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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: March 29, 2004

    Date Renewed: April 15, 2010

    Date Expires: April 15, 2012

    Alliance Overview

    OSHA and the Delmarva Safety Association will provide the Association Members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employee’s health and safety with a specific focus on reducing workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths among the Spanish speaking workforce. In addition, OSHA and the Delmarva Safety Association did work together to develop training and education programs on occupational safety and health issues specifically targeted to employers of Hispanic workers and developed information for inclusion in Safety & Health training for supervisors that addressed important cultural considerations and sensitivities.

  2. Implementation Team Meetings/Activities

    The following individuals were part of the implementation team:

    Domenick Salvatore – OSHA Area Director
    Vincent Soss – OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    Dalia Nichols – OSHA Compliance Officer
    Ron Jester – Executive Director – DSA (Retired)
    Mike Love – Executive Director - DSA
    Frank Cruice – DSA President (Outgoing)
    Dorothy Lehmann – DSA President
    The following organizations were contributors to this Alliance:

    Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. Delaware Chapter
    Delaware and Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association
    Delaware Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs
    Maryland – Governor’s Office of Hispanic Affairs
    Maryland Occupational Safety & Health (MOSH)
    Delaware Ground’s Management Association
    Delaware State Police
    Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. - Eastern Shore Chapter
    Delaware Department of Labor – OSH
    Implementation Team Meetings

    24 May 2010 – Seaford, DE
    28 June 2010 - Bridgeville, DE
    18 November 2010 – Bridgeville, DE
    12 January 2011 – Newark, DE
  3. Activities and Products

    This report covers a one year period, starting May 2010 and ending May 2011.

    Training & Education

    • Conducted a training seminar (November 4, 2010) “Enhancing the Safety Culture through Effective Communication with regards to the Hispanic workforce throughout the counties of Delaware. The workshop identified and addressed techniques for overcoming cultural barriers in order to achieve a safer workplace. In addition, several classes were provided concerning lawn mower safety, chemical usage in the landscaping industry, first aid, fire extinguisher and work zone safety. This course was directed toward first line supervision.
    Outreach and Communication - Events

    • Participated in the “5th Annual 2010 Hispanic Expo & Job Fair at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, DE. (04/18/2010). Provided bilingual pamphlets, brochures, and information concerning safety and health for the Hispanic workforce.
    • Met with the following organizations “La Esperanza” and “El Centro Cultural, Inc. on July 16, 2010. Provided bilingual brochures and website resources concerning safety and health in the workforce for the culturally diverse residents of Sussex County, Delaware.
    • Met with the First State Community Action Agency and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs to discuss OSHA’s services and outreach goals. Provided bilingual pamphlets and brochures for distribution on July 30th, 2010.
    • Exhibited at the 16th Annual “Festival Hispano” in Millsboro, DE on August 22, 2010
    • Conducted training sessions regarding “Recordkeeping” and “Cranes and Derricks in Construction” for the 1st Annual Fall DSA Safety Workshop held in Dover, DE. on November 4th, 2010.
    • Met with representatives from the Latin American Community Center to provide information concerning the Philadelphia Latino Summit on March 30, 2011
    • Exhibited at the 1st Annual Delmarva 2011 Spring Safety Workshop in Salisbury, MD on March 31st, 2011
    Products

    • Created a Hispanic Alliance Newsletter which is published semi-annually and promotes the national dialogue on workplace safety & health.
    • Provided a pocket reference guide in Spanish for the “Green Industry “to members of the Delaware and Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association.
  4. Results

    This Alliance can be considered a success. It has been recognized as the first Region III success story and subsequently had an article published in the Alliance Quarterly Review, March 2006 edition. It has met several objectives during the course of this evaluation period; they were to educate employers and supervisors on safely transitioning Hispanic employers, developing resources and identifying and addressing techniques to overcome cultural barriers in order to achieve a safer working environment.

    Festival Hispano 16h annual – Attendance estimated at 3,500 (down from recent years due to inclement weather).

    The Latin American Community Center requested an interview be conducted with the Compliance Officer on the WDEL radio show to speak about the Philadelphia Latino Summit and spread the word to the Latino Community.

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)

    Number of Individuals Reached or Trained

    Events listed

     

    Recordkeeping

    75

    Cranes & Derricks in Const

    86

    Supervisory Safety Culture

    24

    TOTAL

    185

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    Attempting to provide training and education to a number of advocates (located throughout the Eastern Shore Area) regarding safety and health issues for the Hispanic workforce.

    Report Prepared by: Vincent Soss, Compliance Assistant Specialist, Wilmington AO

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