Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Alliances



  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed:

    October 18, 2006

    Date Renewed:

    December 17, 2008

    Alliance Overview.

    To provide CODPC members and others in the utilities industries with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing deaths and serious injuries from cave-in, electrocution, fire, road work-zones, and other hazards related to utilities work. This Alliance will also have a special focus on emergency preparedness and response activities related to restoring utility services quickly and safely following a major disaster.

    Implementation Team Members.

    Dave Wilson (Assistant Area Director) - OSHA
    Howard Eberts (Compliance Assistance Specialist)-OSHA
    Scott Tustin (President) - Columbia Gas of Ohio
    George Gillespie (Treasurer) - O.U.P.S.
    Lori Wade (Secretary) - Columbia Gas of Ohio
     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    December 2, 2009: Greater Columbus Safety Council – Trenching Safety
    January 26, 2010: OSU – OSHA Safety Day
    February 17, 2010: Alliance Meeting – OSHA Enforcement Update
    July 7, 2010: Greater Columbus Safety Council – Subcontractor Safety
    August 18, 2010: Alliance Meeting – OSHA Enforcement & Fatality Update
    October 20, 2010: Alliance Meeting – OSHA Crane Standard Update
     
  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period.

    This report covers December 17, 2009 through November 30, 2010.

    Alliance Activity.

    • Training and Education

      Assistant Area Director (AAD) and Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) met with the CODPC President prior to Alliance meetings to decide future training topics. OSHA Representatives conducted training during some CODPC meetings, including an OSHA Enforcement Update on February 17th, an OSHA Enforcement Update on August 19th, and a joint Subcontractor Safety presentation with a representative of an excavation contractor on July 7th, 2010. CAS also presented an OSHA Enforcement and Fatality Update on August 18, 2010, and an update on OSHA's new crane standard on October 20, 2010.


    • Outreach and Communication

      The CODPC has promoted OSHA on its website and newsletters. The CODPC Treasurer provided OUPS materials at a booth at the 2010 OSU-OSHA Safety Day on January 26, 2010.


    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      During the course of the alliance, CODPC promoted the Alliance, as well as safety and health issues during internal safety meetings and also at public conferences held with other organizations. They also shared the information at other Damage Prevention Council chapter meetings throughout Ohio.
    Alliance Products

    • Training and Education

      The CODPC promoted the OSU-OSHA Safety Day and provided handouts from OSHA on excavation safety (Call Before You Dig – 811) and OSHA's VPP program to members.


    • Outreach and Communication

      OSHA's website and handouts were linked to CODPC's website and meeting minutes.


    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      Same as above

  4. Results

    The OSHA Columbus Area Office and the CODPC have both continued to increase knowledge in the areas of construction activities and "Call Before You Dig"information from the Ohio Utilities Protection Services (OUPS). Networking between OSHA and CODPC has improved OSHA's relationships among private utilities companies and contractors, as well as state and local agencies. This has increased OSHA's ability to spread safety and health information, especially on excavation safety and improved safety and health management systems, for all members of the CODPC.
     
    5. Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    CODPC Meeting – 12/2/09 30
    OSU-OSHA Safety Day 1/26/10 300
    Contractor Safety – 7/7/10 250
    OSHA Update – 8/18/10 35
    OSHA Crane Safety – 10/20/10 30
    Total 645

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The Alliance officially ended on December 17, 2010.

    The Columbus Area Office will continue to support the Central Ohio Damage Prevention Council as resources allow.

    Report Prepared by: Howard Eberts, Compliance Assistance Specialist

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