1. Alliance Background
   
   Date Signed
   
   December 4, 2002
   
   Overview
   
   The ASSE Alliance focuses on reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by providing information and guidance and sharing best practices and technical knowledge on how to reduce and prevent employee exposure to ergonomic hazards and develop, implement, or improve ergonomic programs. The goals of the Alliance include:

Outreach and Communication

• Share information through educational opportunities and provide the best and most up-to-date information regarding ergonomics and MSDs.
  
  
• Participate in stakeholder groups and other forums to provide input into the development of workplace ergonomic programs and MSD guidelines.
  
  
• Establish avenues and processes for ASSE members to mentor and assist OSHA personnel as they work on professional certification.

Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

• Develop and disseminate information addressing ergonomics at conferences and events, through print and electronic media and OSHA's and ASSE's web sites.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit and/or appear at conferences, local meetings, and/or other events in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of ergonomic programs.
  
  
• Participate in forums and roundtable discussions to help develop innovative solutions to ergonomic and MSD issues in the workplace.
  

Implementation Team Members
ASSE: Bob DiSiervo Dave Heidorn Mark Hansen	Director, Professional Affairs Manager, Government Affairs and Policy Past President
OSHA: Dick Clark Cathy Cronin Lee Anne Jillings Lisa Ramber	Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC) Office of Training and Education Office of Outreach Services and Alliances Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
Contributors: Leighton Hill	Contractor for OSHA, SLTC

Evaluation Period

December 4, 2002 through December 3, 2003

2. Implementation Team Meetings

January 15, 2003

Implementation Team seminar

While formal implementation team meetings were not held on a quarterly basis, Lisa Ramber, the Alliance coordinator, and David Heidorn, ASSE, spoke regularly on the phone to discuss and plan the activities and programs listed under events and products.

3. Events and Products
   
   Outreach and Communication
   
   Events
   
   
   • ASSE Professional Development Conference (PDC) & Exposition, June 23 - 26, 2003, Denver, CO
     
     OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gary Visscher spoke during the plenary session on June 23, 2003 and reviewed OSHA's strategies for improving safety and health in the workplace.
     
     A Mentoring Reception was held on June 23 at the 2003 PDC for OSHA staff interested in achieving professional safety and health certification. The session was attended by OSHA's Deputy Assistant Secretary Gary Visscher; Paula O. White, Director of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs; ASSE's President Mark Hansen and Government Relations Committee Chairman Emory Knowles. In addition, representatives from ASSE's regional chapters attended the reception to answer questions regarding certification.
     
     On June 24, Paula O. White presented "Cooperative Efforts with OSHA" during a workshop. In addition, OSHA exhibited during the conference and distributed 1,000 CDs.
     
     
   • 2nd Annual OSHA Compliance Assistance Conference, Tysons Corner Marriott, Vienna, Virginia, June 9-13, 2003.
     
     ASSE participated as an exhibitor
   
   Products
   
   
   • ASSE Web page
     
     ASSE developed and posted a page on the OSHA and ASSE Alliance on the association's web site. The page includes information on the three areas the Alliance is, and will be, addressing in 2004: ergonomics, safety and health professionalism and youth workers.
   
   
   
   • ASSE Ergonomics Task Force
     
     To address the ergonomics goals of the Alliance, ASSE established a member-driven Ergo Task Force of leading ergonomics practitioners and researchers to lead the association's efforts. Following are the ASSE members that are serving on the task force:
     • Mark Hansen
     • Lawrence Schulze
     • Phil Jacobs
     • Jim Vick
     • Marsie De Oliviera
     
     
   • ASSE Ergo Resources Project
     
     ASSE developed a list of links to ergonomic resources that is posted on the association's Web site.
     
   • ASSE Government Affairs Update
   
   
   ASSE's e-newsletter is distributed on an as needed basis to ASSE's Chapter Chairs, leaders and others interested in government affairs and recent regulatory and legislative activities. This newsletter includes information on the Alliance Program and/or OSHA's activities when appropriate.
   
   • OSHA and ASSE Alliance Web Page
   
   
   The OSHA and ASSE Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site contains information on the Alliance, Products and Resources, Activities and Events, and Milestones and Successes. The page is updated regularly.
   
   
   • December 4, 2002 -- OSHA distributed a news release announcing the Alliance.
   
   
   
   • December 4, 2002 -- ASSE distributed a press release announcing the Alliance.
     
     
   • December 9, 2002 -- Article on the Alliance published by Inside OSHA's www.InsideHealthPolicy.com "ASSE and OSHA Sign Alliance to Reduce Exposure to Ergonomic Hazards."
     
     
   • December 9, 2002 -- Article on the Alliance published by the e-newsletter www.OccupationalHazards.com "OSHA Promotes Alliances with OHS Organizations."
     
     
   • December 12, 2002 -- Article on the Alliance published by the Occupational Safety and Health Reporter "Safety Engineers Sign Pact with OSHA: OSHA Creates Web Page on Alliances."
     
     
   • December 15, 2002 -- OSHA includes information on the OSHA/ASSE Alliance signing in its bi-weekly e-newsletter; QuickTakes.
     

Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

Events
• Second Annual OSHA Compliance Assistance Conference, June 9-13, 2003
  
  Mark Hansen, speaking on behalf of ASSE, discussed the value and benefits of achieving professional certification during a conference workshop, "Achieving Professional Certification," that was presented two times on Wednesday, June 11, 2003. The session also covered the qualifications and requirements that industrial hygiene or safety professionals must meet to be awarded the certifications and mentoring opportunities that are available for OSHA staff. Members of the workshop panel included Frank Renshaw, speaking on behalf of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (an Alliance participant) and Stew Burkhammer for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (signed an Alliance on September 26, 2003).
  
