On October 2, 2002, the IMC (formerly the Industrial Management Council), a Rochester (NY)-based employers
association and the Buffalo and Syracuse Offices of OSHA entered into an alliance. On January 1, 2003, the IMC
and the Rochester Chamber of Commerce merged operations to form the Rochester Business Alliance (RBA). Since
the IMC no longer exists, a new alliance is being created between the RBA and OSHA to provide for continuity of
mutual efforts to foster a culture of safety and health excellence within RBA member companies.
This closeout report documents the alliance activities from October 2, 2002, to the present. The activities include:
- Creation of an alliance steering committee consisting of two IMC staff, one IMC safety and health
consultant, two OSHA compliance assistance specialists, and one New York State Consultation Program
trainer.
- Inviting management from IMC member companies who are also on the OSHA SST list to an October
meeting to learn about the alliance and improvement resources. Representatives of OSHA VPP sites were
asked to speak at the meeting. Approximately 30 people were in attendance.
- Publication of the alliance and alliance activities in the Rochester media, IMC newsletter, and within
professional organizations such as the American Society of Safety Engineers and Safety Council of Upstate
New York. This publicity has resulted in efforts by other organizations to create an alliance with OSHA.
- Publication of the December 2002 IMC newsletter with all eight pages devoted to workplace safety and
health and the alliance.
- Active participation by OSHA and NYS Consultation personnel in the monthly IMC HSE Forum meeting
which is attended by between 15 and 30 safety and health specialists from member companies.
- Presentations by OSHA and NYS Consultation personnel at IMC forums for human resources specialists.
- Providing assistance to one IMC member company in preparation for an OSHA VPP qualification
inspection, which resulted in STAR approval.
- Actively seeking out and contacting approximately six IMC member companies for VPP consideration.
- Establishing criteria for a research project into the ability of a scoring system developed in the Gulf of
Mexico shelf oil drilling operations to predict future success at safety. The system developer was invited to
Rochester under the alliance banner, trained representatives of eight member companies, and worked with
the alliance team to develop an appropriate research approach. Data collection for the project is currently
underway.
- In order to provide high-end training in the safety and health management process for over 600 executives,
senior managers and supervisors from over 30 member companies on the SST list or on the VPP prospect
list, the RBA has submitted a grant proposal, with the support of the alliance steering team, for funding
from the NYS Hazard Abatement Board.
- Plans have been made for the RBA safety and health consultant to be a presenter on safety and health
program management at six locations within the OSHA Buffalo Area. This is an outreach series presented
monthly at no cost to participants by the Buffalo Area Office, which is being actively marketed by the RBA
under the alliance banner.
Prepared February 26, 2003 by Chip Dawson, RBA Coordinating Consultant for HSE
|
Back to Top
