OSHA and International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA)
and
Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) Alliance
Close-Out Report
February 17, 2008

On February 17, 2004, OSHA and IWLA formed an Alliance to focus on providing IWLA's members and others, including owners and operators of public warehouses and other third-party warehouses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help to protect employees' safety and health, including hard-to-reach and youth workers, by addressing materials handling, forklift safety and Hazard Communication issues. The organizations signed an Alliance renewal agreement on March 2, 2006. An addendum was signed on March 29, 2007 that added WERC to the Alliance.

OSHA, IWLA and WERC agreed to conclude the Alliance as of February 17, 2008. However, OSHA will continue to work with IWLA and WERC through other avenues to share information on reducing and preventing exposure to materials handling and warehousing hazards.

During the implementation of the OSHA and IWLA/WERC Alliance, a number of successes resulted from the organizations' work together to meet the agreement's goals including:

• The OSHA and IWLA/WERC Alliance implementation team developed a Warehouse Monthly Workplace Safety and Health Self-Inspection Checklist to help focus attention on the equipment, and commodities at a typical warehouse operation and the most common activities associated with materials handling and storage.
   
• Through the Alliance, the organizations developed the "Saddle Creek Corporation Provides Forklift and Golf Cart Drivers with Eye Protection" success story describing the company's eye protection program. The story is posted on OSHA's Web site.
   
• IWLA supported and promoted the 2007 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 6-12, 2007. The association distributed NAOSH Week posters and posted information about the event on its Web site.
   
• On March 6, 2007, Melody Ward, Training Coordinator, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and Sharon Dumit, Outreach Coordinator, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, presented an OSHA Short Course, "Introduction to OSHA for Small Businesses" at the IWLA 116th Annual Convention, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
   
• On November 3, 2006, Paul Seidlitz, On-site Safety and Health Consultant, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, gave a presentation on OSHA's recordkeeping requirements and forklift training at the IWLA Safety and Risk Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 17, 2008