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OSHA Region X and Mechanical Contractors Association/
United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
April 16, 2007
I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

November 3, 2004

Date Renewed

February 28, 2006

Overview

To promote discussions on workplace safety and health, the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA), United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) and OSHA’s Seattle office will share information, convene forums on injury and illness trends and develop models OSHA can incorporate as industry recommendations.

Implementation Team Members

Mark Gauger – MCA
Steve Gossman – OSHA
Dale Cavanaugh – OSHA
Jim Moss – UA Local 32
Phil Wells – UA Local 36

Contributors

N/A

Evaluation Period

December 31, 2005 – April 15, 2007

II. Implementation Team Meetings

Planning meetings were held on January 31, 2006, June 28, 2006, and October 25, 2006, at the MCA office to discuss and set goals for the alliance.

III. Events and Products

Training and Education
  • Events

    We are working on a project to identify the most serious airborne hazards during field welding. We have met several times to discuss and plan this activity. OSHA contacted NIOSH and got them involved in the project. NIOSH conducted a literature search and provided several documents on welding hazards to OSHA. We provided copies of these to the MCA safety committee members. Our intent was to identify welding processes and conditions where the welding fumes are the hardest to control and to perform monitoring. In July, NIOSH visited several MCA member work sites and collected air samples during field welding operations. The NIOSH report is expected in April. Based on this information, MCA will develop procedures and training materials to better protect employees from welding fume exposures.

  • Products

    OSHA provides an OSHA Newsletter to the Safety Committee that will be posted on MCA’s website starting in May.
Outreach and Communication
  • Events

    OSHA participates in the MCA’s safety steering committee meetings.

  • Products

    Products were not developed and were not part of this alliance.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
  • Events

    N/A

  • Products

    Products were not developed and were not part of this alliance.
IV. Results

OSHA’s interaction with MCA and UA Locals 26 and 32 has led to better and more frequent communication between the partners which leads to better understanding of the standards and safer work sites.
 
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
Participate in Safety Steering Committee Meetings 18
Newsletter distribution 350
TOTAL 368

V. Upcoming Milestones

We plan on doing a second set of welding fume monitoring and develop best practices for outdoor field welding and conducting training on the best practices.

Page last updated: 04/16/2010