Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<<Back to Concluded Regional Alliances - Region V



  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    October 3, 2006

    October 23, 2008 - Renewed

    October 23, 2010 - Expired

    Alliance Overview

    The purpose of this Alliance is to provide information, guidance and training resources to reduce and prevent injuries and illnesses. This is to protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogen hazards and other hazards related to medical and dental facilities.

    Implementation Team Members

    Nancy Hauter - OSHA (left the Area Office 06/09)

    Sheila Hall - OSHA

    Sukhvir Kaur- OSHA

    Cecilia Merino - Chicago Medical Society

    Aloysius Kleszynski, DDS - Chicago Dental Society
     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    April 21, 2010 - Discussed training program (10 sessions) scheduled for 2010

    June 14, 2010 - Met to discuss the workbook and updating/re-organizing information in the workbook

    October 22, 2010 - Discussions held regarding planning a webinar

    November 30, 2010 - Met to discuss other products/training planned for 2011

    Emailed discussions or phone conversations were held frequently on the planned training sessions as well as additional plans for 2011.
     
  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period

    October 2009 - October 2010

    Alliance Activity

    • Training and Education

      A total of 10 training sessions were held to educate health care professionals regarding safety and health hazards in healthcare with emphasis on bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication and pandemic flu preparedness.

    • Outreach and Communication

      Continuing in the most frequently asked questions, participants wrote their questions on index cards. The questions were answered on site.

      OSHA staffed a booth at the Chicago Dental Society’s winter meeting, Feb 25, 26 and 27, 2010. Publications were distributed and OSHA staff was available to answer questions. Over 31,000 dental professionals attended the conference.

      OSHA provided handouts at each training session along with handouts provided by the Chicago Medical Society. Handouts included: The OSHA poster, Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care, Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers, Model Plans and Programs for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications Standards, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers and Ethylene Oxide (EtO): Understanding OSHA's Exposure Monitoring Requirements.

    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      Alliance Products.

      Same as above.

  4. Results

    A. Every training session includes a pre and post training evaluation forms. Almost every attendee gave a very high score and said that they learned something new that they could apply to their own facility. Participants indicated that it was very beneficial to hear what OSHA required and having their questions answered.

    B.  
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    Training conducted with Workbook 200 +
    Conference booth 31,000 +
    Web page FAQs Unlimited
    Total 31200 +

    C. Other Issues that had a Bearing on the Alliance

    Continuing Education Units, (CEUs) have been awarded from the American Dental Association for the dentists and the Chicago Medical Society for the physicians.
     
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    Though the alliance is not being renewed, there will be continued participation by the agency in providing OSHA updates and training sessions to the Chicago Medical Society and the Chicago Dental Society

    Discussions were held on developing and conducting webinars for the Chicago Medical Society in 2011.

    OSHA will have a booth at the Annual CDS Conference and Meeting Feb 24-26, 2011. It is expected that over 35,000 people will attend.

    Report Prepared by: Sukhvir Kaur with input from Cecilia Merino and Sheila Hall