Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Region V

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed:           May, 7, 2008                 Renewed            July 13, 2010

    Expiration Date       July, 2012
     
    Alliance Overview.

    Primary goals of the alliance are to strengthen the relationship with the Operating Engineers - Local 150 and to participate in training session and work on special training projects that are mutually beneficial to all participants.

    The alliance includes participation by all the OSHA offices in Illinois.
     
    Implementation Team Members.
     
    Mr. Martin Turek – Assistant Coordinator – Safety Administrator – Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program
     
    Mr. James Martineck – OSHA – Calumet City Area Office

    Mr. William Coulehan – OSHA – Calumet City Area Office
     

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    Implementation team meeting are conducted by conference calls and e-mails regarding various projects and alliance activities. Last meeting was in July 2010.
     

  3. Activities and Products

    These report summaries activities through the alliance and include activities since the annual report of June, 2009.

    Alliance Activity.
     
    The foundation of the alliance is OSHA’s participation in training sessions and the OSHA 10 hour program established by Local 150. In 2010, alliance activities were expanded to include an overview of OSHA at the HAZWOPER refresher training offered through Local 150. Local 150 also permits the use of their facility for crane courses through OSHA’s Training Institute (OTI)

    Participation in the OSHA 10 hour courses were as follows:
     
    Date
         		 Location
         		 In Attendance
     
    11-14 Wilmington 20
    12-12 Rock Island 35
    1-20 Wilmington 35
    2-8 Wilmington 35
    2-23 Wilmington 40
    2-27 Merrillville IN 35
    3-20 Wilmington 20
    4-24 Wilmington 25
         
    Total   275


    Participation in HAWOPER refresher courses were as follows
     
    Date
         		 Location
         		 In Attendance
     
    12-/19 Wilmington 105
    1-9 Rock Island   50
    1-16 Lakemoor 150
    1-23 Joliet 250
    2-6 Rockford 135
    2-13 Countryside 250
    3-6 Merrillville IN 170
    3-20 Utica 102
    3-27 Wilmington 105
         
    Total   1317

    Each session included a Q / A session between Local 150 attendees and OSHA personnel
     
    Additional activities initiated through the alliance include a one – day “General Industry” overhead crane training class presented by instructors from Local 150 and attended by approximately thirty CSHO’s from the Illinois Area Offices. Attendees were provided a participants manual which included schematics of cranes and various terms. The morning entailed classroom instruction where students learned basic terms and operating procedures of overhead cranes. The afternoon consisted of hands on training where the students went in to crane bays located in the facility and were able to inspect and operate the cranes. Aerial lifts and a mezzanine were used for students to get up close to the upper portions of the crane. It provided an invaluable experience which received positive reviews for all who attended.

    In addition, Local 150 representatives contact OSHA with various questions on working conditions and the OSHA standards, and provided assistance in gathering information on specific crane and/or heavy equipment information to assist casefile development.

    The value of this type of cooperative action, especially with the limited availability of these resources to OSHA can not be overstated.

    Alliance Products.

    No new training products were developed in 2009. Previous training products developed through the alliance include the Power Point and webinar material used in the Quick Coupler training and the material provided during the Tower Crane training.
     

  4. Results

    This alliance has been very successful in continuing the strong relationship between OSHA and Local 150. This alliance should be considered a major success, and the cooperation of Local 150 should be commended.
     

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    Local 150 is developing plans to install Wind Farm equipment at their facility to train their members on proper installation and maintenance techniques. These will be available to train CSHO’s on the hazards associated with this equipment. Additional training programs for CSHOs that are pending include short session on proper rigging and daily crane inspections.

    OSHA will continue to assist Local 150 with their OSHA 10 Hour and HAZWOPER training sessions and will discuss expanding training into Confined Space and Arc Blast / Arc Flash as it applies to Wind Farm equipment and troubleshooting on tower cranes.

Report Prepared by: William Coulehan, James Martineck, Matt McNicholas Martin Turek

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