ACIL - Alliance Annual Report - November 15, 2005

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the
American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL)
November 15, 2005

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    July 23, 2003

    Overview

    Recognizing the value of enhancing public safety through quality testing, OSHA and ACIL are using their collective expertise to help increase awareness of OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program that is a part of OSHA’s Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine (DSTM). The OSHA recognized laboratories determine if equipment and products that are specified in the Agency’s regulations meet consensus-based safety standards and can be used safely in the workplace. A NRTL puts its nationally registered mark on the products it tests, which certifies that they meet OSHA-endorsed standards.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA

    Maryann Garrahan
    Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
    Rick Harris
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Karen Heckman
    Office of Training and Education (OTE)
    Bob Isiminger
    Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
    Lee Anne Jillings
    OOSA
    John Linkletter
    OTE
    Long Loo
    DSG
    Sherrey Nicolas
    DSTM
    Bernard Pasquet
    DSTM
    Lisa Ramber
    OOSA
    David Wallis
    DSG

    ACIL:

    Milt Bush
    The M Companies
    Joan Cassedy
    Executive Director
    Len Frier
    MET Laboratories
    Doug Geralde
    CSA International
    Walt Vance
    CSA International

    Evaluation Period

    July 23, 2004 – July 22, 2005

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    July 23, 2004
    Team meeting
    February 8, 2005
    Team meeting
    April 15, 2005
    Team meeting
    June 8, 2005
    Team meeting

  3. Events and Products

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Review existing OSHA training programs and determine where information on the NRTL program can be incorporated into the curriculum.

      Products

      OSHA PowerPoint® Presentations

      ACIL completed their review and provided comments on three OSHA PowerPoint® presentations that are used by the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in its courses: Electrical Hazards, Hazardous Materials for general audiences and Hazardous Materials for specific audiences.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA’s and ACIL’s Web sites.

      Products

      OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to update the OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. The page includes a copy of the OSHA and ACIL Alliance agreement, a photograph of the signing ceremony, news releases and activities and events; products and resources; and milestones and successes. In addition, a link was added to the page to the OSHA and ACIL Alliance Annual Report for 2003-2004.

      ACIL Web Page

      ACIL has added a link from its "Special Programs" focus box on its Web site’s homepage to the OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site.

      Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, Safety and Health Topics Page

      Joan Cassedy, Executive Director of ACIL, continues to serve on OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, Safety and Health Topics page editorial board. The page was updated on March 29, 2005 and June 8, 2005.

      Publications

      ACIL’s eNewletter, News from...

      In the June 2004 edition of ACIL’s monthly enewsletter, News from…, ACIL published an article, OSHA Compliance Assistance Resources, that discussed two new compliance assistance resources available from OSHA, the Hispanic Outreach Fact Sheet and the Young Worker Fact Sheet. The article highlighted OSHA’s numerous Spanish-language compliance assistance and training resources, which may assist employers of Spanish speaking employees. It also provided information on OSHA's young worker compliance assistance and training materials for employers of young workers.

      NRTL Certification Marks Pocket Card

      The OSHA and ACIL implementation team continues to work on the development of a laminated pocket card, with the NRTL certification marks from the testing laboratories throughout the U.S. and Canada. The completed pocket card will be an informational resource for students who attend OTI’s courses and the Agency’s National, Regional and Area Offices’ staff as well as OSHA Consultation Program personnel.

      Currently, the draft pocket card contains certification marks from each of the NRTLs; the Alliance Program and ACIL logos; the Web site addresses for ACIL, OSHA and OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Safety and Health Topics page and information from OSHA's standard, 29 CFR Chapter XVII.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events to raise awareness of the NRTL program, such as the ACIL Mid-Winter Meeting and meetings of the American Council for Electrical Safety (ACES).

      Events

      American Council for Electrical Safety (ACES) Meetings

      Maryann Garrahan and Bernard Pasquet attended the ACES meeting, organized by ACIL, on April 14, 2005 in Baltimore, MD. Maryann Garrahan made a presentation on OSHA’s proposed Satellite Notification and Acceptance Program (SNAP). SNAP, if approved, would allow satellite laboratories affiliated with a NRTL, to test and certify the electrical equipment as safe for use in the workplace. Bernard Pasquet gave informal talks on issues and topics relating to OSHA’s NRTL Program and participated in a question and answer session immediately following his discussions.

      • Develop informational materials and cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals on the NRTL program and the products and equipment that are required to have a mark.

      Products

      Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program: Marking or Labeling on Products, Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB)

      Maryann Garrahan shared with ACIL a draft outline of a SHIB entitled, "Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program: Marking or Labeling on Products", for ACIL to review. Another SHIB on counterfeit certification marks and products may also be developed.

      Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:

      • Providing stakeholders with information and guidance on the purpose and requirements of the NRTL program.

        Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACIL maintain Web sites which provide stakeholders and others, with safety and health information relating to the requirements for the NRTL Program. The OSHA and ACIL Web sites are updated as appropriate, on an ongoing basis.
         
      • Raising awareness and understanding of the value of the NRTLs marks on safety products and equipment.

        Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACIL maintain Web sites which provide stakeholders and others, with safety and health information which informs the Web site visitors about the value of NRTL marks on safety products and equipment. The OSHA and ACIL Web sites are updated as appropriate, on an ongoing basis.
         
      • Raise awareness of the NRTL program when ACIL’s leaders address groups.

        The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
         
      • Participate together in forums to promote the value of workplace safety.

        The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
         
      • Encourage ACIL’s members to act as liaisons and resources for OSHA’s cooperative programs.

        The OSHA and ACIL Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    2. Executive Summary

      In July 2003, OSHA formed a national Alliance with ACIL to help increase awareness of the Agency's NRTL program. Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACIL are working together to reach out to, educate, and train empThrough the OSHA and ACIL Alliance, OSHA and ACIL continue to share information related to the NRTL Program and OSHA’s compliance assistance resources.

      For example, ACIL completed its review of OTI's PowerPoint® presentations, Electrical Safety, Hazardous Materials for general audiences and Hazardous Materials for specific audiences. In addition, Joan Cassedy remains as a member of the editorial board for the NTRL Safety and Health Topics page. During this reporting period, two updates were completed on the NTRL Safety and Health Topics page.

      The implementation team has discussed developing several outreach materials related to the NRTL Program including a SHIB on counterfeit equipment in the workplace and a fact sheet on genuine certification marks and location of genuine certification marks on equipment approved for use in the workplace. ACIL will also develop an article on the detection of counterfeit certification marks and products for OSHA staff.

      The implementation team also continues to pursue efforts to develop a laminated card with information and samples of all of the genuine certification marks from each NRTL. The laminated card will contain information on available resources such as OSHA’s and ACIL’s Web sites and text from OSHA’s standard for electrical equipment approval in the workplace. The card will be distributed to OSHA personnel and is intended to be a resource to OSHA staff during inspections.

      OSHA and ACIL continued sharing information during the reporting period. OSHA implementation team members learned a wealth of information from ACIL on the growing problem of counterfeit products and counterfeit certification marks on those products that are appearing at workplaces through out the U.S. This information sharing included a presentation by ACIL member Doug Geralde, CSA International, at the June 8, 2005 implementation team meeting. In addition, Maryann Garrahan gave a presentation on OSHA’s proposed SNAP Program to the attendees at the ACES Meeting in Baltimore, MD, which is hosted by ACIL. OSHA implementation team Member Bernard Pasquet routinely attends the ACES meetings, providing informal talks and answers questions from ACES attendees.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)

      Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      June, 2005 - “OSHA Compliance Assistance Resources”
      News from… - ACIL Newsletter

      1,000
      OSHA and ACIL Alliance Web page

      4,800
      NRTL Safety and Health Topics Page

      32,400
      TOTAL

      38,200

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    OSHA and ACIL remain committed to work together through the Alliance Program and will sign a renewal agreement. As part of the renewal efforts, OSHA and ACIL will work on number of projects to support the agreement.

    For example, the Alliance will finalize the laminated pocket card for posting on ACIL’s Web page, with links to it from the OSHA's Web site, as appropriate. The laminated card is intended to inform the public and OSHA staff about the NRTL certification marks.

    In addition, ACIL Executive Director Joan Cassedy will continue to be a member of the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Safety and Health Topics page’s editorial board.

    ACIL will also consider conducting training sessions on the NRTL Program for OSHA staff and others in several of the regions. Topics that will be discussed during the potential training sessions include how to identify genuine and counterfeit NRTL certification marks and the location of genuine NRTL certification marks on approved equipment and detecting counterfeit NRTL certification marks on electrical equipment.

    OSHA and ACIL will also continue to work together to identify opportunities to promote and educate others on the NRTL program through speaking opportunities. During 2005-2006, Bernard Pasquet may participate in the ACES meeting in November 17, 2005 in Baltimore, MD. In addition, OSHA may be invited to speak at ACIL’s Mid-Winter Meeting in Washington, DC in February 2006.

    Finally, the OSHA and ACIL implementation will be addressing issues associated with counterfeit NRTL certification marks and their placement on products in the workplace. The Alliance implementation team will consider working together to produce a SHIB on counterfeit electrical equipment and developing an article and fact sheet on how to detect counterfeit certification marks and their placement on products.

    Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances, November 15, 2005