Alliance Logo<< Back to The Dow Chemical Company


 ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow)
February 17, 2009
  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    January 13, 2003

    Dates Renewed

    May 26, 2004; May 12, 2006; June 27, 2008

    Evaluation Period

    January 13, 2008 – January 12, 2009

    Overview

    The OSHA and Dow Alliance focuses on using OSHA and Dow’s collective expertise to further enhance a culture of prevention while sharing proven practices and technical knowledge in the areas of, but not limited to, process safety management, safety and health management systems, emergency preparedness, and employee wellness programs.

    Implementation Team Members
     
    OSHA:  
       
    John Bugno
    Cathy Cronin
    Kevin Cummins
    Lee Anne Jillings
    Todd Jordan
    *Tony Mapes
    Mike Marshall
    Lisa Ramber    		 Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
    Directorate of Training and Education (DTE)
    Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM)
    Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
    DTSEM
    DCSP
    Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)
    DCSP
       
    Dow:  
       
    John Dizor
    Dan Donovan
    George King
    Tim Overton
    Vicki Rupp
    Jeannine Sohayda
    Mark Spence    		 Director, Personal Safety Expertise
    Personal Safety Expertise Leader
    Process Safety Technical Leader
    Chief Process Safety Engineer
    Director, Environmental Health and Safety Regulatory Affairs
    Environmental Health and Safety Public Affairs
    Manager, Health and Safety Regulatory Affairs

    * Tony Mapes has served as the Alliance Coordinator since January 22, 2008.

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings
     
    • January 15, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • June 27, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • September 30, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • January 6, 2009 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.

     
  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 Dow’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

        Products

        OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

        Through the Alliance, Dow representatives provided their expertise to review, maintain and update the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages:
        • Ammonia Refrigeration
          • Don Jones, PE, CSP, Plaquemine, LA
        • Chemical Reactivity Hazards
          • Kenan Stevick, Process Safety Technology Center, Midland, MI
        • Emergency Preparedness and Response
          • Susan Ripple, MS, CIH, Global Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, Midland, MI
        • Healthcare Facilities
          • Susan Ripple, MS, CIH, Global Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, Midland, MI
        • Heat Stress
          • Karen M. Kearns, Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Piscataway, NJ
        • Isocyanates
          • John Cikalo, Global Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, Midland, MI
          • Mark Spence, Global Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, Midland, MI
        • Motor Vehicle Safety
          • Andrew Lipkewycz, Emergency Services and Security Manager, Asia Pacific, Victoria, Australia
        • Process Safety Management
          • George King, Process Safety Technology Center, Freeport, TX
        • Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD)/Dirty Bombs
          • Susan Ripple, MS, CIH, Global Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, Midland, MI
        OSHA Ammonia Refrigeration eTool

        Through the Alliance, Dow representatives serve on the editorial board of the OSHA Ammonia Refrigeration eTool and offer their expertise to review, maintain, and update the eTool, which is a product of the OSHA and Dow Alliance:
        • Randy Estep, Houston, TX
        • Don Jones, Plaquemine, LA
        • Mark Spence, Midland, MI
        OSHA and Dow Alliance Web Page

        OSHA continues to update the OSHA and Dow Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. The Web page features links to the Alliance agreements and related documents, information on activities and events, and milestones and successes.
         
        • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding Dow’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by Dow and through OSHA- or Dow-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

          Events

          United States National Response Team (NRT) Worker Safety and Health Technical Conference, Washington, DC, October 28-29, 2008

          On October 28, 2008, Rollie Shook, Emergency Services and Security Leader, The Dow Chemical Company, presented “The Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response Program: Preparing Our Nation,” to 100 attendees at the technical conference. The NRT is an organization composed of 16 Federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents.

          2008 National Safety Congress and Expo, September 22-24, 2008, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California

          On September 23, 2008, John Dizor, Director, Personal Safety Expertise Center, The Dow Chemical Company; Steven F. Witt, Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; and Gary Jones, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Institution, presented “Making the Business Case for Safety and Health” to 25 attendees during the conference.
           
        • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
        OSHA and Process Safety Alliance

        Representatives from Dow are participating in the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance implementation team meetings. The signatories of the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance are:
        • American Chemical Society
        • American Chemistry Council
        • API
        • Center for Chemical Process Safety (a Technical Alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers)
        • The Chlorine Institute
        • National Petrochemical and Refiners Association
        • Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association
        • United States Environmental Protection Agency
        Dow is sharing their expertise with the organizations to develop training resources in the field of process safety to include the management of chemical reactivity hazards.

        Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) “Combustible Dust” Webinar

        On July 31, 2008, Harry White, Personal Safety Technology Leader, The Dow Chemical Company, gave a presentation on combustible dust best practices from an industry perspective, and Sanji Kanth, Safety Engineer, Office of General Industry Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation on OSHA regulatory and enforcement activities to 91 webinar attendees. SOCMA is a signatory of the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance.

        National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal
         
        • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
        “Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety at Dow Facility in Freeport, Texas,” Case Study, September 2008

        Through OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company Alliance, Dow developed a case study entitled, “Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety at Dow Facility in Freeport, Texas.” The case study describes how the Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety works to identify and articulate the safety-related needs of its broad spectrum of contractor companies and partners with Texas operations to improve contractor safety performance.
         
        • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health
        2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008

        The Dow Chemical Company 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.

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

        The Dow Chemical Company and more than 50 other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by the 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.
        In support of NAOSH Week, Dow posted a NAOSH Week-related article on the company’s Newsline newsletter on Dow’s Web site on May 5, 2008.
         
    2. Executive Summary

      As a result of the Alliance’s successes over the last six years, OSHA and Dow renewed the Alliance on June 27, 2008. OSHA and Dow are working together to further enhance a culture of prevention while sharing proven practices and technical knowledge in the areas of process safety management, safety and health management systems, emergency preparedness, and employee wellness programs.

      For example, through the Alliance, Dow developed a case study entitled “Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety at Dow Facility in Freeport, Texas.” The case study details how Dow worked with their contractors at their facility in Freeport, Texas, to improve contractor safety performance.

      As part of their outreach efforts, Rollie Shook, Emergency Services and Security Leader, The Dow Chemical Company, presented “The Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response Program: Preparing Our Nation” at the United States National Response Team Worker Safety and Health Technical Conference on October 28, 2008, in Washington, DC. Additionally, on July 31, 2008, The Dow Chemical Company and OSHA participated in a “Combustible Dust” Webinar presented to the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association. Dow representatives are also sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards of the following Safety and Health Topics pages:
       
      • Ammonia Refrigeration
      • Chemical Reactivity Hazards
      • Emergency Preparedness and Response
      • Healthcare Facilities
      • Heat Stress
      • Isocyanates
      • Motor Vehicle Safety
      • Process Safety Management
      • Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD)/Dirty Bombs
      Finally, Dow and a number of Alliance Program participants supported 2008
      NAOSH Week, May 4-10, and 2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26.
       
