ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Airline Industry and the National Safety Council
International Air Transport Section
December 13, 2005

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

November 12, 2002

Dates Renewed

April 21, 2004
May 31, 2005

Overview

Signatories of the Alliance:

• Air Canada
• Airtran Airways
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• American Trans Air
• America West Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Air Lines Jetblue Airways
• Midwest Express Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• U.S. Airways
• National Safety Council, International Air Transportation Section

The OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance addresses ergonomic issues associated with the handling of passenger checked baggage. It explores ways to promote communication, outreach, training, education and a national dialogue to reduce ergonomic-related injuries.

Implementation Team Members

OSHA:

Brett Besser

Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)

Cathy Cronin

Office of Training and Education (OTE)

Brently Donaldson

OTE

Lee Anne Jillings

Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)

Lisa Ramber

OOSA

Bill Wright/dt>

Region VIII

Airlines:

Cheryl Beasley

AirTran

Barry Brown

Southwest Airlines

Linda Christopherson

America West

Kristin Green

United Airlines

Dee Hinkley

Jet Blue

Cathi Hollister

Air Canada

Phil Isom

ATA Airlines

Cindy Keiser

Continental Airlines

Ray McCleary

US Airways

Kim McDaniel

Southwest Airlines

Penny Prince

American Airlines

Chris Snyder

AirTran

Tracy Sora

Air Canada

Kevin Summerlin

Continental Airlines

Jim Swartz

Delta Air Lines

Chris Turner

Alaska Airlines

Debra Vujasin

US Airways

Terri Weiland

Midwest Express

Ashley West

Delta Air Lines

National Safety Council:

B.J. LoMastro

 

Contributors:

Kym Pond

Contractor for OSHA, SLTC

Evaluation Period

November 12, 2004 - November 11, 2005

II. Implementation Team Meetings

December 6, 2004

Team meeting

March 15, 2005

Steering Committee meeting

March 28, 2005

Team meeting

July 27, 2005

Steering Committee meeting

August 25, 2005

Team meeting

October 12, 2005

Steering Committee meeting

November 8-9, 2005

eTool Workgroup meeting

November 10, 2005

Team meeting

III. Results

1. Events and Products

   Training and Education Goal

   • Continue the development of an industry training manual (referred to as a training module in the Alliance signed 11/12/02), with OSHA input, for employees on the handling of checked baggage and make it available, without charge, to the aviation industry, OSHA, and other interested parties.

   Products

   Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual

   The Alliance completed its development of a training manual for aviation industry baggage handlers on how to handle large volumes of passenger checked baggage safely and reduce the chance for injuries on the job. The manual covers: injury prevention, forces that affect the body, safety workplaces and identification and reducing risk factors and proper body mechanics for handling checked baggage. Sections of the manual cover Plane side Loading and Unloading, Ticket Counter and Baggage Make-up Room. The document is being used as the basis for an ergonomics training module that is under development for OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool.

   Outreach and Communication Goals

   • With OSHA's input, continue development of an industry Awareness/Education Program for passengers, including, for example, a "Fact Sheet" and/or brochure with suggestions on how to pack baggage so it is easier to handle while traveling. Distribute the brochure at the National Safety Council's National Safety Congress and Exposition and through working with Alliance Program participants.

   Products

   "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" Pamphlet

   The Alliance developed and published "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet. The document has in-depth information, in a question and answer format, to help inform airline passengers on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid muscle strains and pulls. The pamphlet has been shared with numerous groups including the National Safety Council (NSC), Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) and Embry Riddle University. More than 11,000 pamphlets have been distributed. In addition, NSC has posted the pamphlet in its member's only section on the association's Web site. The pamphlet includes the Alliance participants' and the Alliance Program's logos.

   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise on the periodic review and update of OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool and the Airline Industry Safety & Health Topics page. Begin converting the industry training manual into an eTool.

   Products

   OSHA Baggage Handling eTool

   The Alliance participants are providing comments and information that OSHA is incorporating into its Baggage Handling eTool. The tool describes many of the common hazards associated with the baggage handling process and provides possible solutions that are ranked according to their feasibility to the operations. The OSHA-Airline Industry Alliance implementation team is working with OSHA to add an ergonomics training module to the tool.

