SPI - Alliance Close-Out Report - October 15, 2009

Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the
Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI)

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    September 19, 2002

    Dates Renewed

    March 4, 2004 - November 3, 2005 - August 29, 2007

    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:

    Cathy Cronin
    Directorate of Training and Education (DTE)
    John Hermanson
    Region III
    Eric Lahaie
    Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
    Bill Shane
    Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA)
    Doug Simon
    DTE
    Rob Swick
    DCSP
    Elizabeth (Bea) Way
    DCSP

    SPI:

    Sue Babler
    Director, Human Resources, Placon Thermoforming Products.
    Travis Ebel
    Safety, Plastic Ingenuity
    Natha Freiburg
    Director, Film and Bag Federation, SPI
    Susan Howe
    Vice President, Worker Health and Safety, SPI
    Valerie Kuster
    Safety Specialist, Illinois Tool Works
    Marie Martinko
    Technical Director, Environment and Health, SPI
    Brian Schell
    Safety Manager, Buckell Plastics Company
    John Schoenfield
    Safety Manager, Placon Thermoforming Products
    Doug Sten
    Corporate Safety Manager, Amcor PET Packaging, N.A. Consultant
    Jim Washam
    Corporate Director Safety/Training, United Southern
    Wayne Wilson
    Industries, Inc.

    Evaluation Period

    September 19, 2008 - September 18, 2009

  2. Implementation Team Meetings
    September 23, 2008 - OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry Workgroup meeting (Workgroup meeting)
    October 7, 2008 - Workgroup meeting
    March 18, 2009 - Implementation Team meeting
    July 14, 2009 - Workgroup meeting
    August 5, 2009 - Implementation Team 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 that 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 to OSHA
        • Walking/Working Surfaces
        • Exit Routes
        • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
        • Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout
        • Hazard Communication
        • Noise Hazards
        • Electrical Hazards
        • Bloodborne Pathogens
        • Material HandlingIntroduction to OSHA

        The OSHA and SPI Alliance Implementation Team is expected to finalize the development of the OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastics Processing Industry in the spring of 2010.

        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

        Through the Alliance Program, SPI worked with OSHA to develop the OSHA Assistance for the Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics page. The page was first posted on the OSHA Web site in September 2003. The following SPI representatives are continuing to serve on the editorial board for the page:

        • Susan R. Howe, Vice President, Worker Health & Safety, SPI
        • John Schoenfield, Safety Manager, Placon Thermoforming Products
        • Wayne Wilson, Corporate Director of Safety/Training, United Southern Industries

        OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool

        Through the Alliance Program, SPI worked with OSHA to develop the Plastics Machinery module for the OSHA Machine Guarding eTool. The module addresses typical machine guarding concerns regarding plastic manufacturing machinery. The Plastics Machinery module was added to the eTool in October 2003. In addition, SPI provided input into the development of the Thermoforming Machines sub-module for Plastics module. The Thermoforming Machines sub-module identifies potential hazards associated with thermoforming machinery and includes a 360-degree tour of a thermoforming machine. The Thermoforming Machines sub-module was finalized and added to the OSHA Machine Guarding eTool in September 2007.

        The following SPI representative is continuing to serve on the Machine Guarding eTool editorial board

        • Susan R. Howe, Vice President, Worker Health & Safety, SPI

         

        OSHA and SPI Alliance Web Page

        OSHA is continuing to update its OSHA and SPI Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and SPI Alliance agreement, renewal agreements, annual reports, news releases, and information on activities and events, and links to resources developed by SPI through the Alliance Program.

        SPI Worker Safety and Health Web Page

        The SPI 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 OSHA and SPI Alliance.

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

         

        Events

        NPE 2009 The International Plastic Showcase, June 22-26, 2009, Chicago, Illinois

        Bill Coulehan, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Calumet City, Illinois Area Office and representatives from the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education staffed an OSHA and SPI Alliance Program exhibit booth at the NPE 2009 The International Plastic Showcase, June 22-26, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois

        • 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 the reporting period, Susan Howe routinely promoted OSHA's cooperative programs in presentations to plastic industry safety and health professionals.

        Events

        OSHA Small Business Forum: "Challenges Small Businesses Face in Complying with Regulation," September 30, 2008, Washington, DC

        Susan Howe and Kyra Valle represented SPI at the OSHA Small Business Forum: "Challenges Small Businesses Face in Complying with Regulation," held September 30, 2008 in Washington, DC. The Forum, moderated by the DCSP Office of Small Business Assistance, addressed small business issues including how to provide a safe workplace for employees and comply with safety and health regulations while managing a host of other business demands. The Forum's speakers examined the challenges small businesses face and discussed ways to foster stronger relationships between small business and the regulatory community, including the use of On-Site Consultation.

        • 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 continued to work together through the Alliance to address machine safety hazards in the plastics manufacturing industry. For example, 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 the OSHA Education Centers to add to their course offerings. In addition, plastics industry employers will be able to present the course in their workplaces to help educate their workers.

      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.

    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

      6,233

      SPI Worker Safety and Health Web page

      Data Not Available

      Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page

      14,808

      Machine Guarding eTool

      35,791

      Total

      56,832

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    Based on discussions regarding the future of the Alliance, OSHA and SPI agreed to conclude the Alliance as of September 19, 2009. SPI will finalized the 10 Hour Outreach Training Program for the Plastic Processing Industry and post it on the SPI Web site.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 15, 2009.