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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: 2-21-03

    Date Renewed: Last Renewal 2-24-09

    Alliance Overview.

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office, the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the SMC Business Councils aligned to promote safe and healthful working conditions at small business facilities/worksites, by better educating the smaller business community on the resources and support available to them through OSHA and PA/OSHA Consultation. The SMC Business Councils is the largest small business trade association in the state of Pennsylvania.

    Implementation Team Members.

    Eileen Patrone – Director of Human Resources, SMC
    Rosann Linza – HR Consultant, SMC
    Dave Rhodes – Project Manager, PA/OSHA Consultation
    Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
    Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    March 11, 2009 Conference Call
    July 29, 2009 In-person Churchill PA
    September 9, 2009 Conference Call
    October 27, 2009 In-person Churchill PA
    January 11, 2010 Conference Call
    February 5, 2010 Conference Call

     
  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period.

    February 24, 2009 to February 12, 2010

    Alliance Activity.
     
    • Outreach and Communication

      March 2009 – A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “Working Safely with Electricity”.

      April 2009 - A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “Fire Safety in the Work Place”.

      August 2009 - A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “Safety Tips for Pneumatic Nail Guns”. In addition, a section of the newsletter listed the fatality statistics and causes out of the Pittsburgh Area Office for both general industry and construction covering the last five years. A promotional conference update was placed in the newsletter promoting a conference where Rich Fairfax (Directorate of Enforcement programs) was the keynote speaker presenting an OSHA update under the new administration.

      September 2009 – A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “Safety Tips on Aerial Lifts”. In addition, another newsletter article was placed in the newsletter on “Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers. A link to the CDC website to download the PDF toolkit was made available. The promotional update for the conference where Rich Fairfax was the keynote speaker continued to be in the newsletter. The conference was scheduled for October 1, 2009.

      November 2009 - A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “Basic Questions About OSHA Recordkeeping Standards”.

      January 2010 - A newsletter article was placed in the SMC newsletter (HRM Update) on “OSHA Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Requirements”.
      SMC representatives have called throughout the year to discuss various relevant compliance/policy issues and request a variety of OSHA publications. SMC members call throughout the year to voice questions and concerns relating to applicable OSHA standards to include more detailed discussion on some of the newsletter articles.
    Alliance Products.
     
    • Outreach and Communication

      The SMC Councils’ electronic newsletter (HR Update) is utilized for OSHA related articles and promoting safety and health. In addition, the newsletter contained electronic links to OSHA and CDC websites.

       
  4. Results

    The information provided was well received. The members of the association found the information to be valuable in assisting them in promoting and providing improved safety and health at the facilities they work at or consult for.
     
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    March 2009 Newsletter (Working Safely with Electricity) 2500 (Business members)
    April 2009 Newsletter (Fire Safety in the Work Place ) 2500 (Business members)
    August 2009 Newsletter (Safety Tips for Pneumatic Nail Guns, Fatality Statistics & Promotion of Conference where Rich Fairfax was the Keynote Speaker) 2500 (Business members)
    September 2009 Newsletter (Safety Tips on Aerial Lifts, Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers, & Promotion of Conference where Rich Fairfax was the Keynote Speaker) 2500 (Business members)
    November 2009 Newsletter (Basic Questions About OSHA Recordkeeping Standards) 2500 (Business members)
    January 2010 Newsletter (OSHA Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Requirements) 2500 (Business members)
    TOTAL 2500 (Business members)


    Note: The individuals reached by each activity represent companies with employees that would be directly affected by the safety and health information provided. In addition, the SMC Newsletter (HRM Update) is accessible to the general public on the SMC website.

    The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance continues to be extremely positive.

     
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The Alliance continues to look at future opportunities in providing information for affected parties. The Alliance Signatories will continue to work together to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.

    Report Prepared by: Bob Carroll, CAS Pittsburgh Area Office

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