Alliance Between OSHA Region V Wisconsin Area Offices1
and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Ergonomics2 Works to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries
to Healthcare Providers
Through an Alliance signed on January 8, 2007, four Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Region V Wisconsin Area Offices and the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee (UWM) Center for
Ergonomics focus on the safety and health of employees in the healthcare industries, especially
those who work with patients needing assistance changing their body positions. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics' Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From
Work 2006 report, nursing aides, orderlies and attendants rank among the five most hazardous
occupations for musculoskeletal injuries, which are often a result of overexertion from manually
lifting, transferring and repositioning patients.
Members of the Alliance divided their work effort into speaking at conferences for health care
providers, developing a curriculum at the Center for Ergonomics, collaborating with health care
professionals throughout the country, writing newsletter articles for distribution throughout
Wisconsin, and conducting research for publication in national and international journals.
On April 20, 2007, the Alliance sponsored the "Implementing A Safe Patient Handling Program"
Conference in Waukesha, Wisconsin for over 160 healthcare professionals, safety professionals and
administrators from acute care hospitals, home health care agencies and universities. Region V
Wisconsin Area Office Directors George Yoksas, Kim Stille, Mel Lischefski and Mark Hysell along with
Region V Ergonomics Coordinator and physical therapist, Dana Root and Professor Phyllis King, Chair
of the UWM Department of Occupational Therapy and Center for Ergonomics co-director promoted the
conference through broadcasting a radio news release and working with industry contacts and
networks. Conference speakers included a representative from the National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health who discussed the importance of a safe patient handling program and the
co-director of the Center for Ergonomics, Professor Arun Garg who outlined how to develop and
implement a safe patient handling program. In October 2007, at the Wisconsin Occupational Therapy
Association Annual Conference and Expo in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Alliance members Professor King and
Professor Amy Darragh presented "Moving and Handling Patients Safely" to 50 occupational therapists
and assistants.
In March 2008, at the 8th Annual Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference in Lake Buena Vista,
Florida, Professor Darragh presented "Risks Associated with Patient Handling in Occupational
Therapists" to 50 attendees from Europe and the United States. In her talk, she discussed her
research on the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries among 1,158
Wisconsin occupational therapists and physical therapists. With healthcare professionals from the
American Physical Therapy Association, the University of South Florida and Mercy College, she
co-presented a hands-on workshop on the use of safe patient handling equipment. In addition, she
participated in a roundtable discussion for therapists on how to use the equipment during patient
treatment sessions. A UWM doctoral student presented a session on the development and implementation
of the occupational and physical therapy safe patient handling course curriculum at UWM. On May 30,
2008, the Alliance sponsored the second conference, "Safe Patient Handling for Functional
Independence" in Milwaukee, which included sessions on innovative therapeutic techniques. Along with
the UWM, the University of South Florida and the state of Illinois provided speakers. Seventy-five
occupational therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation nurses and other health professionals
attended the conference.
In addition, Dana Root, presented safe patient handling information to physical therapists at a
number of venues in Wisconsin including an April 2007 speech to the University of Wisconsin La
Crosse physical therapy students, faculty and area clinicians and an October 2007 presentation at
the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association Conference. Also in 2007, she addressed equipment
selection issues at a Safe Lifting Initiative event sponsored by the State of Wisconsin Department
of Workforce Development. During January and February 2008, Ms. Root discussed safe patient handling
principles at meetings of the Wisconsin chapters of the American Physical Therapy Association and
the Wisconsin Health Care Council.
Members of the Alliance from the Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Department at UWM in
association with the Center for Ergonomics also developed a curriculum for the students that
included training in how to use assistive devices to move and reposition patients safely. In the
course, students set up, practice and use the new lifting, transferring and repositioning equipment.
In addition, Alliance members shared their expertise with OSHA by participating in an OSHA Region V
Wisconsin advisory committee on improving therapist awareness of safe-lifting policies and
technology-assisted patient handling devices. Members of the committee wrote a series of four
articles on safe patient handling and movement for the PT Connections Newsletter and the WOTA
Newsletter which are distributed to approximately 2,000 physical therapists and 800 occupational
therapists, respectively, throughout the state of Wisconsin. The four articles: "When Good Body
Mechanics Fail"; "Good Body Mechanics Does Not Protect from Injury: Why?"; Work-Related
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Are Therapists at Risk?"; and "Achieving Therapeutic Movement
Rehabilitation Goals Through the Use of Equipment Technology" were published quarterly from April
2007 through January 2008.
