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American Pyrotechnics Association |
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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
American Pyrotechnics Association (APA)
September 1, 2005 |
I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
June 9, 2004
Overview
The OSHA and American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Alliance focuses on providing APA members, OSHA
personnel, and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to
training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in
reducing and preventing accidents involving the manufacturing, transportation, storage, sale, and
handling of commercial display fireworks and consumer fireworks and the use of commercial display
fireworks.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
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Dale Caldwell
Bob Curtis
Mat Chibbaro
Beau Ellis
Mark Hagemann
Rick Harris
Lee Anne Jillings
Bob Nester
Lisa Ramber
Lee Smith
Michael Walterschied
Sherman Williamson |
Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA)
Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)
DSG
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
OOSA
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
OOSA
DSG
DEP
DEP |
| |
|
| Contributors: |
|
| |
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| Paul Murphy |
SLTC/OSHA Contractor |
| |
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| APA: |
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| |
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Phil Grucci
Julie Heckman
Gregg Smith |
Fireworks by Grucci, Inc.
Executive Director
Safety Manager |
Evaluation Period
June 9, 2004 – June 7, 2005
II. Implementation Team Meetings
August 9, 2004
December 12, 2004
March 2, 2005
April 1, 2005
June 3, 2005 |
Kick off Meeting
Team Meeting
Team Meeting
Conference Call
Team Meeting |
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education Goal
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on the safe and
proper use of commercial display fireworks products. These programs would be delivered to OSHA
personnel and other interested parties.
Event
Display Pyrotechnics Training Sessions
APA conducted three one-day pyrotechnics safety training seminars for OSHA staff and local fire and
public enforcement officials. Approximately 90 attendees participated in the training seminars which
were conducted by Gregg Smith, APA's Safety Manager as follows:
- May 24, 2005, Jacksonville, Florida
- June 2, 2005, Arlington Heights, Illinois
- June 7, 2005, Mesquite, Texas
Topics discussed at the seminars included a review of applicable codes and regulations regarding the
sale, manufacture, storage and transportation of consumer fireworks and industry best practices at
public fireworks display sites. The seminar also covered fireworks display site safety and
management and discussed types of displays (e.g. aerial, low level, land, floating platform and
barge), display site venues and permits, equipment types and set-ups, personal protective equipment,
lead pyrotechnician responsibilities and dealing with emergencies on the display site. The attendees
also heard an overview of the Safe Explosives Act and its impact on the professional fireworks
industry. This training was built on the successes of a similar training session which was held on
June 8, 2004 in Washington, DC at the Department of Labor.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- APA will provide expertise to OSHA to develop and disseminate information through print and
electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's and APA's Web sites.
Products
OSHA Assistance for the Pyrotechnics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page
Members from the OSHA - APA Alliance implementation team provided information, photographs,
fireworks industry safety videos and comments to OSHA for the development of OSHA's Assistance for
the Pyrotechnics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page.
The Topics page divides the fireworks industry into four modules: Retail Sales, Display,
Manufacturing and Transportation. The Retail Sales and Display modules, which were posted to OSHA's
Web site in June 2004, provide information on common hazards associated with these areas and solutions to those hazards.
The page also provides information on what regulations apply to the industry and where to find
additional information. The Manufacturing and Transportation Modules are planned for future
development.
The following APA representatives are members of the page's editorial board:
- Julie Heckmann - Executive Director
- Gregg Smith - Safety Manager
- Phil Grucci - Fireworks by Grucci, Inc.
OSHA and APA Alliance Web Page
OSHA developed an OSHA and APA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes
hyperlinks to the OSHA and APA Alliance agreement, news releases, a photograph of the signing
ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. For more
information on the number of visits to the OSHA and APA Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance
Program Reach table in Section C of this report.
APA and OSHA Alliance Web Page
APA established an APA - OSHA Web page, which links to the OSHA - APA Alliance Web page on OSHA's
Web site. A link to the OSHA - APA Alliance also appears on the APA Web site home page. In addition,
the APA Web page also links to OSHA's resources on its Web site such as the OSHA Assistance for the
Pyrotechnics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page and two fireworks posters: Fireworks Safety Tips
Retail Sales and Fireworks Safety Tips Display Operators. Also, links have been established to
OSHA's Fireworks Pocket Card.
Fireworks Safety Tips Posters for Display Operators and Retail Fireworks Sales
Two fireworks safety tips posters were developed by OSHA for display operators and retail fireworks
sales with input from APA. The Display Operators poster provides safety tips information which
includes, personnel safety and personal protective equipment, safe handling and storage of fireworks
at display site. The Retail Fireworks Sales poster provides safety tips including information on
clear, accessible exit routes, fire extinguisher locations and operation, removal of hazardous
pyrotechnic powder and damaged fireworks and securing the facility by not allowing smoking within 50
feet of the sales area.
