SPI - Alliance Annual Report - October 15, 2007

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI)
October 15, 2007

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    September 19, 2002

    Dates Renewed

    March 4, 2004

    November 3, 2005

    Overview

    The OSHA and SPI Alliance continues to focus on providing SPI's members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to promote machine safety, particularly in identifying machinery hazards and providing potential solutions to reduce injuries (e.g., lacerations, burns and amputations). In addition, the organizations are working together to raise awareness of hazard communication issues in the workplace.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Bill Coulehan
    Region V, Calumet City Area Office
    Cathy Cronin
    Directorate of Training and Education (OTE)
    John Hermanson
    Region VIII
    Chuck Lorish
    Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA)
    Lisa Ramber**
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Bill Shane
    MIOSHA
    Beth Sherfy*
    OOSA
    Doug Simon
    OTE
    Rob Swick***
    OOSA

    SPI:

    Sue Babler
    Placon Thermoforming Products
    Susan Howe
    SPI
    Valerie Kuster
    Illinois Tool Works
    Marie Martinko
    SPI
    Brian Schell
    Buckell Plastics Company
    John Schoenfield
    Placon Thermoforming Products
    Jim Washam
    SPI Consultant
    Wayne Wilson
    United Southern Industries, Inc.

    * Beth Sherfy served as the Alliance Coordinator until November 1, 2006
    ** Lisa Ramber served as the Alliance Coordinator from November 1, 2006 to January 8, 2007
    *** Rob Swick serves as the Alliance Coordinator since January 8, 2007

    Evaluation Period

    September 19, 2006 - September 18, 2007

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    November 2-3, 2006
    Implementation Team meeting
    November 15, 2006
    OSHA10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry Workgroup meeting (Workgroup meeting)
    April 17-18, 2007
    Implementation Team meeting
    May 4, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    May 18, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    June 8, 2007
    Implementation Team meeting
    June 8, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    June 22, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    July 16, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    August 7, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    August 21, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    September 5-6, 2007
    Implementation Team meeting
    September 5-6, 2007
    Workgroup meeting
    September 17, 2007
    Workgroup meeting

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for plastic industry employers and employees regarding machine guarding and lockout/tagout, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

      Events

      OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry

      The OSHA and SPI Alliance implementation team continued its development of an OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry that can be presented at OSHA's Education Centers and plastics industry employers can use in their workplaces to help educate their workers. When completed, the course will run approximately 11 hours and include the following modules:

      • Introduction of OSHA
      • Walking Working Surfaces
      • Exit Routes
      • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout
      • Hazard Communication
      • Noise Hazards
      • Electrical Hazards
      • Bloodborne Pathogens

      • Material Handling

      Outreach and Communication Goals

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

      Products

      OSHA Assistance for the Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page

      The following representatives from the OSHA and SPI Alliance are members of the editorial board of the OSHA Assistance for the Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics page:

      • Susan R. Howe, Vice President, Processors Counsel, SPI
      • John Schoenfield, Safety Manager, Placon Thermoforming Products

      • Wayne Wilson, Corporate Director of Safety/Training, United Southern Industries

      OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool

      The following representative from the OSHA and SPI Alliance is a member of the editorial board of OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool:

      • Susan R. Howe, Vice President, Processors Counsel, SPI

      Thermoforming Machines Module of OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool

      The OSHA and SPI Alliance implementation team continued to provide input into the development of the Thermoforming Machines module for OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool. The module identifies potential hazards and possible solutions associated with thermoforming machinery including the following procedures:

      • Setup
      • Roll Handling
      • Feed End Handling
      • Production
      • Form Station
      • Trim Station
      • Pick End Process
      • Stacker
      • Manual Packing and Inspecting
      • Scrap Rewinder
      • Guillotine Cutter
      • Web Grinders
      • Chain Rail
      • Heating Oven

      In addition, it includes a 360-degree tour of a thermoforming machine and identifies its machine guarding and lockout/tagout locations. The Thermoforming Machines module was finalized and posted to the OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool on the Agency's Web site on September 12, 2007.