Research conducted by Professors Darragh, King and UWM Physical Therapy Professor Wendy Huddleston
resulted in a paper entitled, "Work-Related Injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders Experienced by
Occupational and Physical Therapists," which is scheduled for publication by the American Journal of
Occupational Therapy in winter 2008. In addition, "Therapy Practice within a Minimal Lift
Environment: Perceptions of Therapy Staff" by Professor Darragh and healthcare colleagues has been
accepted for publication in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation.
Alliance members Darragh, King and Huddleston documented further research from their initial study
in two more papers—"Characteristics of Risk of Work-Related Injuries and Disorders Among Older
Occupational and Physical Therapists" and "The Relation Between Practice Setting and Injury
Characteristics Among Occupational and Physical Therapists." Both papers are being prepared for
submission to the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, an international forum for the publication
of peer-reviewed original papers on rehabilitation of the injured worker. "This Alliance has spurred
new research and revealed additional evidence of healthcare provider injuries—both of which further
support the need for safe patient handling processes. Training occupational and physical therapy
students and healthcare providers in these processes provides the impetus for changing the medical
culture in the methods that patients are lifted, transferred and repositioned. The Alliance team is
passionate about these efforts," stated Ms Root.
For more information about this Alliance and its activities, contact
Dana Root.
-- As of June 2008.
___________________________________________
1Region V Area Offices in Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
2The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Ergonomics.
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OSHA Region V Area Offices' Alliance Focuses on Workplace Injury,
Illness Prevention in Ready Mix Concrete Industry
Four Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region V Area Offices (Appleton, Eau
Claire, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin), the Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association (WRMCA), and
the Wisconsin Consultation Program (WisCon) renewed a statewide Alliance (the Alliance) on January
11, 2008 to reduce and eliminate worker exposures to ergonomics hazards and slips, trips and falls
as well as to address driver wellness and recordkeeping issues.
The Alliance was originally signed in 2005 following the implementation of Region V's Road
Construction Local Emphasis Program (LEP). WRMCA is a state trade association of ready mixed
concrete producers representing 115 companies throughout Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
As a result of the LEP and its impact on the industry, WRMCA's member companies wanted to be more
familiar with OSHA rules and regulations,
Since 2005, the Alliance's participants have worked together to secure speakers for and participate
at various events, develop and deliver training courses, write articles for WRMCA's publications,
and disseminate information at conferences and meetings. For example, OSHA and WisCon staff attend
the WRMCA Operations, Environmental, Safety (OES) Committee quarterly meetings which serve as a
forum to foster an ongoing dialog on workplace safety and health in the industry. In addition, the
Madison Area Office arranged for a representative from Frito-Lay, an OSHA Voluntary Protection
Programs participant, to make a presentation about Transportation Safety to the OES Committee during
its June 2006 meeting. Further, through the Alliance, OSHA and WisCon staff conducted an expanded
version of the 10-Hour Construction Outreach Training Program for more than 60 participants at the
Annual Occupational and Environmental Safety Workshop in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, in February
2007.
Developing and disseminating compliance assistance information are pivotal activities of the
Alliance. Through the Alliance, WRMCA revised eight chapters of its Safety and Health Manual,
including chapters on hazard communication, emergency action, and silica. Further, Alliance
representatives wrote articles such as "OSHA, DOT and Trucks," that describes jurisdictional
requirements for each agency over trucks, and "Most Frequently Cited Standards in the Ready Mix
Industry," and "Hazards Associated with Cleaning Mixer Drums," among others. The articles appeared
in the following WRMCA's publications: its quarterly e-news product, WRMCA Scoop; its weekly
e-newsletter, In the Mix, and its bi-annual Operations, Environmental and Safety Bulletin. These
publications were distributed to the thousands of WRMCA members' employees. In addition, OSHA
provided WRMCA with more than 100 copies of OSHA's "Concrete Industry Pocket Guide" (OSHA
publication 3221) for its distribution at events at which it participated such as the Voluntary
Protection Programs Participants' Association's Region V Chapter Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
in May 2006.
