ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and American Shipbuilding Association (ASA)
July 15, 2007

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

July 15, 2003

Date Renewed

January 13, 2006

Evaluation Period

July 16, 2006 - July 15, 2007

Overview

The Alliance focuses on using OSHA's and ASA's collective expertise to help advance a culture of injury and illness prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge and promoting safe and healthful working conditions for shipyard employees.

Implementation Team Members

¹Jess McCluer was the Alliance coordinator until May 25, 2007.
²As of June 25, 2007, Daniel Youhas is the Alliance coordinator.

II. Implementation Team Meetings

In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Outreach and Communication Goals
    
   • Develop and disseminate injury and hazard information at conferences, events and/or through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA's and ASA's Web sites.
   Products
   
   OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page
   
   OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web site. It includes the OSHA and ASA Alliance agreements, news releases, activities and events and milestones and successes.
   
   Publications and Newsletters
   
   Articles on the OSHA and ASA Alliance activities have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: OSHA's Alliance Quarterly Report, BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter, BNA Daily Labor Report, CCH Safety NetNews, Occupational Health & Safety E-news, and Occupational Health & Safety Magazine. For more information see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.
    
   • Familiarize OSHA personnel with the shipbuilding industries' safety and health best practices and share information on the best practices of ASA's members/worksites, as jointly determined by OSHA and ASA, with others in the industry.
     
     The OSHA and ASA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects during this reporting period.
      
   • Share current injury, hazard and workforce trends to help identify the top priorities for the development of employee safety and health training and outreach programs for the shipbuilding industry.
   Fatality Fact Sheets
   
   Through the Alliances, ASA, NSRP and SCA are working with OSHA's Office of Maritime Enforcement to develop Fatality Fact Sheets. The implementation teams are reviewing OSHA data to determine the top three to four specific types of incidents (e.g. falls, electrocution), that result in shipyard fatalities to develop fact sheets for a particular type of incident.
    
   • Promote and encourage ASA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and SHARP. In addition, act as mentors to ASA members that aspire to excellence in safety and health.
     
     The OSHA and ASA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects during this reporting period.
      
   • Create and update electronic assistance tools for OSHA's Web page that address shipbuilding safety and health hazards.
   OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages
   
   The following OSHA and ASA Alliance implementation team members are continuing to participate on OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages' and eTools' editorial boards.
    
   • Maritime Industry Safety and Health Topics page
     
     James Thornton, Northrop Grumman-Newport News; Newport News, VA
     
     Bob Watson, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO); San Diego, CA
     
     Shawn Wilkerson, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems-Avondale Operations; New Orleans, LA
      
   • Ship Building and Repair Safety and Health Topics page
     
     James Thornton, Northrop Grumman-Newport News; Newport News, VA
      
   • Shipyard Employment eTool
     
     Jim Thornton, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety; North Grumman Corporation - Newport News; Newport News, VA
     
     Bob Watson; NASSCO; San Diego, CA
     
     Shawn Wilkerson; Northrop Grumman Ship Systems-Avondale Operations.; New Orleans, LA
   Shipyard Employment eTool
   
   Fire Protection Module
   
   Through the Alliance, ASA worked with NSRP and SCA to provide OSHA with input during the development of OSHA's Shipyard Employment eTool Fire Protection module. The module, which was completed and posted on OSHA's Web site in September 2006, addresses the Fire Protection in Shipyard Employment Standard (29 CFR 1915 Subpart P).
   
   Marine Hanging Staging (MHS) Module
   
   Through the Alliance, ASA is working with NSRP and SCA to provide OSHA with expertise and input into the development of the draft MHS module for the Shipyard Employment eTool. The module will help employers design, assemble, use, and dismantle MHS in a manner that is safe for employees.
    
   • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects for the maritime industry that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
   Safety Alert: Deadly Hydrogen Sulfide and Shipyard Sewage
   
   Through the Alliance, ASA worked with NSRP and SCA and the OSHA and AIHA Alliance to develop the Safety Alert: Shipyard Sewage and Hydrogen Sulfide. The Safety Alert is designed to make shipyard employers and employees aware of the hazards of sewage systems on ships and shipyard shore facilities and how to prevent accidents involving hydrogen sulfide gas. It was posted on SCA's Web site and a link to it was added to the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page in July 2006.
   
   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
    
   • Raise awareness through speeches and appearances by ASA leaders of their positive and successful worksite programs and their commitment to workplace safety and health.
     
     The OSHA and ASA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Convene and/or participate in roundtable discussions or other forums to discuss issues, as jointly identified as top priorities by ASA and OSHA, in order to develop innovative solutions to specific injury and hazard issues in shipyards.
     
     The OSHA and ASA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
2. Executive Summary
   
   Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and ASA are continuing their productive relationship and are working together to address safety and health issues in the maritime industry. Further, the OSHA and ASA Alliance implementation team is working with other Alliances the Agency signed with NSRP and SCA to develop maritime industry-related projects. In addition, ASA worked with NSRP and SCA and the OSHA and AIHA Alliance to develop a Safety Alert: Shipyard Sewage and Hydrogen Sulfide. The Safety Alert is designed to make both shipyard employers and employees aware of the hazards of sewage systems on both ships and shipyard shore facilities and how to prevent accidents involving hydrogen sulfide gas.
   
   In addition, through the Alliance ASA provided OSHA with input to OSHA during the development of OSHA's Shipyard Employment eTool Fire Protection module, which was posted on the Agency Web site in September 2006. ASA is currently working with OSHA to develop a Marine Hanging Staging (MHS) module for the eTool.
   
   ASA representatives are also sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the Agency's electronic assistance tools' editorial boards. For example, ASA representatives are continuing to serve on the Maritime Industry and Ship Building and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards and the Shipyard Employment eTool's editorial board.
   
   ASA, NSRP and SCA are also working with the OSHA's Office of Maritime Enforcement to review OSHA data in order to identify topics for Fatality Fact Sheets.
   
   ASA is continuing to hold joint Implementation Team meetings with NSRP and SCA and OSHA representatives from the Directorates of Cooperative and State Programs; Enforcement Programs; Science, Technology and Medicine; Standards and Guidance; and Region IX.
   
   Finally, as a result of the Alliance's successes, ASA is working with OSHA to develop an Alliance renewal agreement.
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

In the upcoming year, the OSHA and ASA implementation team will complete as well as begin developing a number of activities and products. Finally, based on these projects and plans, OSHA and ASA will sign an Alliance renewal agreement in August 2007.

For example, the association will work with OSHA to finalize the development of the MHS module for the Shipyard Employment eTool in 2008. In addition, ASA members will continue to serve on the Maritime Industry and Ship Building and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards and the Shipyard Employment eTool's editorial board.

ASA is also working with the NSRP and SCA Alliances and OSHA's Office of Maritime Enforcement to review OSHA data in order to identify topics for Fatality Fact Sheets. In addition, the groups have discussed working together to develop an OSHA 10-Hour course specifically for shipyards.

Further, the OSHA and ASA Alliance will continue to work with OSHA's Alliances with NSRP, SCA and AIHA to develop safety alerts addressing incidents related to falls, electrocution and confined space. The Alliance Program will promote the maritime industry developed products in its Alliance Quarterly Review and through sending the information to OSHA's Regional, Area Office, On-site Consultation Program and State Plan State representatives.


Report prepared by: Daniel Youhas, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, July 15, 2007.