ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Alliance
June 9, 2005

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

June 14, 2004

Date Renewed

TBD

Overview

The OSHA and NFIB Alliance recognizes the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer, drug-free and more healthful American workplaces and protecting employees' health and safety. The Alliance is working to make health and safety information and compliance assistant resources available to all employers, especially small and independent businesses, and communicating the need for the implementation of safety and health management system programs in the workplace.

Implementation Team Members
 

Evaluation Period

June 14, 2004 – June 13, 2005

II. Implementation Team Meetings
 

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Outreach and Communication Goals
    
   • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools, publications, safety newsletters and links from OSHA's and NFIB's Web sites.
   Products
   
   OSHA and NFIB Alliance Web Page on the OSHA Web Site
   
   The OSHA and NFIB Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site includes links to the Alliance agreement and related documents, activities and events and milestones and successes. The page also includes links to OSHA's Consultation Program and small business resources. In addition, there are links to stories developed by OSHA and posted on NFIB's Tools and Tips Web page. For more information on the number of visits to the OSHA and NFIB Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table on page 7.
   
   NFIB's Tools and Tips Web Site
   
   OSHA has developed the following articles for NFIB's Tools and Tips Web site including:
    
   • "A Safe Workplace is a Drug-Free Workplace" by Elena Carr, ASP, and Dr. Don Wright, DSTM
   • "Send Your Employees a Safe and Sober Message this Holiday Season" by Elena Carr, ASP, and Dr. Don Wright, DSTM
   • "Workplace Violence: Training Young Workers in Preventative Strategies" by Sheila Arbury, DSTM
   NFIB's Savings. Access. Value. Information. (S.A.V.I.) Newsletter
   
   OSHA developed the following article for NFIB's S.A.V.I. Newsletter:
    
   • "Can You Say "Work Safely" in Espanol?" by Todd Briggs, OOSA
   Print and Electronic Media
   
   Articles on the OSHA and NFIB Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: Boston Business Journal, BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter, BNA Daily Report, Facilities Management News, Business and Legal Reports, Industry News, OSHA's news releases, and QuickTakes. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table on page 7.
    
   • Speak exhibit, or appear at OSHA and NFIB conferences, seminars or other events that address small business issues such as the NFIB Congressional Small Business Summit.
   Events
   
   2004 NFIB National Small Business Summit, Washington, DC, June 16-18, 2004
   
   Bill Willson, Program Analyst, OOSA, and Katia Albanese, ASP, shared an exhibit booth with NFIB during the 2004 NFIB National Small Business Summit. Information promoting the Alliance and other compliance assistance resources and cooperative programs was distributed to conference attendees.
   
   NFIB Ohio Chapter Safety Seminars
   
   Shawn Combs, Assistant State Director, NFIB, and OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialists (CASs) from Region V Area Offices, made presentations that included information on OSHA's top ten violations, use of the Agency's Web site, and OSHA inspections at the following NFIB Safety Seminars in Ohio:
    
   • October 19, 2004, Columbus
   • October 26, 2004, Cincinnati
   • October 28, 2004, Cleveland
   • October 29, 2004, Toledo
   NIOSH Symposium, "Steps to a Healthier Workforce," George Washington University, Washington, DC, October 27, 2004
   
   Shawn Combs, Assistant State Director, NFIB, was a member of a workshop panel addressing issues facing small businesses on the integration of health and safety programs into their operations. His presentation included information on the OSHA and NFIB Alliance.
    
   • Develop and promote accessible and easy-to-use tools to encourage and help small business owners create and implement effective safety and health management programs in the workplace.
   Products
   
   NFIB Workplace Safety CD
   
   OSHA reviewed and commented on the NFIB's Workplace Safety CD. A number of recommendations were made by OSHA that NFIB incorporated into the revised edition of the CD, including adding additional links to OSHA resources on drug testing, and Hispanic outreach and assistance tools.
    
   • Promote and encourage NFIB members' use of and participation in OSHA's outreach services and cooperative programs, including compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
   Events
   
   OSHA Region IV Hispanic Safety and Health Fairs
   
   Through the Alliance, the NFIB agreed to promote OSHA's Region IV Hispanic Safety and Health Fairs sponsored by its Consultation Programs in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The fairs are intended to address the safety and health training needs of Spanish speaking employees particularly in the areas of construction and landscaping. The NFIB identified its members in the fairs' locations and sent the members letters and informational flyers in both English and Spanish. The fairs were held on:
    
   • • June 4, 2005, Miami Dade Community College, Homestead, Florida
     • June 11, 2005, Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, Lawrenceville, Georgia
   • Encourage NFIB state offices to build relationships and establish links with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices where feasible, and promote the availability of OSHA's Compliance Assistant Specialists and Consultation Projects to address issues that impact small businesses.
   Events
   
   NFIB 2004 Midwest Leadership Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, December 1 -3, 2004
   
   Shawn Combs, Assistant State Director, NFIB, made a presentation at the NFIB Midwest Leadership Meeting and spoke about OSHA's Alliance Program, outreach services and educational materials.
    
