I. Alliance Background

Date Signed:

September 14, 2004

Overview:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Georgia Utility Contractors Association, Inc. (GUCA), Georgia Hispanic Contractors Association (GHCA), Georgia Institute of Technology –Safety, Health, and Environmental Technology Division (Georgia Tech) and the ¹Metro Area Fire Departments established the Safety Awareness Facilitation Education (S.A.F.E.) Alliance. The S.A.F.E. Alliance is focused on reducing and preventing exposure to trenching and excavation hazards.

II. Implementation Team Membership and Contributors

Representatives from OSHA, GUCA, the GHCA, Georgia Tech and the Metro Area Fire Departments conducted all required quarterly meeting by teleconferencing, formal meetings and training sessions on the following dates: 03/02/05, 5/4/05, 6/22/05 and 8/24/05

Evaluation Period:

September 14, 2004, through November 21, 2005

III. Events and Products

Training and Education

Events

• The Gwinnett County Fire Department implemented a training program at the Atlantic Skanska – F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center expansion project.
• The Atlanta-West Area Director participates in the Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) training session for new members. The GSAR consist of veteran fire fighters, each training session includes approximately 30 - fire fighters, and the training session is 6-8 weeks long. The AD’s presentation is approximately 2-hours long and focuses on the SAFE Alliance, as well as the OSHA Excavation Standard.
• April 5, 2005, Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) conducted a trenching class at its Forest Park, GA, office.
• Alliance members participated in the OTI - 3010 Course, Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics, conducted by Georgia Tech on December 14 – 17, 2005.
• Alliance members participated in the OTI - 3010 Course, Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics, conducted by Georgia Tech on September 27 – 29, 2005.

Products

• Gwinnett County developed a Trenching Safety Training DVD
• Cobb County developed a Trenching Safety Training DVD
• OSHA Representative developed a PowerPoint Presentation to promote the Alliance to employers and employees in the construction industry.

Outreach and Communication

Events

• The Atlanta-West Area Office received three referrals for hazardous trenching operations (two in Fulton County and one in the City of Atlanta)
• The SAFE Alliance supported the June 11, 2005, Hispanic Family Safety and Health Fair as a sponsor. SAFE Alliance participants served as volunteers and several fire departments brought trucks and other life saving equipment to display at the event.
• A Logo was designed in FY 2005 to promote the SAFE Alliance
• An article was included in the April 2005 Region IV E-newsletter to promote the Alliance.

Products

• Developed a SAFE Alliance - Hazardous Trenching Operation Referral Form
• Developed an information sticker/decal for all of the participating fire departments. The sticker/decal identifies the OSHA Area Offices with jurisdiction in the metro area (Atlanta-East and Atlanta-West) and includes contact information to report unsafe conditions.
• Best Mexico distributed 800,000 calling cards throughout Georgia, labeled with a safety and health slogan, as well as the OSHA 1-800 number.
  

IV. Results

• Refer to the Training and Education events above

• Expand the Alliance by formally signing an addendum with the Douglas County Fire Department
• Development and distribution of a SAFE Alliance Trenching Safety Training DVD by combining the Gwinnett and Cobb Counties Trenching Safety Training DVD
• Distribute the informational stickers/decal to participating fire departments
• Distribute the trenching and excavation referral form to participating fire departments and other alliance members

¹ City of Atlanta, Clayton County, Cobb County, Dekalb County, Fulton County and Gwinnett County Fire Departments