NCS - Alliance Annual Report - February 21, 2005

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Airline Industry and the National Safety Council
International Air Transport Section
February 21, 2005

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    November 12, 2002

    Date Renewed

    April 21, 2004

    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 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
    Cathy Cronin
    Bob Curtis
    Brentley Donaldson
    Lee Anne Jillings
    Lisa Ramber
    Bill Wright

    Airlines:

    Cheryl Beasley
    Barry Brown
    Linda Christopherson
    Kristin Green
    Cathi Hollister
    Phil Isom
    Cindy Keiser
    Ray McCleary
    Kim McDaniel
    Penny Prince
    Tim Racicot
    Christopher San Giovanni
    Chris Snyder
    Tracy Sora
    Kevin Summerlin
    Jim Swartz
    Chris Turner
    Debra Vujasin
    Terri Weiland
    Ashley West

    National Safety Council:

    B.J. LoMastro

    Contributors:

    Kym Pond

     

    Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
    Office of Training and Education (OTE)
    SLTC
    OTE
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    OOSA
    Region VIII

     

    AirTran
    Southwest Airlines
    America West
    United Airlines
    Air Canada
    ATA Airlines
    Continental Airlines
    US Airways
    Southwest Airlines
    American Airlines
    Continental Airlines
    JetBlue
    AirTran
    Air Canada
    Continental Airlines
    Delta Air Lines
    Alaska Airlines
    US Airways
    Midwest Express
    Delta Air Lines

     

     

     

    Contractor for OSHA, SLTC

    Evaluation Period

    November 12, 2003 - November 13, 2004

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    March 23, 2004
    July 29, 2004

    Team meeting
    Team meeting

  3. 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 is developing a training manual for aviation baggage handlers on how to handle large volumes of passenger checked baggage safely and reduce the chance for injuries on the job. The draft 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 Planeside Loading and Unloading and Ticketing Counter sections of the manual have been completed and the Alliance is developing the baggage make-up room section.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • With OSHA's input, commence development of an industry Awareness/Education Program for passengers, including, for example, a "Fact Sheet" with suggestions on how to pack baggage so it is easier to handle while traveling.

      Products

      "2 Heavy 2 Lift" Baggage Tag

      A "2 Heavy 2 Lift" baggage tag was created by the implementation team. The heavy bag tag alerts travelers about the injuries that can be incurred from carrying heavy luggage. The tag was distributed with the National Safety Council's 2004 Safety Congress and Expo attendee materials. In addition, the Alliance Program logo has been added to the tag.

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

      "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet, based on the baggage tag, has been developed. The pamphlet has more in-depth information, in a question and answer format, for airline passengers to think about and use on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid muscle strains and pulls. After the document is finalized, the airlines can post the pamphlet on their Web sites and/or print and distribute the document to travelers. The document includes the Alliance participants' and the Alliance Program's logos.

      • Define the process for interested parties to participate with and obtain information about the Alliance, including, for example, a process for providing feedback and comments.

      Products

      Interested Parties Process and List

      OSHA has added an Interested Parties section to the OSHA, Airline Industry and National Safety Council, International Air Transport Section Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. This section is for 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/Airline Industry Alliance.

      • 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.

      Products

      Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics Page and Baggage Handling eTool

      The Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics page on OSHA's Web site was developed by OSHA with input from the Alliance members, provides employers and employees in the aviation industry with information and assistance to help create a healthy and safe working environment. The Baggage Handling eTool on OSHA's Web site was updated by representatives from the Alliance and OSHA, describes many of the common hazards associated with the baggage handling process as well as provides possible solutions that are ranked according to their feasibility to the operations. The OSHA-Airline Industry and National Safety Council, International Air Transport Section Implementation Team reviewed and provided comments on the tools in 2004 and the SLTC has incorporated the comments into the tools.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Conduct a design consultation/seminar with and disseminate information to airports, manufacturers, and other interested parties to share information about, and promote consideration of, ergonomic issues related to airport design.

      Events

      76th Annual American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Conference and Exposition, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 21-24, 2004

      Kim McDaniel and Ashley West attended the AAAE's annual conference and took part in a panel discussion "What Do You Do When You Remodel Airports" and discussed the OSHA-Airlines Industry Alliance, challenges faced by the airlines and working with the airport authorities.

