I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

December 6, 2004

Evaluation Period

December 6, 2004 – December 5, 2005

Overview

Through the OSHA and NUCA Alliance, the organizations are working together to provide NUCA's members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees’ health and safety. The Alliance is focusing on reducing and preventing exposure to underground utility construction hazards associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry.

Implementation Team Members

^*Member of the Implementation Team until November 2005

II. Implementation Team Meetings

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Training and Education
   
   
   • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of NUCA training programs (e.g. Excavation Safety, Competent Person and Confined Space) to OSHA staff, including those offered in Spanish.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on utility construction such as a 10-hour outreach program with emphasis on trench and excavation safety. NUCA will provide instructors as needed.
     
     Products
     
     Through the OSHA and NUCA Alliance, NUCA is developing an OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry Outreach Training Program focusing on trenching for employees and employers in the trenching and excavation industry.

   Outreach and Communication

   • 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 to employers and employees in the industry.
     
     Products
     
     OSHA and NUCA Alliance Web Site
     
     OSHA developed an OSHA and NUCA Alliance Web site that is posted on the Agency's Web page that includes the OSHA and NUCA Alliance agreement, news releases, and activities and events. This Web site is updated on a regular basis.
     
     NUCA Web site (www.nuca.com)
     
     The NUCA Web site includes a link to the OSHA and NUCA Alliance Web site.
     
     Trenching and Excavation Safety and Health Topics Page
     
     The following NUCA staff is participating on the editorial board of OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation Safety and Health Topics page:
     
     
     • George Kennedy, NUCA, Vice President, Safety; Arlington, VA

     Publications and Newsletters

     Information and news releases on the OSHA and NUCA Alliance signing and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in publications such as BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter and OSHAInstitute. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.
     
     
   • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s and NUCA’s conferences and events such as NUCA’s EXPO, Safety Directors Forum and Institute for Leadership Development training sessions.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     
   • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NUCA’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by NUCA and through OSHA- or NUCA- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to create a trenching and excavations and a confined spaces compliance assistance information card and fact sheet in both English and Spanish.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     
   • Encourage NUCA’s members to act as mentors to utility contractors who need guidance and assistance with safety and health issues to improve safety performance within the underground utility industry.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     
   • Encourage NUCA members to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Projects to address health and safety issues associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

   • Raise underground utility construction safety awareness of industry hazards such as trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry and commitment to workplace safety and health whenever NUCA’s leaders address groups such as local chapter meetings.
     
     The OSHA and NUCA 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 underground utility construction hazards associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
     
     Events
     
     Carolina Association of General Contractors 75th Statewide Safety Conference, May 5, 2005, Greensboro, North Carolina
     
     Steve Cloutier, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, updated over 85 attendees on OSHA's Alliance Program, in particular the OSHA-NUCA Alliance at the Carolina Association of General Contractors 75th Statewide Safety Conference on May 5, 2005 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

2. Executive Summary
In December 2004, OSHA and NUCA formed a national Alliance to protect construction employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing exposure to underground utility construction hazards associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry. Through the Alliance, construction industry employees have had the opportunity to hear from OSHA’s national staff about the activities of the NUCA Alliance. For example:


• Steve Cloutier, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, updated over 85 attendees on OSHA's Alliance Program, in particular the OSHA-NUCA Alliance at the Carolina Association of General Contractors 75th Statewide Safety Conference on May 5, 2005 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
OSHA created an OSHA - NUCA Alliance Web page on OSHA’s Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and NUCA Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and activities and events. NUCA included a link to the OSHA-NUCA Alliance Web Site on the NUCA Web page. In addition, information about the OSHA – NUCA Alliance also appeared in print and online articles.

A representative from NUCA’s staff serves on OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation Safety and Health Topics editorial board. Finally, NUCA is in the process of developing an OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry Outreach Training Program focusing on trenching for employers and employees in the trenching and excavation industry.


3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

NUCA staff will continue to be members of OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation editorial board and review and provide comments on the page. NUCA will also work with OSHA to develop an OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry Outreach Training Program focusing on trenching for employers and employees in the trenching and excavation industry.

In addition, the implementation team will continue discussions regarding the future of the OSHA and NUCA Alliance and potential collaborative activities.


Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, December 28, 2005