I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
November 12, 2002
Dates Renewed
April 21, 2004
May 31, 2005
Overview
Signatories of the Alliance:
- Air Canada
- Airtran Airways
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- American Trans Air
- America West Airlines
- Continental Airlines
- Delta Air Lines Jetblue Airways
- Midwest Express Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- U.S. Airways
- National Safety Council, International Air Transportation Section
The OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance addresses ergonomic issues associated with the handling of
passenger checked baggage. It explores ways to promote communication, outreach, training, education
and a national dialogue to reduce ergonomic-related injuries.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
|
| |
|
Brett Besser
Cathy Cronin
Brently Donaldson
Lee Anne Jillings
Lisa Ramber
Bill Wright |
Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
Office of Training and Education (OTE)
OTE
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
OOSA
Region VIII |
| |
|
| Airlines: |
|
| |
|
Cheryl Beasley
Barry Brown
Linda Christopherson
Kristin Green
Dee Hinkley
Cathi Hollister
Phil Isom
Cindy Keiser
Ray McCleary
Kim McDaniel
Penny Prince
Chris Snyder
Tracy Sora
Kevin Summerlin
Jim Swartz
Chris Turner
Debra Vujasin
Terri Weiland
Ashley West |
AirTran
Southwest Airlines
America West
United Airlines
Jet Blue
Air Canada
ATA Airlines
Continental Airlines
US Airways
Southwest Airlines
American Airlines
AirTran
Air Canada
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Alaska Airlines
US Airways
Midwest Express
Delta Air Lines |
| |
|
| National Safety Council: |
|
| |
|
| B.J. LoMastro |
|
| |
|
| Contributors: |
|
| |
|
| Kym Pond |
Contractor for OSHA, SLTC |
Evaluation Period
November 12, 2004 - November 11, 2005
II. Implementation Team Meetings
December 6, 2004
March 15, 2005
March 28, 2005
July 27, 2005
August 25, 2005
October 12, 2005
November 8-9, 2005
November 10, 2005 |
Team meeting
Steering Committee meeting
Team meeting
Steering Committee meeting
Team meeting
Steering Committee meeting
eTool Workgroup meeting
Team meeting |
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education Goal
- Continue the development of an industry training manual (referred to as a training module in the
Alliance signed 11/12/02), with OSHA input, for employees on the handling of checked baggage and
make it available, without charge, to the aviation industry, OSHA, and other interested parties.
Products
Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual
The Alliance completed its development of a training manual for aviation industry baggage handlers
on how to handle large volumes of passenger checked baggage safely and reduce the chance for
injuries on the job. The manual covers: injury prevention, forces that affect the body, safety
workplaces and identification and reducing risk factors and proper body mechanics for handling
checked baggage. Sections of the manual cover Planeside Loading and Unloading, Ticket Counter and
Baggage Make-up Room. The document is being used as the basis for an ergonomics training module that
is under development for OSHA’s Baggage Handling eTool.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- With OSHA's input, continue development of an industry Awareness/Education Program for passengers,
including, for example, a "Fact Sheet" and/or brochure with suggestions on how to pack baggage so it
is easier to handle while traveling. Distribute the brochure at the National Safety Council’s
National Safety Congress and Exposition and through working with Alliance Program participants.
Products
"A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" Pamphlet
The Alliance developed and published "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet.
The document has in-depth information, in a question and answer format, to help inform airline
passengers on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid muscle strains and pulls. The pamphlet has
been shared with numerous groups including the National Safety Council (NSC), Voluntary Protection
Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) and Embry Riddle University. More than 11,000 pamphlets
have been distributed. In addition, NSC has posted the pamphlet in its member's only section on the
association’s Web site. The pamphlet includes the Alliance participants' and the Alliance Program's
logos.
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise on the periodic review and update of OSHA’s Baggage Handling
eTool and the Airline Industry Safety & Health Topics page. Begin converting the industry training
manual into an eTool.
Products
OSHA Baggage Handling eTool
The Alliance participants are providing comments and information that OSHA is incorporating into its
Baggage Handling eTool. The tool describes many of the common hazards associated with the baggage
handling process and provides possible solutions that are ranked according to their feasibility to
the operations. The OSHA-Airline Industry Alliance implementation team is working with OSHA to add
an ergonomics training module to the tool.
