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ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
PITTSBURGH BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL
May 26, 2010
  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: 5-17-04

    Date Renewed: Last Renewal 5-28-08

    Alliance Overview.

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and The Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council aligned to provide Council members, including youth apprentice workers, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to the various hazards associated with the construction industry.

    Implementation Team Members.

    Richard Stanizzo – Business Rep., Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council
    Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
    Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
    Frank Librich – Assistant Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    June 16, 2009 In-person Dormont, PA
    September 10, 2009 Conference Call
    October 23, 2009 In-person Dormont, PA
    January 29, 2010 Conference Call
    March 19, 2010 In-person Dormont PA
    May 26, 2010 Conference Call

     
  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period.

    May 29, 2009 to May 26, 2010

    Alliance Activity.
     
    • Training and Education

      June 19, 2009 – The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania held a Safety and Risk Committee meeting at the Western Pennsylvania Laborer’s Apprenticeship School. The Laborer’s apprenticeship coordinator and instructors were in attendance. Highway safety construction information was presented and discussed.

      July 16, 2009 – The CAS conducted a presentation to the union stewards of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners local #1160 on OSHA policies/procedures, common cited standards in their respective industries (mill cabinet/trade show shops), and the use of the OSHA internet site.

      August 10, 2009 – CAS had a meeting with the Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Coordinator to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. OSHA updates and emphasis programs were discussed along with frequently cited standards and Pittsburgh AO fatality stats. In addition, the CAS gave training/instruction on how to use the internet site to access accident/fatality and 5(a)(1) information.

      October 29, 2009 - The Operating Engineers (Local 66) conducted a “Heavy Equipment” training day at the Apprenticeship school for the CSHOs from the Pittsburgh AO and the Erie AO. The training was both classroom and hands-on. This was conducted via the cross-training venue of the Alliance.

      April 16, 2010 – The CAS and CSHO trainee attended the Ironworkers Local #3 Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition and received cross-training in Ironworker construction activities by viewing the various competitions and receiving instruction by the Apprenticeship Instructors.
       
    • Outreach and Communication

      June 16, 2009 – CAS had meeting with Insulators & Asbestos Workers Local #2 Apprenticeship Coordinator and instructor to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      June 19, 2009 - CAS had meeting with the Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Coordinator and instructors to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      July 22, 2009 - CAS had meeting with Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Coordinator and instructors to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      July 29, 2009 - CAS had meeting with the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts local #9 Apprenticeship Coordinator and instructor to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      August 11, 2009 - CAS had meeting with Cement Masons Local #526 Apprenticeship Coordinator to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      August 13, 2009 - CAS had meeting with District Council #57 IUPAT (Painters, Drywall, Glaziers, Signs, Painters) Apprenticeship Coordinator and instructors to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. The CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

      December 8, 2009 – CAS staffed an information booth at the SW Pennsylvania Career Day/Job Fair at the Western Area Career and Technology Center (Event sponsored by CAWP). The primary purpose of the event was to raise the awareness of high school students to the career paths available to them. The focus of the event was on careers related to highway and bridge design, construction and maintenance. The apprenticeship coordinators and instructors from following Pittsburgh Building Trades Unions participated in the event: Laborers Local #1058, Ironworkers Local #3, Operating Engineers Local #66, Cement Masons Local #526, and Carpenters District Council. The CAS visited the various hands-on demonstrations by the Unions to promote OSHA and safety relating to highway and bridge construction and maintenance work.

      The Pittsburgh Area Office and PJ Dick/Hunt entered into a Partnership agreement for the construction of the Pittsburgh Penguins new arena. Pittsburgh Building Trades Council participated in the ceremony pledging support for the Partnership. The Pittsburgh Building Trades Council was listed in the written Partnership agreement formalizing their support for the Partnership. The Pittsburgh Building Trades Council have continued their support of Partnership.
       
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      September 14, 15, 2009 – CAS and Regional Labor Liaison attended the AFL-CIO National Convention in Pittsburgh PA. The OSHA representatives were able to network with national labor representatives.

      April 12,13,14, 2010 - The CAS and a CSHO from the Pittsburgh Area Office staffed an information booth at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention. The OSHA representatives answered numerous questions and handed out employee rights booklets.

      Various Business Agents and Apprenticeship coordinators/instructors call monthly for discussion and guidance on construction standards and OSHA policy/procedure information.
      Alliance Products.

      In the “Heavy Equipment” training conducted by the Operating Engineers, four load charts on heavy equipment used in the load chart exercise were provided.

       
  4. Results

    The training and outreach communication information provided was well received. The member union representatives of the council found the information to be valuable in assisting them in their efforts of promoting and providing safety and health training to their members in reducing and preventing exposure to the various hazards associated with the construction industry. In addition, the OSHA Compliance staff that received cross-training from the Operating Engineers on inspecting and operation of heavy equipment found the training to be excellent and extremely valuable in assisting them in the field.

    Apprenticeship Coordinators, Instructors, Business Agents and members who have called throughout the year indicated the information received from the Pittsburgh Area Office was very helpful in interpreting OSHA’s policies and standards as they related to their current construction activities. The Council represents approximately 20,000 members. The information exchanged with the Building Trades Council would eventually have the potential to affect the entire membership, that being approximately 20,000 members. The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance has been extremely positive.
     
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    Insulators & Asbestos Workers Local #2 Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructor Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 6-16-09  110
    Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania Laborers Coordinator/Instructors Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 6-19-09 96
    United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners local #1160 Training 7-16-09 20
    Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructors Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 7-22-09 800
    Bricklayers and Allied Crafts local #9 Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructor Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 7-29-09 180
    Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructor Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices. Conducted Training/Instruction on internet use 8-10-09 100
    Cement Masons Local #526 Apprenticeship Coordinator Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 8-11-09 30
    District Council #57 IUPAT Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructor Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 8-13-09 208
    AFL-CIO National Convention in Pittsburgh PA 9-14,15-09 1000
    Cross-Training OSHA Compliance Officers on Heavy Equipment Safety by Operating Engineers Local #66 10-29-09 14
    SW Pennsylvania Career Day/Job Fair at the Western Area Career and Technology Center 12-8-09 475
    Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh PA –Staffed and information booth 4-12,13,14-10 900
    Ironworkers Local #3 Annual Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition 4-16-10 200
    Total 3 4133

     
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    As a result of the positive working relationship between the Alliance signatories, an Alliance Renewal Agreement will be signed on May 27, 2010. The Alliance is continually looking into future opportunities in providing information for affected parties. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.