ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)/
Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) Alliance
November 3, 2006

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

November 3, 2005

Evaluation Period

November 3, 2005 – November 2, 2006

Overview

OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA are working together to provide the members of the organizations, and others in the forest, pulp, paper, and paper-converting industries with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in addressing workplace ergonomics issues.

Implementation Team Members

II. Implementation Team Meetings

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Training and Education Goals
    
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for small business and other employers regarding hazard communication and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
   Products
   
   Virtual Seminar, "Managing Your Ergonomics Process in Converting Operations – Recipe for Success"
   
   Brett Besser, Ergonomics Coordinator, SLTC, Directorate of Science Technology and Medicine, USDOL-OSHA provided AF&PA and PPSA with input during the organizations' development of the virtual seminar, "Managing Your Ergonomics Process in Converting Operations – Recipe for Success." The seminar was presented for the first time March 14, 2006.
   
   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 SCHC's Web sites) to employers and employees in the Covered industries.
   Products
   
   OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web Page
   
   OSHA developed the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site that features links to the Alliance agreement and related documents, information on activities and events, and ergonomic success stories. For information on the number of visits to the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
   
   AF&PA's and PPSA's Web Sites
   
   After the Alliance was signed, AF&PA developed a Web page about the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance on its Web site. The Web page includes information about the Alliance and links to the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. In addition, PPSA's Web site includes a news release about the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance.
   
   Print and Electronic Media
   
   Articles on the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance signing and other Alliance-related events have appeared in print and online publications, including: Facilities Management News, Inside OSHA, U.S. Newswire, Regline, and QuickTakes. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
   
   OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages
   
   AF&PA and PPSA representatives serve as members of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards:
    
   • • Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
       • Lawrence P. Halprin, Keller & Heckman
     • Machine Guarding
       • Lawrence P. Halprin, Keller & Heckman
     • Sawmills
       • Frank Cordier, Smurfit-Stone Container
   • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA's, AF&PA's or PPSA's conferences, local meetings or other events such as PPSA's annual safety conference.
   Events
   
   OSHA 30-Hour Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry Course, St. Louis, Missouri, May 1-4, 2006
   
   On May 1, 2006, Frank Cordier, Corporate Manager, Safety and Health Compliance, Smurfit-Stone Container and an Alliance implementation team member, gave a presentation on the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance to 42 people attending the OSHA 30-Hour Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course in St. Louis, Missouri.
   
   PPSA Annual Safety and Health Conference, Orlando, Florida, June 12-14, 2006
   
   On June 13, 2006, Chris Weber, Safety Manager, Temple-Inland and an Alliance implementation team member, gave a presentation about the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance to 40 attendees at the PPSA Annual Safety and Health Conference in Orlando, Florida. PPSA also distributed the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Activities Summary and OSHA publications and compliance assistance resources.
   
   AF&PA Safety and Health Group, Washington, DC, October 26, 2006
   
   On October 26, 2006, Assistant Secretary Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., USDOL-OSHA, made a presentation about OSHA's policies and programs, including the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance, to AF&PA's Safety and Health Group in Washington, DC.
    
   • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AF&PA's and PPSA's effective approaches (e.g., success stories) and publicize results through outreach by AF&PA and PPSA and through OSHA-developed, AF&PA-developed and PPSA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures.
   Events
   
   Ergonomics Seminar, "Practical Ergonomics Training for Printing and Converting Operations in the Pulp and Paper Industry," Indianapolis, Indiana, November 2-3, 2006
   
   As a result of the Alliance, Alan Angle, Compliance Safety and Health Officer, Region V, Madison, Wisconsin Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, attended PPSA's ergonomics seminar, "Practical Ergonomics Training for Printing and Converting Operations in the Pulp and Paper Industry," November 2-3, 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
   
   Products
   
   OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Ergonomics Success Stories
   
   The OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance developed the following ergonomics success stories for the pulp and paper industries, which were posted in October 2006 on OSHA's Web site on the Ergonomics Safety and Health Topics page and linked to from the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page:
    
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Hand Truck," describes a box plant company's modification of a hand truck to facilitate transport of cutting dies and reduce employee complaints of discomfort.
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Rotary Die Cut Stacker," describes a container board packaging company's improvements to its process for stacking and palletizing bundles of flat corrugated boxes formed by a rotary die stacker, which include modifying or eliminating manual tasks and providing additional training.
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Manual Chain and Hoist Lift," describes a company's use of a manual chain and hoist lift to facilitate removing and replacing liquid propane fuel tanks from its lift trucks.
   AF&PA's Ergonomics White Papers
   
   Brett Besser provided comments to AF&PA on the association's White Papers, "Ergonomics Project: Slabbing," and "Ergonomics Consideration for Powered Industrial Truck."
    
