January 12, 2010: First quarterly Alliance Implementation Team Meeting was conducted at the Iron Worker’s Apprenticeship School in Philadelphia, PA.  At the meeting the team reviewed the Alliance’s accomplishments for 2009 and discussed the annual plan for the second year of the agreement. It was decided that the Alliance members would again provide a cross-training session for OSHA personnel during the 4th quarter of 2010.  It was noted that as a result of the first year’s successful OSHA cross training session, a representative for PA Consultation requested that the union and SEA instructors perform a similar presentation at the 2010 Annual PA Governor’s Conference held in Hershey, PA.  OSHA’s 2010 initiatives were also discussed including: Recordkeeping, Enforcement Initiatives, State Plan Oversight and the Promulgation of new OSHA Standards. In light of this, the team decided to plan for a recordkeeping training session to be held in the second quarter of the year.

May 7, 2010:  Second quarterly Alliance Implementation Team Meeting was conducted at the Iron Worker’s Apprenticeship School in Philadelphia, PA.  The Implementation Team discussed the new OSHA administrative changes, including modifications to the penalty structure, as well as OSHA new Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) The Team discussed the potential effects these changes could have on the steel erection companies and their field personnel as well as others involved with safety for their organizations. This meeting stimulated a large amount of dialog and feedback between the parties. It was determined that the impact of the new changes, including potential changes inclusive of penalty enhancements and potential criminal liability, had potential to profoundly impact the SEA Alliance members. A determination was made to schedule a specific training session on the new enforcement initiatives for the SEA member’s principals as well as their representatives. Also discussed at this meeting was the necessity for documentation with regards to all aspects of safety.  This includes but is not limited to: rigging requirements, training, cranes, overall site safety, safety equipment inspections and fall protection. Finally, the Alliance Members identified the topic and individuals who would be presenting at the Pa’s Governor’s Safety & Health Conference with Rigging Safety selected as the topic for presentation.

July 22, 2010: Third quarterAlliance Implementation Team Meeting was conducted at the Iron Worker’s Apprenticeship School in Philadelphia, PA. The Implementation Team members discussed the concerns arising from the new OSHA administrative penalty structure changes and feedback being received from SEA and union personnel. It was determined that a training session on the topic would be set for Ironworkers site foreman as well as the SEA company principals which would focus on the following: Protecting America’s Worker Act, Administrative Penalty Changes, as well as the Severe Violators Enforcement Program. The Team also initiated discussions the potential impact of OSHA new Crane & Derrick on the steel erection industry.

October 7, 2010: Forth Quarter Alliance Implementation Team Meeting was conducted at the Iron Worker’s Apprenticeship School in Philadelphia, PA. Topics discussed at this meeting were the upcoming PA Governor’s Conference as well as the second annual cross training session for OSHA personnel. It was determined that the focus of the training session would be on the impact of the new OSHA Crane & Derrick Standard as it pertains to the Steel erection industry. Emphasis would be placed on rigging safety as well as the standard’s certification/qualification requirements for riggers and signalpersons. Also discussed was the implementation date of the new Crane Standard and an update on the ongoing dialog with the OSHA National Office Construction Coordinator seeking clarification pertaining to questions concerning certification and qualification designations of signalpersons and riggers.

• Training and Education

December 4, 2009:  The Alliance members conducted a Structural Steel Erection joint training session for approximately 30 OSHA Compliance Officers and Consultation Services. The full day cross-training event was hosted and conducted at the Ironworkers Local #401 Apprenticeship Training Facility. The training session covered the fundamentals of OSHA’s Subpart R with specific detail and emphasis placed on Fall Protection and Controlled Decking Zones (CDZ). The training also included hands-on training for the participants which focused on personal fall arrest tie-off procedures and structural steel connections and welds. 

December 5, 2009: The Alliance members sponsored a one day “High Angle Rescue” training session which was conducted by Med-Tex Services at the Montgomery County Fire Academy located in Conshohocken, Pa. The session was attended by 14 ironworker foreman representing 7 of the 10 SEA member companies. The focus of the seminar was  on  high angle rescue and included;  rescue equipment identification; care and maintenance; utilizing ropes and knots; rescue equipment use and demonstration; and practical evolutions of the high angle rescue.  Additionally, each participant had the opportunity to simulate a high-angle rescue.

On April 9, 2010: In response to OSHA new Recordkeeping Enforcement Initiative, the Alliance hosted a one-day Recordkeeping Seminar which was attended by approximately 50 regional safety and health professionals at the Cynwyd Club in Bala Cynwyd, PA.  The Alliance opted to open this seminar to all parties involved in the Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council as an opportunity to reach a greater audience beyond the Alliance members.

October 29, 2010: Iron Workers Local #401 and the Alliance group hosted a second cross-training seminar focused on “Rigging Safety” for over approximately 35 OSHA and State Consultation representatives from OSHA’s Region III.  This cross-training session which was hosted at by the Ironworker Local 401 apprenticeship was conducted by representatives for OSHA, the Steel Erector's Association of Metropolitan Philadelphia and Ironworkers Local 401 as part of an OSHA Alliance Agreement between the parties.  The two major goals of the training were to familiarizing the attendees with OSHA’s rigging requirements and to provide a clear understanding of the new Crane & Derrick Standard. The events classroom training was supplemented with two practical training sessions which focused on proper rigging as well as signalperson training.

On July 22, 2010: The Alliance group hosted an outreach session at Med-Tex facility in Philadelphia PA geared towards providing an update on OSHA’s new Administrative Policy changes. The session was attended by approximately 25 SEA principals, their safety representatives and their field representatives. The training session covered the Protecting America’s Worker Act, Administrative Penalty Changes, as well as the Severe Violators Enforcement Program.

• Outreach and Communication

October 18, 2010: Representatives of the Alliance participated as presenters at the PA Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference. The Alliance representatives presented two sessions on Rigging Safety at the request of a representative of a PA Consultation. The two sessions which were attended by over 100 safety and health professionals focused on the practical applications of rigging equipment and discussed the elements involved with the New York City tower crane collapse of March 2008. The session also discussed the upcoming OSHA Subpart CC requirements for signal person and rigger certification requirements. The presentation provided by the Alliance representatives was well received and served to promote OSHA’s Cooperative Programs   

November 9, 2010:  OSHA Philadelphia Area Office Area Director and Compliance Assistance Specialist attended the Steel Erectors Association members’ monthly meeting. At the meeting which was attended by 10 SEA owners and principals and representatives, the OSHA Inspection History as well as the most frequently issued OSHA citations in the steel erection industry were provided. A summary of the successes of the first two years of the Alliance were presented and terms of a potential renewal agreement were discussed.

• Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health