Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Graphics Arts Coalition

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

June 18, 2002, and July 1, 2002

Date Renewed

February 9, 2004

Overview

The Graphic Arts Coalition (GAC) is comprised of the four following associations:

• Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF)
• Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA)
• Flexographic Technical Association (FTA)
• Gravure Association of America (GAA)

Through the Alliance, OSHA and the organizations are providing GAC members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety, including reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic concerns found in printing operations as well as promoting safe work practices in the industry.

Implementation Team Members:
 

*Danielle served on the Alliance implementation team until November 2005.

Evaluation Period

June 18, 2005, through June 17, 2006

II. Implementation Team Meetings
 

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Outreach and Communication Goal
    
   • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, and through links on OSHA's and GAC Web sites, including:
     • Work with OSHA to provide expertise regarding the Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics page.
     • Work with OSHA to provide expertise on the development of an eTool for the printing industry.
     • Developing and maintaining a speaker's kit on topics covered in this Alliance as well as the overall safety and health profile of the industry.
   Products
   
   Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics Page
   
   The OSHA and GAC Alliance is continuing to maintain OSHA's Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics Page as a product of the Alliance. The page provides numerous resources with information relevant to the flexography, gravure, lithography and screen printing segments of the printing industry. The following members of the OSHA and GAC Alliance serve on its editorial board and provide an ongoing review of the topics page:
    
   • Rick Hartwig, PIA/GATF
   • Gary Jones, PIA/GATF
   • Marcia Kinter, SGIA
   • Doreen Monteleone, FTA
   • Danielle Waterfield, SGIA
   Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool
   
   The Alliance implementation team members provided input into the development of OSHA's Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool – Lithography Module, launched on March 14, 2006. The Lithography Module describes possible hazards and potential solutions found in the lithographic printing process addressing prepress, press and postpress activities. The Alliance implementation is providing input into the development of draft modules on Flexography and Screen Printing for the eTool.
   
   OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page
   
   OSHA maintains an OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and GAC Alliance agreement and renewal agreement, news releases, annual reports, and milestones and successes. The OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page also links to OSHA's Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics page, industry conferences, articles and other resources. During the reporting period, information about speeches and exhibits and a link to OSHA's Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool – Lithography Module were added to the OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page. For information on the number of visits to the OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
   
   PIA/GATF's Alliance-related Web page
   
   PIA/GATF maintains an Alliance-related Web page on the association's Web site. It includes information about the OSHA and GAC Alliance, links to OSHA's Web site, OSHA-developed articles and other safety and health information.
   
   Print and Electronic Media
   
   Articles about the OSHA and GAC Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: Occupational Hazards Magazine, FLEXO Magazine, FTA's EHS Direct eNewsletter, GATF World, as well as OSHA's News Releases, QuickTakes and Alliance Quarterly Review. In addition, Gary Jones, Manager, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, PIA/GATF wrote and published an article, "OSHA's Ergonomics Alliance – a Success Story for Printers," in the February 2006 issue of GATF World. Doreen Monteleone, Director of Membership & EHS Services, FTA published a version of the article, "Printers Team with OSHA for Safety," in the March 2006 issue of FLEXO Magazine. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
    
   • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA or GAC-sponsored conferences, local meetings, or other safety or industry events, such as the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association Convention and Expo, the 2004 National Environmental Health and Safety Conference for the Graphic Communications Industry, Foundation of FTA INFO*FLEX Exhibition, and the GAA Gravure Expo, especially focusing on ergonomics concerns and approaches to solutions.
   Events
   
   SGIA's Basic Screenmaking Workshops, Alexandria, Virginia
   
   Marci Kinter, Vice President – Government and Business Information, SGIA discussed the OSHA and GAC Alliance during SGIA's Basic Screenmaking Workshop on February 2-10, 2006.
   
   2006 National Environmental Health and Safety Conference '06 for the Graphic Communications Industries, March 27-29, 2006, Indianapolis, Indiana
   
   On March 28, 2006, Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, USDOL-OSHA, made a presentation on OSHA's Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool during the conference's "Practical Ergonomics" breakout session at the 2006 National Environmental Health and Safety Conference '06 for the Graphic Communications Industries in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, he staffed an OSHA and GAC Alliance booth. Both Gary Jones and Rick Hartwig also provided discussions about the OSHA and GAC Alliance during the "Last Call" Lithographic Session at the conference.
   
   INFO*FLEX Exhibition, April 30-May 1, 2006, Louisville, Kentucky
   
   OSHA provided an Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications for distribution at the INFO*FLEX Exhibition April 30-May 1, 2006 in Louisville, Kentucky.
   
   GAA Annual Conference, May 8-12, 2006, Richmond, Virginia
   
   OSHA provided an Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications for distribution at GAA Annual Conference May 8-12, 2006 in Richmond, Virginia.
    
   • Share information between OSHA personnel and the printing industry regarding industry best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and GAC members.
     
     During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      
   • Promote and encourage GAC member companies to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), and Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
   Products
   
   Department of Labor-Developed Articles, "Consultation helps Small Businesses establish safety and health programs"
   
   Through the OSHA and GAC Alliance, GAA published the article "Consultation helps Small Businesses establish safety and health programs" in the December 2005 issue of Gravure Magazine.
    
   • Work with other Alliance participants on projects relating to ergonomics or safe work practices that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
   Events
   
   Promoting the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Workgroup, August 1, 2005, Washington, DC
   
   Danielle Waterfield, Government Affairs Associate, SGIA, attended the Alliance Program's Promoting the GHS Workgroup meeting August 1, 2005, in Washington, DC. The meeting was held as a follow-up to the Alliance Program's Hazard Communication Roundtable, which was held February 15, 2005. During the workgroup meeting, Alliance Program participants identified compliance assistance resources and activities to educate the public about the GHS.
   