   • Promote and encourage AF&PA's and PPSA's members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Onsite Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
     
     During this reporting period, OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA did not work on any projects to address this goal.
      
   • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on ergonomics that are addressed through the Alliance Program.
     
     During this reporting period, OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA did not work on any projects to address this goal.
     Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
      
   • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hazard communication issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
     
     During this reporting period, OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA did not work on any new projects to address this goal.
   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
    
   • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hazard communication issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
     
     During this reporting period, OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA did not work on any new projects to address this goal.
2. Executive Summary
   
   During the 2005-2006 reporting period, OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA worked together to provide the members of the organizations and others in the forest, pulp, paper, and paper-converting industries with information, guidance, and access to training resources and address workplace ergonomics issues. Through the Alliance Program, OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA developed several resources with information about the Alliance and ergonomics. The OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site provides links to the Alliance agreement, related documents and activities and events. In addition, AF&PA developed a Web page on its Web site with information about the Alliance and links to OSHA's Web site. PPSA's Web site includes a news release about the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance. Representatives from AF&PA and PPSA are also serving as members of OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Machine Guarding and Sawmills Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards.
   
   In addition, AF&PA and PPSA developed the virtual seminar, "Managing Your Ergonomics Process in Converting Operations – Recipe for Success," with input from Brett Besser. The seminar was presented for the first time March 14, 2006. Brett Besser also provided AF&PA with comments on the association's White Papers, "Ergonomics Project: Slabbing," and "Ergonomics Consideration for Powered Industrial Truck."
   
   To share ergonomics-related safety and health information with the public, the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance developed the following ergonomics success stories for the pulp and paper industries, which were posted on OSHA's Web site in October 2006:
    
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Hand Truck," describes a box plant company's modification of a hand truck to facilitate transport of cutting dies and reduce employee complaints of discomfort.
      
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Rotary Die Cut Stacker," describes a container board packaging company's improvements to its process for stacking and palletizing bundles of flat corrugated boxes formed by a rotary die stacker, which include modifying or eliminating manual tasks and providing additional training.
      
   • "Success with Ergonomics: Manual Chain and Hoist Lift," describes a company's use of a manual chain and hoist lift to facilitate removing and replacing liquid propane fuel tanks from its lift trucks.
   AF&PA and PPSA also held the ergonomics seminar, "Practical Ergonomics Training for Printing and Converting Operations in the Pulp and Paper Industry," in Indianapolis, Indiana November 2-3, 2006. Alan Angle, Compliance Safety and Health Officer, Region V, Madison, Wisconsin Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, attended ergonomics seminar.
   
   OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA representatives promoted the Alliance at conferences and meetings. For example, Assistant Secretary Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., USDOL-OSHA also made a presentation about OSHA's policies and programs, including the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance, to AF&PA's Safety and Health Group in Washington, DC October 26, 2006. In addition, Chris Weber, Safety Manager, Temple-Inland and an Alliance implementation team member, gave a presentation about the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance at the PPSA Annual Safety and Health Conference in Orlando, Florida June 12, 2006. PPSA also distributed an OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Activities Summary and OSHA compliance assistance information during the event.
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

In the upcoming year, OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA will continue to promote awareness of the Alliance Program and workplace safety and health, particularly ergonomics, to the organizations' members and other in the pulp and paper industry. The Alliance implementation team members will also continue to maintain and update the OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site and AF&PA's and PPSA's Alliance-related Web pages. In addition, AF&PA and PPSA representatives will review and provide information to update OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Machine Guarding and Sawmills Safety and Health Topics page through their participation on the tools' editorial boards. AF&PA will also work with other Alliance Program participants to provide input into the development of OSHA's draft Powered Industrial Truck eTool and PPSA may provide a member to participate on the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board.

The OSHA and AF&PA/PPSA Alliance will also develop additional ergonomics success stories for the pulp and paper industry. In addition, representatives from OSHA, AF&PA and PPSA will continue to promote the Alliance and ergonomics-related projects through speeches and exhibits at meetings such as PPSA's Annual Safety and Health Conference.

Report prepared by: Elizabeth Sherfy, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, November 3, 2006.