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ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
Laser Institute of America (LIA)
December 6, 2006 |
I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
August 9, 2005
Overview
OSHA and LIA are working together to provide the organization's members and others, including small
businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect
employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to laser beam and
non-beam hazards in industrial and medical workplaces. In addition, OSHA and LIA are focusing on
sharing information on laser regulations and standards, bioeffects lasers have on the eyes and skin,
laser control measures and laser safety program administration.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
|
Sandra Khan
Jack Longmire |
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM) |
| |
|
| LIA: |
|
Rich Green
David Sliney |
Education Director
Course Director |
Evaluation Period
August 9, 2005 – August 8, 2006
II. Implementation Team Meetings
September 19, 2005
January 11, 2006
April 26, 2006
July 12, 2006 |
Kick-off Implementation Team Meeting
Implementation Team Meeting
Laser Training Conference Call
Laser Training Conference Call |
In addition to these formal meetings, the OOSA and LIA staff maintained
regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for OSHA staff,
laser manufacturers and laser users of Class 3a, 3b and 4 lasers regarding laser program
administration information to employers and employees.
Products
Laser Safety Seminar
The OSHA and LIA Alliance Implementation Team members worked together to developed a four hour laser
safety seminar specifically for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs). The course
provides CSHOs with information on what to look for and key questions to ask when entering a
facility that is using laser technology. The course was finalized in July 2006.
- Deliver or arrange for the delivery of laser-related safety courses.
The OSHA and LIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of
laser hazards in the workplace, 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 Laser
Institute of America's Web site) to employers and employees in medical, industrial, military,
research & development, and optical fiber communications industries.
Products
OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page
OSHA created an OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links
to the OSHA and LIA Alliance agreement, news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony,
activities and events, and products and resources. For more information on the number of visits to
the OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in Section C of this
report.
LIA and OSHA Alliance Web page
LIA created an LIA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization's Web site. The Web page is
updated regularly and includes links to the OSHA and LIA Web page, news releases, related documents,
activities and events and OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages Editorial Boards
Through the Alliance, LIA members, Rich Green, Education Director and David Sliney, Course Director,
have been added to the editorial boards for the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages:
- Construction - Laser Hazards
- Laser Hazards
- Laser/Electrosurgery Plume
- Non-ionizing Radiation
Print and Electronic Media
Articles on the OSHA and LIA Alliance signing appeared in online and print laser industry
publications such as: OSHA's QuickTakes Industrial Laser Solutions,
Facilities Management, and Fabricator. In addition, LIA is publishing
an article, "Alliance Update," in its newsletter. For more information on the print and electronic
media, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in Section C of this report.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or Laser Institute of America's conferences, local meetings,
or other laser safety training events such as, Laser Institute of Americas International Laser
Safety conference.
Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics, April 3-6, 2006, Melbourne,
Australia
During the Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics, April 3-6, 2006,
in Melbourne, Australia, LIA distributed OSHA's Alliance Program brochure, the OSHA and LIA Alliance
Activities Summary, and the OSHA Alliance Program and On-site Consultation Program Fact Sheets to
the attendees from its exhibit booth. In addition, LIA representatives also promoted the OSHA and
LIA Alliance through discussions with visitors to the LIA exhibit booth.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
Laser Institute of America's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through
outreach by Laser Institute of America and through OSHA- or Laser Institute of America-developed
materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Laser Safety Information Bulletin
Through the Alliance, OSHA reviewed and provided comments on the LIA developed, "Laser Safety
Information Bulletin." The publication was created to help educate new laser users on the concerns
and issues related to laser safety. The Bulletin, which was completed in Summer 2006, is posted on
the LIA and OSHA Alliance Web page and a link to the publication is on the OSHA and LIA Alliance Web
page on the Agency's Web site.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on laser safety that are
addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
The OSHA and LIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on laser safety
issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health
issues.
The OSHA and LIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Executive Summary
In the first year of the Alliance, OSHA and LIA established an excellent working relationship.
Through their Alliance, OSHA and LIA are working together to share information and reduce injuries
and exposure to laser beam and non-beam hazards in industrial and medical workplaces.
For example, OSHA created an OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page
includes links to the OSHA and LIA Alliance agreement, OSHA and LIA news releases, a photograph of
the signing ceremony, activities and events and products and resources. Further, LIA developed a LIA
and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization's Web site that includes links to OSHA Safety and
Health Topics pages, the OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page, and news releases.
