Roadway - Alliance Annual Report - February 27, 2006

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition
February 27, 2006

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    November 18, 2003

    Overview

    Signatories of the Alliance are:

    • American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
    • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
    • Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
    • National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)

    • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and NIOSH are providing ARTBA, IUOE, LIUNA, and NAPA (The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition) members and other government and non-government organizations with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to roadway work zone safety and health hazards. The Alliance is focusing on a number of areas that include providing outreach and delivering train-the-trainer sessions and selected awareness/best practices modules and documenting and disseminating information and case studies that illustrate the business and social value for reducing work zone injuries and fatalities.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Todd Briggs
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Stew Burkhammer
    Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    Cathy Cronin
    Office of Training and Education
    Lisa Ramber
    OOSA
    Camille Villanova
    OCS

    NIOSH:
    David Fosbroke

    The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition:

    Una Connelly
    NAPA
    Don Elisburg
    NAPA
    Walter Jones
    LIUNA
    Emmett Russell
    IUOE
    Brad Sant
    ARTBA
    Scott Schneider
    LIUNA

    Guests:

    Justin Crandall
    Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
    Brian Deery
    AGC
    Chung Eng
    Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

    Evaluation Period

    November 17, 2004 - February 10, 2006

  2. January 28, 2005
    Implementation Team Meeting
    January 31, 2005
    Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting
    February 1, 2005
    Design for Safety Workgroup Meeting
    May 2, 2005
    Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting
    May 3, 2005
    Design for Safety Workgroup Meeting
    May 17, 2005
    Implementation Team Meeting
    July 19, 2005
    Design for Safety Workgroup Meeting
    August 1, 2005
    Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting
    October 27, 2005
    Implementation Team Meeting
    February 1, 2006
    Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting
    February 1, 2006
    Design for Safety Workgroup Meeting

  3. Results

    1. Products and Events

      Training and Education Goal

      • Develop hazard awareness training and education programs on roadway work zone safety and health issues targeted to Spanish-speaking and "hard-to-reach" highway construction contractor/workers, including toolbox talk modules and instructor manuals for train-the-trainer programs. The training and education programs may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

        Runovers/Backovers
        Noise
        Sprains and Strains
        Emergencies
        Working Outdoors (Heat & Cold Stress)
        Struck By
        Flaggers
        Operators
        Falls
        Nightwork
        Electrical
        Excavations
        Hand and Power Tools
        Rebar and Mat Work
        Blacktopping and Milling Work

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Develop and disseminate safety and health information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's, NIOSH's and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition members' Web sites and professional and trade journal articles. (This will include all relevant data on silica gathered from OSHA's Region II New Jersey Work Zone Coalition and any other silica information from the coalition's members.)

      Products

      Internal Traffic Control Plans Brochure

      The Alliance finalized the "Internal Traffic Control Plans," brochure in October 2005. Originally developed by the LIUNA and funded through a grant from NISOH, the brochure provides constructive steps for controlling the flow of vehicles within a construction work site. It includes the Alliance organizations' logos and the Alliance Program logo and will be distributed to Alliance Program participants and others as a product of the OSHA and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance.

      OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance Web Page

      The OSHA, NIOSH and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition 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.

      Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics Page:

      The following members of the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition are serving on the editorial board of OSHA's Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics page:

      • Una Connelly, NAPA
      • Travis Parsons, LIUNA
      • Emmett Russell, IUOE
      • Brad Sant, ARTBA
      • Scott Schneider, LIUNA

      • Jerry Teeler, ARTBA

      Roadway Safety Training Program

      The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition updated the Roadway Work Zone training program to include a version in Portuguese and incorporated the information from the Alliance developed "Internal Traffic Control Plans" brochure. The updated program was provided to OSHA's Directorate of Construction for distribution to OSHA staff including compliance assistance specialists.

      Highway Work Zone Safety Package

      The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition reviewed and provided input on OSHA's Directorate of Construction's Highway Work Zone Safety Package. The package will include the Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes booklet which was developed by OSHA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, a former Alliance Program participant. The package will also include a highway work zone poster, fact sheet, and Quick Card.

      • Speak, exhibit, and/or appear at occupational safety and health conferences, including federal, state and local highway and safety organizations, Public Works Association Meetings, The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition members' meetings and other forums appropriate to work zone safety and health.

      Events

      2005 ARTBA Conference and Exposition, Baltimore, Maryland, September 27-29, 2005

      On September 27, 2005, Stewart Burkhammer, P.E., CSP, OHST, Director of the Office of Construction Services, presented "Work Zone Safety" and updated the 2005 conference attendees on OSHA's regulatory and regional activities regarding work zone safety. He also reviewed OSHA's cooperative program activities, including the OSHA, NIOSH and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Alliance.

      National Safety Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida, September 21-23, 2005

      Representatives from the Alliance participated in a workshop at the 2005 National Safety Congress and Expo, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 22, 2005. The workshop, "An Overview of OSHA's Hispanic Outreach Initiative," was presented by Brad Sant of ARTBA; Lee Anne Jillings of OSHA; and Joe Reina of OSHA's Region IV Office. Workshop attendees were updated on OSHA's and the Alliance's outreach, education and training activities to Spanish-speaking workers in different industries including construction.

