NTSP - Annual Alliance Report - June 4, 2008

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
National Telecommunications Safety Panel
June 4, 2008

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    February 26, 2004

    Date Renewed

    June 9, 2006

    Overview

    OSHA's Alliance with NTSP focuses on providing the telecommunications industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety, by addressing ergonomics.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Brett Besser
    Directorate of Science Technology and Medicine (DSTM), Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
    Brently Donaldson
    Directorate of Training and Education (DTE)
    Lee Anne Jillings
    Directorate of Cooperative and State Program (DCSP), Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Joanna Sznajder
    Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), Office of Physical Hazards (OHP)
    Bill Willson
    DCSP, OOSA

    NTSP:

    Eric Allager
    Sprint Nextel
    Lynn Alpaugh
    AT&T
    Frank Bannister
    Sprint Nextel
    Marshall Berry
    AT&T
    Art Farmer
    Cincinnati Bell
    Laura Kiser
    AT&T
    John Quinlan
    Verizon
    Marie Robinson
    AT&T

    Evaluation Period

    February 26, 2007 – February 25, 2008

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    March 28, 2007
    Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference
    November 1, 2007
    Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference

    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.

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards related to ergonomics, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and NTSP's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to maintain and update its OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The page includes links to safety and health resources including Case Studies and a Fact Sheet developed by NTSP through the OSHA and NTSP Alliance. In addition, it has news releases and information on the Alliance's activities and events, and milestones and successes. For more information on the number of visits to the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach Table.

      NTSP Web Site

      The NTSP Ergonomics Web page on the association's Web site features information about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance including a link to the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site and a link to the NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry, developed by the NTSP as product of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance. In addition, the NTSP added links to a number of OSHA's safety and health resources such as OSHA's Ergonomics: Solutions for Electrical Contractors eTool as well as some developed through the OSHA and NTSP Alliance including:

      • Laptop Computers Fact Sheet (posted November 2007)
      • Ladder Training Case Study (posted November 2007)
      • Material Handling/Warehouse Case Study (posted November 2007)
      • Pocket PC/Dual Monitors Case Study (posted November 2007)

      For more information on the number of visits to the NTSP Web site, please see the Alliance Program Reach Table.

      OSHA Ergonomics: Solutions for the Electrical Contractors eTool

      Through the Alliance, Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T joined and serves on the editorial board for OSHA's eTool Ergonomics: Solutions for the Electrical Contractors and provides the Agency with her expertise and feedback.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NTSP's conferences, such as the International Telecommunications Safety Conference, local meetings, or other events.

      Events

      2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Niagara Falls, New York, September 18-20, 2007

      On September 18, 2007, David Goldsheyder, Ergonomist, Region II, USDOL-OSHA, spoke at the 2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Niagara Falls, New York. Mr. Goldsheyder gave a presentation "OSHA Ergonomics Technical Update" to 99 attendees.

      In addition, on September 18, 2007, Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T and John F. Quinlan, Ergonomist, Verizon and members of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team, gave a presentation "NTSP Ergonomics Committee and OSHA and NTSP Ergonomics Alliance Update."

      • Share information addressing ergonomics among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NTSP's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by NTSP and OSHA and through OSHA- or NTSP-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      Products

      NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry

      Through the Alliance, NTSP updated its document Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry with a new section "Driving Ergonomics: Driving a Vehicle." This new section identifies the ergonomic risk factors involved with driving and suggests recommended solution strategies both short term and long term for minimizing the ergonomic driving risks associated with the operation of motor vehicles. The guidelines are posted on the NTSP's Web site and linked to from the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. For more information on the number of visits to the Guidelines, please see the Alliance Program Reach Table.

      Laptop Computers Fact Sheet

      Through the Alliance, NTSP developed the Fact Sheet "Laptop Computers" to help computer users identify the risk factors associated with laptop use including:

      • Awkward Posture
      • Repetition
      • Lifting/Carrying

      In addition, the Fact Sheet provides both short and long term strategies to minimize the ergonomic hazards associated with laptop computer use. The Fact Sheet is posted on the NTSP Web site and linked to from the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of ergonomics and publicize their results.

      NTSP Case Studies

      Through the OSHA and NTSP Alliance, NTSP developed the following case studies to assist telecommunications industry employers and employees identify and correct safety hazards in the workplace:

      • Ladder Training
      • Material Handling/Warehouse
      • Pocket PC/Dual Monitor

      The case studies are posted on the NTSP Ergonomics Web page on the NTSP Web site and linked to from the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site.

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on ergonomic issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

        During this reporting period, OSHA and NTSP did not work on projects to address this goal.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the OSHA and NTSP Alliance, the organizations have continued their excellent working relationship which has developed over the last four years of the Alliance. The organizations have continued to update several informational resources about the Alliance and ergonomics. For example, the new section "Driving Ergonomics" was added to the NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry.

      In addition, through the Alliance NTSP completed the following case studies and posted them on the NTSP Web site:

      • Ladder Training Case Study
      • Material Handling/Warehouse Case Study
      • Pocket PC/Dual Monitors Case Study

      OSHA links to the case studies from the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. Also, through the Alliance, NTSP developed the "Laptop Computers" sheet which is posted on the NTSP Web site.

      In addition, through the Alliance, OSHA and NTSP shared information through speaking opportunities. For example, on September 18, 2007, David Goldsheyder, Ergonomist, Region II, USDOL-OSHA, spoke at the 2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Niagara Falls, New York. NTSP Ergonomics Committee representatives also shared information about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance at the meeting.

      Finally, in January 2008 the organizations agreed to pursue renewing the OSHA and NTSP Alliance.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and NTSP Web page on OSHA's Web site 2,343
      NTSP's Ergonomic Web page 7,000
      September 18, 2007, "NTSP Ergonomics Committee and OSHA NTSP Ergonomics Alliance Update," 2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Niagara Falls, New York
      Speakers:
      Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T
      John Quinlan, Ergonomist, Verizon      		 99
      September 18, 2007, "OSHA Ergonomics Technical Update," 2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Niagara Falls, New York
      Speaker:
      David Goldsheyder, Ergonomist, Region II, USDOL-OSHA      		 99
      TOTAL 9,541

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, the OSHA and NTSP Alliance will continue to maintain and update the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site and NTSP's Ergonomics Web page on its Web site. In addition, OSHA representatives will promote the OSHA and NTSP Alliance and discuss ergonomic issues through speeches at meetings, such as NTSP's 2008 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in September 2008.

    OSHA and NTSP also will work together to develop telecommunications-related safety and health case studies addressing issues in the industry.

    In addition, the NTSP is sponsoring its first Ergonomics Web Seminar, "Productivity Improvements for Workstation Assessments" which will be presented by implementation team member Frank Bannister, Sprint on June 17, 2008. OSHA staff nationwide will be invited to attend the Web seminar and possibly participate in future seminars.

    Further, as part of the OSHA and NTSP's Alliance's ongoing activities NTSP will support the 2008 NAOSH Week along with a number of other Alliance Program participants. An OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team member will continue to serve on the editorial board for OSHA's eTool, Ergonomics: Solutions for the Electrical Contractors, and provide OSHA with input and expertise to keep the eTool up to date.

    Finally, OSHA and NTSP will sign the OSHA and NTSP Alliance renewal agreement in March 2008.

Report prepared by: Bill Willson, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, June 30, 2008.