Region 3 - Alliance Annual Report - December 17, 2012
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
THE CONSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
December 17, 2012
- Alliance Background
Date Signed: December 19, 2005
Date Renewed: December 14, 2007; December 15, 2009; December 20, 2011
Alliance Overview:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP) aligned to provide Council members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to the hazards associated with the heavy and highway construction industry.
Implementation Team Members:
Robert Miner - President, CAWP
Richard Barcaskey - Executive Director, CAWP
Jason Koss - Director of Industry Relations, CAWP
Robert Szymanski - Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Robert Carroll - Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office - Implementation Team Meetings
December 20, 2011 In-person Dormont PA April 5, 2012 In-person Dormont PA June 22, 2012 In-person Dormont PA August 31, 2012 Conference Call October 11, 2012 In-person Dormont PA December 6, 2012 In-person Dormont PA
- Activities and Products
Evaluation Period: December 17, 2011 to December 17, 2012
Alliance Activity.
December 20, 2011 - An Alliance Renewal was signed at the CAWP office.
April 5, 2012 - The Pittsburgh AO CAS met with the CAWP Director of Industry Relations to discuss and provide National Office information on Workers Memorial Day.
June 22, 2012 - The Pittsburgh AO CAS participated in the CAWP quarterly safety committee meeting. The CAS presented and provided handout information on heat stress, fall protection, GHS, fatality statistics, and an OSHA update.
September 6, 2012 - The Director of Industry Relations and member representatives attended a “Fall Protection” training course conducted by the Association of General Contractors (AGC) of America. This training was the result of a Susan Harwood Grant. Pittsburgh Area Office CSHOs attended the training. In addition, the CAS provided instructors with fall protection fact sheets, posters, and stickers. This event was a venue for the CSHOs and CAS to interact with the CAWP Director of Industry Relations and member representatives.
September 13, 2012 - At the PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days, the CAS presented information on excavation safety. In addition, the CAS and AAD staffed an information booth. The CAWP Director of Industry Relations and member representatives attended this event. The CAS and AAD met with the Director and member representatives and discussed issues and concerns on OSHA policies/procedures, work zone safety, and excavation safety.
September 13, 2012 - The CAS and AAD participated in a youth event promoting the importance of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry. T this annual event took place at the PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days. The CAS and AAD were two of the three judges in the Kids Construction Safety Calendar Contest. Participants were asked to color a picture showing their parent or relative working safely on a heavy and highway construction project. Before the children began to draw, parents or relatives were encouraged to talk to their children about the importance of safety on a project they had worked on, and the measures that were taken to ensure a safe working environment. Examples may have included discussions on the importance of personal protective equipment, highway work zone safety, trench safety, working around heavy equipment, fall protection, maintaining a drug-free workplace, and general safety awareness. This was a great opportunity to provide a positive outlet for discussion on what construction safety, as well as general safety, means for the entire family. Many of the participating children had relatives that were members of the Laborers, Operating Engineers and Carpenters. In addition to the various company members, the Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Carpenters Unions participated as sponsors of the Safety Calendar.
October 4, 2012 - The CAWP Director of Industry Relations participated in a focus group through a conference call with OSHA’s Directorate of Construction’s Office of Standard and Guidance to assist the agency with addressing the prevention of backover injuries and fatalities.
October 10, 2012 - The Pittsburgh Area Office e-mailed two safety alerts on a significant near miss involving a fiberglass extension ladder and a defective Miller harness D-ring attachment point to the CAWP Director of Industry Relations. The Director distributed these alerts to the Safety Committee via e-mail.
November 6, 2012 - The Pittsburgh Area Office e-mailed a safety alert on a safety deficiency with a Genie Lift to the CAWP Director of Industry Relations. The Director distributed this alert to the Safety Committee via e-mail.
The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania has quarterly Safety and Risk Committee meetings. These meetings not only work on planning future events, they act as a forum to exchange safety and health technical information and best practices. In addition, CAWP provides safety educational opportunities throughout the year for both members and non-members in the following areas: OSHA 10 hour, First Aid/CPR/AED, Mobile Crane Safety, Rigging, Confined Space, Trenching/Excavation, Fall Protection, Flagger Train-the-Trainer, and Accident Prevention for Supervisors, Defensive Driving, and DOT Compliance.
The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania is represented on all heavy and highway union joint apprenticeship committees operating in western Pennsylvania. The Association accomplishes this by appointing contractor members to each of these programs, which include the following trade unions: Carpenters, Cement Masons, Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Pile Drivers. In addition, a training fund is used for education of Teamsters. These committees are responsible for providing skilled construction workers through apprenticeship and training programs. Safety and Health information is promoted, supported and conveyed through these programs.
Alliance Products.
CAWP website was utilized to provide safety information and promote the various safety activities the organization conducts. The website has a link to the on-line safety training provided by the AGC of America. In addition, the website provided a link to OSHA’s website.
The Kids Construction Safety Calendar promoting the importance of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry has been a popular product. In addition, the photos from this calendar were placed on highway billboards throughout the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania areas during Workzone Awareness Week this past April. - Results
The activities provided during this evaluation period were well received. The member representatives and the recipients of the safety and health outreach activities/communications found the information valuable in assisting them in promoting and improving their safety and health efforts at their heavy and highway construction jobsites.
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained Information provided for Workers’ Memorial Day 5000 CAWP Quarterly Safety Meeting CAS presentation/handouts on heat stress, fall protection, GHS, fatality statistics 15 Fall Protection Training Course (Susan Harwood Grant) CAS provided fall protection fact sheets, posters, and stickers 60 PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days 200 Kids Construction Safety Calendar Distribution 1500 E-mail Safety Committee safety alerts 5000 Website page - link to OSHA’s 15,000 TOTAL 26,775 + Kids Construction Safety Calendar Promotions [Event advertising company estimated approx. three million people would have seen the billboards and news stories (Television and Newspaper)]
The individuals reached by the outreach activities/communication activities represent companies/unions with many employees/members that would be directly affected by the safety and health information provided. The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance continues to be very positive. - Upcoming Milestones
As a result of the positive working relationship between the Alliance signatories, an Alliance Renewal Agreement was signed on December 20, 2011. The Alliance is continually looking into future opportunities in providing information for affected parties through internet use, roundtable discussions and training sessions. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.
Report Prepared by: Robert Carroll, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Pittsburgh Area Office
For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.