Fireworks Safety Outreach
OSHA's Region X staff provided copies of the retail fireworks sales posters to Native American
tribes, who maintain retail fireworks sales outlets on their reservations. Through sharing the
fireworks posters, Region X staff was able to establish a working relationship with the Native
American tribes. This relationship has flourished and Region X staff is pursuing efforts to provide
more safety and health information and outreach and compliance assistance materials to the tribal
businesses.
Fireworks Safety Tips Pocket Card for Display Operators and Retail Sales
A Fireworks Safety Tips pocket card was produced in June 2005 and was developed by OSHA with input
from APA. The pocket card provides the same information as the two fireworks posters. One side of
the pocket card provides information for display operators and the other side provides information
for retail fireworks sales. In addition, the Fireworks Safety Tips Pocket card was the sixth most
visited OSHA publication on OSHA's Web site in June 2005 with 5,217 visitors viewing the card.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or APA events such as APA's Winter Educational Conference, Fall
Annual Meeting, local meetings, or other events.
Events
APA Third Annual Winter Education Conference, February 22-26, 2005, Treasure Island Resort, Las
Vegas, Nevada
On February 23, 2005, Emil Golias, Senior Industrial Hygienist, SLTC, and Gregg Smith, APA Safety
Manager, conducted a workshop on OSHA's Compliance Assistance resources for more than 125 attendees.
Topics of the workshop included hazard communication, personal protective equipment, forklift safety
and recordkeeping issues.
APA's Fifty-Sixth Annual Convention and Trade Show, September 29-30, 2004, Disney Yacht and Beach
Club, Orlando, Florida
On September 29 and 30, 2004, Lee Smith, Director of the Office of Safety Systems, DSG and Mat
Chibbaro, Fire Protection Engineer, DSG participated in roundtable discussions on display operators
and consumer retail fireworks sales safety and health issues that impact on the pyrotechnics
industry. There were approximately 150 attendees at these events.
- Promote and encourage APA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance
assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and
Health Achievement Recognition Program.
OSHA's Consultation Program
OSHA has provided APA with information on OSHA's Consultation Program. In addition, the OSHA and APA
implementation team members are identifying other avenues to raise awareness of OSHA's small
business resources, including workshops and presentations.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding APA
best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by APA and through
OSHA- or APA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other
applicable forum).
Please see the Training and Education Goal section for information on the Display Pyrotechnics
Training Sessions.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to fireworks display
site safety and other occupational hazards associated with fireworks manufacture, distribution, and
retail sales establishments that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
During this reporting period, the OSHA and APA Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on
programs or projects to address this goal.
- Encourage APA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address
health and safety issues, including occupational hazards related to fireworks display operators.
During this reporting period, the OSHA and APA Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on
programs or projects to address this goal.
Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:
- Raise industry awareness and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health
whenever APA leaders address groups.
During this reporting period, the OSHA and APA Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on
programs or projects to address this goal.
- Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and
publicize their results.
During this reporting period, the OSHA and APA Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on
programs or projects to address this goal.
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on fireworks
issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health
issues.
During this reporting period, the OSHA and APA Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on
programs or projects to address this goal.
- Executive Summary
In the first year of the Alliance, OSHA and APA established an excellent working relationship.
Through their Alliance, OSHA and APA are working to reduce injuries and exposure to hazards in the
pyrotechnics industry workplaces.
OSHA developed an OSHA and APA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes
links to the OSHA and APA Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing
ceremony, and activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. APA also
established an APA - OSHA Web page, which links to the OSHA - APA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web
site.
The Alliance implementation team also worked together to provide the Agency with input on the
development of an OSHA electronic assistance tool; OSHA Assistance to the Pyrotechnics Industry
Safety and Health Topics page. The page addresses common hazards of the fireworks industry for
retail sales and display operators. In addition, the page provides information on possible solutions
to those hazards and information on additional safety and health resources pertinent to the
industry. The tool was posted on OSHA's Web site in June 2004. In addition, Julie Heckman, Gregg
Smith and Phil Grucci have joined the editorial board for the Topics page.
Through the Alliance, OSHA and APA representatives conducted a training workshop on OSHA's
compliance assistance resources at the APA Third Annual Winter Education Conference in Orlando,
Florida. More than 125 attendees participated in the workshop. Further, OSHA and APA representatives
answered attendees' questions and distributed publications to the attendees.