Through the OSHA and LIA Alliance, Implementation Team members also worked together to developed a
four hour laser safety course specifically for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs).
The course provides CSHOs with information on what to look for and key questions to ask when
entering a facility that is using laser technology. The course was finalized in July 2006.
In addition, LIA implementation team members are sharing their expertise with OSHA, by joining
OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages editorial boards for Construction - Laser Hazards, Laser
Hazards, Laser/Electrosurgery Plume, and Non-ionizing Radiation.
LIA also promoted the OSHA and LIA Alliance and the agency's cooperative programs and compliance
assistance resources through the "Alliance Update" article that is published in its newsletter. In
addition, LIA distributed OSHA safety and health information from its exhibit booth at the Pacific
International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics, April 3-6, 2006, in Melbourne,
Australia.
Finally, OSHA reviewed and provided feedback on the LIA developed, "Laser Safety Information
Bulletin," to help educate new laser users on the concerns and issues related to laser safety. The
Bulletin was posted on the LIA and OSHA Alliance Web page and a link to the publication is on the
OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity |
Number of Individuals
Reached |
August 9, 2005, "OSHA Aligns with Laser Institute of
America"
OSHA News Release |
69 News Services |
August 9, 2005, "OSHA Aligns with Laser Institute of
America"
U.S. Newswire |
Data not available |
August 9, 2006, "OSHA Aligns With Laser Institute of
America"
Topix.Net News Alerts |
Data not available |
August 17, 2006, "OSHA Forms Alliances with Cleaning
Industry, Laser Institute, Sealant Industry"
Facilities Management News |
Data not available |
August 18, 2005, "OSHA Aligns with Laser Institute of
America"
Industrial Laser Solutions |
69 News Services |
August 2005, "OSHA Aligns with Laser Institute of
America"
Laser Institute of America News Release |
Data not available |
September 2, 2005, "New Alliance Addresses Laser
Risks"
CCH NetNews |
Data not available |
September 2005, "OSHA Aligns with Laser Institute of
America"
FacilitySafety Management |
Data not available |
September 2005, "New National Alliances"
Alliance Quarterly Review |
300 |
October 2005, "OSHA, LIA form alliance"
FMA Communications |
Data not available |
November 2005, "OSHA and LIA Ally for Laser Safety"
Photonics BusinessWorld |
Data not available |
April 3-6, 2006, Pacific International Conference on
Applications of Lasers and Optics
Melbourne, Australia |
1,000 |
| OSHA and LIA Alliance Web Page |
4,150 |
| LIA and OSHA Alliance Web Page |
Data not available |
| TOTAL |
5,450 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
During the upcoming year, the OSHA and LIA Implementation Team will continue to advance its
excellent working relationship by collaborating on projects and activities to achieve the goals of
the Alliance. For example, OSHA and LIA will update and promote the Alliance's Web pages such as the
OSHA and LIA Alliance Program Web page and LIA and OSHA Alliance Web page with safety and health
resources. In addition, OSHA and LIA will distribute safety and health information from an OSHA and
LIA Alliance exhibit booth at LIA's 25th International Congress on Applications of Lasers &
Electro-Optics (ICALEO®), October 29 – November 1, 2007.
The OSHA and LIA implementation team will also hold the Laser Safety Seminar in OSHA's Regional and
Area Offices and State Plan States. Mr. Rich Green will provide the Laser Training Seminars to OSHA
staff in Regions V and VII on September 13 in Higgins Lake, Michigan, on September 14 in Kansas
City, Missouri and on October 11 in Millbury Massachusetts. In addition, OSHA and LIA will continue
to schedule the Laser Safety Seminar as requested by OSHA Offices.
LIA will also develop its Laser Safety Information Bulletin into a Podcast and post it on the LIA
and OSHA Alliance Web page. OSHA will link to the Podcast from the OSHA and LIA Alliance Web page on
the Agency's Web site. The agency will also review and provide feedback on LIA's Laser Safety
Officer Training course and the Medical Safety Officer course.
LIA members, Rich Green and David Sliney, will continue to serve as members of the editorial boards
for the Construction - Laser Hazards, Laser Hazards, Laser/Electrosurgery Plume, and Non-ionizing
Radiation Safety and Health Topics pages and will provide feedback as appropriate. Finally, LIA
representatives will work with OSHA and other Alliance Program participants to help provide
information and expertise during the Agency's update of its Hospital eTool.
Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances,
November 1, 2006
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