    3. Alliance Program Reach
       
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 4,354
      OSHA Ammonia Refrigeration Safety and Health Topics page 16,630
      OSHA Chemical Reactivity Hazards Safety and Health Topics page 14,827
      OSHA Emergency Preparedness and Response Safety and Health Topics page 84,089
      OSHA Healthcare Facilities Safety and Health Topics page 34,113
      OSHA Heat Stress Safety and Health Topics page 53,666
      OSHA Isocyanates Safety and Health Topics page 13,438
      OSHA Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page 20,834
      OSHA Process Safety Management Safety and Health Topics page 33,468
      OSHA Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD)/Dirty Bombs Safety and Health Topics page 8,350
      OSHA Ammonia Refrigeration eTool 16,904
      OSHA and Dow Alliance “ Contractor Safety Case Study: Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety at Dow Facility in Freeport, Texas” 2,622
      OSHA and Dow Alliance “Motor Vehicle Accident Case Study: The Dow Chemical Company’s Use of Six Sigma Methodology” 1,133
      OSHA and Dow Alliance “Motor Carrier Safety Case Study: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Motor Carrier Incidents” 1,041
      OSHA and Dow Alliance “Ergonomics Case Study: The Dow Chemical Company’s Use of the ‘Six Sigma’ Methodology” 2,571
      February 2008 – “Safety Programs Make Good Business Sense,” Occupational Hazards 20,000
      June 2008 – “Alliance activity – signings, renewals, conclusions addendums,” Alliance Quarterly Review 145
      July 2008 – “Dow Chemical Company Renews Alliance with OSHA,” Reliable Plant Data not available
      July 1, 2008 – “OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company renew Alliance,” OSHA News Release Data not available
      July 2, 2008 – “Dow Renews OSHA Alliance for Third Time,” Dow News Center Data not available
      July 2, 2008 – “Dow Chemical Company Renews Alliance with OSHA,” Reliable Plant Magazine Data not available
      July 3, 2008 – “OSHA, Dow Chemical Renew Alliance,” Occupational Health and Safety Magazine 80,000
      July 4, 2008 – “Dow Renews OSHA Alliance for Third Time,” Web Wire Data not available
      July 4, 2008 – “OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company Renew Alliance,” Topix.Net News Data not available
      July 4, 2008 – “OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company Renew Alliance,” Compliance Home Data not available
      July 4, 2008 – “OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company Renew Alliance,” Safety Online Data not available
      July 10, 2008 – “OSHA, Dow Chemical Company Renew Safety Alliance,” BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter Data not available
      July 31, 2008: Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association Webinar, “Combustible Dust Best Practices”

      Speaker: Harry White, Personal Safety Expertise Leader, The Dow Chemical Company      		 91
      September 2008 – “Dow Chemical Company Pens Case Study on Contractor Safety,” Reliable Plant Data not available
      September 2008 – “Case Study on Safety at Petrochemical Plant,” Alliance Quarterly Review 145
      September 23, 2008: 2008 National Safety Congress and Expo, Anaheim, California, “Making the Business Case for Safety and Health”

      Speakers: John Dizor, Director, Personal Safety Expertise Center, The Dow Chemical Company; Steven F. Witt, Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; and Gary Jones, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Institution      		 25
      October 10, 2008 – “OSHA Alliance with The Dow Chemical Co. develops case study on contractor safety,” OSHA News Release Data not available
      October 28, 2008: United States National Response Team Worker Safety and Health Technical Conference, Washington, DC, “The Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response Program: Preparing Our Nation”

      Speaker: Rollie Shook, Emergency Services and Security Leader, The Dow Chemical Company      		 100
      TOTAL 408,546

       
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, the OSHA and Dow Alliance Implementation Team are planning to undertake several activities and projects that will allow them to share Dow’s proven practices and technical knowledge in the areas of process safety management, safety and health management systems, emergency preparedness, and employee wellness programs. For example, through the Alliance, Dow will draft and finalize a “Safety and Health Effectiveness” case study.

    Dan Donovan, CSP, Personal Safety Expertise Center, The Dow Chemical Company will be a presenter at a workshop entitled, “Case Study: Contractor Safety in the Petrochemical Industry” on June 29, 2009 at the American Society of Safety Engineers Professional Development Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The workshop will focus on how Dow worked with their contractors at their facility in Freeport, Texas to improve contractor safety performance.

    As part of the Alliance’s outreach efforts, Dow will continue to work with the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance to develop training resources in the field of process safety, including the management of chemical reactivity hazards. In addition, Dow will join other Alliance Program participants to support 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 3-9, 2009. Dow representatives also will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards of the OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages.


    Report prepared by: Tony Mapes, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 17, 2009