      • 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, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 13, 2004

      During the National Safety Congress and Expo, the OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance had a workshop, "OSHA/Airlines Industry Ergonomic Alliance." The workshop included an overview of today's baggage handling process and the current challenges and impacts on the airline industry. The workshop presenters also updated the attendees on the group's activities and discussed the Alliance's ongoing work, including the development of information for airline passengers on handling heavy bags, discussions with airport authorities regarding airport design, updates to the baggage handling eTool and the continued development of an ergonomics-training manual for airline employees.

      The following Alliance members were part of the workshop panel:

      • Cheryl Beasley, Air Tran Airways
      • Linda Christopherson, America West Airlines
      • Lee Anne Jillings, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, OSHA
      • Ray McCleary, US Airways
      • Penny Prince, American Airlines
      • Ashley West, Delta Air Lines

      OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions, Falls Church, Virginia, June 15, 2004

      Jim Swartz spoke during a workshop on June 15 at the 2004 OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions held in Falls Church, Virginia. The conference was held for OSHA's management, including Regional Administrators and Area Directors. During the workshop titled, "Marketing Cooperative Programs," he discussed the use of OSHA's cooperative programs' logos and promotional materials to help inform, educate and effectively communicate the Program's successes to the public.

      Jim Swartz, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Presentations

      Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety for Delta Air Lines, Inc., made many 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. Following is a list of presentations and meetings that were held:

      • Revitalising Health & Safety In Air Transport (RHSAT) Strategy Group Meeting, November 2003
      • European Aviation Group for Occupational Safety and Health (EaGOSH), Frankfurt, Germany, November 2003
      • National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section Executive Committee (ARTEX), Orlando, Florida, February 2004
      • EaGOSH, Frankfurt, Germany, May 2004
      • ARTEX, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2004
      • Heart of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, September 2004
      • ARTEX, Dallas, Texas, October 2004
      • Underwing Partner Safety Leadership Team, Jacksonville, Florida, October 2004
      • Global Partners in Safety, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2004

      Products

      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 page is updated regularly.

      Alliance-Related Publications

      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. 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 attained a number of achievements during its second year. When the groups renewed the Alliance on April 20, 2004, they decided to continue to define very specific goals for the agreement and to define the projects that would meet the goals of the Alliance. During the past year, the Alliance implementation team has been working to meet the renewal agreement's goals and has produced and coordinated some very successful products and events.

      The Alliance participants addressed the issue of passengers getting hurt by over packing and handling their luggage. As a result, the Alliance developed the "2 Heavy 2 Lift" baggage tag and draft "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet. The tag is a promotional piece that was designed to quickly alert passengers to the potential dangers of heavy bags. It was distributed in the National Safety Council's 2004 Safety Congress and Expo attendee materials. The draft pamphlet has more in-depth information, in a question and answer format, for airline passengers to think about and use on how to properly pack their baggage to avoid muscle strains and pulls.

      Through serving as members of the editorial boards for the Agency's eTool for Baggage Handling and the Airlines Industry Safety and Health Topics page, the implementation team also worked with OSHA's SLTC to update and revise the electronic assistance products. Both tools contain up-to-date information for the aviation industry employers, employees and the public. In addition, the aviation industry is incorporating the Baggage Handling eTool into training programs to educate employees on how avoid injuries by using proper lifting techniques while handling checked baggage.

      The Alliance members have continued 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 Alliance developed and participated in a workshop during the 2004 National Safety Congress. "OSHA/Airlines Industry Alliance," was held on September 13 in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the workshop, the speakers, including Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA, Linda Christopherson, America West Airlines and Ray McCleary, US Airways, presented an overview of today's baggage handling process and updated the attendees on the Alliance's ongoing work.

      OSHA's leadership and Airline participants including Assistant Secretary John Henshaw, Paula White, Director of the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, and Jim Swartz, Director of Corporate Safety, Delta Air Lines, Inc. continued to promote the Airline Industry Alliance example of industry and government working together successfully. Internationally, the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive Group (HSE) is monitoring the activities of the Alliance and is educating airline passengers about excessive baggage. The HSE has added safety and health information to its Web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk/airtransport/index.htm and OSHA has linked to this page from the OSHA-Airline Industry Alliance web page.

      Members of the implementation team are also using the information that the Alliance has developed to help educate others in the aviation industry. Southwest Airlines has been working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to inform its employees about the proper way to handle and move baggage. The TSA is also recognizing the value of the Airlines Alliance and is signing regional Alliance agreements including one with OSHA's Region II Buffalo Area Office and the Buffalo Airport in New York.

