OSHA Strategic Partnership Program<< Back to List of Partnership Closures

Idaho Industrial Timberland Owner/Manager Logging Partnership
#152
Date Signed: November 18, 1999 (renewed April 5, 2004)
Contact Information: Boise Area Office, (208) 321-2960
or Regional Partnership Coordinator
 

Overview:
This Partnership promotes Partnerships between OSHA and the timberland owners and their logging contractors. To enter into a Partnership, the contractors must agree to adhere to progressive requirements for managing site safety and health. Timberland owners must provide contractor oversight to ensure the contractors effectively manage site safety and health. The effective management of safety and health hazards on the logging sites will be determined by OSHA prior to establishing the Partnership. By reviewing evidence of regular and effective safety audits and inspections, accident investigations and injury/illness data, OSHA will verify that the Partnership requirements are met and program goals are attained.

Results:
OSHA renewed the Partnership in 2004 after evaluation showed that the partners continue to have a strong commitment to health and safety, including training and education, recordkeeping, hazard analysis, and other initiatives that protect the safety and well-being of their employees. Since 2005, in response to multiple logging fatalities after several fatality-free years, there have been increased efforts to provide safety training and to enhance communication within this industry segment.

In 2007, Potlatch Corporation trained approximately 750 employees. The employee training included reviewing the results of safety audits conducted throughout the previous year and highlighted trends observed during the audits. The employee training focused on felling methods and danger trees. Potlatch also trained approximately 150 owners and principles at their annual contractors meeting. Again, the findings of the safety audits were reviewed with the owners and those areas that needed attention were highlighted.

Defense Commissary Agency Project - Fort Lewis
#59
   
Partners: American Federation of Government Employees
Date Signed: May 15, 2000
Date Concluded: August 31, 2005
Contact Information: OSHA Region X Office, Seattle, (206) 553-5930
or Regional Partnership Coordinator
 

Overview:
In support of the Federal Worker 2000 Initiative, the partners are working together to reduce lost time cases by 10% each year and the lost production days rate by 2% each year.

Results:
Management participates in significant aspects of the site's safety and health program, such as site inspections, incident reviews, and program reviews. Methodical surveys are conducted periodically and drive appropriate corrective action. Initial surveys are conducted by qualified professionals. Current hazard analyses are written for high-hazard jobs and processes, and analyses are communicated to and understood by affected employees.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Fremont National Forest
#150
   
Partners: American Federation of Government Employees
Date Signed: October 31, 2000
Dated Concluded: October 18, 2005
Contact Information: Portland Area Office, (503) 326-2251
or Regional Partnership Coordinator
 

Overview:
In support of the Federal Worker 2000 Initiative, the partners are working together to reduce lost time cases by 10% each year and the lost production days rate by 2% each year.

Results:
This Partnership has resulted in substantial improvements in the implementation of several elements of a comprehensive safety and health program, such as when supervisors developed and signed formal safety policies and posted such policies in areas where employees congregate.

Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UCADF) Partnership
#195
   
Partners: Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, Department of
Consumer and Business Services
Date Signed: April 16, 2002
Contact Information: Portland Area Office, (503) 326-2251
or Regional Partnership Coordinator
 
Overview: In order to protect employees at the UCADF and ensure that contractors operate safely, OSHA and the State of Oregon are working together to promote safety and health and ensure consistent and effective resolution of jurisdictional issues. This partnership is to facilitate a joint federal-state presence during the start-up, operation, and tear-down of the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF) at the U.S. Army Umatilla Chemical Depot.

Results: There has been a continuing offsite dialog between OSHA, Oregon OSHA, and the company contracted to destroy chemical weapons at the depot. An onsite VPP evaluation was conducted and Star status was awarded to the contractor on February 12, 2007. As the contractor attained VPP status, all relationships continued to improve, and more employees are actively involved in the safety processes.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Crowley Petroleum Distribution, Alaska
#651
   
Partners: Crowley Petroleum Distribution, Alaska; United Steel Workers Local 4959
Date Signed: April 16, 2002
Date Concluded: December 31, 2011
Contact Information:

Anchorage Area Office (907) 271-5152
or Regional Partnership Coordinator
 

Partnership Overview:
In an effort to reduce injuries and illnesses; improve hazard recognition by all workers, supervisors and managers; and assist the employers in upgrading their safety and health systems, OSHA, Crowley Petroleum Distribution, Alaska and the United Steel Workers Local 4959 developed a Partnership agreement.

