NWPCA-NIOSH - Alliance Annual Report - August 18, 2005

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA)
and the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
August 18, 2005

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    June 7, 2004

    Overview

    The OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance focuses on reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with use of pallet assembly and disassembly equipment and powered industrial trucks, and addressing occupational health issues, such as ergonomics.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Sally Grady
    Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
    Elise Handelman
    DSTM
    Rick Harris
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Lee Anne Jillings
    OOSA
    Long Loo
    DSTM
    Lisa Ramber
    OOSA
    Sherman Williamson
    Directorate of Standards and Guidance

    NWPCA:

    Adele Abrams
    Consultant
    John Conway
    Chairman, Standards Committee
    Edgar Deamano
    NWPCA – VA
    Barry Foer
    NWPCA – VA
    Steve Geiges
    Chairman
    Mike Macadow
    NWPCA – PA
    Jorge Sanchez
    NWPCA – FL
    Bruce Scholnick
    President and CEO
    John Swenby
    NWPCA – IA
    Karen Wanamaker
    NWPCA - VA

    NIOSH:

    Robert Malkin
    Charlene Maloney
    Rick Niemeier
    Paul Schulte

    Evaluation Period

    June 7, 2004 – June 6, 2005

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    June 7, 2004
    Kick off Implementation Team Meeting
    September 13, 2004
    Conference Call
    February 7, 2005
    Implementation Team Meeting

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Develop and implement training and education programs on equipment safety with a focus on accident prevention, including amputations.

        As a result of NWPCA’s work to develop and provide commercial web-based training for its members outside the scope of the Alliance, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not address this goal.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA’s, NIOSH’s and NWPCA’s Web sites.

      Products

      Print and Electronic Media

      Articles on the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance have appeared in print and online publications, including: Occupational Hazards, OSHA’s QuickTakes, NWPCA’s PalletCentral and the OSHA Alliance Program’s Alliance Quarterly Review. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table below.

      NWPCA’s Publications

      PalletCentral

      NWPCA produces PalletCentral, a publication which the association distributes about ten times per year. In the June 2004 edition, NWPCA published an article, "Safety and Health Agencies Sign Alliance Agreement with NWPCA", which discussed the signing of the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance. Also, in the April 2005 edition, another safety article was published entitled, "NWPCA Makes OSHA Compliance Easier."

      OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Web Page

      OSHA developed an OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. For more information on the number of visits to the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table below.

      Safety and Health Topics Page for the Wood Products Industry

      Dr. Edgar Deamano, NWPCA, and Dr. Robert Malkin, NIOSH, were added to the editorial board for the OSHA’s Wood Products Industry Safety and Health Topics page and are providing OSHA with input and comments on the page’s content.

      • Prepare NWPCA job safety analysis modules with OSHA and NIOSH input for the safe use of pallet dismantling equipment commonly used in the wooden pallet and container industry.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s, NIOSH’s or NWPCA’s conferences, local meetings, or other educational events, such as NWPCA’s annual leadership conference and recyclers’ conference.

      Events

      2004 Recycle and Repair Conference and Exposition, September 18, 2004, St. Louis, Missouri

      Francis Yebesi, then Team Leader, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, gave a presentation on OSHA’s cooperative programs and the OSHA-NWPCA Alliance to 200 attendees.

      2005 Annual Leadership Conference, February 22, 2005, Tampa, Florida

      Dr. Paul Schulte, NIOSH, gave an update on NIOSH’s recent research activities and addressed safety and health issues that impact the wooden pallet industry.

      NWPCA Regional Conference, April 8-9, 2005, Dallas, Texas

      Adele Abrams gave a presentation on occupational health issues that impact employees in the wood packaging industry such as noise, wood dust and carbon monoxide exposure and ergonomic hazards.

      • Cross-train OSHA and NIOSH personnel and industry safety and health professionals in NWPCA’s best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Promote and encourage NWPCA members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA, of NWPCA members’ worksites with others in the industry and publicize the results through outreach by NWPCA and through OSHA-, NIOSH- or NWPCA-developed training programs and materials.

      Products

      NIOSH Manual for the Wooden Pallet Industry

      NIOSH is developing a safety training manual for the wooden pallet industry. The NIOSH manual is targeted to small businesses and is designed to improve plant safety in the industry. The topics addressed in the manual’s chapters are noise, wood dust, proper ventilation, saw safety, ergonomics, fork lift safety and exposure to carbon dioxide.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on equipment safety, occupational health and ergonomics that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Encourage NWPCA members’ worksites to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including stationary and mobile equipment safety, occupational health, and ergonomics.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:

      • Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever NWPCA leaders address groups.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

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

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

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

        During this reporting period, the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    2. Executive Summary

      In the first year of the Alliance, OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH established a working relationship. Through the Alliance Program, OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH are working to reduce injuries and exposure to hazards in the workplace for the wooden pallet industry.

      OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH representatives spoke at conferences and meetings about the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance and OSHA’s cooperative programs. For example, on September 18, 2004 during the NWPCA 2004 Recycle and Repair Conference and Exposition, in St. Louis, Missouri, Francis Yebesi gave a presentation on OSHA’s cooperative programs and the OSHA - NWPCA Alliance to about 200 attendees.

      OSHA also created an OSHA - NWPCA Alliance Web page on the OSHA’s Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. In addition, information about the OSHA – NWPCA Alliance also appeared in print and online articles.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      September 18, 2004, NWPCA 2004 Recycle and Recycle Conference and Exposition, St. Louis, MO
      Speaker:
      • Francis Yebesi, OSHA, then Team Leader, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
      		 200
      June 7, 2004 - "Latest Alliance Unites OSHA, NIOSH and the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association"
      OSHA News Release      		 25 News Services
      June 7, 2004, "Latest Alliance Unites OSHA, NIOSH, National Wooden Pallet and Container Association; Will Focus on Ergonomics, Equipment"
      www.builderonline.com      		 Data not available
      June 9, 2004, "OSHA, NWPCA, NIOSH Form Alliance Focusing on Ergonomics, Equipment"
      www.occupationalhazards.com      		 Data not available
      June 10, 2004, "OSHA Announces Two New Alliances in Pyrotechnics, Wood Packaging Industries"
      BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter      		 Data not available
      June 11, 2004, "OSHA in Safety for Solid Wood Packaging Sector"
      www.paperloop.com      		 Data not available
      June 15, 2004, "OSHA Forms Three New National Alliances"
      OSHA QuickTakes, Volume 3, Issue 12      		 44,000
      June 2004, "OSHA Renews Six National Alliances, Pyrotechnics Among New National Alliances"
      Alliance Quarterly Review      		 100
      June 2004, "Safety and Health Agencies Sign Alliance Agreement with NWPCA"
      PalletCentral      		 Data not available
      February 22, 2005, NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference
      Speaker:
            Dr. Paul Schulte, NIOSH      		 200
      April 8, 2005, NWPCA South Central Regional Conference, Dallas, Texas
      Speaker:
            Adele Abrams, Consultant      		 250
      April 2005, "NWPCA Makes OSHA Compliance Easier"
      PalletCentral Magazine      		 Data not available
      July 5, 2004, "OSHA Alliances Focus on Ergonomics, Workplace Safety"
      www.safety.bir.com      		 Data not available
      OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance Web page 4,800
      Wood Products Industry Safety and Health Topics page Data not available
      TOTAL 49,550

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    The implementation team will continue discussions regarding the future of the OSHA, NWPCA and NIOSH Alliance and potential collaborative activities.

Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances, August 18, 2005