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ANNUAL NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION -
WISCONSIN CHAPTER ALLIANCE REPORT
April 9, 2010
  1. Alliance Background

    This alliance was signed on August 16, 2007.

    Alliance Overview: OSHA will provide expertise to develop training and education programs for electrical contractors and their employees regarding construction industry hazards, such as falls, electrocution, arc flash events, working in trenches and excavations, and the hazards associated with moving equipment. It will also address the issue of the small construction employer’s challenges in developing safety and health programs.

    NECA and OSHA will work together to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on hazards common in the construction industry.

    Implementation Team Members:

    Kimberly Stille, Madison OSHA Area Director
    George Yoksas, Milwaukee OSHA Area Director
    Mel Lischefski, Appleton OSHA Area Director (retired in July 2009)
    Frank Winingham, Appleton OSHA Area Director
    Mark Hysell, Eau Claire OSHA Area Director
    Leslie Ptak, Madison OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    Mary Bauer, Eau Claire OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    Kelly Bubolz, Appleton OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    Jim Lutz, Milwaukee OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    Pat Ostrenga, Milwaukee OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist

    Evaluation Period: The evaluation period is from November 10, 2008 to April 9, 2010.

    Implementation Team Meetings

    Implementation team meetings were held on these dates: April 30, 2009, July 23, 2009 and November 12, 2009
     
  2. Activities and Products

    In the review period the Wisconsin NECA Chapter and the Wisconsin OSHA offices sought to provide training to the NECA members on topics of their choice.
     
    1. January 15, 2009 – NFPA 70E seminar (8 hrs) – Wisconsin Dells (28 attendees)
       
    2. January 24, 2009 – Informational session on VPP for electrical firms at their winter meeting (2 hours) – Wisconsin Dells (50 attendees)
       
    3. April 17, 2009 – NFPA 70E seminar (8 hrs) – Eau Claire (26 attendees)
       
    4. The implementation team meetings were also an opportunity for the NECA members to discuss specific concerns they had about OSHA compliance matters with the OSHA attendees.
       
  3. Results

    At the end of the alliance period, which ended in August of 2009, the Wisconsin NECA chapter asked to continue with the alliance for another period of two or three years. They submitted a proposal of the goals and activities for the alliance which met the approval of the OSHA area directors. Unfortunately, the rank and file of Wisconsin NECA member firms were not included in the proposed alliance activities. NECA’s participants are essentially safety directors for their individual electrical contracting firms and do not represent electricians exposed to the hazards in the field.

    OSHA requested that NECA include rank and file members in the alliance activities and NECA declined. As a result, this alliance is terminating.

    Report Prepared by: Leslie Ptak, Compliance Assistance Specialist

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