   Alliance Program Small Business Roundtable, September 8, 2005, Washington, DC
   
   Danielle Waterfield, Government Affairs Associate, SGIA, attended the OSHA's Small Business Roundtable, September 8, 2005 in Washington, DC. During the Roundtable, Alliance Program participants provided recommendations on how OSHA could enhance its small business compliance assistance and outreach products and programs.
   
   2005 National Safety Council Congress and Expo, September 18-22, 2005, Orlando, Florida
   
   On September 22, 2005, Paula O. White Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; Gary Jones, Manager, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, PIA/GATF; and a representative from The Dow Chemical Company, an Alliance Program participants, spoke during the panel, "Successes of OSHA's Ergonomic Alliances," at the 2005 National Safety Council Congress and Exposition in Orlando, Florida.
   
   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
    
   • Convene a forum with printing equipment manufacturers and end-users to raise awareness about ergonomic concerns related to the interaction between humans and machinery.
     
     During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      
   • Raise others' awareness of, and demonstrate their own commitment to, workplace safety and health whenever GAC leaders address groups.
   Events
   
   Ergonomics Updates
   
   During the Alliance's reporting period, June 18, 2005, to June 17, 2006, Gary Jones, Manager, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, PIA/GATF, gave the presentation on ergonomics, "Ergonomics Regulation Update and Printing Industry Response," to a number of groups reaching more than 615 people. (See Appendix A.)
    
2. Executive Summary
   
   During the Alliance's past year, the OSHA and GAC Alliance implementation team worked on an Alliance renewal agreement to extend the Alliance for two more years. The group also engaged in many projects to provide GAC members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to help protect employees' health and safety, including reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic concerns found in printing operations as well as promoting safe work practices in the industry.
   
   GAC members continued to serve on OSHA's Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board, providing expert input on an ongoing basis to OSHA to help maintain the page. In addition, the Alliance implementation team provided expertise and information during the development of OSHA's Printing Industry Ergonomics eTool – Lithography Module, which was posted on OSHA's Web site on March 14, 2006. The eTool identifies potential hazards and solutions for various lithographic processes. The team also is providing input for two additional draft modules for the eTool on Flexography and Screen Printing.
   
   The OSHA and GAC Alliance implementation team helped to maintain the OSHA and GAC Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. In addition, PIA/GATF established an Alliance-related Web page on the association's Web site. It includes information about the OSHA and GAC Alliance, links to OSHA's Web site, OSHA-developed articles and other safety and health information.
   
   The OSHA and GAC Alliance also took advantage of many speaking and exhibiting opportunities to reach the printing industry. For example, Marci Kinter, Vice President – Government and Business Information, SGIA discussed the OSHA and GAC Alliance during SGIA's Basic Screenmaking Workshop on February 2-10, 2006.
   
   In addition, on March 28, 2006, Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, USDOL-OSHA, made a presentation on OSHA's Ergonomics in the Printing Industry eTool during the conference's "Practical Ergonomics" breakout session. He also staffed an OSHA and GAC Alliance booth. OSHA provided an Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications for distribution at INFO*FLEX April 30-May 1, 2006 in Louisville, Kentucky and the GAA Annual Conference May 8-12, 2006 in Richmond, Virginia.
   
   GAC members also worked with other Alliance Program participants on projects. Danielle Waterfield, Government Affairs Associate, SGIA, attended the Alliance Program's Promoting the GHS Workgroup August 1, 2005, in Washington, DC. Ms. Waterfield and other Alliance Program participants identified compliance assistance resources and activities to educate the public about the GHS.
   
   The Alliance also used the print media to promote the Program and OSHA's compliance assistance resources and other cooperative programs. GAA published the article "Consultation helps Small Businesses establish safety and health programs" in the December 2005 issue of Gravure Magazine. Also Gary Jones, Manager, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, PIA/GATF wrote and published an article, "OSHA's Ergonomics Alliance – a Success Story for Printers," for the February 2006 issue of GATF World. Doreen Monteleone, Director of Membership & EHS Services, FTA published a version of the article, "Printers Team with OSHA for Safety," in the March 2006 issue of FLEXO Magazine. Announcements about Alliance activities were routinely published in FTA's EHS Direct eNewsletter. (See Appendix B.)
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

The OSHA and GAC Alliance implementation team will renew the Alliance agreement in the coming year and address not only ergonomics but also lockout/tagout issues. The Alliance also will undertake a number of activities, including continuing to provide input and expertise to develop the Flexography and Screen Printing Modules for OSHA's Ergonomics for the Printing Industry eTool. The implementation team will also review and update, as necessary, OSHA's Printing Industry Safety and Health Topics page.

The Alliance implementation team has also identified a number of opportunities to reach out to the printing industry's employers and employees regarding workplace safety and health through speeches, exhibits, publications or their associations' Web sites. OSHA will provide copies of the Alliance Activities Summary and other OSHA compliance assistance publications for distribution at GAC member events including the SGIA '06 conference, the 2007 National Environmental Health and Safety Conference, and INFO*FLEX. In addition, the SGIA and FTA will explore the development of Web pages about the OSHA and GAC Alliance on their respective associations' Web sites. The team members will also identify opportunities to publish articles developed by OSHA on topics such as OSHA's electronic resources and standards interpretation letters in their associations' newsletters and magazines and on their Web sites. Further, Marci Kinter, Vice President – Government and Business Information, SGIA will discuss the OSHA and GAC Alliance during SGIA's Basic Screenmaking Workshops and August 7-11, 2006

Report prepared by: Elizabeth Sherfy, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, September 26, 2006.