OSHA Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics Page
The members of the Alliance’s implementation team continue to serve on the editorial board for the
Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics page on OSHA’s Web site. This page provides employers and
employees in the aviation industry with information and assistance to help create a healthy and safe
working environment. Following are the airline industry representatives:
- Cheryl Beasley, AirTran Airways; Atlanta, GA
- Linda Christopherson, America West Airlines; Phoenix, AZ
- Kristin Fiore, United Airlines; Chicago, IL
- Dee Hinckley, JetBlue Airlines; New York, NY
- Phil Isom, ATA Airlines; Indianapolis, IN
- Cindy Keiser, Continental Airlines; Houston, TX
- Ray McCleary, US Airways; Pittsburgh, PA
- Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines; Dallas, TX
- BJ LoMastro, National Safety Council
- Brenda Morten, ATA Airlines; Indianapolis, IN
- Penny Prince, American Airlines; Dallas, TX
- Tracy Sora, Air Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Kevin Summerlin, Continental Airlines; Houston, TX
- Jim Swartz, Delta Airlines; Atlanta, GA
- Chris Turner, Alaska Airlines; Seattle, WA
- Debra Vujasin, US Airways; Pittsburgh, PA
- Ashley West, Delta Airlines; Atlanta, GA
Aviation Industry Safety and Health Fact Sheet
The Alliance has reviewed aviation industry safety and health information that other organizations
have developed (e.g., National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Transportation Security
Administration, University of Michigan). The Alliance implementation team is working on combining
the relevant information into one fact sheet for the industry. The document will be finalized in
2006.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
- Conduct an informational seminar with and disseminate information to regulatory agencies,
international organizations and other interested parties such as the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Transportation Security
Administration and the American Association of Airport Executives to share information about
ergonomic issues.
Events
Aviation Industry Workshop
OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance is planning an Aviation Industry Workshop that will be held in
2006. The workshop will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions regarding handling baggage
and other packages in the transportation industry (i.e. travel ribbon).
- Educate interested parties on and solicit ideas for improvement of ergonomics associated with the
handling of checked baggage during a national safety related conference, such as the National Safety
Council's National Safety Congress and Exposition
Events
National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida, September 21, 2005
During the 2005 National Safety Congress and Expo, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance had a
workshop, "NSC/OSHA/Airlines Ergonomics Alliance," that provided the attendees with a history of
ergonomics in the aviation industry and the baggage handling process and an overview of how the
airlines and airport authorities work together. The workshop presenters also updated the attendees
on the Alliance’s activities and discussed its ongoing work, including updating OSHA’s Baggage
Handling eTool and adding new sections to the Alliance’s ergonomics training manual for airline
employees. The following were the workshop's speakers:
- Linda Christopherson, America West
- Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA
- Ray McCleary, US Airways
- Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines
- Penny Prince, American Airlines
- Ashley West, Delta Air Lines
Jim Swartz and Ashley West, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Presentations
Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety, and Ashley West, Manager of Ergonomics, for Delta Air
Lines, Inc., made the following presentations to national and international industry groups and
other airlines about the Alliance Program and its intent to work with airports, manufacturers, and
other interested parties about ergonomic issues related to airport design:
- Ground Handling International, Athens, Greece, November, 29, 2004 (Jim Swartz)
- ARTEX, Niagara Falls, Canada, June 9, 2005 (Ashley West)
- Korean Air Safety Seminar, Seoul, Korea, July 20, 2005 (Jim Swartz)
OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety Council’s International Air Transport Section
Alliance Web Page
The OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance Web page on OSHA’s Web site contains information on the
Alliance, Products and Resources, Activities and Events, and Milestones and Successes. The Web site
also has information on how individuals or groups that are interested in the Alliance; can sign-up
for the Alliance’s Interested Parties list. The page is updated regularly.
Print and Electronic Media
Information and news releases on the signing of the OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety
Council’s International Air Transport Section Alliance renewal agreement and the activities of the
Alliance have appeared in a number of safety and health publications. For example, "Alliance Sees
Solutions, Airlines tackle ground workers ergonomic injuries," was published in the March 2005
edition of the NSC’s magazine; Safety+Health. See the chart in this report under "Alliance Program
Reach" for additional information.
- Executive Summary
The OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety Council’s International Air Transport Section
Alliance met its goals during its third year. When the groups renewed the Alliance on May 31, 2005,
they continued their work to address the very specific goals identified in the agreement and to
define the projects that would meet the Alliance goals. During the past year, the Alliance produced
and coordinated some very successful products and events.
For example, the Alliance finalized "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet
that has in depth information for airline passengers on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid
muscle strains and pulls. Over 11,000 pamphlets have been widely distributed to a number of groups
including the NSC, VPPPA and Embry Riddle University. In addition, it is posted in the NSC's members
only section on the Council's Web site.
The Alliance has completed the Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual. The document
consists of sections on Planeside Loading and Unloading, Ticket Counter and the Baggage Make-up
Room. The manual covers: injury prevention, forces that affect the body, safety workplaces and
identification and reducing risk factors and proper body mechanics for handling checked baggage.
The Alliance's implementation team members continue to serve on the editorial boards of the Agency’s
eTool for Baggage Handling and the Airlines Industry Safety and Health Topics page. In addition, the
Alliance is working with OSHA to develop a draft ergonomics training module for the eTool. The
information that was published in the Alliance's "Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual"
is being used as the basis for the module.
