1. Alliance Background
   

Date Signed

October 2, 2008

Evaluation Period

October 2, 2008 - October 1, 2009

Overview

The OSHA and AFSA Alliance focuses on providing large and small landscape services industry employers and their employees including youth, low-literacy level, and non-English speaking workers with information and guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to manual material handling and slip, trip and fall hazards and addressing motor vehicle safety issues.

Implementation Team Members

OSHA:

Sandra Khan - Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)

Eric Lahaie - OOSA, DCSP
Tony Mapes^* - OOSA, DCSP

PLANET:

Cheryl Claborn - Market Development Manager
Laurie Erdman - The Bruce Company of Wisconsin, Inc.
Sabeena Hickman - PLANET
Jason K. Cupp - Highland Outdoor, Inc.
*Tony Mapes served as the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Coordinator until August 2009.


2. Implementation Team Meetings
   

October 2, 2008 - Kick-off Implementation Team Meeting
February 10, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting
May 27, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting


3. Results
   


1. Events and Products
   

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 OSHA's and AFSA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the fire sprinkler installation industry.
OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web Page

OSHA created and maintains an OSHA and PLANET Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and PLANET Alliance agreement, this annual report, news releases, information on activities and events of the Alliance and links to resources developed by PLANET through the Alliance Program.

PLANET and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

PLANET created and maintains an OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page on the PLANET Web site. The page has information on the OSHA and PLANET Alliance and links to the OSHA Web site. In addition, the Web site hosts resources developed by PLANET through the OSHA and PLANET Alliance, including "Gasoline Powered Cut-off Machines," "Personal Protective Equipment for Mixing Chemicals in Lawn Care Quick Card," and "Using Small Equipment Safely in Landscaping," Quick Cards.

OSHA Electronic Tools

As a result of the OSHA and PLANET Alliance, Laurie Erdman has begun serving on the editorial board for the Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics pages:

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or PLANET's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the Green Industry Conference, GIE+EXPO, and Student Career Days.
PLANET Green Industry Conference, October 22-25, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky

Representatives from Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth at the Green Industry Conference and Expo, October 22-25, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky.

PLANET 33rd Annual Student Career Days, March 26-29, 2009, Pomona, California

Felipe Kleinstiver, Industrial Hygienist, California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth at the PLANET 33rd Annual Student Career Day on March 25, 2009 in Pomona, California.

• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding PLANET's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by PLANET and through OSHA- or PLANET-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
PLANET Quick Cards

Through the OSHA and PLANET Alliance, PLANET developed "Gasoline Powered Cut-off Machines," "Personal Protective Equipment for Mixing Chemicals in Lawn Care," and "Using Small Equipment Safely in Landscaping," Quick Cards and translated them into the Spanish Language. The Quick Cards are posted on the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page and on the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.

• Promote and encourage PLANET members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
The OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team members encouraged PLANET members to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs at conferences and meetings, such as the such as the PLANET Green Industry Conference, in Louisville, Kentucky.

• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program such as the North American Occupational Safety and Heath (NAOSH) Week.

2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2009

PLANET and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.

2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3-9, 2009

PLANET and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, 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." To help support the week Airline Group distributed information about 2009 NAOSH Week to its membership. In addition, Nobuyo Sakata, Mont Smith, Gwen Butler, Mike Hodes and Marianne Psipsikas attended the 2009 NAOSH Week kick-off ceremony on May 4, 2008 at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC.

Department of Labor Safety Day, June 10, 2009, Washington, DC

PLANET representatives staffed an exhibit booth and distributed safety and health information during the Department of Labor Safety Day.


2. Executive Summary
   

During the OSHA and PLANET Alliance's first year, the organizations worked together to provide large and small landscape services industry employers and their employees including youth, low-literacy level, and non-English speaking workers with information and guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to manual material handling and slip, trip and fall hazards and addressing motor vehicle safety issues. As a result of this positive relationship, the organizations pursued a number of projects and activities during the reporting period. For example:

• Through the OSHA and PLANET Alliance, the organizations have PLANET developed "Gasoline Powered Cut-off Machines," "Personal Protective Equipment for Mixing Chemicals in Lawn Care," and "Using Small Equipment Safely in Landscaping," Quick cards and translated them into the Spanish. The Quick Cards are posted on the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page and on the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site.
• Felipe Kleinstiver, Industrial Hygienist, California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth at the PLANET 33rd Annual Student Career Day on March 25, 2009 in Pomona, California.
• Representatives from Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth at the Green Industry Conference and Expo, October 22-25, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky.
• PLANET supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week, the 2009 NAOSH Week and exhibited at the 2009 Department of Labor Safety Day, June 10, 2009 in Washington, DC.
• PLANET representatives are sharing their expertise by serving on the Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page.
3. Alliance Program Reach
   



Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
OSHA and PLANET Web Page site on the OSHA Web site	1,956
PLANET and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the PLANET Web site	Data Not Available
OSHA Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page	7,266
October 16, 2008: "OSHA signs new alliance with the Professional Landcare Network Focus on material handling, slip, trip and fall hazards, motor vehicle safety" OSHA News Release	62 News Services
October 24, 2008: "OSHA Signs Safety Alliance with Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)" Facilities Management News	Data Not Available
November 7, 2008: "OSHA Signs New Alliance with PLANET" Landscape Management	Data Not Available
November 2008: "PLANET and OSHA Sign New Alliance" PLANET News	Data Not Available
December 2008: "Safety Quick Cards are Now Online" PLANET News
May 2009: "Safety Quick Cards Available in Spanish" PLANET News	Data Not Available
TOTAL	9,284

4. Upcoming Milestones
   

Over the next year, OSHA and PLANET will continue to work together to provide to provide large and small landscape services industry employers and their employees including youth, low-literacy level, and non-English speaking workers with information and guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to manual material handling and slip, trip and fall hazards and addressing motor vehicle safety issues. The OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team will develop materials addressing worker identified hazards, such as an Interior Landscaping Quick Card, which will be translated into Spanish. Additional planned activities include:

• Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health representatives will deliver a presentation and will staff an exhibit booth at the Green Industry Conference, October 28-30, 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky.
• OSHA representatives from Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia Area Office will participate at the 2010 PLANET Student Career Days, April 8-11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.
• PLANET representatives will continue to provide their expertise to OSHA and will continue serving on the Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page.
• PLANET will also support the 2009 Drug-Free Work Week and the 2010 NAOSH Week. PLANET will also exhibit at the 2010 Department of Labor Safety Day in June 2010.

Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 20, 2009.