      A task group of airline industry ergonomic experts has completed the Planeside Loading and Unloading and Ticketing Counter Sections of the Ergonomics Training Manual. The group will be developing a baggage make-up room section in the upcoming year. 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.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      Jim Swartz, Delta Air Lines, Inc., made the following presentations:

       
      November 2003, Revitalising Health & Safety In Air Transport (RHSAT) Strategy Group Meeting, United Kingdom

      50
      November 2003, European Aviation Group for Occupational Safety and Health (EaGOSH), Frankfurt, Germany

      20
      February 2004, National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section Executive Committee, (ARTEX)Orlando, Florida

      50
      May 2004, EaGOSH, Frankfurt, Germany

      20
      June 2004, ARTEX, Vancouver, British Columbia

      50
      September 2004, Heart of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia

      30
      October 2004, ARTEX, Dallas, Texas

      50
      October 2004, Underwing Partner Safety Leadership Team, Jacksonville, Florida

      30
      November 2004, Global Partners in Safety. Atlanta, Georgia

      15
      April 27, 2004, OSHA, "Airline Group Renew Alliance," OSHA Press Release

      25 News Services
      April 29, 2004, "OSHA Renews Airline Alliance," BNA Occupational Health and Safety Reporter

      25,000
      May 1, 2004, "Airline Group and AIHA Renew Alliances with OSHA," OSHA's bi-weekly e-newsletter; QuickTakes

      45,000
      May 2004, "2 Heavy 2 Lift Tag Printed," "Safety Focus," Business and Industry Safety News, National Safety Council

      5,000
      June 15, 2004, OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions, Falls Church, Virginia
      Speaker: Jim Swartz, Delta Airlines

      30
      June 21-24, 2004, 76th Annual American Association of Airport Executives Conference and Exposition, Las Vegas Nevada,
      Speakers:
      Kim McDaniel, Southwest Airlines
      Ashley West, Delta Air Lines

      50
      September 13, 2004, "OSHA/Airlines Industry Alliance," National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
      Speakers:
      • Cheryl Beasley, Air Tran Airways
      • Linda Christopherson, America West Airlines
      • Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA
      • Ray McCleary, US Airways
      • Penny Prince, American Airlines
      • Ashley West, Delta Air Lines

      50
      United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive Group (HSE) Presentation
      Speaker: Ashley West, Delta Air Lines

      10
      OSHA and Airline Industry Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site

      4,000
      Baggage Handling eTool

      18,000
      Airline Industry OSHA Safety and Health Topics page

      3,600
      TOTAL

      101,055

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    OSHA, the Airline Industry and the National Safety Council's International Air Transport Section agreed to renew the Alliance for another year. The Alliance agreement has a new set of very specific issues and projects that the implementation team will address.

    The Alliance will continue developing the industry training manual "Ergonomics Training Manual" for the handling of checked baggage and make it available, without charge. In addition, the manual's completed sections for the ramp and ticket counter will be posted on the National Safety Council's Web site for aviation employers, employees and the public. After the manual's final section is finished (baggage make-up room), the implementation team will use the document as the basis for developing a module for OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool. The implementation team will also periodically review and update of OSHA's Baggage Handling eTool and the Airline Industry Safety & Health Topics page.

    Though the Alliance, the implementation team will build on the dialogue that began with the presentation at the annual conference of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) in June 2004 and continue to work with airports, manufacturers, and other interested parties to address airport design issues. The AAAE Operational Safety Committee is discussing how it should define its involvement in the Alliance and the issues that it should address regarding employee safety, including ergonomics.

    The Alliance is also planning on speaking at a number of conferences and meetings in 2005 including the NSC's 2005 National Safety Congress, the American Industrial Hygiene Association's AIHce in Anaheim, California and the NSC's International Air Transport Section (ARTEX) meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

    The "2 Heavy 2 Lift" baggage tag and, when it is finalized, "A Guide to Packing for Business and Personal Travel" pamphlet will be promoted and distributed by the Alliance in a number of ways. The airlines may can post the pamphlet on their Web sites and/or print and distribute the document to travelers. In addition, OSHA will link to the document on the Airline Industry Safety and Health Topics page and from the OSHA, Airline Industry and National Safety Council, International Air Transport Section Alliance Web page. The Agency is also planning on distributing the pamphlet from OSHA's Alliance Program exhibit booth during conferences and expositions.

    Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 21, 2005