OSHA and the Alliance's airline participants continue to effectively communicate their commitment to
the Alliance Program and protecting the safety and health of aviation industry employees and
improving the safety and health of the workplace. For example, the OSHA and Airline Industry
Alliance developed and participated in a workshop during the 2005 National Safety Congress;
"NSC/OSHA/Airlines Industry Alliance." The workshop was held on September 21 in Orlando, Florida.
During the presentations, speakers including Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA; Ashley West, Delta Airlines;
and Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines; discussed the Alliance's ongoing work, such as updating OSHA’s
Baggage Handling eTool and adding new sections to the Alliance’s ergonomics training manual for
airline employees. The Alliance implementation team also began planning an Aviation Industry
Workshop for 2006 that will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions regarding handling
baggage and other packages in the transportation industry, (i.e. travel ribbon).
Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety, and Ashley West, Manager of Ergonomics, for Delta Air
Lines, Inc. continued to promote the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance as an example of industry
and government working together successfully through a number of national and international
presentations, including a Korean Air Safety Seminar on July 20, 2005 and an ARTEX meeting in
Niagara Falls, Canada on June 9, 2005.
The Alliance also continues to maintain and update the Interested Parties list which consists of
aviation industry safety and health professionals or organizations that are not signatories to the
Alliance agreement, but would like to receive information concerning activities of the OSHA and
Airline Industry Alliance. In addition, the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive Group (HSE)
continues to monitor the activities of the Alliance.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained |
| Representatives from Delta Air Lines, Inc., made the
following presentations: |
|
| |
November, 29, 2004, Ground Handling International, Athens,
Greece, (Jim Swartz) |
|
40 |
| |
June 9, 2005, ARTEX, Niagara Falls, Canada, (Ashley West) |
|
30 |
| |
July 20, 2005, Korean Air Safety Seminar, Seoul, Korea, (Jim
Swartz) |
|
50 |
| March 2005, "Alliance Sees Solutions, Airlines tackle
ground workers ergonomic injuries," Safety+Health |
Data not available |
| June 6, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance,"
OSHA News Release |
42 News Services |
| June 6, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance;
Will Continue Addressing Ergonomic Issues Related to Safe Handling of Checked Baggage," Yahoo!
News, http://news.com |
Data not available |
| June 7, 2005, "OSHA Renews Airline Alliance Again,"
BNA Daily Labor Report |
Data not available |
| June 11, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance;
Will Continue Addressing Ergonomic Issues Related to Safe Handling of Checked Baggage," Usernomics,
http://www.usernomics.com |
Data not available |
| June 15, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew National
Alliance," OSHA QuickTakes |
52,000 |
| June 22. 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance,"
CCH NetNews, http://www.hr.cch.com |
Data not available |
September 21, 2005, "NSC/OSHA/Airlines
Ergonomics Alliance," National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida
Speakers:
- Linda Christopherson America West
- Lee Anne Jillings OSHA
- Ray McCleary U.S. Airways
- Kim McDaniel Southwest Airlines
- Penny Prince American Airlines
- Ashley West Delta Air Lines
|
|
50 |
| OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance Web page on OSHA’s
Web site |
5,139 |
| Baggage Handling eTool |
15,596 |
| Airline Industry OSHA Safety and Health Topics page |
15,635 |
| TOTAL |
88,582 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
OSHA, the Airline Industry and the National Safety Council’s International Air Transport Section
have agreed to renew the Alliance for another year and the groups are drafting the agreement. As in
the past, the Alliance’s participants have agreed that the agreement should include specific goals
and have discussed a number of projects that it will undertake in the upcoming year.
The Alliance will be developing and adding two new sections, gate check-in and skycap, to the
"Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual." In addition, information on the airlines’ kiosks
will be added to the Ticket Counter section of the manual and OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool. The
Alliance will also continue its work to develop an ergonomics training module for OSHA's Baggage
Handling eTool that is based on the manual.
To continue working with airports, manufacturers, and other interested parties to address airport
design issues, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance is planning an Aviation Industry Workshop that
will be held in May 2006. The workshop will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions
regarding handling baggage and other packages in the transportation industry (i.e. travel ribbon).
The Alliance is also planning on speaking at a number of conferences and meetings in 2006 including
the NSC's National Safety Congress, 9th Annual Applied Ergonomics Conference and the European
Aviation Group for Occupational Safety and Health (EaGOSH) meeting.
Though the Alliance, the implementation team members plan to continue to promote and distribute the
pamphlet, "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" in a number of ways. The Alliance is
working with the NSC to insert the pamphlet in the 2006 National Safety Congress and Expo’s
registration materials. In addition, the Alliance is exploring the possibility of sharing the
information with travel-related organizations, e.g. Weather Channel.
Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
December 13, 2005
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