I. Alliance Background

Date Signed:

October 21, 2003

Overview:

OSHA, Georgia Tech, and GNHA hereby form an Alliance to provide GNHA’s members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect nursing home employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), bloodborne pathogens, falls, workplace violence and other hazards.

II. Implementation Team Membership and Contributors:

Representatives from OSHA and Georgia Health Care Association conducted all required quarterly meeting by teleconferencing, formal meetings and training sessions on the following dates: 01/21 – 22/04, OTI Course 7100 04/17/04 and 05/19/04, as well as Comprehensive Recordkeeping Classes 01/31/05 and 08/04/05

Evaluation Period:

November 17, 2004, through September 28, 2005

III. Events and Products

Training and Education

Events

• Phillip Moncrief, CAS - Savannah Area Office, and Jonathan Worrell, CAS – Atlanta-East Area Office, conducted a seminar focusing on OSHA recordkeeping, OSHA's website, and OSHA’s regulatory requirements for the nursing home industry on December 8, 2004
• OSHA and Georgia Tech participated in a GNHA seminar on January 31, 2005
• OSHA and Georgia Tech participated in a GNHA seminars on August 4, 2005
• Georgia Tech conducted 4 initial hazard surveys of nursing home facilities covering approximately 250 employees in FY 2005
• Georgia Tech conducted one ergonomic technical assistance visit for a nursing home in FY 2005

Products

• As a result of the Georgia Tech hazard surveys 21 serious hazards were identified
• One of the participating employers was submitted for exemption deferral (pre-SHARP) consideration by Georgia Tech

Outreach and Communication

Events

• OSHA participated, as an exhibitor, in the GNHA's Winter Conference, January 31 & February 1, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia
• GATech conducted 2 training interventions for the Georgia Nursing Home Association Conference in February 2005

IV. Results

Refer to the Training and Education events above

V. Upcoming Milestones in FY 2006

• On January 18 & 19, 2006 OSHA will participate, as an exhibitor, in the GHCA’s Mid-Winter Convention and IMAGE Trade Show at the Galleria in Atlanta, GA
• Phillip Moncrief, CAS - Savannah Area Office, and Jonathan Worrell, CAS – Atlanta-East Area Office, are scheduled to conduct a comprehensive OSHA recordkeeping class on November 2, 2005, in Macon, GA.
• Several training sessions are tentatively scheduled for FY2006 pending the renewing of this agreement.
• Alliance renewal scheduled for FY 2006