      OSHA and SPI Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to update its OSHA and SPI Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes the OSHA and SPI Alliance agreement, renewal agreements, news releases, milestones and successes and information on meetings, conferences and training courses.

      SPI Worker Safety and Health Web Page on SPI's Web Site

      SPI's Web site has a Worker Health and Safety section that includes information on the Alliance and its accomplishments, including links to the training tools and electronic assistance products developed by the Alliance.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Articles about the OSHA and SPI Alliance have appeared in a number of printed and online publications, including Reliable Plant Magazine and OSHA's QuickTakes. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in this report.

      • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA and SPI conferences, such as NPE, local meetings, or other industry events.

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

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

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

      • Work with other Alliance participants on projects on hazard communication issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance.

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

    2. Executive Summary

      During the reporting period, OSHA and SPI renewed their Alliance and continued to work together through the Alliance to address machine safety hazards in the plastics manufacturing workplace. For example, the OSHA and SPI Alliance implementation team continued to provide input into the development of the Thermoforming Machines module for OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool. The module discusses the potential hazards associated with the thermoforming process and identifies possible solutions. In addition, it includes a 360-degree tour of a thermoforming machine and identifies its machine guarding and lockout/tagout locations. It was posted on OSHA's Web site on September 12, 2007.

      Through the Alliance, SPI and OSHA experts continue to use their expertise to review and provide ongoing comments on the OSHA Assistance for the Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics page and Machine Guarding eTool by serving on their editorial boards. OSHA also updated the OSHA and SPI Alliance Web page on its Web site with information about Alliance-related activities.

      Lastly, the Alliance continued its development of an OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry. After the training program is completed, it will be given to OSHA's Ed Centers to add to their course offerings. In addition, plastics industry employers can present the course in their workplaces to help educate their workers.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SPI Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 22,840
      SPI Alliance Web page on SPI's Web site Data Not Available
      Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page 20,284
      Machine Guarding eTool 36,482
      November 22, 2006: OSHA and Alliance Launch Safety and Health Web Page, CLEANLINK Data Not Available
      May 2007: Training on Materials Handling, News and Publications Data Not Available
      August 29, 2007: OSHA renews alliance with the Society of the Plastics Industry, OSHA News Release 69 News Services
      August 29, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with the Society of the Plastics Industry, Compliance Home Data Not Available
      August 30, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with the Society of the Plastics Industry, Jordo Media Data Not Available
      September 5, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with the SPI, ThomasNet - Industrial NewsRoom Data Not Available
      September 5, 2007: OSHA Renews Alliance with the Society of Plastics Industry, ThomasNet - Industrial NewsRoom Data Not Available
      September 6, 2007: OSHA, SPI Renew Alliance, The Daily Reporter Data Not Available
      September 12, 2007: OSHA announces release of new Thermoforming module, OSHA News Release 69 News Services
      September 13, 2007: OSHA Announces Release of Thermoforming Module, Reliable Plant Magazine Data Not Available
      September 15, 2007: Alliance Program News, QuickTakes 55,226
      TOTAL 134,812

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    During the upcoming year, OSHA and SPI will continue its training and outreach efforts and the development of compliance assistance tools and resources. For example, the Alliance will complete the development of the OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry. In addition, the Alliance will also develop a blow molding machine safety training course.

    The Alliance will also work to promote OSHA's Challenge Program and On-site Consultation Program by developing success stories and by hosting OSHA speakers to discuss these programs at SPI meetings, such as its Occupational Health & Environmental Issues Committee (OHEIC) meeting.

    Through the Alliance, SPI and OSHA experts will continue to use their expertise to review and provide comments on the OSHA Assistance for the Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics page and Machine Guarding eTool by serving on their editorial boards. OSHA will also continue to update the OSHA and SPI Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site with information about Alliance-related activities.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 15, 2007.