I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

March 17, 2004

Date Renewed

August 21, 2006

Evaluation Period

March 17, 2006 – March 16, 2007

Overview

Through the Alliance, OSHA and MCAA are working together with MCAA's members and others, including small businesses, to increase employee access to safety and health information and training resources, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with masonry wall bracing, scaffolding, silica and forklift operations.

Implementation Team Members

_____________________________
*MCAA’s Director of Engineering until June 2006.

II. Implementation Team Meetings

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 and Products
   
   Training and Education Goals
   
   
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for MCAA members and others in the masonry industry regarding masonry wall bracing, scaffolding, silica and forklift operations and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
     
     The OSHA and MCAA 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 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 MCAA Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   Products
   
   OSHA and MCAA Alliance Web site
   
   OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and MCAA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. It includes the OSHA and MCAA agreements, news releases, activities and events and milestones and successes.
   
   MCAA Web site (www.masoncontractors.org)
   
   MCAA’s Web site includes information on the OSHA and MCAA Alliance and the OSHA On-site Consultation Program.
   
   Publications and Newsletters
   
   Information on the activities of the OSHA and MCAA Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: OSHA’s Alliance Quarterly Review, BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter and Masonry Headlines. For more information on the articles, see the “Alliance Program Reach.”
   
   Concrete and Concrete Products – Manufacturing and Construction Safety and Health Topics page
   
   The following MCAA representatives serve on the editorial board of the Concrete and Concrete Products – Manufacturing and Construction Safety and Health Topics page’s editorial board:
   
   
   • Zach Everett, Safety Director, Brazos Masonry, Inc; Waco, TX
   • Rashod R. Johnson, Director of Engineering; Schaumberg, IL
   • Speak or appear at OSHA's or MCAA’s conferences, local meetings, or national association events.
   Events
   
   MCAA Masonry Showcase, March 29-31, 2006, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
   
   On March 29-31, 2006, Mary Jo Brown, Jerry DiVicino, Mark Fontaine, Todd Schultz, Art Sipple and Michelle Vieira with the Nevada On-site Consultation Program staffed the Alliance Program exhibit booth during the MCAA Masonry Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada. OSHA provided compliance assistance and Alliance publications, including the OSHA and MCAA Alliance Activities Summary, which were distributed during the event to the attendees.
   
   
   • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding MCAA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by MCAA and through OSHA- or MCAA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
   Products
   
   Masonry Best Practices Seminar, October 26, 2006, Carol Stream, Illinois
   
   The Masonry Best Practices Seminar, developed through the OSHA and MCAA Alliance, was held on October 26, 2006 in Carol Stream, Illinois. The seminar focuses on masonry industry safety methods for overhead bricklaying, fall protection, material handling and scaffold access. Following the classroom instruction, the seminar participants are provided with hands-on training on rough terrain forklift operation, scaffolding techniques, and masonry basics. The seminar was held at a Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America’s (LHSFNA), a former Alliance Program participant, Training Facility. The seminars instructors included: MCAA members and staff and representatives from the LHSFNA and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Training Fund. More than 20 OSHA Region V and Illinois On-site Consultation Program representatives participated in the seminar.
   
   
   • Promote and encourage MCAA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
     
     The OSHA and MCAA 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 on designing for safety, masonry wall bracing, scaffolding, silica, and forklift operations that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
     
     Please refer to Masonry Best Practices Seminar under the “Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals…” goal.
     
     
   • Encourage MCAA chapters and/or contractors to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including, masonry wall bracing, scaffolding, silica and forklift operations.
     
     The OSHA and MCAA 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
   
   
   • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
     
     The OSHA and MCAA 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 wall bracing, forklift safety, fall protection and scaffolding issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
   OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups
   
   MCAA is continuing to participate in the Design for Safety and Fall Protection workgroups that were created at the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable on July 8, 2004.
   
   Design for Safety Workgroup – MCAA is participating on the Design for Safety Workgroup and helped develop a 2-4 Hour Design for Safety Training Course. The course is based on the Design for Construction Safety slide presentation and provides technical information for those that are interested learning more about designing for safety. Mr. Johnson attended the Workgroup meeting on April 18, 2006 and May 17, 2006.
   
   Fall Protection Workgroup – MCAA is participating on the Fall Protection Workgroup and helped develop the "Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry" training program. The program is designed for construction industry audiences, including small business owners, trainers, foreman and workers. In addition, the Workgroup is developing toolbox talks for ladders that address issues such as "Do's and Don'ts of Using a Ladder", "Choosing the Right Ladder" and "Set-Up and Use of a Ladder.” Mr. Johnson attended the Workgroup meeting on May 17, 2006.
   
   
2. Executive Summary
   
   Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and MCAA are continuing to work together to share information on the masonry industry and OSHA’s compliance assistance activities and cooperative programs. This positive relationship has led to the development a one day Masonry Best Practices Seminar.
   
   During 2006, the OSHA and MCAA Alliance held the seminar for OSHA Region V staff on October 26, 2006 in Carol Stream, Illinois. The OSHA representatives heard MCAA members and staff and representatives from the LHSFNA and AGC Training Fund present information on masonry industry safety methods for overhead bricklaying, fall protection, material handling and scaffold access. Following the classroom instruction, the attendees were provided with hands-on training on rough terrain forklift operation, scaffolding techniques, and masonry basics.
   
   In addition, OSHA and MCAA representatives are sharing their expertise and information through a number of different avenues. For example:
   
   
   • MCAA representatives are serving on the editorial board for the Concrete and Concrete Products- Manufacturing and Construction Safety and Health Topics page.
     
     
   • On March 29-31, 2006, Mary Jo Brown, Jerry DiVicino, Mark Fontaine, Todd Schultz, Art Sipple and Michelle Vieira with the Nevada On-site Consultation Program staffed the Alliance Program exhibit booth during the MCAA Masonry Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada.
     
     
   • MCAA has representatives on the Design for Safety and Fall Protection Workgroups that were created at the July 8, 2004 OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting.
   Finally, OSHA and MCAA agreed to continue the Alliance and signed a renewal agreement on August 21, 2006.
   
   
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

The OSHA and MCAA Alliance Implementation Team has discussed several activities that will be undertaken in the upcoming year. For example, the organizations are planning to conduct additional Masonry Best Practices seminars. MCAA is working with OSHA Region I to schedule a seminar for Summer 2007.

In addition, MCAA representatives will continue to be members of OSHA’s Concrete and Concrete Products- Manufacturing and Construction Safety and Health Topics page’s editorial board. The association will also provide feedback on information and products developed through the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable’s Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups.


Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 4, 2007