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The OSHA and NTSP Alliance will focus on providing NTSP members and others in the telecommunications industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, by addressing ergonomic issues. The Alliance's goals include:

Outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards related to ergonomics and provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and NTSP's websites) to employers and employees in the industry.
• Share information addressing ergonomics among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NTSP's best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by NTSP and OSHA and through OSHA- or NTSP-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of addressing ergonomic issues and publicize their results.

Related Documents

Alliance Agreements

• Agreement signed February 26, 2004.
• Renewal Agreement signed June 9, 2006.
• Renewal Agreement signed March 26, 2008.

Alliance Annual Reports

• Alliance Annual Report 2004-2005, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
• Alliance Annual Report 2005-2006, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
• Alliance Annual Report 2006-2007, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
• Alliance Annual Report 2007-2008, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
• Alliance Annual Report 2008-2009, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.

Alliance News Releases

• National Telecommunications Safety Panel Aligns with OSHA. OSHA News Release (2004, February 26).
• OSHA Renews National Telecommunications Safety Panel Alliance. OSHA News Release (2006, June 9).
• OSHA Renews Alliance with the National Telecommunications Safety Panel. OSHA News Release (2008, April 8).

Activities and Events

• September 14-16, 2010: 2010 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Denver, Colorado.
  • September 14, 2010: Meagan Meagher, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Denver Area Office, USDOL-OSHA presented OSHA updates on OSHA's proposed recordkeeping changes to the OSHA Log 300, OSHA's Recordkeeping National Emphasis Program, and OSHA's enforcement focus.
  • September 15, 2010: Chad Vivian, Compliance Health and Safety Officer, Englewood Area Office, USDOL-OSHA gave a presentation entitled “ OSHA Compliance in the Telecommunications Industry.”
• May 2-8, 2010: 2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The National Telecommunications Safety Panel and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." 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.
• September 15-17, 2009: 2009 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Dallas, Texas.
  • September 15, 2009: R. Dean Wingo, Jr., Assistant Regional Administrator, Dallas Regional Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation on ergonomics.
  • September 15, 2009: Marie Robinson, Area Manager, EH&S, AT&T gave an update on the OSHA and NTSP Alliance and ergonomics.
• May 3-9, 2009: 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home."
  • May 4, 2009: Eric Allgaier, Group Manager - Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Sprint Nextel Corporation, represented NTSP and attended the NAOSH Week Kick-off event at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab, USDOL-OSHA; Warren Brown, President, ASSE; and Andrew Cooper, Secretary, CSSE; provided brief remarks. The Kick-off also featured an Alliance Program participant panel with presentations from Alliance Program participants American Heart Association, ASSE, Independent Electrical Contractors, and National Safety Council focusing on workplace safety and health issues.
  • May 4, 2009: Eric Allgaier, Group Manager - Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Sprint Nextel Corporation, represented NTSP and attended the OSHA-led afternoon seminar. Barnett Lawrence, Compliance Assistance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP), USDOL-OSHA presented "Navigating the OSHA Web Site." Amanda Edens, Deputy Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, USDOL-OSHA; Michael Walterschied, Area Director, Region III, Baltimore/Washington D.C. Area Office, USDOL-OSHA; John Ferris, Director, Office of Emergency Management, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA; and Doug Goodell, then-Acting Deputy Director, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA participated on the "OSHA Update" panel discussion. Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA presented "OSHA Top 10 Violations and Compliance Assistance Resources."
• September 9-11, 2008: 2008 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Park City, Utah.
  • September 9, 2008: Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., former-Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, gave a keynote address.
  • September 10, 2008: Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation "OSHA Update, Computer Work Stations and Editorial Boards."
  • September 10, 2008: Dan Crane, Lead Physical Scientist, Salt Lake Technical Center, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation on material failure issues in the telecommunications industry.

Products and Resources

• Alliance Program Participant Background

Alliance Program Participant Developed Products

• Ergonomic Guidelines for Common Job Function in the Telecommunications Industry. [PDF^* - 5 MB]. Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed "Ergonomic Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry." The Guidelines provide information to help telecommunications industry employees prevent ergonomic injuries. (2004, March; updated 2007, November)
• Laptop Computers. [PDF^* - 80 KB]. Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed "Laptop Computers." The document provides information to help employees prevent ergonomic injuries when using laptop computers. (2007, November)
• Office Lighting Fact Sheet. [PDF^* - 80 KB]. Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed "Office Lighting Fact Sheet." The fact sheet explains the relationship between office lighting and ergonomics. (2009, May)
• Shoveling Fact Sheet [PDF^* - 80 KB]. Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed "Shoveling Fact Sheet." The fact sheet provides ergonomic tips and suggestions for safe shoveling. (2010, March)
• Retail Store Ergonomics Fact Sheet [PDF^* - 80 KB]. Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed "Retail Sales Ergonomics Fact Sheet." Working in a wireless retail store environment involves many tasks. Some job functions may involve potential cumulative trauma disorder risk factors: long term standing; awkward positions at computer stations; and light duty material handling. This fact sheet highlights some of these risk factors and provides practical solutions for improving health and comfort for wireless retail associates. (2010, May)

OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Ergonomics

OSHA eTools

• Solutions for Electrical Contractors**

Success Stories

• Through the OSHA and National Telecommunications Safety Panel (NTSP) Alliance, NTSP developed the following success stories that highlight successful safety and health programs or best practices that the association's member companies have implemented in their workplaces that have led to positive results, including a reduction of work-related injuries.
  • Asset Distribution Facility [PDF^* - 68 KB]
  • Dual Monitors [PDF^* - 52 KB]
  • Ladders [PDF^* - 76 KB]

Additional Resources

• NTSP/OSHA Alliance page

** Alliance Implementation Team members serve on the editorial board.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs at 202-693-2200 for assistance accessing PDF materials.

^*These files are provided for downloading.