   OSHA Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics Page

   The members of the Alliance's implementation team continue to serve on the editorial board for the Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics page on OSHA's Web site. This page provides employers and employees in the aviation industry with information and assistance to help create a healthy and safe working environment. Following are the airline industry representatives:

   • Cheryl Beasley, AirTran Airways; Atlanta, GA
   • Linda Christopherson, America West Airlines; Phoenix, AZ
   • Kristin Fiore, United Airlines; Chicago, IL
   • Dee Hinckley, JetBlue Airlines; New York, NY
   • Phil Isom, ATA Airlines; Indianapolis, IN
   • Cindy Keiser, Continental Airlines; Houston, TX
   • Ray McCleary, US Airways; Pittsburgh, PA
   • Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines; Dallas, TX
   • BJ LoMastro, National Safety Council
   • Brenda Morten, ATA Airlines; Indianapolis, IN
   • Penny Prince, American Airlines; Dallas, TX
   • Tracy Sora, Air Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
   • Kevin Summerlin, Continental Airlines; Houston, TX
   • Jim Swartz, Delta Airlines; Atlanta, GA
   • Chris Turner, Alaska Airlines; Seattle, WA
   • Debra Vujasin, US Airways; Pittsburgh, PA
   • Ashley West, Delta Airlines; Atlanta, GA

   Aviation Industry Safety and Health Fact Sheet

   The Alliance has reviewed aviation industry safety and health information that other organizations have developed (e.g., National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Transportation Security Administration, University of Michigan). The Alliance implementation team is working on combining the relevant information into one fact sheet for the industry. The document will be finalized in 2006.

   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

   • Conduct an informational seminar with and disseminate information to regulatory agencies, international organizations and other interested parties such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Transportation Security Administration and the American Association of Airport Executives to share information about ergonomic issues.

   Events

   Aviation Industry Workshop

   OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance is planning an Aviation Industry Workshop that will be held in 2006. The workshop will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions regarding handling baggage and other packages in the transportation industry (i.e. travel ribbon).

   • Educate interested parties on and solicit ideas for improvement of ergonomics associated with the handling of checked baggage during a national safety related conference, such as the National Safety Council's National Safety Congress and Exposition

   Events

   National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida, September 21, 2005

   During the 2005 National Safety Congress and Expo, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance had a workshop, "NSC/OSHA/Airlines Ergonomics Alliance," that provided the attendees with a history of ergonomics in the aviation industry and the baggage handling process and an overview of how the airlines and airport authorities work together. The workshop presenters also updated the attendees on the Alliance's activities and discussed its ongoing work, including updating OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool and adding new sections to the Alliance's ergonomics training manual for airline employees. The following were the workshop's speakers:

   • Linda Christopherson, America West
   • Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA
   • Ray McCleary, US Airways
   • Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines
   • Penny Prince, American Airlines
   • Ashley West, Delta Air Lines

   Jim Swartz and Ashley West, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Presentations

   Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety, and Ashley West, Manager of Ergonomics, for Delta Air Lines, Inc., made the following presentations to national and international industry groups and other airlines about the Alliance Program and its intent to work with airports, manufacturers, and other interested parties about ergonomic issues related to airport design:

   • Ground Handling International, Athens, Greece, November, 29, 2004 (Jim Swartz)
   • ARTEX, Niagara Falls, Canada, June 9, 2005 (Ashley West)
   • Korean Air Safety Seminar, Seoul, Korea, July 20, 2005 (Jim Swartz)

   OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section Alliance Web Page

   The OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site contains information on the Alliance, Products and Resources, Activities and Events, and Milestones and Successes. The Web site also has information on how individuals or groups that are interested in the Alliance; can sign-up for the Alliance's Interested Parties list. The page is updated regularly.

   Print and Electronic Media

   Information and news releases on the signing of the OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section Alliance renewal agreement and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in a number of safety and health publications. For example, "Alliance Sees Solutions, Airlines tackle ground workers ergonomic injuries," was published in the March 2005 edition of the NSC's magazine; Safety+Health. See the chart in this report under "Alliance Program Reach" for additional information.

2. Executive Summary

   The OSHA, Airline Industry and the National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section Alliance met its goals during its third year. When the groups renewed the Alliance on May 31, 2005, they continued their work to address the very specific goals identified in the agreement and to define the projects that would meet the Alliance goals. During the past year, the Alliance produced and coordinated some very successful products and events.

   For example, the Alliance finalized "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet that has in depth information for airline passengers on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid muscle strains and pulls. Over 11,000 pamphlets have been widely distributed to a number of groups including the NSC, VPPPA and Embry Riddle University. In addition, it is posted in the NSC's members only section on the Council's Web site.

   The Alliance has completed the Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual. The document consists of sections on Plane side Loading and Unloading, Ticket Counter and the Baggage Make-up Room. The manual covers: injury prevention, forces that affect the body, safety workplaces and identification and reducing risk factors and proper body mechanics for handling checked baggage.

