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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    October 17, 2007. Renewed on October 14, 2009.

    Overview

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Graphic Arts Association (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 and noise hazards and by addressing machine guarding, lockout/tagout and hazardous chemical issues

    Implementation Team Members

    Scott G. Shimandle, Compliance Assistance Specialist – OSHA Allentown
    Margaret Baumhauer, President, GAA
    Stephen Stankavage, EHS Manger, GAA

    Contributors

    In addition to the names above the following individuals contributed to this Alliance and its events over the past 12 months:

    Evaluation Period

    October 17, 2008 to October 14, 2009.

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    November 7, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    December 2, 2008 Outreach – Mock OSHA Inspection in Print Industry
    March 5, 2009 Implementation Team Meeting
    May 27, 2009 Outreach/Team Meeting – Accident Investigation
    July 29, 2009 Outreach – Hazard Communication in Print Industry
    September 28, 2009 Alliance Rewrite
    October 14, 2009 Renewed Alliance


  3. Events and Products

    Training and Education

    • Events

      See Outreach below.

    • Products

      No products currently under development.

    Outreach and Communication

    • Events

      December 2, 2008, An Outreach session was held on a "Mock" OSHA Inspections, using photographs within the Print Industry to depict hazards and violations of OSHA standards.

      May 27, 2008, An Outreach session was held on Accident Investigations and the need to report/investigate "near miss" events.

      July 29, 2009, An Outreach session was held on OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and it's applicability in the Print Industry.
    • Products

      No products created during this period.

    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

    • Events

      None at this time.
    • Products

      None at this time.
       
  4. Results

    Based on the positive feedback from the first presentation, the group had asked we extend the time period to one-half day sessions, as the members/attendees have numerous questions, not just on the topic of presentation, but on various other safety and health issues within their facilities
     
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    Outreach – Mock OSHA Inspections in the Print Industry 10 individuals, representing 6 different companies
    Outreach – Accident Investigation 6 individuals, representing 4 different companies
    Outreach – Hazard Communication in the Print Industry 7 individuals, representing 5 different companies
    TOTAL 23


  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The Graphic Arts Association and its have expressed an interest in continuing (renewing) this Alliance as these members (although small in attendance) have truly received a wealth of safety and health information over the past two years. In fact, one company shared that they have been inspected twice over the past few years and have not received a citation.

    Modifications to the renewed Alliance includes outreach and training on powered industrial trucks and development of a safety and health resource tool, which may be in the form of an inspection checklist, a safety/health resource manual or a safety and health training matrix, which can be utilized by the membership to aid in the evaluation and/or enhancement of their safety and health programs.