SkillsUSA - Alliance Annual Report 2005-2006

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
SkillsUSA
December 12, 2006

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    October 17, 2005

    Overview

    OSHA and SkillsUSA are working together to provide career and technical educators and their students with materials, guidance, and access to training resources that will help improve the occupational safety and health of young workers.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA

    Deborah Gabry
    Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
    Sandra Khan
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Robert Nester
    DSTM

    SkillsUSA

    Heidi Ambrose
    Associate Director, Office of Training, Membership & Program Development
    Marsha Daves
    Director, Office of Training, Membership and Program Development

    Evaluation Period

    October 17, 2005 – October 16, 2006

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    October 17, 2005
    Implementation Team Kick-off Meeting
    January 9, 2006
    Knowledge Bowl Meeting
    March 9, 2006
    Implementation Team Meeting
    May 18, 2006
    Implementation Team Meeting
    August 24, 2006
    Implementation Team Meeting

    In addition to these formal meetings, the OOSA and SkillsUSA staff maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information for young workers on workplace hazard recognition and prevention and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, on-line forums, lesson plans, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and SkillsUSA's web sites) to educators, employers and young workers.

      Products

      OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page

      OSHA created an OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance agreement, news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. A Strategic Management Plan Focus area box was added to the page, reflecting that the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance focus is young workers. For more information on the number of visits to the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in Section C of this report.

      SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web page

      SkillsUSA created a SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization's Web site. The Web page is updated regularly and includes links to OSHA's Web site, including the OSHA and SkillsUSA Web page, OSHA's Teen Workers Web page, and OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Information on the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance signing appeared in a number of print and online publications including OSHA and SkillsUSA's news releases, Alliance Quarterly Review, QuickTakes, US Newswire, Occupational Hazards, BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter. For more information on the print and electronic media, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in Section C of this report.

      Executive Perspectives

      Tim Lawrence, President, SkillsUSA promotes and updates members frequently on the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance and the agency's cooperative programs and compliance assistance resources in his weekly article, "Executive Perspectives," that is posted on the SkillsUSA Web site.

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in SkillsUSA review of the SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards.

      Products

      SkillsUSA Championship Technical Standards

      OSHA is reviewing and providing comments on the SkillsUSA Championship Technical Standards that are used by judges during the annual SkillsUSA Championships. The SkillsUSA Championships is a student skill and leadership and hands on, competition where over 4,700 state level gold medalists compete in several contests, including trade, industrial, technical, health occupations, customer service, and leadership.

      Professional Development Program

      OSHA is reviewing and providing comments on the SkillsUSA's Professional Development Program (PDP). The Program guides students through 84 employability skills activities that are covered in seven levels of the program. The activities help meet the competencies outlined by the U.S. Secretary of Labor's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS).

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's and SkillsUSA's conferences state and chapter events, such as the Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health and the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships.

      Events

      SkillsUSA 2006 National Leadership & Skills Conference and TECHSPO, June 18-24, 2006, Kansas City, Missouri

      On June 21, 2006, Mr. Charles Adkins, Regional Administrator, Region VII, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation, "OSHA Update and the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance," during SkillsUSA's VIP breakfast.

      In addition, Bob Nester, Health Scientist, Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine, USDOL-OSHA, participated in the SkillsUSA Competition as a judge in the Health Science competitions.

      Veneta Chatmon, Office of Communications, USDOL-OSHA and OSHA representatives from Region VII staffed the OSHA exhibit during the conference. The OSHA staff distributed the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Activities Summary and young worker and safety and health information with the more than 550 students and SkillsUSA instructors.

      • Work with other Alliance Program participants on specific issues and projects regarding young workers issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      Events

      Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign Kick-off, Edison Academy, Thomas A. Edison High School, April 6, 2006, Alexandria, Virginia

      On April 6, 2006, SkillsUSA student members from Edison Academy demonstrated safe work practices in landscaping during OSHA's Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign Kick-off event at Thomas A. Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia. OSHA's Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign is a multi-year project to increase awareness about workplace hazards and provide information about the hazards to young workers and their parents. In addition, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA and Tim Lawrence, Executive Director, SkillsUSA spoke during the event.

      North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, April 30-May 6, 2006

      SkillsUSA supported and promoted 2006 NAOSH Week, which was held April 30-May 6, 2006. NAOSH Week is sponsored by the ASSE, another Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE). SkillsUSA students and advisors also attended the kick-off event that included remarks by OSHA's Assistant Secretary Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., and representatives from ASSE and CSSE.

      • Encourage SkillsUSA to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices and other Career Technical Student Organizations to address young worker safety and health issues.

      Products

      SkillsUSA State Associations and Chapters

      SkillsUSA sent an email to the organization's state associations and chapters' asking the groups to contact OSHA's Regional Offices if they would like to invite an agency representative to give a presentation, provide training, or staff an exhibit at a local or area conference.

      Events

      OSHA-500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry

      Representatives from Virginia OSHA provided the OSHA-500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry to over 150 SkillsUSA instructors in a number of Virginia locations, including Roanoke, Leesburg, Richmond and Virginia Beach. The instructors received their 30-hour OSHA certification and are providing OSHA's 10-Hour Construction Industry training to students enrolled in the construction trades programs to ensure their safety.

