Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Regional Alliances - Region III

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed:

    October 17, 2007

    Date Renewed:

    October 14, 2009 Alliance Overview:

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Graphic Arts Alliance (GAA) formed an Alliance to provide GAA members and others in the graphic arts industry, including small businesses, with information guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards and by addressing machine guarding, lockout/tagout and hazardous chemical issues. During the first two years of this Alliance topics of OSHA inspections, machine guarding, accident investigation and hazard communication had been presented. This Alliance was renewed so that the Implementation Team and the GAA participating members could begin the development of a “safety inspection checklist”, which would be comprehensive in both programmatic reviews and physical hazard identification.

    Implementation Team Members

    Scott G. Shimandle, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA – Allentown Area Office
    Stephen Stankavage, Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Manager, GAA

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    November 15, 2010 Email notification that EHS Roundtable was being cancelled
    November 17, 2010   Email notification indicating that with holidays and vacations meetings will be postponed and resume in 2011
    September 26, 2011 Email requesting opportunity to discuss Alliance’s future
    October 6, 2011 Email reply – work activities have increased and GAA office is in the process of moving – however still wishes to continue Alliance
    November 3, 2011 Phone conversation with Stephen Stankavage, EHS Manager – discussion focused on the inactivity of the Alliance and that since there has been very little participation from its members there is no current justification to warrant renewal of the Alliance agreement, at this time.  The EHS Manager indicated that he understood OSHA’s position and indicated that when they renew their efforts with the EHS Rountable sessions, OSHA would be invited to participate.

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period

    October 14, 2010 to November 3, 2011.

    Alliance Activity

    • Training and Education

      None during this evaluation period.

    • Outreach and Communication

      As listed above there was no activity during this evaluation period, other than some email correspondence. Work activity of EHS Manager for GAA had been increased and efforts to continue to have outreach and communication activities (EHS Roundtables) did not develop over the last year.

    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      No activities conducted during this time frame that promoted the national dialog on safety and health with this organization.

    Alliance Products.

    • Training and Education

      None during this evaluation period.

    • Outreach and Communication

      As noted above no outreach or communication activities occurred during this evaluation period.

    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      No products developed at this time. A Safety Inspection Checklist was being developed for local use, however due to the inactivity, this office is not aware of the Checklists completion.

  4. Results

    Due to the idle nature of this Alliance with the Graphic Arts Association, it is the recommendation of this office that it be concluded. Over the last two years the same few companies continue to actively participate in the Alliance efforts, yet many other members have not participated in any of the activities. The GAA is currently in the process of moving offices and the Environmental, Health and Safety Manager has been excessively busy as a result of current OSHA enforcement action within the Print Industry, which has curtailed the opportunity to hold EHS Roundtable discussions.

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    Efforts will be made to provide safety and health assistance when requested and as OSHA resources permit, but it is the recommendation of this office to conclude this Alliance.

    If there is renewed safety and health interest and activity by the GAA and its members, this office will consider a new Alliance agreement.

    Report Prepared by: Scott G. Shimandle, Allentown Area Office

    For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.