The Partnership focused in particular on reducing maritime facility-related injuries and illnesses such as falls from elevation; struck by and electrical hazards. The goals of this Partnership include: reducing maritime facility worker injuries and illnesses in Alaska through OSHA intervention actions and through the development of an effective working relationship with terminal managers and union participants; improve employer safety and health systems through site visits and increased hazard recognition training and identification.

Founded in 1892, Crowley Maritime Corporation employs approximately 4,100 workers and provides its services using a fleet of more than 210 vessels, consisting of roll on roll off vessels; lift on lift off vessels; tankers; tugs and barges. Crowley's land-based facilities and equipment include terminals; warehouses; tank farms; office buildings; trucks; trailers; containers; chassis; cranes and other specialized vehicles.

The renewed Partnership continued with a focus on safety and health at the Nenana, AK and Kotzebue, AK terminals until its expiration on December 31, 2011. The Partnership was a successful collaboration between labor, industry and government in Alaska.

Participating Facilities:

  • Bethel Terminal, Bethel, Alaska
  • Kotzebue Terminal, Kotzebue, Alaska
  • Nenana Terminal, Nenana, Alaska
  • Nome Terminal, Nome, Alaska

Partnership Goals:

  • To continue to reduce maritime facility worker injuries and illnesses in Alaska through OSHA intervention actions and through the development of an effective partnership with qualifying terminal managers and union participants under this program
  • To continue to improve employer safety and health programs through preliminary assistance in readying the employer through site visits and increased hazard recognition training and identification
  • To better utilize Anchorage Area Office resources as a partnership tool to reduce the need for some on-site visits, while still achieving worker safety and health
  • Provide maximum leverage of inspection resources by promoting more active employer action and responsibility in safety and health management

Partnership Results:
Training at Bethel, AK and Nome, AK Terminals
Both the Bethel, AK and Nome, AK terminals have benefited from increased safety hazard recognition training, and have, in turn, passed on their best practices to other Crowley Petroleum Distribution marine terminal locations. Workers and supervisors at the terminals were trained in how to recognize occupational safety and health hazards and what actions to take to eliminate those hazards.

Injuries and Illnesses Reduced at Bethel, AK and Nome, AK Terminals
The Lost Workday Injury Rate (LWDI), now known as the Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate for the Bethel, AK terminal was reduced from 9.2 in 2008 to zero in 2009. During October 2009, the Bethel, AK terminal operations celebrated a record 570 days without a lost time incident. Similarly, the Nome, AK terminal maintained its DART rate at zero during 2009.

Training at Nenana, AK and Kotzebue, AK Terminals
During 2010, OSHA staff conducted training sessions at Nenana, AK and Kotzebue, AK for workers, managers, supervisors and union personnel. Some of the topics at the training sessions included: hazard recognition; hazard assessment; maritime rules and personal protective equipment.

In addition, Crowley Petroleum Distribution Alaska provided training sessions for its workers on topics which included: hearing protection; electrical safety; lockout/tagout; risk analysis and supervisor responsibilities. The company is planning to offer future training sessions for its workers. Participant Self Inspections
The employer, along with union representation, continues to conduct quarterly evaluations of their sites. Hazards at the Nenana, AK and Kotzebue, AK terminals continue to be identified and corrected in a more organized way. Management has been required to manage their sites in a more responsible and accountable manner. Employees also participate in the self-inspections and take an active role in reporting and mitigating hazards in the workplace. The employer has also implemented an "Authorized Stop-Work Program" which allows each employee, regardless of position, to stop unsafe work practices without repercussions.

The employer has not had a significant number of injuries or illnesses at either site, but has identified a substantial number of near-miss conditions throughout their facilities in Alaska, which could have resulted in lost time injuries. The employer continues to improve their near-miss program for their employees and the near miss program has been implemented throughout the organization in Alaska. Statistical data is collected and analyzed to assist the employer in determining the high hazard/risk sectors throughout the organization.