  
Products
• Ergo Value Project
  
  ASSE's Ergonomics Task Force is asking its members for assistance in an initiative to collect information on how to measure and demonstrate the value of ergonomics in the workplace. The association is seeking information on cost justification and value analysis for ergonomic improvement efforts and is asking its membership to answer a series of questions. After the information is gathered, it will be analyzed and a report will be produced.
  
  
4. Results
   
   While both ASSE and OSHA initially spent time a great deal of time discussing and determining how to best use this Alliance to have the greatest impact on safety and health in the workplace, a number of activities and outreach efforts were undertaken and accomplished.
   
   The OSHA/ASSE mentoring reception for professional certification that was held during ASSE's 2003 PDC was a direct result of OSHA and ASSE coming together through the Alliance and discussing how the association could use its expertise to benefit OSHA staff seeking safety and health professional certification. All of the individuals involved, both in the planning and those who attended, agreed that it was an excellent opportunity for networking. The reception will now be held annually on the first night of the conference. In addition, ASSE's president, Mark Hansen participated in the Second Annual OSHA Compliance Assistance Conference and took part in a very well-received workshop on "Achieving Professional Certification."
   
   The Alliance also encouraged ASSE to begin new outreach efforts to provide information to the public regarding ergonomics and to gather information from its members on demonstrating the value of ergonomics. Recognizing that it needed to bring together experts to provide information and assistance, the association formed a new Ergonomics Task Force.
   
   ASSE is also using the information that is provided to Alliance Program participants in its regular e-newsletter, Government Affairs Update. 
   
   The Association's chapters are also recognizing the value of working together with OSHA through the Alliance Program and are signing agreements with OSHA's Region's and Area Offices. Two Alliances that were signed during the reporting year are:
   

Region I

OSHA Region I and the New England Chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers (NEA ASSE) (signed December 2, 2003) Through the Alliance the organizations are providing NEA ASSE members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to occupational safety hazards such as those associated with machinery operations, electrical equipment, lockout/tagout systems, confined spaces, powered industrial trucks and fall protection.

Region VI

OSHA Houston North and South Area Offices, ASSE - Gulf Coast Chapter, Texas Engineering Extension Service and the Houston Independent School District (HISD) (signed May 7, 2003) Through the Alliance, the organizations are using their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge and promoting occupational safety and health for students of HISD who may be employed or soon to be employed to increase hazard recognition and elimination of potential hazards and/or injuries.

Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
ASSE Professional Development Conference (PDC) & Exposition, Denver, CO, June 23, 2003 Plenary Session Speaker: OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gary Visscher	2,900
OSHA and the ASSE Mentoring Session during the Professional Development Conference (PDC) & Exposition, Denver, CO, June 23, 2003	30
ASSE Professional Development Conference (PDC) & Exposition, Denver, CO, June 23, 2003 Workshop: "Cooperative Efforts with OSHA" Speaker: Paulo O. White	30
Second Annual OSHA Compliance Assistance Conference, Tysons Corner Marriot, Vienna, Virginia, June 9-13, 2003 Workshop presented two times on June 11: Achieving Professional Certification	200
ASSE Website, OSHA/ASSE web page	Data not available
OSHA and ASSE Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site	4,000
December 15, 2002 - OSHA includes information on the OSHA/ASSE Alliance signing in its bi-weekly e-newsletter, Quiktakes	35,000
December 12, 2002 - Article on the Alliance published by Occupational Safety and Health Reporter "Safety Engineers Sign Pact with OSHA: OSHA Creates Web Page on Alliances"	Data not available
December 9, 2002 - Article on the Alliance published by Inside OSHA's www.InsideHealthPolicy.com "ASSE and OSHA Sign Alliance to Reduce Exposure to Ergonomic Hazards"	Data not available
December 9, 2002 - Article on the Alliance published by e-newsletter www.OccupationalHazards.com "OSHA Promotes Alliances with OHS Organizations"	Data not available
December 4, 2002 - OSHA press release announcing Alliance	25 News Services
December 2002 - ASSE press release announcing Alliance	Data not available
ASSE Government Affairs Update - The association's regular e-newsletter	Data not available
TOTAL	42,385

5. Upcoming Milestones
   
   OSHA and ASSE have agreed to renew the Alliance and to add youth workers as an additional focus of the Alliance. During the upcoming year, the Alliance implementation team will work with Directorates within OSHA and ASSE's Chapters to address this issue, develop programs, distribute information and advance awareness of safety issues for youth workers. In addition, the association will become more involved in OSHA's programs and activities, like the development of OSHA eTools.
   
   ASSE's 2004 PDC "Safety 2004 Advancing the EH & S Profession," in Las Vegas, NV, will be a focus of the Alliance's activities. A Mentoring Reception for professional certification will be held June 7 for OSHA representatives. OSHA's Assistant Secretary John Henshaw is scheduled to speak during the Plenary Session, June 8, 2004. On June 9, Paula O. White, OSHA, Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, is scheduled to take part in a workshop "VPP: Leaders in Safety & Health Excellence." The workshop will provide an overview of the VPP, discuss the requirements for participation and share the benefits of involvement from government and private sector representatives. Stew Burkhammer, OSHA's Director of the Office of Construction Services, will present an "OSHA Construction Update," on June 9. OSHA will also have a booth in the exhibition hall.
   
   The association will continue to work with OSHA to build safety and health professionalism by encouraging OSHA staff to take advantage of professional safety and health certifications and educational opportunities. OSHA is preparing core competencies for the training of OSHA staff and ASSE will review the information and provide input once a draft is available. Working with other Alliance participants to address the business case for safety and heath (e.g. Board of Safety and Health Professionals) has also been discussed.

Report prepared by:

Lisa Ramber, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, January 24, 2004