      • Provide outreach, deliver or arrange for the delivery of train-the-trainer sessions and selected awareness/best practices modules, as jointly determined by OSHA, NIOSH and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Heath Coalition that address, but are not limited to the above topics.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      • Cross-train OSHA and NIOSH personnel, highway construction industry safety and health professionals and selected other personnel (e.g. contractor, state DOT's, union locals, public works) in the content and delivery of the awareness/best practices modules; as jointly determined by OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      • Promote and encourage The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition members' and their affiliates' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      • Encourage The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition members and affiliates to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address selected work zone safety and health issues.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Convene or participate in forums sponsored by federal and state governments and other organizations (e.g. Federal Highway Administration, States' Department of Transportation and State Highway organizations) on work zone safety and health to encourage and help forge innovative solutions for reducing work zone safety and health injuries and fatalities and to focus on work zone safety and health issues at the national level.

      Construction Roundtable's Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups, Department of Labor, Washington, DC, February 1, 2006

      During the reporting period OSHA's Alliance Program Construction Roundtable's Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups held a number of meetings at the Labor in Washington, DC. Travis Parsons, LIUNA; and Walter Jones and Scott Schneider, Laborer's Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA), participated in the workgroup meetings.

      The Fall Protection Workgroup is working on a number of projects including:

      • Developed Fall Protection Safety Tip Sheets for Employers and Employees

      • Providing comments on the "Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry" training course, developed by OSHA's Office of Training and Education

      • Developing additional compliance assistance tools such as toolbox talks materials at the January 31, 2006 meeting

      The Design for Safety Workgroup is working on a number of projects including:

      • Developing a general PowerPoint® presentation on "Designing for Safety"

      • Developing case study on "Designing for Safety"

      • Developing a "Design for Safety" Web page

      • Developing a Design for Safety Training Course and an OSHA 10 Hour Course for engineers

      • Raise others' awareness of the need for and demonstrate commitment to work zone safety and health improvements whenever the leaders within The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition address groups.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      • Document and disseminate information and case studies that illustrate the business and social value for reducing work zone injuries and fatalities and publicize their results through various media including the Alliance participants' journals, news reports, and web postings.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.

      • Share research findings, with the construction industry, so that the interventions and best practices, as jointly defined to by OSHA, NIOSH and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition, that are described in training and outreach activities are based upon best-available scientific data.

      NIOSH Updates

      David Fosbroke, an implementation team member has provided the Alliance with information and updates on NIOSH's activities and research regarding work zone issues, including dust suppression systems and internal traffic and radar control systems.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA, NIOSH and the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition organizations built on the successful relationship that the associations had established with the agencies through their development of the Roadway Safety program and CD; funded through a Susan Harwood Training Grant. For example, the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition helped develop information for the program including a version in Portuguese and incorporated the information from the Alliance developed "Internal Traffic Control Plans" brochure. The updated program was provided to OSHA's Directorate of Construction for distribution to OSHA staff including compliance assistance specialists.

      Members of the Alliance coalition are sharing their work zone safety and health expertise by serving on the Editorial Board of OSHA's Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics Page.

      The Alliance coalition has also received updates from NIOSH on its activities regarding work zone activities. David Fosbroke has kept the group up-to-date on NIOSH's work zone related research and studies that address a number of work zone issues, including dust suppression systems and internal traffic and radar control systems.

      In addition, a number of presentations were made at conferences and meetings about the OSHA and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance, including Stew Burkhammer's presentation on September 27 at ARTBA's 2005 Conference and Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland. Stew updated the attendees on OSHA's regulatory and regional activities regarding work zone safety. He also reviewed OSHA's cooperative program activities, including the OSHA, NIOSH and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance.

      In addition, representatives from the Alliance's coalition participated in a workshop at the 2005 National Safety Congress and Expo on September 22, 2005 in Orlando, Florida. Members of the group also attended the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroup meetings at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA, NIOSH and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Web site 4,313
      OSHA Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics Page Data not available
      September 22, 2005, National Safety Congress and Expo, Orlando, Florida, September 21-23, 2005

      Speakers:
      Lee Anne Jillings, OSHA
      Brad Sant, ARTBA      		 20
      September 27, 2005, ARTBA 2005 Conference and Exposition, Baltimore, Maryland, September 27-29, 2005

      Speaker:
      Stewart Burkhammer, OSHA      		 230
      TOTAL 4,563

  4. Alliance Conclusion

    OSHA, NIOSH and the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition are working together to sign a new Alliance agreement with additional signatories; Association for General Contractors (AGC) and the Federal Highway Transportation Safety Administration. As a result, OSHA and the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition agreed to conclude the Alliance signed November 18, 2003 as of February 10, 2006.

    After the Alliance is signed, the participants will be working on a number of compliance assistance, outreach and training projects. The group will be discussing developing activities and programs to help protect employees' including Spanish-speaking and "hard-to-reach" workers health and safety and reduce and prevent exposure to roadway work zone safety and health hazards. The Alliance will particularly focus on flagger safety, safer deployment of traffic control devices, positive protection, night work, work zone speeding and runovers/backovers.

Report prepared by: Todd Briggs, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 27, 2006