AWEA - Alliance Annual Report - August 7, 2013

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
August 7, 2013

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed

      August 8, 2011

    2. Evaluation Period

      August 8, 2012 - August 7, 2013

    3. Overview

      The OSHA and AWEA Alliance focuses on providing AWEA affiliates and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health of workers and provide safe workplaces, particularly by reducing and preventing exposures to fall, electrical, and crane hazards, and to aid in understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

      Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Morgan Seuberling

      Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs

      Tom Bielema

      Area Director, Peoria Area Office, Region V

      Sanji Kanth

      Safety Engineer, Office of General Industry Enforcement (OGIE), Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)

      Dean McKenzie*

      Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction

      Brian Sturtecky

      Area Director, Jacksonville Area Office, Region IV

      Sherman Williamson

      Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, OGIE, DEP

      Courtney Murray

      Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, OCS, DOC

      Erin Patterson

      Regulatory Analyst, OCS, DOC

      AWEA

      John Amos

      Siemens Energy, Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Brian Arndt

      Outland Energy Services; Committee Member, AWEA

      David Bentley

      Acciona Wind Energy USA, LLC; Committee Member, AWEA

      Thomas Budler

      MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co; Committee Member, AWEA

      Luis Carbonell

      Siemens Energy Wind Power Americas; Committee Member, AWEA

      Myron Coon**

      Power Partners Mastec, LLC; Committee Member, AWEA

      Lane Cross***

      enXco, Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Tom Daft

      MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Justin Davis

      Duke Energy; Worker Representative, AWEA

      Carlos Diaz

      Edison Mission Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Kyle Fritz

      Edison Mission Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Reggie Ham

      UpWind Solutions Inc.; Worker Representative, AWEA

      Michael Hughes

      Siemens Energy Wind Power Americas; Committee Member, AWEA

      Jerome Kaiser

      GE Energy; Worker Representative, AWEA

      Michael Kelley

      UpWind Solutions; Committee Member, AWEA

      Rick Kroon,

      Vestas American Wind Technology, Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Gary Lee

      EDP Renewables North America; Committee Member, AWEA

      Randolph Mann

      Edison Mission Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Susan Marshall

      Siemens AG; Committee Member, AWEA

      Michele Mihelic

      Director, Worker Health and Safety Policy and Standards Development, AWEA

      Christopher Mugge

      Lost Lakes Wind Farm; Committee Member, AWEA

      Daniel Olson

      GE Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Tim Palmer

      Wanzek; Committee Member, AWEA

      Ken Ripper

      EDP Renewables North America, LLC; Committee Member, AWEA

      Joseph Reisinger

      Broadway Energy, Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Harold Ross

      Siemens Energy, Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      Trent Schon****

      Mortensen Construction; Committee Member, AWEA

      Brian Schultz*****

      Grand Rapids Community College; Committee Member, AWEA

      Joshua Shaw

      Amerisafe Consulting and Safety Services; Committee Member, AWEA

      Eric Sheldon

      Grand Rapids Community College; Committee Member, AWEA

      Scott Stone

      NextEra Energy Resources; Committee Member, AWEA

      John Sullivan

      Siemens Energy Wind Power Americas; Committee Member, AWEA

      Frank Tognotti

      Shell WindEnergy Inc.; Committee Member, AWEA

      John Valerius

      Duke Energy; Worker Representative, AWEA

      Grayling V. Velde

      Duke Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Thomas Vinson

      Director, Regulatory Affairs, AWEA

      Diane Waghorne

      Tech Safety Lines; Committee Member, AWEA

      Dennis Winn

      Alberdrola; Committee Member, AWEA

      Jeffrey Wolf

      E.ON Climate & Renewables North America; Committee Member, AWEA

      John York

      Edison Mission Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Barry Richmond

      Alliance Energy; Committee Member, AWEA

      Adam Sotirakopoulos

      EGP North America; Committee Member, AWEA

       

      • *Dean McKenzie served on the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Implementation Team until January 31, 2013.
      • **Myron Coon served on the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Implementation Team until December 31, 2012.
      • ***Lane Cross served on the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Implementation Team until December 31, 2012.
      • ****Trent Schon served on the served on the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Implementation Team until December 31, 2012.
      • *****Brian Schultz served on the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Implementation Team until December 31, 2012.

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • October 15, 2012
    • February 13, 2013
    • July 24, 2013

     

    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.

  3. Results

    The following table summarizes the Alliance's activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement.

    These tables are best viewed on tablets, notebooks, or desktop computer screens.

    Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives Goal 1: To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Other OSHA's 2012 Falls in Construction Initiative

    AWEA linked their Alliance Web page to OSHA's Website on Falls in Construction, with links to OSHA's Falls in Construction Fact Sheet and Poster.    		 Falls in Construction Data Not Available
    Other OSHA's 2012 Heat Illness Prevention Initiative

    AWEA linked their Alliance Web page to the OSHA's Website on Heat Illness Prevention.    		 Heat Illness Prevention Data Not Available
     
    Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives Goal 2: To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on fall, electrical, and crane hazards in wind energy industry maintenance and operations to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Event OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Meeting, Department of Labor, September 27, 2012, Washington, DC

    A representative from the AWEA Alliance participated in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Alliance Program participants discussed products developed through the Roundtable, including the Construction Workplace Design Solutions, and identified potential projects and compliance assistance resources to help address safety and health hazards in the construction industry.    		 Falls in Construction Data Not Applicable
    Event OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Meeting, Department of Labor, March 28, 2013, Washington, DC

    A representative from the AWEA Alliance participated in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Alliance Program participants discussed products developed through the Roundtable, including the Construction Workplace Design Solutions, and identified potential projects and compliance assistance resources to help address safety and health hazards in the construction industry.    		 Falls in Construction Data Not Applicable
    Event 2013 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), May 5-11, 2013

    The AWEA Alliance and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2013 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. 2013 Theme: "Worker Safety Works for Everyone."

