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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: June 13, 2008

    Date Renewed: N/A

    Expiration Date: June 13, 2010
     
    Alliance Overview

    OSHA and the Greater Toledo Underground Damage Prevention Council (GTDPC) formed an Alliance to provide GTDPC members and others in the excavation industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that would help 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 excavation work. The Alliance had a special focus on reviewing current standards for excavations near underground utilities, and how these standards align with current Common Ground Alliance Best Practices.

    Implementation Team Members

    Charles Shelton – CAS – OSHA Toledo Area Office

    Rick Bishop – Chair – The Greater Toledo Underground Damage Prevention Council

    Jennifer Reams – Vice – The Greater Toledo Underground Damage Prevention Council
     

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    July 9, 2009                      Team meeting at GTDPC

    September 10, 2009         Team meeting at GTDPC
     

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period

    This report covers the time period of June 15, 2009 through June 13, 2010.
     
    Alliance Activity

    • Training and Education

      Several training sessions were conducted as a result of this Alliance:

      On July 9, 2009, Charles Shelton presented an OSHA Update presentation to Alliance stakeholders.
       
      On March 31, 2010, CSHO Darin Von Lehmden conducted a presentation to an ODOT construction safety class in Findlay, Ohio.

      On April 22, 2010, CSHO Von Lehmden conducted a presentation to members of Local 18, Operating Engineers, in Cygnet, Ohio.

      Excavation and trenching information was shared during the majority of the presentations and speeches given by the Toledo Area OSHA Office representatives, in accordance with the NEP for trenching and excavation, and in the spirit of the GTDPC/OSHA Alliance. OSHA publications and literature were also available and handed out at the events where OSHA informational booths were set up.

    • Outreach and Communication

      In addition to the training sessions mentioned above, publications and sample trench and excavation checklists were available to members of the Alliance and others involved in trenching and excavation work in Northwest Ohio.

    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      Three stakeholder meetings were attended by OSHA during this reporting period (July 9, 2009, August 13, 2009 and September 10, 2009). An OSHA representative was present during each of these meetings, available to answer questions and provide technical assistance to the stakeholders on OSHA-related regulatory items.
    Alliance Products

    • Outreach and Communication

      Compliance assistance materials were handed out, along with providing general information about OSHA and the programs available for both employees and employers.

  4. Results

    The information shared was beneficial throughout the past year. Even though the GTDPC is a new organization, it has been productive in improving working conditions for employees. Contractors, vendors, and homeowners alike have benefited from the information distributed through the Alliance.
     
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    GTDPC Meetings 36
    Local 18 Operators Training 40
    ODOT Training 30
    Total 106


  5. Upcoming Milestones

    We believe the Alliance has been successful and served the parties well in developing relationships and a better understand of the issues faced by both the labor force and the government. However, the Alliance was allowed to expire on June 13, 2010.

Report Prepared by: Chad Positano – CAS, Toledo Area Office

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