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North Dakota Grain Dealers Association
Alliance Annual and Close-out Report 2006–2007

August 27, 2007

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

June 9, 2003

Overview

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association (NDGDA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge.

Implementation Team Members
 
Bruce Beelman
Tom Deutscher

Steve Strege
Stu Lecher
Hal Grieve		 Area Director OSHA
Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA

Executive Director NDGDA
Safety and Health Director NDGDA
Safety Specialist NDGDA

Evaluation Period

June 9, 2006 to June 9, 2007

II. Implementation Team Meetings
 
March 16, 2005
March 15, 2006
March (not held)
May 18, 2006
September 9, 2006
November 2, 2006
March 2, 2007		 Semi-annual implementation team meeting
Semi-annual implementation team meeting

Progress meeting
Progress meeting
Progress meeting
Progress meeting

III. Events and Products

Outreach and Communication
  • March 15, 2005: NDGDA Regulatory Conference
  • March 14, 2006: NDGDA Regulatory Conference
  • March 2007 (didn’t request our participation)
  • November 29, 2004: e-newsletter
  • January 26, 2005: e-newsletter
  • June 30, 2005: e-newsletter
  • September, 2005: e-newsletter
  • January, 2006: e-newsletter
  • April, 2006: e-newsletter
  • July, 2006: e-newsletter
  • October, 2006: e-newsletter
  • January, 2007: e-newsletter
  • May, 2007: e-newsletter
IV. Results

The following is a summary statement from the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association’s Safety Director:

The alliance agreement between NDGDA and OSHA has been beneficial and positive for the grain industry in North Dakota. The purpose of the agreement is to promote a safe and healthful workplace for grain elevator and feed mill employees through information sharing, training and education, outreach and communication.

The following objectives have been realized as a result of the OSHA alliance:
  • NDGDA has enlisted its members to participate in an injury survey to identify trends and establish a baseline of information to focus awareness and training on the leading causes of injury in the industry. To date we have processed 3 years of surveys totaling roughly 255 responses and the fourth year is in process.

  • NDGDA has had a representative from OSHA talk at five of our last six annual safety conferences. The chance to have face to face dialog with a member of the OSHA staff has been an invaluable tool to our membership as reported to us on our conference evaluations. Our conference has also given OSHA a platform to reach our membership concerning key issues affecting our industry. We have held a conference every year since 1997 with total attendance of about 550 people.

  • The alliance has been a key factor in raising awareness of certain critical safety subjects within the industry. The close relationship between NDGDA and OSHA that the alliance affords allows quick and clear communication to our members regarding accidents and injuries that have happened and how to prevent them.
The alliance has given our membership access to OSHA in a way they have not had in the past. Members in our industry have told us they feel more comfortable about approaching OSHA with questions and issues and they see that OSHA’s role is more than just enforcement.

The value to OSHA of sharing workplace safety practices, training and technical knowledge with the grain industry facility managers, supervisors, and employees is immeasurable. The culture that is fostered results in a higher level of awareness and understanding of the value of safety. Through the alliance, we are able to influence many more employers/employees than through traditional methods. Through the alliance, we are also able to leverage resources within the grain industry community.
 
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
Regulatory Conference 75
e-newsletter 690
TOTAL 765

NDGDA completed a yearlong evaluation of injuries and illnesses and near-misses reported via the OSHA 300 and Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) to better understand what is occurring throughout the State at their facilities. This information will be utilized for targeted training in response to the types of injuries and illnesses and measured against future data.

Upcoming Milestones

Alliance participation was minimal, at best, and will not be renewed. Although the NDGDA and OSHA had identified measurable goals, NDGDA constituents were reluctant to participate in the process and the results not statistically reliable. Some of the tangible benefits were the identification of several injury trends which led to an increase in training and education regarding those trends.