal Vandiver, Executive Vice President, MHIA, distributed 200 copies the Alliance-developed safety tips sheets focusing on material handling-related issues at the NA 2008 Conference, in Cleveland, Ohio.

    MHIA 2008 Annual Membership and Product Sections and Councils Meetings, September 7-11, 2008, Phoenix, Arizona

    On September 7, 2008, Hal Vandiver, Executive Vice President, MHIA, delivered an update on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance to 200 people at the MHIA 2008 Annual Membership and Product Sections and Councils Meetings on September 7, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona.
     
    • Promote and encourage CMAA, HMI, and MMA 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 Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      •  
    • Work with other Alliance Program participants on specific issues and projects on the safe use of crane hoist and monorail equipment that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
    2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-12, 2008

    On May 5, 2008, Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald G. Shalhoub, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-OSHA, spoke to OSHA staff, Alliance Program participants and other safety and health professionals during the 2008 NAOSH Week kick-off event at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for the 2008 NAOSH Week was "Safety is Good Business." The OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance, along with a number of other Alliance Program participants, supported the Week.

    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

    • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.

      The OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety issues related to the use of crane, hoist, and monorail equipment to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

      The OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
  2. Executive Summary

    During the third year of the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance, OSHA and CMAA, HMI, and MMA renewed the Alliance agreement on October 29, 2007, to continue to advance a culture of prevention in the material handling industry while sharing technical knowledge, especially in the areas of electrical hazards, falls from elevations or being struck by moving equipment. To meet the goals of the Alliance, OSHA and CMAA, MMA, and HMI continued a number projects that were started in the Alliance's first and second year such as making presentations and exhibiting at conferences to share information about the agreement, its goals and products.

    For example, CMAA, HMI, and MMA developed the following safety tips sheets which were posted on the MHIA Web site in May 2008 and linked to from the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site:

    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 5 Employee Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting Loads"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 6 Management Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting Loads"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 7 Hazard Evaluation Checklist for Lifting, Carrying, Pushing or Pulling"
    • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 8 Alternates to Manual handling of Individual Containers"
    3. Hal Vandiver delivered an update on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance at a number of meetings, including the MHIA Spring meeting on March 12, 2008, in Charlotte, North Carolina and NA 2008 on April 21, 2008, in Cleveland, Ohio.

    An MHIA representative continues to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA Basic Steel Products Safety and Health Topics page on the Agency's Web site.

    The OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site and the Crane, Hoist, and Monorail and OSHA Alliance Web Page on the MHIA Web site were updated with Alliance-related information, including news releases, Alliance-developed products, and activities and events.

    In addition, MHIA promoted OSHA compliance assistance and outreach materials, OSHA cooperative programs, and the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance through various sources such as the Crane, Hoist, and Monorail and OSHA Web page on the association's Web site, its publications, and presentations.

    Lastly, MHIA supported and promoted 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business," by adding information about the Week on its Web site and in publications.

  3. Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 5,618
Crane, Hoist, and Monorail and OSHA Web page on the MHIA Web site 25,409
OSHA Basic Steel Products Safety and Health Topics page 8,840
OSHA Machine Guarding eTool 41,002
November 27, 2007: Crane, Hoist and Monorail Makers Renew Alliance with OSHA, Modern Material Handling 86,000
November 28, 2007: Crane, Hoist, Monorail Groups Renew OSHA Alliance, Occupational Health & Safety 90,000
November 30, 2007: OSHA and Crane, Hoist and Monorail Groups Renew Alliance, Safety Online 5,000
December 13, 2007: OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Groups Renew Alliance, ThomasNet - Industrial News Room 50,000
February 20, 2008: OSHA Renews Alliance, Material Handling Management 22,094
February 21, 2008: OSHA Renews Alliance with Material Handling Groups, Industry News 71,400
February 2008 - OSHA Renews Alliances, OSHA Up To Date 62 News Services
2008 MHIA Spring Meeting
March 10-12, 2008
Charlotte, North Carolina

Speaker: Hal Vandiver		 245
April 2, 2008: OSHA Signs 2 Year Renewal of Alliance with CMAA, HMI, and MMA, ThomasNet - Industrial News Room 50,000
NA 2008 Conference
April 21-24, 2008
Cleveland, Ohio

Speaker: Hal Vandiver		 200
May 5, 2008: Safety Week, Contractor Safety - Weekly Newsletter 300,000
MHIA 2008 Annual Membership and Product Sections
and Councils Meetings
September 7-11, 2008
Phoenix, Arizona

Speaker: Hal Vandiver		 200
TOTAL 756,070


IV. Upcoming Milestones

In the upcoming year, the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance's positive relationship will continue to grow and the Implementation Team will undertake a number of activities. For example, OSHA's National Office will potentially staff an Alliance Program exhibit booth at Promat 2009 on January 12-15, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. OSHA will also distribute copies of the Agency's compliance assistance and cooperative program materials, including the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance Activities Summary.

OSHA and the Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance are developing the following safety tips sheets for employees focusing on material handling:
  • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 9: Why and When to use Overhead Lifting as Opposed to Manual Lifting"
  • "Safety Tips Sheet No. 10: Top 7 Ways Cranes and Monorails can Improve Ergonomics"
CMAA, HMI, and MMA representatives will continue to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA Basic Steel Products Safety and Health Topics page and Machine Guarding eTool.

MHIA will support and promote the 2009 NAOSH Week, "Safety Means Always Coming Home."

MHIA will potentially invite OSHA representatives to make presentations on the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance and the Agency's cooperative programs and compliance assistance resources at the association's upcoming events.

MHIA will promote OSHA compliance assistance materials and outreach resources and the OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Alliance through its, monthly e-newsletter eMhove and quarterly publication On the Mhove. OSHA will also promote the products developed through the Alliance in Alliance Quarterly Review.

MHIA will also include the DOL-developed articles focusing on different topics such as the Agency's electronic assistance tools, workplace violence, Spanish-language resources, small business, youth employment and the Agency's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) into its publications such as On the Mhove.
Lastly, CMAA, HMI, and MMA will support and promote the 2009 NAOSH Week, "Safety Means Always Coming Home."

Report prepared by: Todd Briggs, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 28, 2008