NIOSH-NHCA - Annual Alliance Report - March 20, 2009

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) March 20, 2009

  1. 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
    Sandra Khan    		 Health Scientist, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management
    Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
       
    NIOSH/NHCA:  
    Carol Stephenson

    Mark Stephenson
    John R. Allen

    Joe Cissna
    Theresa Schultz    		 Chief, Training Research and Evaluation Branch, Education and Information Division, NIOSH
    Senior Research Audiologist Coordinator - NIOSH Hearing Loss Research
    Program Executive, Crew Health and Safety Manager, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Industrial Hygienist, Portland General Electric
    Hearing Conservation Manager, "Sperian Hearing Protection"

    Evaluation Period

    February 21, 2008 – February 20, 2009

     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings
    • February 23, 2008 Work-group Meeting
    • May 6, 2008 Kick-off Implementation Team Meeting
    • May 19, 2008 Work-group Conference Call
    • June 16, 2008 Work-group Conference Call
    • August 12, 2008 Work-group Conference Call
    • October 15, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
    • January 23, 2009 Implementation Team Meeting
    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from each organization spoke regularly to discuss and plan the activities and programs listed under events and products.

     
  3. Results
    1. 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

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information and news releases on the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in a number of printed and online publications, including NIOSH Update, Travelers Risk Control, and Safety Online. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table in this report.

      OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web Page

      OSHA developed and updates the OSHA and NHCA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site with information on the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and its activities, including news releases and activities and events.

      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." The document provides general information on fit-testing of hearing protectors.

      Knowledge Sharing

      NIOSH and NHCA representatives provided their expertise on ototoxic chemical exposure and hearing loss with OSHA’s Region II, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey Area Office for the development of a presentation for the U.S. Army.

      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.

      Events

      33rd Annual Hearing Conservation Conference, February 21-23, 2008, Portland, Oregon

      On February 21, 2008, Dean Ikeda, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region X, Seattle, Washington Regional Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation about the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the importance of preventing work-related hearing loss to 25 attendees prior to signing the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance.

      34th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference "Conserve to Hear the Future" February 12 to 14, 2009, Atlanta, Georgia

      On February 13, 2009, Deborah Gabry, Health Scientist, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA, hosted an OSHA and NHCA/NIOSH Alliance breakfast chat session. The group discussed the first year of the Alliance and future products that can be produced through the Alliance. 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

      Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing Best Practice Guide

      Through the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance, the Implementation Team developed the best practice guide, "Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing. " The best practice document provides general information on fit-testing of hearing protectors. Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      Products

      Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry

      Through the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the OSHA and American Shipbuilding Association, National Maritime Safety Association, and National Shipbuilding Research Program Alliances, the organizations are developing toolbox talks on noise and hearing protection for the shipbuilding industry. The toolbox talks will be completed in spring 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.

      During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
       
    2. Results

      During the first 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, including making presentations and exhibiting at conferences and meetings to share information about reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents. For example, through the Alliance, OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Implementation Team members developed the best practice guide, "Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing."

      NIOSH and NCHA representatives have also shared compliance assistance information through the following outreach activities:

      On February 21, 2008 at the 33rd Annual Hearing Conservation Conference, Portland, Oregon, Dean Ikeda, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region X, Seattle, Washington Regional Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation about the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and the importance of preventing work-related hearing loss to 25 attendees prior to signing the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance.

      On February 13, 2009, Deborah Gabry, Deborah Gabry, Health Scientist, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, USDOL-OSHA, hosted an OSHA and NHCA/NIOSH Alliance breakfast chat session at the 34th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia.

      In addition, OSHA created and updates the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web page on Agency Web site that includes links to the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance agreement, a news release, information regarding NIOSH/NHCA conferences, and other resources.

      NIOSH and NHCA representatives provided their expertise on ototoxic chemical exposure and hearing loss with OSHA’s Region II, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey Area Office for the development of a presentation for the U.S. Army.

      Further, NHCA created and maintains a NHCA and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the association's Web site. The Web page includes information about the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance and links to OSHA's Web site and other safety and health information. The OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance-developed best practice guide, "Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing " was posted on the page in August 2008 and is linked to from the OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site.

      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.
       
    3. 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 4,197
      Noise and Hearing Conservation Safety and Health Topics page 6,123
      February 25, 2008: "OSHA, NIOSH, NHCA Ally Against Noise, Ototoxic Chemical Exposures"
      Occupational Health & Safety Magazine      		 90,000
      March 24, 2008: "NIOSH, OSHA, and NHCA Establish Alliance on Workplace Hearing Loss Prevention"
      NIOSH Update      		 Data not available
      March 25, 2008: "Groups Form Alliance to Prevent Workplace Hearing Loss"
      Facility Zone      		 Data not available
      March 26, 2008: "New Alliance Formed Between OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Hearing Conservation Association"
      Healthy Hearing      		 Data not available
      March 26, 2008: "Groups Form Alliance to Prevent Workplace Hearing Loss"
      CleanLink News      		 Data not available
      March 28, 2008: "NIOSH, OSHA, and NHCA Establish Alliance on Workplace Hearing Loss Prevention"
      Safety Online      		 Data not available
      March 2008: "New Alliance Formed between OSHA, NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association"
      Travelers Risk Control      		 Data not available
      February 21-23, 2008: 30th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference
      Portland, Oregon

      Speaker: Dean Ikeda, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region X, Seattle, Washington Regional Office      		 25
      February 12-14, 2009
      34th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference "Conserve to Hear the Future"
      Atlanta, Georgia      		 12
      Chat Session 7,294
      TOTAL 100,357

       
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In 2009, 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. For example, OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA will work together to complete the toolbox talks on noise and hearing conservation for the shipbuilding industry. After the toolbox talks are finalized, the organization will work with the OSHA and SkillsUSA Alliance to revise the toolbox talks for the SkillsUSA student instructors and student members.

    OSHA and NIOSH/NHCA will also work together to translate the best practice guide, "Hearing Protection-Emerging Trends: Individual Fit Testing" and Toolbox Talks: Hearing Conservation in the Shipbuilding Industry into Spanish.

    NIOSH/NHCA will work with other Alliance Program participants to support and promote the 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and the 2009 Drug-Free Work 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 35th Annual Conference, "Explore the World of Hearing Loss Prevention," February 25-27, 2010, in Orlando Florida.


    Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, March
    20, 2009.