WRMCA share the results of its voluntary and confidential "WRMCA Operations, Environmental, and
Safety Benchmark Survey" with the Alliance's participants. According to WRMCA, between 2004 and
2007, the average of lost time and restricted duty claims per WRMCA member company decreased by 48
percent, recordable injuries were reduced by 37 percent, and the average experience modification
rate was reduced by 11 percent.
Recognizing the improved safety records of WRMCA's member companies emphasizes the importance of
reducing and eliminating workplace hazards. OSHA representatives participated in a safety
recognition ceremony at WRMCA's Annual Convention in March 2006. Companies having the "Best in
Class" safety and health injury and illness incidence rates received plaques. Certificates were
issued to 35 companies that had injury and illness rates better than the national average.
Kimberly Stille, Region V Area Director, Madison, Wisconsin Area Office, said the numbers
underscored how successful the Alliance had been in addressing workplace safety. "OSHA and the
Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association will continue to work closely through this Alliance by
sharing best practices, and developing and implementing safety and health training for employees,"
said Stille. "We will continue to provide Alliance organizations' employers and employees with the
knowledge and ability to anticipate, identify and eliminate work-related hazards."
While the LEP that was WRMCA's impetus for entering into this Alliance was discontinued in 2006 as a
result of decreased injury and illness rates within the industry, OSHA, WRMCA, and WisCon
demonstrated through the Alliance's renewal their continued commitment to their collaborative
efforts to reduce and prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.
For additional information about this Alliance and it activities, please contact
Julie Evans, OSHA
Region V.
-- As of June 2008.
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OSHA Region V Alliance with Life Services Network Provides Safety and Health
Resources for Nursing Home Employees in Illinois
Making nursing homes in Illinois safer and more healthful places to work is the focus of an Alliance
signed on March 13, 2006 between the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Region V Area Offices in
Aurora, Calumet City, Chicago North, and Peoria, Illinois; the Illinois On-site Safety and Health
Consultation Program (Illinois On-site Consultation); the Life Services Network (LSN); and LSN
Trust. LSN is an association representing long-term care and older adult service providers in
Illinois. LSN Trust provides workers' compensation insurance for LSN members.
Though the Alliance, the participants developed several resources to help nursing home employees
stay safe on the job, including a video and companion workbook, entitled "Slips, Trips, and Falls."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips, and falls were the second leading cause
of work-related injuries in nursing homes in 1995 to 2004, behind only injuries caused by
overexertion. The video was filmed at a nursing home member of LSN and featured actual employees. It
highlights some of the slip, trip, and fall hazards faced by nursing home employees and shows safe
work practices that employees can follow to eliminate or reduce their exposure to these hazards. Two
thousand DVDs of the video were produced and sent to LSN, LSN Trust, and the Illinois Council for
Long-Term Care, for distribution to their members.
The companion 30-page workbook provides another tool for nursing homes to use in training their
employees. The workbook includes case studies and other materials designed for nursing homes to use
during on-the-job training.
The Alliance's participants also designed and printed several safety posters on slips, trips, and
falls. These posters help reinforce the safety training received by nursing home employees. LSN and
LSN Trust distributed the posters to their members.
Illinois On-site Consultation played a key role in making this Alliance a success. They provided
technical assistance during development of the video and other resources, provided the funding for
development of the resources, and posted them on its
Web site.
Example of safety poster developed through the Alliance. |
"The training video and other resources developed by the Alliance's participants will help us
achieve our goal of making nursing homes in Illinois safer and more healthful places to work," said
Nancy Quick, OSHA's Compliance Assistance Specialist in the Aurora, Illinois Area Office.
In addition to developing and disseminating training materials, another goal of this Alliance is to
increase participation by nursing homes in OSHA's cooperative programs, including the On-site
Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). To this end,
an LSN Board member requested an Illinois On-site Consultation visit for the member's Oak Crest
Retirement Center in DeKalb, Illinois. As a result of this visit and subsequent work to satisfy the
requirements for SHARP, including implementing an effective safety and health management system, Oak
Crest was approved as a SHARP site in December 2007. The LSN Board member has shared the facility's
positive experience with On-site Consultation and SHARP with other LSN members.