    To help support the event, AWEA linked to the 2013 NAOSH Week Web page from the AWEA Website.    		   Data Not Available
     
    Training and Education Goal: To develop effective training and education programs for workers in the wind energy industry regarding fall, electrical, and crane hazards in maintenance and operations, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Product Fall Protection Training Module

    Through the OSHA and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Alliance, AWEA developed a safety training program which provides employees in the wind industry with an introduction on fall protection. The program contains practical precautions and instruction to help workers reduce risks at job sites while taking into account the requirements for the job. The product was linked to OSHA's Web pages in August, 2013.    		 Fall Protection Data Not Available
     
    Outreach and Communication Goal 1: To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the AWEA's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Product Fall Protection PPE Fact Sheet in Wind Industry

    Through the OSHA and AWEA Alliance, AWEA is developing a fact sheet on PPE for fall protection in the wind industry. [In progress]    		 Fall Protection Data Not Available
    Product Fall Protection PPE Quick Tips in Wind Industry

    Through the OSHA and AWEA Alliance, AWEA is developing a quick tips on PPE for fall protection in the wind industry. [In progress]    		 Fall Protection Data Not Available
    Product Crane Safety Fact Sheet in Wind Industry

    Through the OSHA and AWEA Alliance, AWEA is developing a fact sheet on crane safety in the wind industry. [In progress]    		   Data Not Available
    Product AWEA and OSHA Alliance Web Page

    AWEA maintains the AWEA and OSHA Alliance Web page on its Website. Information includes links to the Alliance agreement and OSHA's electronic assistance tools. In addition, AWEA includes OSHA initiatives on the Web page such as the Falls in Construction initiative and Heat Illness Prevention, with resources, information, and links to the OSHA Web pages.    		 Falls in Construction and Heat Illness Prevention Data Not Available
    Product OSHA and AWEA Alliance Web Page

    OSHA maintains the OSHA and AWEA Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Website. The page includes the Alliance agreement, the renewal agreement, annual reports, news releases, information on activities and events, and links to resources developed by AWEA through the Alliance Program.    		   709
     
    Outreach and Communication Goal 2: To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AWEA's conferences, local meetings, or other events.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Exhibit 2012 Offshore Windpower Conference and Exhibition, October 9-11, 2012, Virginia Beach, Virginia

    AWEA Alliance team members staffed an Alliance exhibit and distributed OSHA publications to the industry safety and health professionals that attended the exhibit booth during the conference.    		   887
    Speaker 2013 AWEA EHS Seminar, January 16-17, 2013, La Jolla, California

    On January 16, 2013, Richard Fairfax, Deputy Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, gave remarks at the Opening Session.    		   200
    Speaker 2013 AWEA EHS Seminar, January 16-17, 2013, La Jolla, California

    On January 16, 2013, Thomas Bielema, Area Director, Region V, Peoria, Illinois Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation entitled "Technician Availability, Training and Safety - Do Your People Have the Right Skills?"    		   200
    Speaker 2013 AWEA EHS Seminar, January 16-17, 2013, La Jolla, California

    On January 17, 2013, Thomas Bielema, Area Director, Region V, Peoria, Illinois Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, lead an OSHA open forum.    		   200
    Speaker 2013 WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition, May 5-8, 2013, Chicago, Illinois

    On May 8, 2013, Thomas Bielema, Area Director, Region V, Peoria, Illinois Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation entitled "OSHA Activities on the Wind Industry."    		   250
    Exhibit 2013 WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition, May 5-8, 2013, Chicago, Illinois

    OSHA personnel from Region V staffed an Alliance exhibit and distributed OSHA publications to the industry safety and health professionals that attended the exhibit booth during the conference.    		   4,500
     
    Outreach and Communication Goal 3: To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AWEA's good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Initiative Supported Number Reached
    Training Introduction to the Wind Industry and Wind Industry Hazards Seminar

    Through the OSHA and AWEA Alliance, AWEA safety professionals conducted a training seminar for the OSHA Wind Response Team on September 11-13, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois. The seminar was presented to OSHA participants from several regions. The AWEA trainer provided both class room and hands on training during the seminar.    		   44
     
    TOTAL     6,990

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and AWEA will continue work together to provide AWEA's members and others with guidance and access to information and training resources that will focus on fall protection, crane safety and electrical safety in the wind industry.

    For example, AWEA will complete the Fall Protection PPE Fact Sheet in Wind Industry, the Fall Protection PPE Quick Tips in Wind Industry, and the fact sheet on crane safety in the wind industry. The resources will be posted on the AWEA Alliance-related Web page and OSHA will link the resources to the OSHA and AWEA Web page, the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page, and other appropriate locations on the Agency Web site. AWEA will also participate in the evaluation of the impact of AWEA's Alliance developed products and effects of the Alliance Program on the wind industry by developing methods to survey the benefits of their Alliance products through the Alliance Program and provide their results to OSHA. In addition, AWEA will continue to participate in the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, when scheduled, and contribute to the development of Construction Workplace Design Solutions.

    For completing their outreach goals, AWEA will request OSHA's participation and provide an Alliance exhibit at their Annual WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition. AWEA will also request OSHA's participation at the 2014 AWEA EHS Seminar and provide an Alliance exhibit at the Offshore Windpower Conference and Exhibition.

    Finally, an AWEA representative will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support the 2014 NAOSH Week, May 4-10, 2014.

Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, August 7, 2013.