OSHA and the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Association
Alliance Close-Out Report
(as of July 28, 2006)

On July 28, 2003, OSHA and the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Association (NLBMDA) formed an Alliance to work together and network with interested parties to increase overall safety and health awareness while specifically addressing recordkeeping issues and reducing or preventing forklift accidents and lifting strains in the lumber and building materials industry. The Alliance was renewed on October 10, 2005.

Because NLBMDA has been focusing its resources on other projects and priorities along with staffing changes since the renewal agreement was signed, OSHA and NLBMDA agreed to conclude the Alliance as of July 28, 2006. The following successes resulted from OSHA and NLBMDA working together to meet the Alliance's goals:

• On February 15, 2005, T.J. Cantwell, NLBMDA's Director, Regulatory and Industry Affairs, participated on behalf of the association in OSHA's Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable 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.
   
• On March 15, 2005, Francis Yebesi, Team Leader, Outreach Services and Alliances, USDOL-OSHA, made a presentation about OSHA's compliance assistance activities at the NLBMDA's National Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. OSHA also had a tabletop exhibit at the event.
   
• In the July 2004 edition of ProSales, the NLBMDA published the article, "On the Safe Side, OSHA's Alliance Program with NLBMDA and its VPP Outreach Efforts are Helping Dealers Enhance Worker Safety." This article discusses OSHA's Alliance Program and the benefits of participating in the Agency's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) and the Onsite Consultation Program's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
   
• On September 30, 2004, Andrew Alcarese, Project Manager, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program, made a presentation about Maryland's Onsite Consultation Program during the Eastern Building Material Association Chapter Meeting in Rocky Gap, Maryland.
   
• On September 25, 2003, John Henshaw, then OSHA Assistant Secretary Henshaw toured the NLBMDA's member company's facility, Hancock Lumber, in Portland, Maine.
   
• In August 2001, NLBMDA member the Curtis Lumber Company achieved Star status in VPP. The company helped to educate NLBMDA's members about the value of participating in VPP through speeches at executive management meetings and at the association's events.
   
• Representatives from the association worked with the Agency to provide expertise during the development of the OSHA Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Industry Safety and Health Topics page.
   
• Representatives from the association served on the editorial boards for a number of OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages including:
  • Motor Vehicle Safety
  • Powered Industrial Trucks
  • Lumber and Building Material Dealer Industry

Report prepared by: Bill Willson, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, July 28, 2006.