For additional information about this Alliance and it activities, please contact
Nancy Quick, OSHA
Region V.
--As of June 2008.
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Alliance among OSHA Region V Peoria, Illinois Area Office, Richland Community
College and the Illinois On-site Safety and Health Consultation Program1 Works to Increases
Employee Awareness of Hazards in General, Construction and Service Industries
Protecting employees' health and safety, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to general
industry, construction and service industry workplace hazards, is the focus of an Alliance among the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region V Peoria, Illinois Area Office; the
Illinois On-site Safety and Health Consultation Program (On-site Consultation); and Richland
Community College, Center for Business Training and Community Education (RCC)2.
Through the Alliance, OSHA Region V Peoria, Illinois, Area Office Compliance Assistance Specialist
(CAS) Peggy Zweber provided 2- to 4-hour training portions of the following courses at RCC in 2006:
- OTI 500—Train-the-Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction;
- OTI 502--Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers;
- OTI 503--Update for General Industry Outreach Trainers; and
- OTI 511--Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry.
Ms. Zweber's information included an introduction to OSHA covering the Mission,
the Act, an OSHA update and its strategic plan, priorities, inspection procedures, violations and
penalties, multi-employer worksite policy, employer and employee rights, effective safety and health
programs, the Z Project, current OSHA reform bills in Congress, machine guarding, and recordkeeping.
Further, during the construction courses she provided additional information related to the sector
including the Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) on Quick Couplers, and the top 10
construction hazards. Since the Alliance began on August 16, 2005, OSHA representatives have used the
RCC facilities as the site for training over 130 employers and employees in portions of the OTI
courses involving how to recognize and avoid workplace hazards.
Through the Alliance, Andy Perry, the RCC Training Coordinator, provided the American Heart
Association course in First Aid/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator
(AED) training to 23 OSHA staffers in the Peoria Area and Fairview Heights District Offices. In
addition, RCC is committed to keeping OSHA staff updated on these topics.
RCC also hosts the Annual Z Project Conference as part of the Alliance. The Z Project is a
customer-service activity designed and conducted by the Peoria Area Office that encourages local
employers to develop effective safety and health programs and to eliminate workplace safety and
health hazards. At the Z Project Annual Conference, the OSHA Region V Area Director presents the
following awards to recognize effective and innovative methods to control hazards: Lifesaver (for a
control that could save a life), Alveoli (for the most effective health control), Pluto (for
innovation in hazard control) and the Area Director's Choice (for what he/she considers to be the
most effective hazard control for the year). At the 2007 Annual Conference, 25 best practice/hazard
control methods were shared with the 40 attendees.
According to Nick A. Walters, Area Director, Region V Peoria Area Office, "I am confident that
cooperative efforts, such as the Z Project and the Alliance among RCC, On-Site Consultation and OSHA
have enhanced our mutual goal of eliminating injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.
The Z Project provides a great forum to recognize employers that have a strong commitment to
workplace safety and health. It also provides a conduit for the sharing of creative solutions to
some complex issues."
In addition, RCC representatives have created a Z Project Web page, http://zproject.richland.edu,
which contains the hazard controls and best practices provided by the participating employers. The
site also has an interactive page for employers to discuss hazard prevention and control issues. The
next Z Project Conference is April 1, 2008, at the Richland Community College Shilling Center.
For more information about this Alliance, contact
Peggy Zweber.
--As of September 2007.
___________________________________________
1The Illinois On-site Consultation Program is a part of the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
2Richland Community College is authorized by the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) to conduct
a full range of OSHA-accredited training courses taught, in part, by representatives from the Peoria
Area Office. RCC is also the only training site in Central Illinois for the National Safety
Education Center, a consortium of Northern Illinois University, the National Safety Council and the
construction Safety Council.
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OSHA Region V Area Offices'1 Alliance with Wisconsin State Agencies2
Communicates Safety Messages to Youth Workers and General Public
Through the Alliance signed on July 7, 2005, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Region V Area Offices and State of Wisconsin representatives focus on the safety and health
of youth workers who work in restaurants. The Alliance also focuses on employees who work in the
caregiving industries with patients needing assistance changing their body positions.