   The Alliance's implementation team members continue to serve on the editorial boards of the Agency's eTool for Baggage Handling and the Airlines Industry Safety and Health Topics page. In addition, the Alliance is working with OSHA to develop a draft ergonomics training module for the eTool. The information that was published in the Alliance's "Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual" is being used as the basis for the module.

   OSHA and the Alliance's airline participants continue to effectively communicate their commitment to the Alliance Program and protecting the safety and health of aviation industry employees and improving the safety and health of the workplace. For example, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance developed and participated in a workshop during the 2005 National Safety Congress; "NSC/OSHA/Airlines Industry Alliance." The workshop was held on September 21 in Orlando, Florida. During the presentations, speakers including Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA; Ashley West, Delta Airlines; and Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines; discussed the Alliance's ongoing work, such as updating OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool and adding new sections to the Alliance's ergonomics training manual for airline employees. The Alliance implementation team also began planning an Aviation Industry Workshop for 2006 that will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions regarding handling baggage and other packages in the transportation industry, (i.e. travel ribbon).

   Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety, and Ashley West, Manager of Ergonomics, for Delta Air Lines, Inc. continued to promote the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance as an example of industry and government working together successfully through a number of national and international presentations, including a Korean Air Safety Seminar on July 20, 2005 and an ARTEX meeting in Niagara Falls, Canada on June 9, 2005.

   The Alliance also continues to maintain and update the Interested Parties list which consists of aviation industry safety and health professionals or organizations that are not signatories to the Alliance agreement, but would like to receive information concerning activities of the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance. In addition, the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive Group (HSE) continues to monitor the activities of the Alliance.

3. Alliance Program Reach

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   Representatives from Delta Air Lines, Inc., made the following presentations:
   November, 29, 2004, Ground Handling International, Athens, Greece, (Jim Swartz)	40
   June 9, 2005, ARTEX, Niagara Falls, Canada, (Ashley West)	30
   July 20, 2005, Korean Air Safety Seminar, Seoul, Korea, (Jim Swartz)	50
   March 2005, "Alliance Sees Solutions, Airlines tackle ground workers ergonomic injuries," Safety+Health	Data not available
   June 6, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance," OSHA News Release	42 News Services
   June 6, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance; Will Continue Addressing Ergonomic Issues Related to Safe Handling of Checked Baggage," Yahoo! News, http://news.com	Data not available
   June 7, 2005, "OSHA Renews Airline Alliance Again," BNA Daily Labor Report	Data not available
   June 11, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance; Will Continue Addressing Ergonomic Issues Related to Safe Handling of Checked Baggage," Usernomics, http://www.usernomics.com	Data not available
   June 15, 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew National Alliance," OSHA QuickTakes	52,000
   June 22. 2005, "OSHA, Airline Group Renew Alliance," CCH NetNews, http://www.hr.cch.com	Data not available
   September 21, 2005, "NSC/OSHA/Airlines Ergonomics Alliance," National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida Speakers: Linda Christopherson America West Lee Anne Jillings OSHA Ray McCleary U.S. Airways Kim McDaniel Southwest Airlines Penny Prince American Airlines Ashley West Delta Air Lines	50
   OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site	5,139
   Baggage Handling eTool	15,596
   Airline Industry OSHA Safety and Health Topics page	15,635
   TOTAL	88,582

IV. Upcoming Milestones

OSHA, the Airline Industry and the National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section have agreed to renew the Alliance for another year and the groups are drafting the agreement. As in the past, the Alliance's participants have agreed that the agreement should include specific goals and have discussed a number of projects that it will undertake in the upcoming year.

The Alliance will be developing and adding two new sections, gate check-in and skycap, to the "Ergonomics for Baggage Handlers Training Manual." In addition, information on the airlines' kiosks will be added to the Ticket Counter section of the manual and OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool. The Alliance will also continue its work to develop an ergonomics training module for OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool that is based on the manual.

To continue working with airports, manufacturers, and other interested parties to address airport design issues, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance is planning an Aviation Industry Workshop that will be held in May 2006. The workshop will discuss the challenges, successes and solutions regarding handling baggage and other packages in the transportation industry (i.e. travel ribbon). The Alliance is also planning on speaking at a number of conferences and meetings in 2006 including the NSC's National Safety Congress, 9th Annual Applied Ergonomics Conference and the European Aviation Group for Occupational Safety and Health (EaGOSH) meeting.

Though the Alliance, the implementation team members plan to continue to promote and distribute the pamphlet, "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" in a number of ways. The Alliance is working with the NSC to insert the pamphlet in the 2006 National Safety Congress and Expo's registration materials. In addition, the Alliance is exploring the possibility of sharing the information with travel-related organizations, e.g. Weather Channel.

Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, December 13, 2005