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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    June 12, 2008

    Alliance Overview

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Florida Gulf Coast Chapter (ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter) agreed to establish an Alliance to reduce and prevent employee exposure to health and safety hazards, such as, falls, trenching and excavation, scaffolds, confined space, struck-by, chemical and electrical hazards in construction by developing and sharing information, guidance, and training resources.

    Implementation Team Members

    Tampa Area OSHA Area Office and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.
     
    Contributors

    ABC’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Safety Steering Committee comprised of community safety professionals from local companies, such as: Airite Air Conditioning, Inc.; McEnany Roofing, Inc.; J.O. Delotto and Sons, Inc.; BCH Mechanical, Inc.; Peter Brown Construction, Inc.; M.E. Wilson Company Insurance; Bouchard Insurance; Bovis Lendlease, Inc.; Kalemeris Construction, Inc.; Tri-City Electric, Inc.; Diversified Construction Safety, Inc.; and KHS & S Contractors, Inc.

    Evaluation Period

    June 24, 2009 - June 23, 2010
     
    Implementation Team Meetings

    The Alliance group conducted monthly planning meeting on the following dates: July 13, 2009; August 11, 2009; September 8, 2009; October 13, 2009; November 10, 2009; December 8, 2009; January 19, 2010; February 9, 2010; March 9, 2010; April 13, 2010; May 11, 2010; and June 8, 2010.

  2. Events and Products

    Training and Education

    Events

    • During this period, the ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter conducted a total of 22 classes addressing occupational safety and health issues covered by the Alliance, such as, risk assessments, safety and health management systems, fall protection, trenching, scaffolding and struck by hazards. Two of these safety classes were conducted in Spanish.
    • During this period the group conducted a total of five OSHA 10 or 30-Hour Safety and Health training Courses. One of the courses was conducted in Spanish.
    Products

    • None
    Outreach and Communication

    Events

    • On June 24, 2009, the Alliance group conducted a two-hour workshop on safety pays, insurance experience modification and risk assessments in construction. Course participants were provided with sample calculations, the OSHA publication “Small Business Handbook”, National Photo Archive CD, the OSHA Publication CD and various OSHA Quickcards covering trenching safety, personal protective equipment for construction, top for construction hazards, portable ladder safety and fall protection.
    • On October 27, 2009, an outreach program focused on "Safety and Health Management Systems" was conducted. Bovis Lendlease, B&I Contractors and OSHA provided outlines, tools and implementation guidelines for a safety and health management system (SHMS). Participants were also provided with a packet containing Tool Box Reviews for Construction, Region IV’s Fall Protection Tool Box for Roofing and Carpentry, Safety and Health Management Systems Fact Sheet, Work Zone Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, National Photo Archive CD, OSHA Publication CD and various OSHA Quickcards covering safe driving practices, work zone traffic, trenching safety, personal protective equipment for construction, top for construction hazards, portable ladder safety and fall protection.
    • On January 29, 2010, Bovis Lendlease and Peter Brown Construction, Inc., conducted a presentation on “Best Practices” for the construction industry. Topics covered included fire prevention, fire safety, fall protection, trench safety and other various safety issues. Packets distributed to participants contained Tool Box Reviews for Construction, Region IV’s Fall Protection Tool Box for Roofing and Carpentry and pictures of best practices.
    • On March 12, 2010, the OSHA CAS, from the Tampa Area Office, conducted a presentation on "Health Issues in Construction." Topics covered included industrial hygiene for the safety professional, sampling strategies, noise, lead, asbestos, hexavalent chromium, silica, cadmium and other chemicals. Packets distributed to participants contained Tool Box Reviews for Construction, Region IV’s Fall Protection Tool Box for Roofing and Carpentry, Quickcards for lead, carbon monoxide, respiratory protection, silicosis, heat stress and PPE.
    • On June 18, 2010, KHS&S, Peter Brown Construction, Inc., and OSHA conducted a presentation on "How to Effectively Work with Non-English Speaking Personnel." Packets distributed to participants contained Tool Box Reviews for Construction (both English and Spanish), Spanish OSHA Poster, Spanish Quickcards and other publications.
    • The Alliance also assisted in the distribution of safety & health outreach material such as the Region IV Photo and Struck-by CDs, Tool Box Reviews, MAD IV Roofing and Carpentry Toolbox Reviews, OSHA Quick Cards, Region IV Newsletter and information on the Florida Crane Alliance trainings.
    Products

    • Links to various OSHA Webpages are now displayed on the ABC Gulf Coast Chapter’s Website. The Region IV newsletter is also linked through their best practices page.
    1Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

    Events

    • On August 24, 2009, the Alliance was promoted during the Florida Parks and Recreation Conference in Orlando where representatives from national supply companies attended.
    • On September 11, 2009, the Alliance was promoted during the DOL Employment Compliant Forum held in Orlando, FL.
    • October 31 - November 2, 2009, the Alliance was promoted during the Hispanic Colleges and University Association National Conference held in Orlando, FL.
    • On January 28, 2010, the Alliance was promoted during the KPA National Conference for Safety Engineers held in Orlando, FL.
    • On March 20 -23, 2010, the Alliance was promoted during the American Foundry Society National Conference in Orlando, FL, which was attended by representatives from several national and international companies.
    • The Alliance is promoted during all University of South Florida OSHA Training Institute construction courses conducted in the Orlando and Tampa areas. The courses attract attendees from all over the country.
    • The ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Alliance was promoted during several OSHA outreach presentations conducted throughout Central Florida.
    Products

    • None
  3. Results
     
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number Reached or Trained
    OSHA 10 Hour Course 27
    OSHA 30 Hour Course 20
    Safety and health management 35
    Fall Protection 43
    Rigging and Material Handling 13
    Lead 14
    Emergency planning 78
    Small Business Handbook 114
    Region IV Construction Toolbox 250
    Region IV MAD IV Fall Protection Toolbox 250
    Various OSHA Quick Cards and Fact Sheets 1000
    National Photo Archive CD 174
    OSHA Publication CD 174
    Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic 29
    Spanish Materials 45+
    TOTAL 2266+

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    • Continue to partner with University of South Florida OTI Ed Center.
    • Continue to encourage small businesses in Central Florida to develop and implement effective Safety and Health Management Systems (SHMS).
    • Continue to promote the ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Alliance in the West Central Florida Area and Nationally.
    • Continue and expand safety and health training for construction workers.
    • Continued to work with community safety professionals to ensure the effective delivery of safety and health outreach services to employers that need assistance.

Report prepared by Joan M. Spencer, Compliance Assistance Specialist

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

 
1During each presentations the benefits of working cooperatively with OSHA was shared with a national audience. Alliance members also discussed the achievements of the group, such as providing effective safety and health training to worker in the construction industry.