NIOSH-NHCA - Alliance Annual Report 2009-2010
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and
National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA)
July 1, 2010
- Alliance Background
Date Signed
February 21, 2008
Overview
The OSHA, NIOSH and NHCA Alliance provides NHCA members and others, including young workers and small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents.
Implementation Team Members
OSHA:
Deborah Gabry - Health Scientist, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management
Sandra Khan* - Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
NIOSH/NHCA
Carol Stephenson - Chief, Training Research and Evaluation Branch, Education and Information Division, NIOSH
Mark Stephenson - Senior Research Audiologist Coordinator - NIOSH Hearing Loss Research
John R. Allen - Program Executive, Crew Health and Safety Manager, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Joe Cissna - Industrial Hygienist, Portland General Electric
Theresa Schultz - Hearing Conservation Manager, 'Sperian Hearing Protection"
Evaluation Period
February 21, 2009 – February 20, 2010
*Sandra Khan was the OSHA Alliance coordinator until July 15, 2010.
- Implementation Team Meetings
- May 2, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting
- November 2, 2009 - Implementation Team Meeting
- February 2, 2010- Implementation Team Meeting
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. - Results
- Products and Events
Outreach and Communication Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of hearing loss caused by 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, NIOSH's and NHCA's Web sites) to employers and employees in affected industries.
Products
OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web Page
OSHA developed and updates the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site with information about the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and its activities, including news releases and activities and events. In addition, the page features links to resources developed by NIOSH/NHCA through the Alliance Program, including the “Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing” best practice guide and the “Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry.”
NHCA/OSHA Web Page
NHCA developed and updates the NHCA and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the NHCA Web site. The page includes links to OSHA and to the Alliance-developed best practice guide, “Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing” and the “Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry.”
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
The following NIOSH/NHCA representative is participating on the editorial board of OSHA’s Noise and Hearing Conservation, Safety and Health Topics page:
- Carol Stephenson, Chief, Training Research and Evaluation Branch, Education and Information Division
Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, NIOSH, or NHCA sponsored conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the annual NHCA conference.
During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
- Share information among OSHA and NIOSH personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NHCA recommended best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by OSHA, NIOSH, and NHCA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Products
Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry
Through the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the American Shipbuilding Association, National Shipbuilding Research Program, and Shipbuilders Council of America Alliances, the participants developed a series of toolbox talks focusing on hearing conservation in the shipbuilding industry. The toolbox talks address a number of hearing conservation-related topics, including shipbuilding noise levels and selecting hearing protection. The toolbox talks address a number of hearing conservation-related topics, including shipbuilding noise levels and selecting hearing protection. The toolbox talks also include a hearing protection checklist for workers in shipyard employment. The toolbox talks were completed in August 2009.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace hearing loss prevention issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
2009 NAOSH Week, May 3-9, 2008, Washington, DC. On May 4, 2009, Jordan Barab, Acting Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, spoke to OSHA staff, Alliance Program participants and other safety and health professionals during the 2009 NAOSH Week kick-off event at DOL, in Washington, D.C. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), 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 NIOSH/NHCA Alliance, a along with a number of other Alliance Program participants, supported the Week. The theme for the 2008 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home."
2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-25, 2009. The NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s then-Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees, and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
- Results
During the second year of the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance, OSHA and NIOSH/.NHCA engaged in many projects to provide NHCA members and others, including young workers and small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents.
To meet the Alliance’s goals, OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Implementation Team members worked on a number of projects to share information about reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents. For example:
Through the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the American Shipbuilding Association, National Shipbuilding Research Program, and Shipbuilders Council of America Alliances, the participants developed a series of toolbox talks focusing on hearing conservation in the shipbuilding industry. The toolbox talks address a number of hearing conservation-related topics, including shipbuilding noise levels and selecting hearing protection. The toolbox talks address a number of hearing conservation-related topics, including shipbuilding noise levels and selecting hearing protection. The toolbox talks also include a hearing protection checklist for workers in shipyard employment. The toolbox talks were completed in August 2009.
In addition, the Alliance supported 2009 NAOSH Week and 2009 Drug-Free Work Week.
OSHA developed and updates the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site with information about the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and its activities, including news releases and activities and events. In addition, the page features links to resources developed by NIOSH/NHCA through the Alliance Program, including the “Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing” best practice guide and the “Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry.”
NHCA developed and updates the NHCA and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the NHCA Web site. The page includes links to OSHA and to the Alliance-developed best practice guide, “Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing” and the “Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry.”
Finally, NIOSH/NHCA representative, Carol Stephenson, Chief, Training Research and Evaluation Branch, Education and Information Division, NIOSH serves on the editorial board of the Noise and Hearing Conservation Safety and Health Topics page. -
Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained NHCA/OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the NHCA Web site Data Not Available OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 3,928 Noise and Hearing Conservation Safety and Health Topics page 7,962 Total 11,890
- Products and Events
- Upcoming Milestones
In 2010, OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA will continue to provide NHCA members and others, including young workers and small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents. The organizations have agreed to renew the Alliance in 2010. For example:
OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA will work together to translate the Maritime Industry Toolbox Talks to Spanish. In addition, NHCA/NIOSH team members will revise the Maritime Industry toolbox talks for the construction and land care services industries.
NIOSH/NHCA will work with other Alliance Program participants to support and promote the 2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week by adding information on the NIOSH/NHCA Web sites.
Finally, NIOSH/NHCA will distribute information on the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance, including the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Activities Summary, at a number of conferences, including the NHCA Annual Hearing Conference, February 24-26, 2011, in Mesa, Arizona.
Finally, based on the successes realized during two years, OSHA and NIOSH/NHA agreed to renew the Alliance agreement in 2010.
Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 12, 2010.