• Region VI /
• Alliance Annual Report - October 14, 2016

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Corpus Christi Area Office,
Texas Department of Insurance (OSHCON)
And the
South Texas Exploration and Production Safety Network

October 14, 2016

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed

      The original alliance was signed October 20, 2004 with the latest re-signing occurring April 15, 2015.

   2. Evaluation Period

      October 2015 – October 2016

   3. Overview

      The STEPS alliance was formed to establish a collaborative relationship between the oil and gas onshore exploration and production industry and the OSHA Corpus Christi Area Office (CCAO) to improve the safety performance in South Texas. Through the years the alliance has expanded its effect beyond South Texas and Region VI and has fostered the formation of similar networks in Oklahoma, West Texas, East Texas, Fort Worth, Houston, South Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Wyoming, Illinois, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Dakota, Montana, California, Utah, and New York.

   4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Marianne McGee, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Corpus Christi Area Office

      OSHCON

      This position is open due to retirement of the Program Manager

      Alliance participant

      Chris Williams, Kennedy Wire Rope and Sling and the President of the South Texas STEPS Network. In addition, all officers and executive committee members of the South Texas STEPS Network

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • January 20, 2016
   • April 20, 2016
   • July 20, 2016

   In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from all groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

3. Results

   The following table summarizes the Alliance's activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement.

   Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: Goal 1: Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, regulatory agenda and rulemaking process.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training	OSHA's Inspection Process, Priorities, OSHCON, and Worker Rights	Oil and gas	60
   Training	OSHA update, the new electronic records submission, increased penalties, and the new silica standard	Oil and gas	50
   Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: Goal 2: Share information on safety and health laws and standards including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training	OSHA update, the new electronic records submission, increased penalties, and the new silica standard		50
   Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: Goal 3: Convene or participate in stakeholder meetings on safety and health hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Meeting	Participated in the National STEPS Network Emerging Issues meeting where silica exposure and tank gauging hazards were discussed and products were created.	Oil and gas	75
   Dissemination	Sent “Tank Gauging” hazard alert and “How Work on Oilfield Tanks” hazard alert to entire membership	Oil and gas	1,200
   Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: Goal 4: Promote the OSHCON Program
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training	OSHA's Inspection Process, Priorities, OSHCON, and Worker Rights	Oil and gas	60
   Training and Education: Goal 1: Deliver effective training for STEPS members regarding various safety and health topics for the industry.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training	Conducted a training session on the silica hazards associated with hydraulic fracturing.	Oil and gas	55
   Training	Conducted a training session on the hazards of tank gauging	Oil and gas	45
   Training and Education: Goal 2: Deliver effective training to promote an understanding of worker's rights, including the complaint process and employer's responsibilities.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training	OSHA's Inspection Process, Priorities, OSHCON, and Worker Rights	Oil and gas	60
   Outreach and Communication: Goal 1: Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA, OSHCON, STEPS, or conferences, meetings or other significant events.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Other	Served on the planning committee for the 2016 OSHA Oil and Gas Conference	Oil and gas	800
   Other	Served on the NIOSH NORA Oil and Gas Extraction Council	Oil and gas	1,000
   Outreach and Communication: Goal 2: Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding best practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Other	Assisted with the National STEPS Emerging Issues meetings where silica hazard and dust mitigation were discussed. Additionally, the hazards associated with tank gauging and hot work on oilfield tanks were addressed	Oil and gas	5,000
   Product	Participated in writing the Hot Work on Oilfield Tanks	Oil and gas	5,000
   Outreach and Communication: Goal 3: Work with others to continue the growth of the STEPS Network throughout the nation.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Other	Advised other networks on maintaining focus during the industry down turn.	Oil and gas	300
   TOTAL			[13755]

4. Evaluations

   An internal evaluation was performed on the alliance and recommendations were made. The current challenge is maintaining the alliance during the industry down turn where a large percentage of jobs in the industry were lost. The network has reached out to other industries and included them in our monthly meetings.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   The South Texas STEPS Networks plans to continue participating on the planning committee for the 2016 OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and Health Conference as well as on the NIOSH NORA Council.

   Due to the vast and effective efforts of the STEPS Network it is anticipated the alliance will be renewed in April 2017.

   Report prepared by: Marianne McGee, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Corpus Christi Area Office, October 14, 2016