ASSP - Alliance Annual Report - December 14, 2009

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
December 14, 2009

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    December 4, 2002

    Dates Renewed

    June 8, 2004

    June 12, 2006

    June 10, 2008

    Overview:

    The OSHA and ASSE Alliance focuses on providing ASSE members and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, including non-English or limited-English speaking and youth workers. In particular, the Alliance focuses on addressing ergonomic and motor vehicle safety issues and promoting the annual North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Todd Briggs

    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)

    Michael Buchet

    Office of Construction Services (OCS), Directorate of Construction (DOC)

    Diana Cortez

    Region II

    Eric Lahaie

    OOSA

    Rob Sanders

    Office of Small Business Assistance

    ASSE:

    Zeferino Banda

    Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce (SPALW)

    Rennie Heath

    Practice Specialty Group

    David Heidorn

    Government Affairs and Policy

    Diane Hurns

    Public Relations

    Diana Preston

    Government Affairs Committee

    Evaluation Period

    • December 3, 2008 through December 2, 2009

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • October 19, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting
    • June 10, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting
    • January 27, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting

    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from each organization, Todd Briggs and David Heidorn, spoke regularly to discuss and plan the activities and programs listed under events and products. Todd Briggs and Diane Hurns also spoke regularly to discuss and plan NAOSH Week-related activities such as the 2009 NAOSH Week Kick-off event at the Department of Labor (DOL).

  3. Results

    1. Products and Events

      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 the OSHA and ASSE Web sites) to employers and employees.

        Products

        Safety Alert: Welding and Other Hot Work Procedures in Shipyard Employment

        ASSE representatives, along with other Alliance Program participants, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), American Shipbuilding Association (ASA), and National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) developed "Safety Alert: Welding and Other Hot Work Procedures in Shipyard Employment." The alert was finalized and posted to the SCA Web site and linked to from the OSHA and AIHA Alliance Program Web page in February 2009.

        Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy-Lockout/Tagout Procedures in Shipyard Employment

        ASSE representatives, along with other Alliance Program participants, the AIHA, SCA, ASA, and NSRP developed "Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy-Lockout/Tagout Procedures in Shipyard Employment." The alert was finalized and posted to the SCA Web site and linked to from the OSHA and AIHA Alliance Program Web page in February 2009.

        OSHA and ASSE Alliance Program Web Page

        OSHA continues to update the OSHA and ASSE Alliance Program Web page on the Agency's Web site. The page contains information on the Alliance's products and resources, including news releases, annual reports, activities and events, and milestones and successes. The page also links to the OSHA Regional and Area Office, ASSE Chapter Alliances, OSHA Making the Business Case for Safety and Health and Motor Vehicle Safety Safety and Health Topics pages, and safety alerts developed through the Alliance Program.  

        ASSE and OSHA Alliance Program Web Page

        ASSE continues to update its ASSE and OSHA Alliance Program Web page on the Association's Web site. The page includes information on the Alliance and its activities and other OSHA compliance assistance resources such as QuickCards, fact sheets, safety alerts, and public service announcements (PSAs) in English and Spanish.

        Safety and Health Topics Pages

        ASSE representatives serve on the editorial boards of the Making the Business Case and Motor Vehicle Safety Safety and Health Topics pages.

        Publications and Newsletters

        Information and news releases on the activities of the OSHA and ASSE Alliance have appeared in publications produced by OSHA, including the Agency’s news releases and Alliance Quarterly Review (AQR).  Information on the OSHA and ASSE Alliance has also been published in a number of safety and health print and electronic publications such as ASSE Society Update.  In addition, the ASSE newsletter, Government Affairs Update, is regularly distributed to the ASSE Chapter Chairs, OSHA, and others interested in government affairs and regulatory and legislative activities. The newsletter includes information on the Alliance Program and OSHA's activities.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or ASSE's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as ASSE's annual Professional Development Conference (PDC).

        Events

        ASSE Professional Development Conference (PDC), Safety 2009, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, June 29-July 1, 2009, San Antonio, Texas

        During the ASSE 2009 PDC in San Antonio, Texas, a number of OSHA senior level staff spoke to the attendees during plenary and workshop sessions, including:

        • Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor, was the keynote speaker at the PDC’s opening session.
        • Jordan Barab, then-Acting Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, addressed attendees at the plenary session.
        • Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP), USDOL-OSHA; Patrick Kapust, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), USDOL-OSHA; and Jim Maddux, Director, Office of Maritime Standards, Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA Current Activities Update."
        • Steven F. Witt, Director, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA and Dan Donovan, Personal Safety Expertise Center, The Dow Chemical Company, presented "Case Study: Contractor Safety in the Petrochemical Industry."
        • Steven F. Witt, Director, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA and Michael Seymour, Senior Advisor to the Director, DSG, USDOL-OSHA, presented "Updating OSHA's 1989 Safety and Health Management Systems Guidelines."
        • Jaclyn Schede, Program Analyst, Office of State Programs, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, presented "Taking the Challenge Out of Compliance with State-Specific Requirements."
        • Patrick Showalter, Team Leader, Office of Partnerships and Recognition, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA and Cindy Lewis, Outreach Program Coordinator, Gulf Coast Safety Institute, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas, presented "OSHA Challenge-Your Roadmap to Safety and Health Excellence."
        • Patrick Showalter, Team Leader, Office of Partnerships and Recognition, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA; Ron Pilla, Chairperson, Safety Committee, Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute; and Dan Cain, The George D. Alan Company, Inc., presented "Small Businesses Leverage Resources to Create Effective Safety and Health Program."

        In addition, Veneta Chatmon, Exhibits and Meeting Specialist, Office of Communications, USDOL-OSHA, staffed an OSHA exhibit booth at the conference and distributed copies of the Agency's compliance assistance and cooperative program publications, including the OSHA and ASSE Alliance Activities Summary, and answered the attendees' questions.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ASSE's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ASSE and through OSHA- or ASSE- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum)

        Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce (SPALW) Meeting, June 29, 2009, San Antonio, Texas

        Jordan Barab, then-Acting Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, and Diana Cortez, Director, Region II, Tarrytown, New York Area Office, USDOL-OSHA attended the ASSE SPALW Annual Meeting on June 29, 2009. During the meeting, OSHA staff provided information on the Agency’s Hispanic-related compliance assistance and outreach activities and answered questions.

        Department of Labor (DOL) Safety Day, June 10, 2009, Washington, D.C.

        ASSE representatives staffed an exhibit booth at DOL’s Safety Day in Washington, D.C.  ASSE distributed safety and health information and answered questions.

        Emergency Preparedness: Safe at Work, Safe at Home Web Expo, May 6, 2009

        • Terrie S. Norris, Senior Vice President, ASSE Region I, delivered "Measuring Your Safety Program Success."
           
        • Christina Jones, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Science and Technology Assessment, DTSEM, USDOL-OSHA, delivered "OSHA's Emergency Response Role and Helpful Resources for Preparedness."
        • Jose Benavides, Team Leader, Office of Small Business Assistance, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA and Jim Boom, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Partnerships and Recognition, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, delivered "OSHA Cooperative Programs: On-site Consultation and OSHA Challenge Pilot Program."

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

        Events

        North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), May 3-9, 2009, Washington, D.C.

        On May 4, 2009, Jordan Barab, then-Acting Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA and Warren Brown, then-President, ASSE, delivered remarks at the 2009 NAOSH Week Kick-Off Event at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.  The Kick-off also featured an Alliance Program participant panel with a presentation by Cindy Lewis, ASSE, on workplace safety and health issues. Sponsored annually by ASSE and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for the 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home." The OSHA and ASSE Alliance, and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants, supported the Week.

        ASSE National Capitol Chapter and AIHA Potomac Section Joint Chapter Meeting, March 12, 2009, Department of Labor (DOL), Washington, DC

        Through the OSHA and ASSE Alliance, OSHA hosted the ASSE National Capitol Chapter and AIHA Potomac Section Joint Chapter Meeting on March 12, 2009, at DOL in Washington, D.C.  During the meeting, senior representatives from DCSP, DSG, DTSEM, and DEP delivered an OSHA program update to the meeting attendees.

      • Encourage ASSE’s chapters to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

        Alliances

        OSHA Regional/Area Office and ASSE Alliances

        The following OSHA Regional and Area Offices and ASSE Chapter Alliances have been signed and are ongoing:

