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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
OSHA - OMAHA AREA OFFICE
AND
THE METRO OMAHA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
AND
NEBRASKA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – OSHA CONSULTATION
February 2007 – February 2008
I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

February 15, 2007

Overview

This Alliance was developed in order to address a significant problem in the residential construction industry. The Metro Omaha Builders Association serves as an advocate to over 700 area home builders, building material suppliers, and other related service providers involved in the residential construction sector. Through their vast network OSHA, MOBA, and Consultation intend to provide information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help home builders protect employees and subcontractors. Specific attention will focus on preventing exposure to fall hazards, electrocution hazards, and other hazards associated with the residential construction industry. Emphasis will also be placed on increasing access to information and training of the Spanish-speaking workforce in this sector. Goals of this agreement include:

Training and education:
  • Develop and present training and education programs and workshops on residential construction safety issues, with specific emphasis on roofers, framers, and the Spanish-speaking workforce.
     
  • Member-builders and re-modelers will encourage their sub-contractors to attend a minimum of one training and educational workshop presented as part of this alliance.
     
  • Training programs will emphasize the development of effective safety and health programs, fall protection, electrical safe work practices, excavation safety, and working safety in the vicinity of overhead power lines.
Outreach and communication:
  • MOBA will work with OSHA to develop an e-mail "ring" of MOBA members and other residential construction contractors and subcontractors so that regular informational mailings may be disseminated throughout the residential construction community.
     
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or MOBA conferences, local meetings, or other events as appropriate. Provide presentations in both English and Spanish.
     
  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding residential construction best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by MOBA and through OSHA- or MOBA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, newsletters or any other applicable forum.
     
  • Promote and encourage MOBA members’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
Promoting the National Dialogue:
  • Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever OSHA, MOBA, or Consultation leaders address groups.
     
  • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
     
  • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on residential construction safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
Implementation Team Members
 
Barbara Byrd
Executive Director
 		 Metro Omaha Builders Assn.
Bill Hetzler
Executive Director
 		 OSHA Consultation
Mike Connett
Compliance Officer
 		 OSHA
Steve Jordan
Compliance Officer		 OSHA

Evaluation Period

02/15/2007 – 02/15/2008

II. Implementation Team Meetings

03/13/07    Planning for Home Builders Exposition

04/23/07    Planning for Fall Protection training

10/15/07    Planning for Fall Protection training

III. Training and Education

Training and Education

Events: The Omaha Area Office representatives conducted two training sessions for MOBA members, focusing on residential fall protection, ladder safety, and electrical safety. These sessions were attended by home builders and their sub-contractors.

06/20/07

02/27/08

Outreach and Communication

Events: Representatives of the Omaha Area Office and OSHA Consultation were afforded the opportunity to staff a booth with representatives of MOBA at the Omaha Home Builders Exposition, March 22 & 23, 2007.

The Omaha Area Office CAS provides information via e-mail to the MOBA representative, which is then forwarded throughout the MOBA membership. Information includes such things as regulatory updates, safety and health bulletins, fatality updates, newsletters, and training schedules that may be pertinent to the MOBA members.

IV. Upcoming Milestones

Another training program is scheduled for August, 2008.