      In addition, OSHA representatives David McDonnell, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region VII, Wichita, Kansas Area Office, USDOL-OSHA and Tony Towey, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Training and Education, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA provided the OSHA-500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry course to more than 20 SkillsUSA instructors during the Skills University, June 18-20, 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri. Skills University is an opportunity for students and educators to attend educational sessions scheduled throughout the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. Sessions include professional development, legislative updates, occupational and technical career trends and program overviews.

      Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on young worker safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

      Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health (FedNet) Meeting, October 20, 2005, Washington, D.C.

      On Thursday, October 20, 2005, nine SkillsUSA students from Maryland's Calvert Career Center and from Virginia's Edison Career Center met as a focus group at the U.S. Department of Labor with the FedNet. The students fielded a number of questions from the attendees, including, what young people believe are appealing information sources; what characteristics they look for and believe in Web sites; and who are the "personal influencers" on a worksite. In addition to the nine students, the schools' principals and two SkillsUSA advisors attended the meeting.

    2. Executive Summary

      In the first year of the Alliance, OSHA and SkillsUSA established an excellent working relationship. Through their Alliance, OSHA and SkillsUSA are providing career and technical educators, and their students with materials, guidance, and access to training resources that address the occupational safety and health of young workers. For example, OSHA created an OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance agreement, OSHA and SkillsUSA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. SkillsUSA also developed a SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization's Web site that includes links to OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page and OSHA's Teen Workers Web page on the Agency's Web site.

      Through the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance, OSHA representative, Charles Adkins, Regional Director, Region VII, USDOL-OSHA gave a presentation, "OSHA Update and the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance," at the VIP breakfast on June 21, 2006 during the SkillsUSA 2006 National Leadership & Skills Conference and TECHSPO. Bob Nester, Health Scientist, Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine, USDOL-OSHA, also participated as a judge during the Health and Science competition. In addition, OSHA shared young worker and safety and health information at the OSHA exhibit booth with the more than 550 students and SkillsUSA instructors at the conference and expo.

      SkillsUSA also joined OSHA and other Alliance Program participants in supporting and promoting the 2006 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, April 30-May 6, 2006. Finally, SkillsUSA promoted the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance and the agency's cooperative programs and compliance assistance resources by publishing information in SkillsUSA's weekly article, "Executive Perspectives," that is posted on the SkillsUSA Web.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      October 17, 2005, "New Alliance Will Promote Safer and Healthier Workplaces for Young Workers"
      OSHA News Release      		 69 News Services
      October 17, 2005, "New Alliance Will Promote Safer and Healthier Workplaces for Young Workers"
      US News Wire      		 Data not available
      October 19, 2006, "Alliance to Promote Safer Workplaces for Young Workers"
      Occupational Hazards      		 Data not available
      October 20, 2005, "OSHA Forms Youth-Focused Alliance"
      BNA Daily Labor Report      		 Data not available
      October 20, 2005, "OSHA Forms Youth-Focused Alliance"
      BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter      		 Data not available
      June 18-24, 2005
      SkillsUSA 2006 National Leadership & Skills Conference and TECHSPO
      Kansas City, Missouri
      OSHA Exhibited      		 550
      June 18-24, 2005
      SkillsUSA 2006 National Leadership & Skills Conference and TECHSPO
      Kansas City, Missouri
      Speaker: Charles Adkins, Regional Administrator, Region VII, USDOL-OSHA      		 Data not available
      OSHA-500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry 170
      OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web Page 4,150
      SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web Page Data not available
      TOTAL 4870

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    The OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance implementation team will continue to advance its excellent working relationship by collaborating on a number of upcoming projects and activities to achieve the goals of the Alliance. For example, OSHA and SkillsUSA will continue to update and promote the Alliance's Web pages, such as the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance Web page and SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web page with safety and health resources.

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and SkillsUSA will also share young worker safety and health information at the National Leadership and Skills Conference and TECHSPO, June 25-June 29, 2007, in Kansas City, Missouri. OSHA representatives from Region VII and OSHA's National Office have been invited to be judges during the SkillsUSA Championships and will exhibit during the TECHSPO.

    Further, SkillsUSA invited OSHA representative's to provide the OSHA-500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry at the 2007 Skills University Seminars that is part of the conference.

    The OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance will also join with other Alliance Program participants in supporting the 2007 NAOSH Week, May 6-12, 2007, which is sponsored by the ASSE and numerous other Alliance Program participants.

    In addition, SkillsUSA will promote the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance and the agency's cooperative programs and compliance assistance resources to its membership through presentations and by posting information in the "Executive Perspectives" article on the SkillsUSA Web site.

    In addition, OSHA and SkillsUSA will continue to support OSHA's Teen Worker Initiative by posting information on the SkillsUSA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the organization's Web site. Finally they will participate in OSHA's Teen Summer Worker Job Safety Campaign.

Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances, December 12, 2006