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Regional and Area Office Alliances > Concluded Alliances > Alliance Annual Report	Printing Instructions
ANNUAL Montana Utility Coordinating Council (MUCC) ALLIANCE REPORT October 18, 2004
I. Alliance Background This alliance was formulated between the two parties to recognize and promote the Montana laws regarding contractor usage of the ‘Call Before You Dig” campaign and the awareness to contractors of the OSHA rules and regulations that apply to excavation and trenching activities throughout the state of Montana. In the past several years contractors have been ignoring the laws and regulations thus resulting in several “hits” of underground utility lines causing, and on occasion, disputing services to home owners, businesses, and private property owners. Date Signed October 2, 2003 Overview Both parties agreed to promote the other party during outreach, training sessions, presentations, booths, seminars, electronic mailings, media, and personal communications. Members of Implementation Team Bud Criner, MUCC David DiTommaso, OSHA Area Director Michael Foreman, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist Contributors None noted in agreement nor added Evaluation Period October 3, 2003 through October 2004 II. Implementation Team Meetings 10/02/04: Signing of the Alliance in the Billings Area Office 11/18/03: Phone conversation with Bud Criner 12/18/03: Meeting with Bud Criner/Billings 2/26/04: Meeting with Bud Criner, Contractor’s Dinner/Billings 4/20/04: Phone conversation with Bud Criner 5/12/04: Phone conversation with Bud Criner 7/22/04: Phone conversation with Bud Criner 8/03/04: Phone conversation with Bud Criner 8/30/04: Meeting with Bud Criner/Red Lodge MUCC presented the Alliance at over 40 locations throughout Montana to over 500 contractors and sub-contractors. III. Events and Products Training and Education Events Bud Criner, MUCC, represented the Alliance and OSHA at over 65 meetings with contractors and associations throughout Montana Products Power point presentations, outreach letters by MUCC Outreach and Communication Events: OSHA 10/15/03: Speech/Helena 12/11/03: Presentation/Darby 12/18/03: Speech/Billings 1/08/04 : Speech/Billings 1/15/04: Speech/Helena 2/25/04: Speech/Colstrip 3/02/04: Presentation/Billings 3/09/04: Speech/Billings 3/10/04: Presentation/Colstrip 3/16/04: Presentation/Billings 3/24/04: Speech/Kalispell 3/26/04: Speech/Kalispell 4/01/04: Presentation/Darby 4/14/04: Presentation/Darby 6/21/04: Presentation/Colstrip 7/15/04: Presentation/Bozeman 7/15/04: Presentation/Bozeman 8/05/04: Speech/Billings 8/30/04: Presentation/Red Lodge 9/15/04: Presentation/Darby 9/27/04: Presentation/Colstrip 9/29/04: Presentation/Missoula 9/29/04: Presentation/Missoula Events: MUCC Bud Criner, MUCC, represented the Alliance and outreach at over 65 meetings throughout Montana Products: OSHA Quarterly electronic newsletter to 195 subscribers Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Events At virtually every outreach session conducted by Mike Foreman, Compliance Assistance Specialist, and by Bud Criner, MUCC, the Alliance was presented and discussed. Contractors and sub-contractors of every size in the state were represented at each outreach session. An estimated 1400 people were in attendance during the past 12 months. Goals Training/education: Bud Criner conducted over 60 outreach and training sessions throughout the year to contractors and sub contractors in Montana Print/Electronic Media: The OSHA Area Office on a quarterly basis emailed to 195 subscribers a newsletter with references made to our alliance and the “Call Before You Dig:” campaign Speak/Exhibit: OSHA made over 20speeches and presentations to contractors, groups, associations, and students defining the hazards associated with trenches and excavations. MUCC conducted over 65 presentations to contractors. MUCC attended 4 conventions and displayed materials and written information to contractors Promote OSHA Programs: MUCC promoted partnerships, alliances, and VPP at all presentations. Share Information: In September of 2004 the Billings Area Office consulted with the MUCC on a recent gas line explosion that injured a member of the public. Both the MUCC and OSHA are sharing information on the incident IV. Results During this one year alliance agreement the MUCC and OSHA have impacted more than 300 companies involved in trenching and excavation throughout the state of Montana. The number of violations by OSHA and the number of violations by contractors has decreased. On two occasions this year the BAO CSHO’s contacted MUCC for information regarding inspections involving contractors hitting underground gas lines. The information shared was essential to the case file. V. Upcoming Milestones Currently both parties would like to extend this alliance to further promote the Montana Utility Coordinating Council, the OSHA rules and regulations, and the Montana state laws with respect to trenching and excavation near underground utility lines. OSHA and MUCC will continue to conduct outreach and training sessions to contractors throughout Montana. MUCC will develop outreach materials defining the “Call Before You Dig: campaign to be distributed to contractors and associations.

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