        • Region IV, Jacksonville, Florida Area Office with American Society of Safety Engineers Pensacola Chapter, Inc.; Sacred Heart Health Systems, Inc.; Employee Assistance Professional Association Big Bend Chapter; Northwest Florida Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc.; Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor; University of South Florida Consultation Program; EAP Lifestyle Management, LLC; Northwest Florida Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (A Chapter of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses); and The Florida State Association of Occupational Health Nurses signed October 4, 2009.  Through the Alliance the organizations are providing members and others with information, guidance, and access to training programs for employees on workplace violence issues, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to help them protect healthcare employees’ health and safety.
        • Region IV, Tampa, Florida Area Office with American Society of Safety Engineers Central Florida Chapter signed October 4, 2009.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing small businesses with information, accident prevention guidance, and access to safety training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomics hazards. Information on these issues will also be disseminated to groups with young workers and non-English speaking workers.
        • Region VII, St. Louis, Missouri Area Office with American Society of Safety Engineers - St. Louis Chapter signed August 10, 2009.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing small businesses with information, accident prevention guidance, and access to safety training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers in the workplace.
        • Region V, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Area Office with Waukesha County Technical College and American Society of Safety Engineers-Wisconsin Chapter signed June 11, 2009. Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing small businesses with information, accident prevention guidance, and access to safety training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers in the workplace.
        • Region VI, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Area Office with American Society of Safety Engineers-Greater Baton Rouge Chapter signed December 19, 2008.
        • Region, IV, Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama Area Offices, Alabama and Mississippi Chapters of ASSE and University of Alabama- Safe State Consultation Program, signed October 25, 2006.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing  career/technical education teachers, students, and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of career/technical education students and educators, particularly in reducing and preventing youth workers exposure to the prevalent work hazards in the workplace and school laboratory environment.
        • Region IV, Atlanta-East, Atlanta-West and Savannah Area Offices and the Georgia Chapter of ASSE, signed September 24, 2004.  Through the Alliance, OSHA and ASSE are working to provide career/technical education teachers, students and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect career/technical education students’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing youth workers exposure to hazards in the construction industry, and general industry hazards. Through the Alliance, OSHA wrote a success "OSHA Region IV Alliance Educates Students About Construction Hazards" story focusing on the Alliance educating students about construction hazards. The success story was posted to the Regional and State Plan State Success Stories Web page on OSHA’s Web site in December 2007.
        • Region II, Avenel, Hasbrouck Heights, Marlton and Parsippany Area Offices and the Penn-Jersey Chapter of ASSE, signed April 26, 2006.  Through the Alliance, OSHA and ASSE are working to provide all young workers and non-English speaking Hispanic workers with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers’ safety and health, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to work-related hazards such as chemical, electrical, falls, excavations, amputations and exposure to lead and silica.
        • Region I, Concord Area Office and the Granite State Chapter of ASSE, signed March 28, 2005.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are helping to advance a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge, especially in the area of ergonomics and reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), construction safety, and bloodborne pathogens.
        • Region II, Avenel, Hasbrouck Heights, Marlton, and Parsippany Area Offices and New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, signed May 6, 2004.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing non-English speaking Hispanic workers with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers’ safety and health, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to work-related hazards such as chemical, electrical, falls, excavations, and amputations.
        • Region II, Avenel, Bayside, Manhattan, and Tarrytown Area Offices and the New York Metropolitan Chapter of ASSE (Metro ASSE), signed March 10, 2004.  Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing non-English speaking Hispanic workers with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers’ safety and health, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to work-related hazards such as chemical, electrical, falls, excavations, and amputations.
        • Region I, New England Chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers (NEA ASSE), signed December 2, 2003. Through the Alliance the organizations are providing members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to occupational safety hazards such as those associated with machinery operations, electrical equipment, lockout/tagout systems, confined spaces, powered industrial trucks and fall protection.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

        Events

        OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable

        Representatives from ASSE continue to participate in the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable.  The Roundtable participants are developing compliance assistance and training materials for employers and employees in the construction industry, including slide presentations, safety tips sheets, and case studies. Activities included:

        • Translated the "Prevention of Fall Fatalities and Injuries in Construction" slide presentation into Spanish.
        • Translated the "Fall Protection Slide Presentation" into Spanish.
        • Updated the "Design for Safety" Web site

    2. Results

      During the seventh year of the OSHA and ASSE Alliance, OSHA and ASSE continued to help advance a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge.

      To meet the Alliance’s goals, OSHA and ASSE continued a number projects that were started in the Alliance’s sixth year and made presentations and exhibited at conferences to share information about the agreement, its goals and products.

      For example, on June 29, 2009, at the ASSE 2009 PDC in San Antonio, Texas, Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor, was the keynote speaker at the opening session.  OSHA's then-Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab addressed attendees at the Plenary Session.  On June 29, Steven F. Witt, Director, DCSP, and Michael Seymour, Senior Advisor to the Director, DSG, presented "Updating OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Management Systems Guidelines."  In addition, Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP; Patrick Kapust, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, DEP; and Jim Maddux, Director, Office of Maritime Standards, DSG, presented "OSHA Current Activities Update."  Further, OSHA had an exhibit booth in the exhibition hall and distributed copies of the Agency’s compliance assistance and cooperative program materials such as the OSHA and ASSE Alliance Activities Summary and answered the attendees’ questions.

      OSHA and ASSE also worked together to sponsor a 2009 NAOSH Week Kick-off event on May 4, 2009, at DOL in Washington, D.C. and have begun planning for the 2010 NAOSH Week Kick-off event on May 3.