In response to OSHA's focus on youth workers and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) observation that restaurants constitute high risk workplaces for teenagers, the
Alliance concentrated its first efforts on developing a safety and health training program for
teenage employees in Wisconsin's restaurant industry (approximately 15,500 establishments). The
result is a safety and health training program, Youth in the Food Service
Workplace (Seguridad en el Lugar de Trabajo in Spanish), that any size employer, but
especially the small employer, can use. All of the Alliance signatories promote it to the Wisconsin
restaurant community. In addition, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association approved the use of the
program by its members. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) distributed 5000
copies of the training booklet to the restaurant industry at state safety and health expos and OSHA
also distributes it regularly.
The Youth in the Food Service Workplace (Seguridad en el Lugar de Trabajo)
safety and health training program is a series of talking points collected in a binder that the
employer/trainer follows to explain both general and specific safety and health information. The
program can be customized by the employers to fit the needs of their work places, and it can be
completed in 30 minutes. In the "common dangers" section, the safety and health training features
hazard communication; slips, trips and falls; burn prevention; knife safety; electrical safety; lock
out/tag out procedures; and lifting heavy objects. General information on employee and employer
rights is included as is specific emergency information like local emergency telephone numbers.
According to Susan Quam, Executive Director, Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation
(the Foundation), "Oftentimes, a restaurant is a teen employee's first place of employment. Many
teens do not realize they can be hurt if they do not pay heed to the restaurant's safety protocols.
The Youth in the Food Service Workplace training program is a great
training tool because it can be conducted in a short amount of time, and it covers all of the bases.
We, at the Foundation, have received many positive comments from restaurant owners and managers on the
effectiveness of the program."
In late 2005, Alliance members focused on developing, funding and conducting a radio campaign of
public service announcements (PSAs) about handling people safely who need assistance with the daily
activities of living, such as getting up and out of a chair, getting out of bed, etc. The target
audience was families, patients and clients as well as healthcare and personal care workers who
might need to care for such a person. The campaign included creating three radio PSAs of 60 seconds
each that were aired from January 23 through March 11, 2006, Monday through Saturday between 6:00
a.m. and 7:00 p.m. In all, 78 radio stations throughout Wisconsin aired the PSAs for a total of 4680
one-minute broadcasts. The estimated number of individuals reached was 250,000.
Further, using PSAs to introduce the concept of safe patient handling to a broad public was so
innovative that members of the Region V Area Offices received a [U.S. Department of Labor]
Secretary's Honor Award in April 2007 for their contributions to this activity. One important
element of the campaign was the tagline that concluded each PSA, which stated that the message was
from the Wisconsin Division of Workers Compensation. According to Judy Warmuth, Vice President,
Workforce at the Wisconsin Hospital Association, "This public endorsement encouraged the public
healthcare providers to consider pursuing safe patient handling because it had been endorsed by the
Division." She added, "The public, patients, residents and families have sometimes been reluctant to
support back-safety initiatives in healthcare facilities. Lack of public awareness of the risk to
healthcare employees caused by lifting, turning and positioning patients along with public concern
about the safety of patient-handling equipment has sometimes delayed or even prevented the full
implementation of safe-lift programs. To the public, the PSAs represented an impartial, third-party
source (other than their own caregiver) of information, which added benefit to our message."
The Alliance is continuing to address safety and health issues. Region V staff and Alliance
signatories are working to identify issues that are impacting employees and employers in Region V.
For more information about this Alliance and its activities, contact Leslie Ptak, Compliance
Assistance Specialist at 608-441-5388.
-- As of June 2007.
_____________________________________________
1Region V Area Offices in Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
2Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Workers Compensation Division; OSHA
Health Consultation Program, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene; and Wisconsin Department of
Commerce, Wisconsin Safety Consultation.
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OSHA Region V Alliance With The Marble Institute of America Works to Provide Hazard Recognition in
the Stone-Cutting Industry
Since the success story was posted in June 2007, the OSHA and Marble
Institute of America (MIA) Alliance has created, produced and distributed additional safety and
health training videos, conducted seminars, developed a tool kit "Tool Box Talks" and written
many articles for The Cutting E-dge, the MIA electronic news resource. Based on the successes of
the Alliance during its first 2 years, OSHA and MIA renewed their Alliance in May 2008 for two
more years.
