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

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed: January 21, 2005

    Alliance Overview:

    The Alliance provides parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for training and education; outreach and communication; and promoting a dialogue on workplace safety and health. The goal of the Alliance is to increase safety and health awareness and commitment.

    Implementation Team Members

    Wisconsin OSHA Area Directors

    Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association, OES (Operations, Environmental, Safety) Committee

    Wisconsin Safety Consultation Program Manager

    Wisconsin Health Consultation Program Manger

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    Team meetings were held in person at WRMCA Office in Madison on the following dates:

    April 24, 2009

    July 17, 2009

    September 18, 2009

    October, 2009

    December 18, 2009

    January 28 & 29, 2010

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period:

    The evaluation period is from March 20, 2009 to April 14, 2010;

    Alliance Activity:
     
    • Training and Education

      • January 28 & 29, 2010 – Annual Safety and Health Workshop – OSHA conducted training sessions on recordkeeping, work zone safety, and OSHA regulatory review.
      • April 24, 2009 – Occupational and Environmental Safety Workshop – OSHA gave a presentation on the recent LEP results and establishing a safety culture. WSLH gave a presentation on lockout/tag out for concrete mixer trucks.
    • Outreach and Communication

      • Submitted three articles to the WRMCA Scoop covering 1. Most Frequently Cited Standards in the Ready Mix industry, 2. The cancellation of the Concrete LEP, and 3. Hazards Associated with Cleaning Mixer Drums. A fourth article, written by WRMCA, covered the actual signing of the alliance.
      • Submitted one article on OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialists which was published in their weekly publication, In the Mix.
      • Sent 100 copies of OSHA’s Concrete Industry pocket guide publication to WRMCA for distribution
      • Forwarded brochures to WRMCA for VPPPA conference in Mn. in June 2010
      • Handed out plaques for companies having the “best in class” safety and health injury and illness incidence rates. Issued certificates to 35 companies who had injury and illness rates that were better than the national average.
    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      • OSHA and the OES Committee are meeting quarterly. This is more often than specified in the Alliance which requires biannual meetings. The meetings characteristically discuss a variety of safety and health issues and assign action items. Action items are assigned to individuals with dates for completion.
    Alliance Products.

    • Analyzed survey results and presented them at workshop.
    • WRMCA revised the following chapters of their Safety and Health Manual
      • Hearing conservation
      • PPE
      • Lockout
      • Hazard communication
      • Silica
      • Emergency action
      • Confined space
      • respirator
  4. Results

    1. Impact

      1. As part of the Alliance, WRMCA has developed a “WRMCA OES Safety Benchmark Survey”. Participation in the survey is voluntary and submissions are confidential. Survey results indicated that half of the injuries occurred on the ready mix truck. A third of the injuries occurred in the yard and the remaining 17 % of the injuries occurred on the jobsite. Strains and sprains were the leading type of illness. Falls (from heights and the same level) were the leading cause of injury.
      2. OSHA presented 4 plaques to operations that had the best safety and health performance in their class. Additionally, OSHA signed certificates for those companies that had incident rates that were better than the industry average. The awards were presented on January 28, 2009 as part of the WRMCA Annual Convention. A number of company representatives who attended the awards ceremony commented on how pleased they were with the Alliance and the work of the OES Committee.
         
    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals
    Reached or Trained
    January 28 & 29, 2010 – Annual Safety and Health Workshop 153
    April 24 , 2009 – Annual Occupational and Environmental Safety Workshop 60
    Article in WRMCA Scoop, 2nd quarter, 2009 128
    Two articles in WRMCA Scoop, 3rd quarter, 2009 128
    Article in WRMCA Scoop, last quarter, 2005 128
    Article in WRMCA Scoop, 1st quarter, 2009 128
    Invitation to webcast 250
    OSHA’s Concrete Industry pocket guide publication 300
    VPPPA brochures 250
    TOTAL 1275
     
  5. Upcoming Milestones

    Planned activities for the Alliance in the next reporting period include the following:

    • The OES Committee plans to work with OSHA and Consultation to develop specific procedures for lockout/tagout as it relates to ready mix trucks. done
    • Strategy for reducing strain/sprain injuries and falls.
    • Encourage more companies to complete the safety survey
    • Will develop and provide an OSHA 10+ curriculum for the WRMCA industry
    • Considering looking into ways that employee involvement can be improved.
    • Maintain the high level of involvement and interaction that has contributed to the success of this Alliance.
    Report Prepared by: Kelly Bubolz, CAS, Appleton OSHA Office

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