Also, OSHA and APA developed two fireworks safety tips posters for the pyrotechnics industry. The
posters provide safety tips information for display operators and retail fireworks sales. The
posters were used as the basis for the development of a fireworks safety pocket card. Copies of the
posters and the pocket card can be ordered from OSHA's Publications Web page on the Agency's Web
site. In addition, the two fireworks posters were instrumental in Region X establishing a working
relationship with Native American tribes who maintain retail fireworks sales sites on their
reservations.
Further, the OSHA and APA implementation team worked together to produce curriculum for training
sessions for OSHA staff and local public fire and enforcement officials. The training sessions were
conducted in Dallas, TX; Arlington Heights, IL; and Jacksonville, FL. Approximately 90 attendees
participated in the training seminars.
The training sessions have increased the OSHA, state and local fire and enforcement code officials'
knowledge of the pyrotechnics industry. The seminars introduced OSHA staff and enforcement officials
to the industry best practices for the safe handling, use, transportation and storage of
pyrotechnics. In addition, OSHA staff gained in-depth knowledge of the pyrotechnics industry through
access to APA's experts.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity |
Number of Individuals Reached |
July 1, 2004, "OSHA Introduces Pyrotechnic Safety Web
Page"
BNA Occupational Safety and Health |
Data not available |
July 1, 2004, "New Web Pages on Fireworks Safety
debut in Time for Independence Day Celebrations"
OSHA QuickTakes - Volume 3, Issue 13 |
48,600 |
July 2004, "The Pyrotechnics Industry, a Short Guide
to Selected Resources"
Library of Congress, Business Resources Services
loc.gov |
Data Not Available |
| Fireworks Poster: Display Operators |
10,000 |
| Fireworks Poster: Retail Fireworks Sales |
10,000 |
| Fireworks Pocket Card: Display Operators and Retail
Fireworks Sales |
10,000 |
May 15, 2005, "New Publications Highlight Trenching,
Fireworks Safety"
OSHA Quick Takes - Volume 4, Issue 10 |
55,940 |
May 19, 2005, "OSHA Posts Fireworks Cards"
BNA Occupational Safety and Health |
Data not available |
June 6, 2005, "New Trenching and Fireworks
Publications Issued"
hr.cch.com |
Data not available |
| OSHA's Assistance for the Pyrotechnics Industry,
Safety and Health Topics Page |
21,000 |
| APA 56th Annual Convention and Trade Show, September
29-30, 2004, Orlando, FL |
500 |
| OSHA and APA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site |
4,800 |
| APA and OSHA Alliance Web page on APA's Web site |
Data not available |
| TOTAL |
214,657 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
In the upcoming year, OSHA and APA will continue its excellent working relationship and collaborate
on projects to support the Alliance agreement. For example, APA will conduct a fourth display
pyrotechnics training session in Harrisburg, PA on applicable codes and regulations regarding the
sale, manufacture, storage and transportation of consumer fireworks and industry best practices at
public fireworks display sites. The session will cover fireworks display site safety and management
and discuss types of displays (e.g. aerial, low level, land, floating platform and barge), display
site venues and permits, equipment types and set-ups, personal protective equipment, lead
pyrotechnician responsibilities and dealing with emergencies on the display site. The attendees will
also hear an overview of the Safe Explosives Act and its impact on the professional fireworks
industry. The training is scheduled to take place on June 9, 2005.
In addition, APA will promote OSHA's cooperative programs to its membership by providing an OSHA
developed article on the Consultation Program in the association's newsletter.
OSHA and APA will present a workshop on OSHA's Consultation Program at APA's Annual Meeting and
Trade Show, September 2005 in San Francisco, CA. In addition, OSHA will participate in an
interactive question and answer forum at the meeting and OSHA will also exhibit at the trade show.
Through the Alliance, OSHA and APA will continue efforts to update OSHA's Assistance for the
Pyrotechnics Industry Safety and Health Topics page. APA members Julie Heckman, Gregg Smith and Phil Grucci will continue as members of the editorial board and will provide feedback as appropriate.
OSHA and APA will continue to raise awareness of safety and health issues pertinent to the
pyrotechnics industry through joint activities. For example, OSHA and APA Alliance implementation
team members and representatives from the Department of Agriculture are developing a pocket card on
the safe use of pyrotechnics as pest control measures. Once the draft pocket card is finalized.
APA's experts will review the card for accuracy and provide feedback as appropriate.
The OSHA and APA Alliance will consider opportunities to promote and educate others on safety and
health issues associated with the pyrotechnics industry, such as APA's annual conventions and trade
shows and APA's educational conferences.
OSHA will continue efforts with the United State Agricultural Department to develop a fireworks
pocket card on the safe use of fireworks as a pest control measure. APA will provide expertise by
reviewing the pocket card for accuracy and content once it is finalized.
Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances,
September 1, 2005
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