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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Tree Care Industry Association, Inc.
November 30, 2007

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

November 10, 2006

Evaluation Period

November 10, 2006 through November 9, 2007

Overview

Through the Alliance, OSHA and the Tree Care Industry Association, Inc. (TCIA) are focusing on providing TCIA's members and others in the tree care industry, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that help them protect employees' health and safety. In particular, the Alliance addresses reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health issues related to tree removal and electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards.

This is the second Alliance OSHA has signed with TCIA. The first OSHA and TCIA Alliance signed February 11, 2003; concluded February 11, 2005, focused primarily on the prevention of falls and struck-by incidents, as well as electrical hazards during tree-removal.

Implementation Team Members
 
OSHA:  
   
Lisa Ramber
Rob Swick		 Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
OOSA
   
TCIA:  
   
Peter Gerstenberger
Cynthia Mills		 Vice President, Safety and Compliance Standards
President and CEO

II. Implementation Team Meetings
 
January 18, 2007
May 8, 2007
July 20, 2007
September 11, 2007		 Implementation Team Meeting
Implementation Team Meeting
Fact Sheet Workgroup Meeting
Implementation Team Meeting

III. Results
  1. Events and Products

    Outreach and Communication Goals

    • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the TCIA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
    Products

    OSHA Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics Page

    The Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page provides numerous resources regarding hazards found in the tree care industry, including struck-by, electrocution, fall, and caught-in hazards. The following members of the OSHA and TCIA Alliance implementation team serves on the editorial board of OSHA's Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page:

    • Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President of Safety, Compliance, and Standards, Safety and Education, TCIA
    • David G. Marren, Regulatory Affairs Advisor, The Bartlett Lab
    The editorial board members review and provide feedback to OSHA's Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC) regarding the content of the page.

    OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page

    OSHA created and maintains an OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and TCIA Alliance agreement, a news release, OSHA's Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page, industry conferences, and other resources. For information on the number of visits to the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.

    TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page

    TCIA created and maintains a TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organizations Web site, The Web page includes information about the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, links to OSHA's Web site, and other safety and health information such as OSHA's Heat Stress Quick Card.

    Print and Electronic Media

    Articles about the OSHA and TCIA Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter, OSHA Up to Date and OSHA's QuickTakes. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.

    Draft Lyme Disease Fact Sheet

    Through the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, TCIA developed a draft Lyme Disease Fact Sheet which addresses issues associated with Lyme Disease such as symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control. TCIA shared the draft fact sheet with OSHA for review and comment. The fact sheet is expected to be completed in early 2008. A Spanish version of the fact sheet will be created when the English version is completed.

    • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or TCIA's conferences, local meetings or other events such as TCI EXPO, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshops, Career Days, and the Winter Management Conference.
    Events

    TCI EXPO 2006 Trade Show and Conference, November 9-10, 2006, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland

    Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation "OSHA's Alliance Program" to 300 tree care safety and health professionals at the TCI EXPO 2006 Trade Show and Conference, November 10, 2006, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Following his speech, Mr. Foulke signed the OSHA and TCIA Alliance agreement.

    TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program, September 19-20, 2007, Wingate Inn Baltimore Washington International Airport, Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

    Rob Swick, Program Analyst, OOSA, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA presented an "Alliance Update" to 20 tree care professionals at the TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program, September 20, 2007, at the Wingate Inn Baltimore Washington International Airport in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

    TCI EXPO 2007 Trade Show and Conference, November 8-10, 2007, Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut

    John Able, Occupational Safety Training Specialist, Connecticut Department of Labor, staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications at the TCI EXPO 2007 Trade Show and Conference, November 8-10, 2007, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

    TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program Presentations

    Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented "Alliance Updates" at the following TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program seminars:

      • November 29, 2006, Hartford, Connecticut to 12 tree care professionals.
      • December 13, 2006, Cleveland, Ohio to 12 tree care professionals.
      • February 22, 2007, Charlotte, North Carolina to 12 tree care professionals.
      • March 15, 2007, Chicago, Illinois to 26 tree care professionals.
      • March 21, 2007, New Brunswick, New Jersey to 26 tree care professionals.
      • August 22, 2007, San Jose, California to 32 tree care professionals.
    • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TCIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by TCIA and through OSHA- or TCIA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
    The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on treecare industry hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
    The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    • Encourage TCIA's members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
    OSHA's Region I Safety Summit

    Prior to the first OSHA and TCIA Alliance (signed February 11, 2003 and concluded February 11, 2005), TCIA participated in a cooperative effort between OSHA Region I and the Massachusetts Arborists Association to help local companies implement safety programs. Since then and through the Alliance Program, the organizations continue to work together and share information. During the reporting period, OSHA Region I invited Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, to present "Hazards Faced in the Arboriculture Industry "at OSHA's Region I Safety Summit. The presentation addressed issues faced by tree care workers such as electrical, fall and struck-by hazards. Peter made the presentation to 50 members of OSHA's staff on March 28, 2007 in Portland, Maine and to 90 members of OSHA's staff on March 30, 2007 in Newport, Rhode Island.

    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

    • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
    The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on tree care industry issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
    The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

  2. Executive Summary

    In its first year, the OSHA and TCIA Alliance engaged in many projects to provide TCIA members and others in the tree care industry with information, guidance and access to training resources to help protect employees' health and safety by reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health issues related to tree removal and electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards.

