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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed. December 19, 2007

    Alliance Overview.

    Habitat for Humanity Greater Columbus and OSHA formed an Alliance to provide volunteer home builders and others within the residential construction and homebuilding industry information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help control hazards related to falls, struck-by injuries, crushing injuries, electrical and other hazards.

    Implementation Team Members.

    Howard Eberts (Compliance Assistance Specialist)-OSHA
    Karen Preskar (Safety Specialist) - OSHA
    Erik Lambert – (Construction Director) – Habitat for Humanity

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    Alliance meetings were normally held the third Wednesday of each month at the Habitat for Humanity office, and at each meeting members’ input and safety and health suggestions were discussed.

    January 16, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    February 20, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    March 19, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    April 16, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    April 26, 2008: Kickoff Event for Nine new homes in Columbus
    May 20, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    June 18, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    July 16, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    August 20, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    September 17, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    October 15, 2008: Alliance Meeting
    December 17, 2008: Alliance Meeting

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period.

    This report covers December 19, 2007 to December 19, 2008.

    Alliance Activity.
     
    • Training and Education

      Safety Specialist (SS) Preskar and Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) Eberts met with the Habitat for Humanity Safety Committee on a regular basis to help develop and implement the first Safety and Health Program for the Habitat. As part of this, SS Preskar provided input and training on OSHA requirements for the Committee.
       
    • Outreach and Communication

      The Habitat has promoted OSHA and the Alliance on its newsletter, “The Builder.” OSHA promoted the Kickoff Event on its Quick Takes.
       
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      During the course of the alliance, Habitat 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 national Habitat for Humanity events throughout the U.S.
    Alliance Products.
     
    • Training and Education

      With OSHA’s assistance, the Habitat developed and implemented its Safety and Health program for all volunteer homebuilding sites.

      The Area Director and Safety Specialist for OSHA participated in Habitat’s Kickoff Event on April 26, 2008. OSHA also provided compliance assistance handouts to participants and other attendees.
       
    • Outreach and Communication

      OSHA’s website and Quick Takes helped promote the Alliance and the Kickoff Event.
       
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      Same as above
  4. Results

    The OSHA Columbus Area Office and the Habitat for Humanity have both continued to increase knowledge in the areas of residential construction activities and especially in regards to the challenge of having many new volunteers and how to achieve compliance with safety rules. By sharing this information with the other Habitat Chapters throughout the country, this has increased the safety awareness on all Habitat homebuilding sites.

    As part of the Columbus Area OSHA Office's Alliance with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus, OSHA has helped Habitat develop and implement a safety program for their employees and the many volunteers who work on building new homes for needy families. As part of this Alliance, Jendco Safety Supply has also donated and provided personal protective equipment at reduced costs for the Habitat to ensure enough PPE is available for all the volunteers.

    On Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 am, Columbus AO Area Director, Deborah Zubaty, and Safety Specialist, Karen Preskar, participated in a kickoff event for the building of nine new homes for needy families in North Columbus, Ohio. OSHA's role was to help ensure that Habitat workers and the volunteers were trained in the potential safety hazards and provided with appropriate personal protective equipment during the construction of these new homes.

    Here is some more information on this project from Habitat for Humanity's Newsletter "The Builder," October, 2007 edition.

    Our affiliate is honored to be the recipient of a $1.1 million gift to fund an historic project that will better the lives of nine families currently living in substandard housing. The gift was given by Mr. John G. McCoy, retired CEO of Bank One and philanthropist, and is the largest private gift we have ever received.

    All nine houses in the Linden area will be built in honor of Mr. Jamie Dimon, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO, and the street has been named John McCoy Circle. The 1.5 acres purchased for the project is the largest development taken on by our affiliate. A Capital Improvement Program Grant from the City of Columbus Department of Development will be used to build the necessary infrastructure. Other partners include the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. Our affiliate is both extremely grateful and excited about this wonderful opportunity to build an entire neighborhood of nine homes for hard working families. Home construction begins in

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The Alliance officially ends on December 19, 2009.
    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 the OSHA website.