Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Region III

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: 1/18/07

    Overview

    Deliver training to Pennsylvania rural counties that addresses what rural responders must know about public health emergencies, especially pandemic influenza, common hazards, biological hazards, personal protection and OSHA’s role in disaster response.

  2. Implementation Team Members.

    Sheryl Wallace, Rural Preparedness Project Coordinator; David Piposzar, Professor Graduate School of Public Health. Joseph Chmielewski, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Erie Area Office.


    3. Evaluation Period

    January 18, 2008 – January 18, 2009

  3. Implementation Team Meetings

    We had three face to face meetings on March 28, 2008; July 11, 2008 and December 15, 2008. We conducted about 12 telephone conference calls during this time period.


  4. Events and Products

    Training and Education

    Training delivered to rural responders who will be called upon to fulfill public emergency functions. Training covered: Understanding of critical public health emergency functions and services; Identifying key partners in community based disease surveillance and early warning systems; Understanding the role of local hospitals and laboratories in supporting disease control; Communicating basic infection control practices: protecting yourself, your family, patients and others; Where to turn for further information and training.

  5. Results

    Training sessions were conducted in 13 counties of Pennsylvania and included: Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Clinton, Elk, Lawrence, Lycoming, Montgomery, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Union.


    6. Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    TOTAL 13 326 attendees


  6. Upcoming Milestones

    The project started with training sessions in Western Pennsylvania and continued throughout the state. Work toward the goal of providing safety and health training to rural responders in 42 counties in Pennsylvania is being accomplished. Thus far training has been conducted in 36 counties with 1,222 individuals being trained.