    For example, TCIA members serve on OSHA's Tree Care Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board, providing expert input on an ongoing basis to OSHA to help maintain the page. In addition, OSHA created and updated the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on Agency's Web site that includes links to the OSHA and TCIA Alliance agreement, a news release, OSHA's Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page, industry conferences, and other resources. Further, TCIA maintains an TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the association's Web site. The Web page includes information about the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, links to OSHA's Web site, and other safety and health information such as OSHA's Heat Stress Quick Card.

    The OSHA and TCIA Alliance also took advantage of many speaking and exhibiting opportunities to reach the tree care industry. For example Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation "OSHA's Alliance Program" at the TCI EXPO 2006 Trade Show and Conference, November 10, 2006, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Moreover, Rob Swick, Program Analyst, OOSA, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA presented an "Alliance Update" to 20 tree care professionals at the TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program, September 20, 2007, at the Wingate Inn Baltimore Washington International Airport in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

    In addition, John Able, Occupational Safety Training Specialist, Connecticut Department of Labor, staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed and OSHA and TCIA Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications at the TCI EXPO 2007 Trade Show and Conference, November 8-10, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut.

    Further, through the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, TCIA developed a draft Lyme Disease Fact Sheet which addresses issues associated with Lyme disease such as symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control. TCIA shared the draft fact sheet with OSHA for review and feedback.

    Finally, Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, shared information about the industry and the OSHA and TCIA Alliance and presented "Hazards Faced in the Arboriculture Industry" to 90 members of OSHA's staff at the Agency's Region I Safety Summit, March 30, 2007, in Newport, Rhode Island; and to 90 members of OSHA's staff the Agency's Region I Safety Summit, March 30, 2007, in Newport, Rhode Island. Moreover, he presented OSHA and TCIA Alliance Updates at TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program seminars held in San Jose, California, Hartford, Connecticut, Chicago, Illinois Cleveland, Ohio, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Charlotte, and North Carolina to 120 tree care professionals.

  3. Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site 11,652
TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page on TCIA's Web site Data Not Available
OSHA Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page 22,544
November 10, 2006: TCI EXPO 2006 Trade Show and Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, "OSHA's Alliance Program"

Speaker: Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA		 300
November 13, 2006: "OSHA Aligns with the Tree Care Industry Association," OSHA News Release 69 News Services
November 13, 2006: "Alliance Focuses on Electrical, Falls, & Struck-by Hazards," ChicagoLand Construction News Data Not Available
November 15, 2006: "Latest Alliance News,"
QuickTakes		 55,226
November 16, 2006: "Tree Care Industry Alliance Signed," BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter Data Not Available
November 29, 2006: Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Hartford, Connecticut, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 12
December 4, 2006: "Alliance with Tree Care Industry Association Established," CCH Safety NetNews Data Not Available
December 4, 2006: "OSHA Forms Alliances to Protect Telecommunications, Tree Care Workers," Facilities Management News Data Not Available
December 6, 2006: "TCIA Aligns with OSHA," Lawn & Landscape Data Not Available
December 8, 2006: "Alliance with Tree Care Industry Association Established," CCH News and Information Data Not Available
December 13, 2006, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Cleveland, Ohio, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 12
December 2006: "TCIA and OSHA Renew Their Alliance for Treeworker Safety Issues," TCIA Headlines Data Not Available
December 2006: "Tree Care Industry Association Establishes Alliance with OSHA," LandscapeOnline.com Data Not Available
December 2006: "TCIA & OSHA Renew Alliance," Tree Care Industry Data Not Available
January 2007: OSHA Alliances, OSHA Up To Date Data Not Available
February 1, 2007: "TCIA Aligns with OSHA," GCSAA ? News Weekly Data Not Available
February 22, 2007: Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Charlotte, North Carolina, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 12
March 21, 2007: Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, New Brunswick, New Jersey, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 26
March 15, 2007: Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Chicago, Illinois, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 26
April 2007: "Worth Noting," TECHlines Data Not Available
August 22, 2007, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, San Jose, California. "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA		 32
September 20, 2007: TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program, Wingate Inn Baltimore Washington International Airport, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, "Alliance Update"

Speaker: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA		 20
TOTAL 89,862

IV. Upcoming Milestones

During the next reporting period, the OSHA and TCIA Alliance implementation team will complete the Lyme Disease Fact Sheet and develop a Spanish version of the Fact Sheet. In addition, implementation team will develop a Chipper Winch Safety Fact Sheet that will address the prevention of common injuries from the use of chipper winches; and a Dump-body Safety Fact Sheet that will address the prevention of injury from the operation of hydraulic dump-body (dump truck) equipment during normal and maintenance operations, including lock-out/tag-out procedures. TCIA representatives will also continue to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA's Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page and review and provide comments on the page as necessary.

The Alliance implementation team also will seek opportunities to reach out to the tree care industry's employers and employees regarding workplace safety and health hazards through speeches, exhibits, publications and the organizations' Web sites. For example, Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, will make multiple presentations on OSHA and the OSHA and TCIA Alliance at TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program throughout the United States. The team members will also identify opportunities to publish articles developed by the DOL, on topics such as OSHA's electronic resources and the business case for safety and health, in the association's newsletters and magazines and on its Web site.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, November 29, 2007.