NASF - Alliance Annual and Close-out Report - May 28, 2009

ANNUAL and CLOSE-OUT ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF)
May 28, 2009

  1. Alliance Background  

    Date Signed

    May 1, 2007

    Evaluation Period

    May 1, 2008 – May 1, 2009

    Overview

    Through the OSHA and NASF Alliance, the organizations are working together to provide NASF members and others in the metal surface finishing industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance focuses on reducing and preventing exposure to chemical hazards, including hexavalent chromium.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Eric Lahaie - Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP) Tony Mapes - OOSA, DCSP
    Maureen Ruskin - Office of Chemical Hazards – Metals, Directorate of Standards and Guidance
    Elizabeth (Bea) Way - OOSA, DCSP

    NASF:

    Jeff Hannapel - NASF
    Christian Richter - NASF
    Joelie Zak - Scientific Control Laboratories

  2. Implementation Team Meetings
     
    • November 4, 2008 - Workgroup conference call to discuss NASF's Surface Finishing Safe Work Practices Manual
    • November 19, 2008 - Implementation Team Meeting
    • April 21, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting

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

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs regarding chemical hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

      During this evaluation period, the OSHA and NASF Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      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 OSHA's and NASF's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      Surface Finishing Safe Work Practices Manual

      Through the OSHA and NASF Alliance, NASF developed a Manual that provides practical information on industry recommended work practices to improve safety and health in metal surface finishing facilities. The purpose of these work practices is to identify potential hazards associated with metal finishing operations and the precautions that should be adopted for the safety and health of all personnel involved in these processes. The Manual was posted on the NASF Alliance Web page and linked to the OSHA Alliance Web pages.

      NASF and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

      The NASF and OSHA Alliance Web page has information on the OSHA and NASF Alliance. In addition, the Web page contains a link to the OSHA and NASF Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site.

      OSHA and NASF Alliance Web Page

      OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and NASF Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. It includes the OSHA and NASF Alliance agreement, news releases, activities and events and milestones and successes of the OSHA and NASF Alliance.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NASF's conferences, local meetings, or other appropriate industry meetings such as the industry's annual technical conference and trade shoe, SUR/FIN.

      Events

      NASF 2009 SUR/FIN, June 16-18, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky

      On June 16, 2009, Bob Elkins, Safety Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, and Kristi Redmon, Health Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, presented "Outlook on OSHA Priorities for 2009" during the conference. OSHA representatives from Kentucky staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth during the Conference.

      NASF Washington Forum, April 28-30, 2009, Washington, DC

      On April 29, 2009, Elizabeth (Bea) Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA and NASF Alliance: Recent Successes with NASF and OSHA Voluntary Programs" to 50 attendees during the forum.

      During this evaluation period, the OSHA and NASF Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      During this evaluation period, the OSHA and NASF Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NASF best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by NASF and through OSHA- or NASF- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, lectures, and other appropriate industry meetings.
      • Encourage local NASF affiliates and branches to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including preventing exposure to chemical hazards.
      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

      Events

      2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 3-9, 2099, Washington, DC

      The National Association for Surface Finishing and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home."

      2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008, Washington, DC

      The National Association for Surface Finishing and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

      NASF undertook the following activities to support 2008 NAOSH Week:

      • Placed a link on the NASF Web site to the 2008 NAOSH Week Web page on ASSE's Web site
      • Included information about 2008 NAOSH Week in the NASF Newsletter in April 2008
    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and NASF continue to work together to address safety and health issues in the metal surface finishing industry. For example, through the OSHA and NASF Alliance, NASF developed the "Surface Finishing Safe Work Practices Manual," which provides employers and employees with information on industry-recommended work practices to help improve the safety and health of employees in metal finishing facilities. As part of their outreach efforts, Elizabeth (Bea) Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA and NASF Alliance: Recent Successes with NASF and OSHA Voluntary Programs" to 50 attendees during NASF's Washington Forum on April 29, 2009. In addition, on June 16, 2009, Bob Elkins, Safety Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, and Kristi Redmon, Health Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, presented "Outlook on OSHA Priorities for 2009" during the 2009 June NASF SUR/FIN Conference. OSHA representatives from Kentucky staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth during the Conference.

      Finally, NASF representatives worked with other Alliance participants to support 2008 NAOSH Week, held May 4-10, 2008 and 2009 NAOSH Week, held May 3-9, 2009.

    3. Alliance Program Reach
       

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

      		 Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and NASF Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 528
      NASF and OSHA Alliance Web page on the NASF Web site Data Not Available

      April 29, 2009: NASF Washington Forum, April 28-30, 2009, Washington, DC

      Speaker: Elizabeth (Bea) Way, Director, OOSA, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA and NASF Alliance: Recent Successes with NASF and OSHA Voluntary Programs."

      		 50

      June 16, 2009: NASF 2009 SUR/FIN, June 16-18, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky

      Speakers: Bob Elkins, Safety Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, and Kristi Redmon, Health Standards Specialist, Kentucky OSHA, presented "Outlook on OSHA Priorities for 2009."

      		 Data Not Available

      NASF 2009 SUR/FIN, June 16-18, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky

      Alliance Exhibit: OSHA representatives from Kentucky staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth during the Conference.

      		 Data Not Available
      Total 578
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    Based on discussions regarding the future of the Alliance, OSHA and NASF agreed to conclude the agreement as of May 1, 2009. A number of successes resulted from OSHA and NASF working together to meet the Alliance's goals.

Report prepared by: Tony Mapes, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, May 28, 2009