   • Work with other Alliance participants on safety and health issues and projects that impact small and independent businesses, especially safety and health management programs, which are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
     
     The OSHA and NFIB Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Assist in the testing and development of safety and health resources for small businesses.
     
     The OSHA and NFIB Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
    
   • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on independent businesses' safety and health issues including safety and health management programs, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
   Events
   
   Hispanic Safety and Health Summit, Orlando, Florida, July 22, 2004
   
   Jeff Koch, Vice President, Member Services at the NFIB participated on behalf of the association during the Hispanic Safety and Health Summit on July 22, 2004 in Orlando, Florida. Sponsored by the Department of Labor, OSHA, and the Hispanic Alliance for Progress, in partnership with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together representatives from government, community and faith-based organizations, non-profits, industry, academia and organized labor to share practical safety and health information and success stories. Alliance Program participants were invited to attend the event.
   
   OSHA Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable, Washington, DC, February 15, 2005
   
   Jeff Koch, Vice President, Member Services at NFIB, participated on behalf of the association in OSHA's Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable February 15, 2005 in Washington, DC. This roundtable provided Alliance Program participants with an opportunity to learn about the status of OSHA's Hazard Communication Initiative; share information about their own Alliances, including any activities related to Hazard Communication; and learn about what other Alliances are doing to address Hazard Communication issues. Representatives from 18 Alliances participated in the roundtable.
   
   At the meeting, workgroups were established and projects were identified for the Alliance Program participants to work on together to develop Hazard Communication related compliance assistance resources. The workgroups created are:
    
   • Hazard communication and awareness training;
   • Developing model MSDSs: and
   • Promoting the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
   Mr. Koch is a member of the Hazard Communication Awareness and Training workgroup.
    
2. Executive Summary
   
   OSHA and the NFIB have worked together through the Alliance Program during the past year to further enhance compliance assistance materials and information that is available for small businesses. In addition, the Alliance is sharing information on drug-free workplaces.
   
   Through the OSHA and NFIB Alliance Web Page on the OSHA Web site, small business owners and individuals have access to links to many resources including OSHA's Consultation Program, small business resources, and stories developed by OSHA that are posted on the NFIB's Tools and Tips Web page. These stories contain links to additional safety and health resources.
   
   OSHA and NFIB have also participated together at a number of events such as the 2004 NFIB National Small Business Summit, June 16-18 in Washington, DC, NFIB's Ohio Chapter's Safety and Health Seminars, in the fall of 2004, the NIOSH Symposium, "Steps to a Healthier Workforces," October 27, 2004 in Washington, DC, and Hispanic Safety and Health Fairs in Florida and Georgia. In addition, NFIB signed an Alliance with Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) on August 20, 2004. NFIB would like to hold Hispanic outreach Fairs in Arizona in conjunction with the national Alliance and its ADOSH Alliance
   
   During the last year, the OSHA and NFIB implementation team reviewed and commented on NFIB's revision of its Workplace Safety CD. OSHA provided additional links to its resources including information on drug testing, and Hispanic outreach and assistance tools. In addition, Jeff Koch participated in the Alliance Program's Hazard Communication Roundtable, in Washington, DC, February 15, 2005.
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

Through the Alliance, OSHA and the NFIB will continue to build its working relationship and expand upon the programs it has started in the first year of the Alliance. NFIB has also identified Hispanic safety and health outreach as a primary focus for the OSHA and NFIB Alliance in the upcoming year. Representatives from the organizations will be meeting to identify the projects and programs that can be developed through the Alliance.

The association also plans on informing their members about the benefits of the Alliance Program and the resources that are available to the small business community during Area Action Council Meetings in Texas. The OSHA and NFIB plan to use Texas as the pilot program and then expand the program to other states in 2006.

NFIB will participate in two additional OSHA Region IV Hispanic Safety and Health Fairs in 2005 in Alabama and Florida. The Alliance will use the ideas and experience gained through these fairs to plan and hold fairs in future years in other states including Arizona, Texas, and California.

Working through the Alliance, NFIB Ohio state chapter's Shawn Combs, Assistant State Director, has developed relationships with OSHA's CASs in the state. He plans to continue working with the CASs and arrange for the delivery for the safety seminars to NFIB members at the local level. The association also plans to extend these types of local safety and health training seminars to other states.

Implementation team member, Mr. Jeff Koch, will continue to participate on the Alliance Program's Hazard Communication Roundtable workgroup addressing hazard communication awareness and training.

Through the Alliance, NFIB will share the results of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey on to how best reach the small business community and help enhance OSHA's outreach to the small business community. In addition, NFIB has offered to poll their members on safety issues that may assist OSHA in better targeting their small business outreach.

OSHA will continue to develop articles for NFIB's Tools and Tips Web site and its S.A.V.I. newsletter that regularly reaches 80,000 NFIB members. In addition, plans are underway for OSHA and NFIB to have an Alliance exhibit booth at the 2006 NFIB National Small Business Summit, which will take place June 20-22, 2006 in Washington, DC.


Report prepared by: Bill Willson, Alliance Co-Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, August 11, 2005.