I. Alliance Background

Date Signed:

October 17, 2007

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
Tony Mangabat, EHS Manager, GAA (no longer with the Association)
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:

Jean G. Kulp, Area Director – OSHA Allentown
Martin Davis, Compliance Assistance Specialist – OSHA Marlton (Region II)

Evaluation Period

October 17, 2007 to October 16, 2008.


II. Implementation Team Meetings

December 3, 2007	Implementation Team Meeting
January 7, 2008	Conference Call
January 23, 2008	Outreach/Team Meeting
February 11, 2008	E-mail correspondence (safety issue at member site)
April 16, 2008	Conference Call (Notification of EHS Manager departure)
April 17, 2008	E-mail correspondence (Safety Expo Notice)
June 4, 2008	Conference Call with new EHS Manager
June 24, 2008	Implementation Team Meeting
September 17, 2008	Outreach/Team Meeting

III. Events and Products

Training and Education

• Events
  
  As listed above, after the first outreach event and before the second quarterly event could be scheduled the Environmental, Health and Safety Manager left the Association and returned to a private industry employer. The Association has since hired a replacement and we had the opportunity to talk, meet and schedule a joint outreach training session with the Compliance Assistance Specialist from the Marlton New Jersey OSHA Area Office (several of the Graphic Arts Association members are located in New Jersey). Our next event is scheduled for December 3, 2008.
  
• Products
  
  No products currently under development.

Outreach and Communication

• Events
  
  January 23, 2008, An Outreach session was held on OSHA Inspections and the most frequently cited violations in the Print Industry.
  September 17, 2008, Two (2) Outreach sessions were held: (1) Occupational Noise exposure and the AAO Local Emphasis Program, and (2) OSHA Recordkeeping Rules and Regulations (conducted by CAS Davis, Region II - Marlton New Jersey Area Office).
   
• 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.

IV. 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.

As noted previously, due to the departure of the EHS Manager, who had originated this Alliance with the Allentown OSHA office, and the recent hiring of his replacement there was slight disruption in our efforts in committing to the quarterly events.


V. Upcoming Milestones

The Graphic Arts Association members had requested a presentation on an actual OSHA Inspection – from start to finish, as many of these small employers had not experienced an OSHA inspection before. Thus the Association has volunteered to provide photographs of member locations (without identifiers) which will be utilized for a presentation, as no on-site activity will take place under this Alliance agreement. It is highly recommended that we continue this Alliance as the members are commenting on the value they obtain from these "Meet the Regulators" sessions.