      In addition, ASSE representatives serve on the editorial boards of the OSHA Making the Business Case for Safety and Health and the Motor Vehicle Safety Safety and Health Topics pages. ASSE representatives also continued to participate in the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable to help develop compliance assistance and training materials for employers and workers in the construction industry.

      Further, OSHA and ASSE worked with other Alliance Program participants, SCA, ASA, NSRP and AIHA to develop safety alerts focusing on control of hazardous energy (Lockout/Tagout) and welding and other hot work procedures in shipyard employment. 

      Lastly, Alliances between OSHA’s Area Offices and ASSE Chapters throughout the U.S. continue to provide the association’s members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety through outreach, education and training.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

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

      June 2009, "Alliances Support NAOSH Week in Record Numbers"

      Alliance Quarterly Review      		 49 National Alliance Program Participants

      March 2009, "Five Alliances Join To Develop Safety Alerts"

      Alliance Quarterly Review

      49 National Alliance Program Participants

      March 2009, "Safety Means Always Coming Home is Focus for 2009 NAOSH Week"

      Alliance Quarterly Review

      49 National Alliance Program Participants

      June 29-July 1, 2009 ASSE PDC, Safety 2009, San Antonio, Texas

      OSHA Exhibited      		 200

      June 29-July 1, 2009 ASSE PDC, Safety 2009, San Antonio, Texas

      Speaker: Steven F. Witt, Director, DCSP, and Michael Seymour, Senior Advisor to the Director, DSG, presented "Updating OSHA's 1989 Safety and Health Management Systems Guidelines."      		 75

      June 29-July 1, 2009 ASSE PDC, Safety 2009, San Antonio, Texas

      Speaker: Elizabeth Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP; Patrick Kapust, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, DEP; and Jim Maddux, Director, Office of Maritime Standards, DSG, presented "OSHA Current Activities Update."      		 250

      Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics page

      		 27,531
      Motor Vehicle Safety, Safety and Health Topics page 8,389
      OSHA and ASSE Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site 7,201
      ASSE and OSHA Web page on ASSE’s Web site  Data not available
      Total 43,793

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    During the upcoming year, OSHA and ASSE will continue to work together through the Alliance to provide employers, employees, OSHA staff and the public with safety and health information. For example, during the ASSE PDC, Safety 2010, June 13-16, in Baltimore, Maryland, a number of senior level OSHA staff from OSHA's National and Regional Offices and Alliance Program participants are planning to speak during workshop sessions including:

    • A representative from the Office of the OSHA Assistant Secretary will be invited to present during an occupational safety and health panel plenary discussion.
    • Richard Fairfax, Director, DEP; Dorothy Dougherty, Director, DSG; and Steven Witt, Director, DCSP, will present "OSHA Current Activities Update."
    • A representative from DOC will present "OSHA Construction Update."

    OSHA representatives will staff an exhibit booth during the conference and distribute copies of the Agency’s compliance assistance and cooperative program materials, including QuickCards, and answer the attendees' questions.

    Further, ASSE representatives will continue to participate in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meetings to develop compliance assistance and training materials for employers and workers in the construction industry. John Mroszczyk, ASSE, is chairing a subgroup to develop safety tips sheets, toolbox talks, and slide presentations  focusing on strains and sprains in the workplace, ASSE representatives will also continue to serve on the editorial boards of the Agency’s Making the Business Case for Safety and Health and the Motor Vehicle Safety, Safety and Health Topics pages.

    The OSHA and ASSE Alliance is working with more than 40 other Alliance Program participants to promote and support 2010 NAOSH Week.  ASSE will host a number of events to commemorate the Week, including a reception at the U.S. Capitol on May 3, 2010, to recognize the winners of the ASSE Kids’ "Safety on the Job" poster contest. In addition,

    The OSHA maritime industry-related Alliances, SCA, ASA, and NSRP, and AIHA, will continue to work with ASSE to develop safety alerts focusing on maritime-related safety and health issues, including ventilation.  SPALW is also working with OSHA to translate Alliance Program developed products (developed in cooperation with ASSE) into Spanish, including safety alerts focusing on safety and health issues in shipyard employment.

    Finally, through the Alliance, OSHA will host the ASSE National Capitol Chapter and AIHA Potomac Section Joint Chapter meeting at DOL on March 25 2010 in Washington, DC. Senior level staff from DOC, DCSP, DSTM, DSG, DEP, the Office of Communications and the Office of the Assistant Secretary will be invited to deliver presentations focusing on the Agency’s compliance assistance, cooperative program and enforcement-related activities. Dave Heidorn and David Hicks, Technical Initiatives, American Industrial Hygiene Association, will also deliver updates on the ASSE and AIHA national Alliances.

Report prepared by: Todd Briggs, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, December 22, 2009.