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

  1. Alliance Background

    Initial: March 2, 2005
    Renewed: February 27, 2007
    Renewal: March 19, 2009
    Submitted for Renewal: April 14, 2011
    Approved for Renewal: April 18, 2011

    Alliance Overview

    This alliance established a collaborative relationship between the OSHA Omaha Office and the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) - Career Center, to provide young workers exposure to occupational safety and health concepts, requirements, and best practices. This alliance also affords students of the Career Center - Construction Academy the opportunity to obtain an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach card, as well as industry recognition, access to multiple safety training resources, and internship opportunities.

    Implementation Team Members

    • Andrew Naikelis – Construction Academy Instructor
    • Doug Fletcher – OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist
    • Phil Pisasale – OSHA Health Compliance Officer
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • Spring 2010 – An OSHA representative (Mr. Pisasale) serves on the OPS Construction Academy Advisory Committee. This committee meets quarterly to discuss Construction Academy business, recruiting, apprenticeships, and future activities.
  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period

    March 2010 through March 2011

    Alliance Activity

    • May 7, 2010 – As part of the Omaha Area Office's emphasis on young worker safety and health, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Pisasale, and Compliance Officer Steve Jordan participated in the annual Omaha Public School's Career Fair. As part of this activity, approximately 400 middle school students were introduced to OSHA, to basic safety and health concepts, to the use of personal protective equipment, and to the possibility of employment with the Federal Government. Students had the opportunity to handle various types of PPE and well as many of the "tools" an OSHA compliance officer might use during an inspection.
    • October 2010 – OSHA staff and construction industry safety directors provided the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach training to twenty-four Construction Academy students.
    • Mr. Pisasale serves on the OPS – Career Center's Construction Academy Advisory Board. He participated in a program aimed at preparing students for summer apprenticeship programs with local construction companies. Following completion of these apprenticeships, Mr. Pisasale participated in "debriefing" interviews with each of the eight student-participants.
  4. Results

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)

    Number of Individuals Reached or Trained

    May 7, 2010 - Participation by OSHA representative in the OPS Career Fair

     

    ~ 400 students

    October 2010 – OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach Training

     

         24 students (completed)

    Apprenticeship preparation/debriefing

           8 students

    TOTAL

     ~ 432 students

  5. Upcoming Milestones/Successes

    It is our intention to continue this alliance and a renewal has been submitted and approved by the Regional Solicitors Office. Career Center faculty intend to complete the OSHA 500 Trainer Course for Construction Outreach and administer the training themselves.

    The Construction Academy program is a two-year program. Students attend the Construction Academy as juniors and seniors in high school. They receive their 10-Hour OSHA Construction Outreach training as juniors. Many students of the program will then perform an apprenticeship during the summer between their junior and senior year, with a local construction company. The students regularly comment about the value of having a 10-Hour card when they apply for an apprenticeship and while they are working on a construction site. A number of program "graduates" have taken full-time construction jobs within the metropolitan area.

    Report Prepared by: Doug Fletcher, Compliance Assistance Specialist in the Omaha Area Office

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