Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and American Shipbuilding Association (ASA)
August 13, 2008
I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
July 15, 2003
Date Renewed
January 13, 2006
August 22, 2007
Evaluation Period
July 16, 2006 – July 15, 2007
Overview
Through the OSHA and ASA Alliance, the organizations are using their collective expertise to help advance a culture of injury and illness prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge and promoting safe and healthful working conditions for shipyard employees.
Implementation Team Members
OSHA:
Todd Briggs
Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP), Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Steve Butler
Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), Office of Maritime Enforcement (OME)
Paul Comolli
DEP, OME
Joe Daddura
Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG), Office of Maritime Standards (OMS)
Debra Gabry
Directorate of Science Technology and Medicine, Office of Science and Technology Assessment
Lisa Ramber
DCSP, OOSA
Amy Wangdahl
DSG, OMS
Danielle Watson
DSG, OMS
Elizabeth Way
DCSP, OOSA
ASA:
Stacy P. Ballow
General Counsel, ASA
Jim Thornton
Director, Environment, Health & Safety, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems – Newport News Operation
II. Implementation Team Meetings
October 25, 2007
Joint Implementation Team Meeting with National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) and Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) Alliances
November 19, 2007
Safety Alert: Electrocution, Teleconference
January 16, 2008
Safety Alert: Electrocution, Teleconference
January 24, 2008
Joint Implementation Team Meeting with NSRP and
SCA Alliances
May 6, 2008
Joint Implementation Team Meeting with NSRP and
SCA Alliances
In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance’s progress and results.
III. Results
Events and Products
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 ASA’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
Products
OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page
OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Agency Web site. It includes the OSHA and ASA Alliance agreements, news releases, activities and events and milestones and successes
Publications and Newsletters
Articles on the OSHA and ASA Alliance activities have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: the OSHA Alliance Quarterly Review and QuickTakes, MarineLog, ThomasNet - Industrial NewsRoom, and The Daily Reporter. For more information see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
Stacy P. Ballow, General Counsel, ASA; Washington, DC
James Thornton, Northrop Grumman-Newport News; Newport News, VA
Shipbuilding and Repair Safety and Health Topics page
James Thornton, Northrop Grumman-Newport News; Newport News, VA
Shipyard Employment eTool
Jim Thornton, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety; North Grumman Corporation - Newport News; Newport News, VA
Bob Watson; NASSCO; San Diego, CA
Shawn Wilkerson; Northrop Grumman Ship Systems-Avondale Operations.; New Orleans, LA
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ASA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ASA and through OSHA- or ASA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Events
OSHA Business of Small Business Forum: "Safety and Health Issues in the Maritime Industry," September 14, 2007, Washington, DC
On September 14, 2007, representatives from Alliance Program participants ASA and SCA, addressed safety and health issues of employees in small and medium-sized shipyards during the OSHA Business of Small Business Forum: "Safety and Health Issues in the Maritime Industry" at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Jim Thornton, Director of Environmental, Health and Safety at Northrop Grumman Corporation-Newport News in Newport News, Virginia and representing ASA, described his organization’s management and employee engagement in workplace safety and health. His presentation showed that a strong safety and health program helped his company’s facility reduce injuries and illnesses.
Products
Success Story: OSHA Region IV Mobile, Alabama Area Office Alliance Develops Courses in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Maritime Industry
Representatives from the OSHA and ASA Alliance participate in the OSHA Region IV Mobile, Alabama Area Office Gulf Coast Maritime Safety Alliance (with the Gulf Coast Maritime Safety Association, the Alabama chapter of the Physical Therapy Association and the Alabama Technology Network). The Alliance collaborated with representatives from the OSHA Training Institute Education Center (Ed Center) at the University of South Florida, the OSHA Directorate of Training Education and the OSHA National Office to develop the OSHA Maritime Industry Outreach Training Program. The Program is similar to the existing programs for general industry and construction but includes health hazard recognition in the targeted areas of shipyard employment, marine terminals and longshoring. OSHA developed a success story about the Alliance’s efforts which was posted on the Agency Web site in March 2008.
Promote and encourage ASA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
The OSHA and ASA Alliance has not started work on programs or projects during this reporting period.
Work with other Alliance participants on specific maritime industry issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
Products
Safety Alert: Electrocution and Shock Hazards in Shipyard Employment
Through the Alliance Program, ASA worked with representatives from the NSRP, SCA, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Alliances to develop "Safety Alert: Electrocution and Shock Hazards in Shipyard Employment." The Safety Alert provides tips and reminders about what potentially hazardous situations to look for; and also lists instructions on preventing and eliminating electrical safety and shock hazards. In addition, the Alert illustrates examples of dangerous situations. It was posted on the SCA Web site in January 2008 and the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site link to the document.
Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment
Through the Alliance Program, ASA is working with representatives from the NSRP, SCA, AIHA and ASSE Alliances to develop "Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment" The Alert will focus how to use LOTO procedures to protect employees from the dangers posed while they are working on or near electrical circuits and equipment during the servicing and maintenance of machines and electrical systems on ships and at shipyard shore facilities. The Safety Alert will be completed by December 2008.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on shipyard safety and health hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
The OSHA and ASA Alliance has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
Executive Summary
Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and ASA are continuing their productive relationship and are working together to address safety and health issues in the maritime industry. As a result, the organizations signed an Alliance renewal agreement on August 22, 2007. Further, the OSHA and ASA Alliance is working with other Alliances the Agency signed with NSRP and SCA and with OSHA representatives from the Directorates of Cooperative and State Programs; Enforcement Programs; Science, Technology and Medicine and Standards and Guidance.
In addition, the OSHA and ASA, NSRP and SCA Alliances worked with the OSHA and AIHA Alliance and OSHA and ASSE Alliances to develop "Safety Alert: Electrocution and Shock Hazards in Shipyard Employment." The document provides tips and reminders about what potentially hazardous situations to look for and also lists instructions on preventing and eliminating electrical safety and shock hazards. In addition, the Safety Alert illustrates examples of dangerous situations. It was posted on SCA’s Web site in January 2008 and the OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page and the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page on the OSHA Web site link to the document. The group is also developing "Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment," which will focus how to use LOTO procedures to protect employees from the dangers posed while they are working on or near electrical circuits and equipment on ships and at shipyard shore facilities.
ASA representatives are also sharing their expertise through participation on the OSHA electronic assistance tools’ editorial boards. For example, ASA representatives are continuing to serve on the Maritime Industry and Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages’ editorial boards and the Shipyard Employment eTool’s editorial board.
Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained
OSHA and ASA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site
2,454
Maritime Industry Safety and Health Topics page
31,790
Ship Building and Ship Repair Safety and Health
Topics page
6,640
Shipyard Employment eTool
5,216
August 22, 2007, "OSHA Renews Alliance with the American Shipbuilding Association," OSHA News Release
August 22, 2008, "ASA and OSHA Renew Alliance," MarineLog
Data Not Available
August 23, 2008, "OSHA, ASA Renew Partnership," MarineLink
Data Not Available
August 23, 2008, "Federal Agency, Shipbuilding Lobbying Group Renew Safety Partnership," Daily Press - Newport News, VA
Data Not Available
August 24, 2008, "OSHA, ASA Renew Alliance," Marine Digest
Data Not Available
August 30, 2007, "OSHA, ASA Renew Alliance," The Daily Reporter
Data Not Available
September 1, 2007, "Alliance Program News," QuickTakes
60,000
September 6, 2007, "OSHA Renews Alliance with the ASA," ThomasNet - Industrial NewsRoom
Data Not Available
September 14, 2007, OSHA Business of Small Business Forum: "Safety and Health Issues in the Maritime Industry," Washington, DC
Speaker:
James Thornton, Northrop Grumman Corporation-Newport News, Newport News, VA
25
September – October 2007, "OSHA and ASA Renew Partnership," American Shipbuilder
Data Not Available
October 2007, "OSHA Alliances," OSHA Up To Date
Data Not Available
December 2007, "Maritime Industry’s Safety and Health
Issues Topic of OSHA Forum," Alliance Quarterly Review
325
February 7, 2008, "OSHA Maritime Alliance Participants Complete Safety Alert for Electrocution and Shock Hazards in Shipyard Employment," Shipyard Chronicle
Data Not Available
May 30, 2008, "New OSHA and Alliance Program Participant Products," ASSE Government Affairs Update
Data Not Available
TOTAL
106,550
IV. Upcoming Milestones
In the upcoming year, the OSHA and ASA Alliance will undertake a number of activities and develop a number of products. For example, ASA members will continue to serve on the Maritime Industry and Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Safety and Health Topics pages’ editorial boards and the Shipyard Employment eTool editorial board. Further, the OSHA and ASA Alliance will continue to work with the OSHA Alliances with NSRP, SCA, AIHA and ASSE to complete "Safety Alert: Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures in Shipyard Employment" in 2008. The group may develop additional Safety Alerts addressing other safety hazards, including incidents related to falls or confined spaces. The Alliance Program will promote the maritime industry developed products in its Alliance Quarterly Review and through sending the information to the OSHA Regional, Area Office, On-site Consultation Program and State Plan State representatives.
Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, Alliance Coordinator, OOSA, August 13, 2008.
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