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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: April 28, 2008

    Date Renewed: N/A

    Alliance Overview

    The purpose of this alliance between Polaris Career Center and the Cleveland area Office is to provide occupational safety education in the areas of construction and food service to students of the construction education and culinary arts programs.

    The scope of the alliance includes a collaborative partnership between OSHA, Polaris Career Center and the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. Both OSHA and the Wage and Hour Division offer specific regulatory education, training and experience to the students of the Polaris Career Center in the construction and food service disciplines. Such education and training includes the OSHA 10 Hour Course for the students of the construction education program and child labor regulation and safety instruction for students in the food service program.

    The biggest impact/benefit is received by the students of the school, specifically the construction education students who have received the OSHA 10 Hour card which can be used to obtain employment while working within the parameters of the program or after graduating high school. The culinary arts students benefit from getting direct education from representatives from OSHA on occupational safety and they receive instruction on child labor law from investigators of Wage and Hour. In both instances, the students at Polaris Career Center will be well informed an will made safe, savvy and competitive employee for the job market.

    Implementation Team Members

    Rob Medlock, AD, Cleveland Area Office
    Pam Vizer, Director, Polaris Career Center
    Eric Peterson, CAS, Cleveland Area Office
    Curt Coffield, Administrator, Polaris Career Center

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    13 Fed 2008 - Email discussing potential alliance
    11 March 2008 - Email discussing meeting for 14 march 2008 to discuss alliance and collaborating organizations
    14 March 2008 - Meeting with Polaris staff and Wage and Hour
    3 April 2008 - Email discussion about the status of the alliance
    3 April 2008 - Emails from Pam Vizer discussing status of alliance
    9 April 2008 - Emails from Polaris regarding status and approvals for the Alliance
    10 April 2008 - Email discussion on a meeting place and parameters of the Alliance
    14 April 2008 - Copy of the Alliance was sent to Polaris staff via email
    14 April 2008 - Meeting held regarding the parameters of the Alliance
    28 April 2008 - Meeting held for the Alliance’s signing

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period

    The Alliance covers the period between 28 April 2008 and 27 April 2009

    Alliance Activity
     
    • Training and Education
      • At this point, OSHA representatives have assisted in the teaching of four OSHA 10 Hour Courses and both have rendered approximately 165 students completing the course and receiving OSHA 10 hour cards.
      • One Occupational Food Safety session was held with the students of the culinary arts program. Both OSHA and Wage and Hour representatives provided outreach and education to approximately 90 students of the program.
    • Outreach and Communication
      • The Construction Employers Association (CEA) was instrumental in provided assistance in the training effort for the 10 Hour Course.
      • The CEA offered a realistic approach to safety in the construction industry as well as the hiring practices of the industry.
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health
      • At least locally, other vocational programs interested in seeking out more education and information from OSHA have expressed their interest with the Polaris Career Center in receiving similar courses. Polaris has in turn, informed the Cleveland Area Office of the desires of those other schools and at least one has been visited.
    David Valentine, Director of Safety, Panzica Construction Inc.
    Steve Kinn, Asst. Director of Safety Education, Construction Employers Association
    Julie Weis, CAS, Cleveland Area Office
    Brian Woodruff, Senior Investigator, U.S. DOL/ESA/Wage and Hour

    Alliance Products

    • Training and Education
      • School year 2010, two courses of approximately 40- 51 students from 4 construction program classes at Polaris Career Center have all received the OSHA 10 Hour Class and Cards
    • Outreach and Communication
      • 1 class of approximately 40 students from the culinary arts program received education and instruction in worker safety and child labor law.
      • During the three different courses, note taking materials, handouts and a host of OSHA and Wage and Hour publications were provided to the students of the school.
      • OSHA representatives instructed students on how to use the OSHA website in order to search for safety related information. This included educating them on how the OSHA website utilizes hyperlinks to other websites such as Wage and Hour, NIOSH, and other DOL agencies.
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health
    Brian Woodruff, Senior Investigator, U.S. DOL/ESA/Wage and Hour Div.
    Assistant, U.S DOL/ESA/Wage and Hour Div.

  4. Results

    Students of the program are currently and will be prospective employees in the construction job market. Providing them with safety related education and instruction in the areas of construction and food safety, the Department of Labor as increased their potential for obtaining work and the department has made these future workers more competent about their safety and health. Overall the Department has added to their level of safety and health knowledge and have advance their awareness regarding their rights as employees.

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained ()
    10/7/09 Start of 10hr class for construction students. Covered OSHA
    10/19/09 2nd Class covered Ladders and Scaffolds
    10/21/09 3rd Class covered Electrical with S. Kinn and HazCom with J. Weis
    11/13/09 4th Class with Polaris (covered PPE and Excavations)
    2/3/10 1st class with the Welding, Electrical and General Trades students
    2/10/10 2nd class with the Welding, Electrical and General Trades students
    2/17/10 3rd class with the Welding, Electrical and General Trades students with Dave Valentine
    2/24/10 4th class with the Welding, Electrical and General Trades students
    5/10/2010 10 Hour card Distribution
       
    TOTAL 107

    The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is instrumental in educating students about their rights as teen workers. Initially the Alliance was developed to further educate the students of the construction program, but adding Wage and Hour to the program, further enhanced the potential results of the education effort. Both OSHA and Wage and Hour representatives act as liaisons between the Polaris Career Center and the Department of Labor. Each student was provided contact information for future references and/or assistance.

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    The program will discontinue at the end of this school have met the terms and timeframe of the agreed alliance.

    Report Prepared by: Eric Peterson

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