Through the Alliance, in February 2008, MIA representatives distributed 11,000 copies of the
newest silicosis training DVD, "Silicosis: Incurable but Preventable" to its members; the
Spanish and French versions were distributed in June 2008. OSHA staff members participated in
the making of the DVD by supplying technical information on silica, including sampling
strategies. Approximately 50 participants attended MIA's "OSHA Stone Fabricating Safety Seminar"
when it was held in Oakland, New Jersey in July 2007, Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January 2008
and Boston, Massachusetts in April 2008. Compliance Assistance Specialists (CASs) from the local
OSHA Area Offices assisted in making presentations, fielding questions and distributing OSHA
literature. The MIA seminars included safety and health topics from OSHA inspection protocol to
safe handling of stone slabs and silica exposure as well as specific safety and health
regulations and how to comply with OSHA standards; three more seminars are planned for later
2008--Minneapolis, Minnesota, San Diego, California, and Cleveland, Ohio. (See http://www.marble-institute.com/education/
sandiego082008_stoneshopsafety.cfm for an agenda.) The MIA Management Tool Kit, which is
available in English and Spanish, contains outlines for discussing personal protective
equipment, electrical safety, hazard communication, respiratory protection, slab handling,
compressed air safety, OSHA requirements and general safety topics at weekly safety meetings.
The printed version is packaged in a 3-ring binder; the electronic version is formatted using
Microsoft Word; both versions can be modified and adapted for an employer's specific use in the
workplace and have three MIA DVDs on Safety—"Basics of Stone Shop Safety," "Basics of Safe Slab
Handling" and "Basics of OSHA Compliance for the Natural Stone Industry." Since June 2006, The
Cutting E-dge, which has a circulation of 2,500, has published articles on the safety and health
seminars, winter shop safety, OSHA recordkeeping, and the OSHA and MIA Alliance, as well as four
articles on silicosis.
Future plans for this Alliance include releasing a 2-DVD set of five MIA safety videos and
presenting a new MIA Stone Safety Seminar that features a mock OSHA inspection of an operating
stone fabrication shop.
--
As of July 2008 |
|
The dangers associated with silica and slab-handling represent two of the hazards
involved in working in the natural stone fabricating business and are the focus of the Alliance signed on
March 10, 2006 between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Region V Cleveland,
Ohio, Area Office and The Marble Institute of America (MIA). The Alliance was also signed by the
OSHA On-site Consultation Programs in Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. MIA, a trade association
serving the natural stone industry, represents professionals working with marble, granite,
limestone, quartz-based stone, slate, travertine and other materials.
To meet the Alliance goals of increasing the national dialog and helping to educate employers and
employees in the natural stone industry, OSHA and MIA sponsored a day-long seminar in December 2006
for stone industry companies. Fifty representatives from companies located in Georgia, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin attended the
event and listened to presentations given by members of OSHA's Cleveland, Ohio, Area Office. For
example, Rob Medlock, Area Director, discussed OSHA policies and procedures; Aaron Priddy, Safety
Specialist, discussed safe slab-handling techniques; and Julie Weis, Compliance Assistance
Specialist (CAS), discussed prevention of silica exposure. In addition, Dave Roll, consultant for
the Ohio On-site Consultation Program, discussed Ohio's On-site Consultation Program's ability to
work with employers. Each attendee was provided OSHA and MIA compliance assistance materials
including safety videos and brochures. Several companies requested more information on how to
contact their state's On-site Consultation Program representatives to schedule an evaluation. "This
regional Alliance demonstrates our commitment to find cooperative ways to prevent workplace
fatalities, injuries and illnesses," said Michael Connors, OSHA Region V regional administrator in
Chicago. "Enlisting the help of The Marble Institute of America in this effort furthers our joint
objective of improving safety in natural stone fabricating businesses through enhanced communication
about safety issues and development of safety programs."
In addition, a representative from a Cleveland, Ohio, company that had recently been inspected by
OSHA offered insight to the audience from a personal perspective. According to Gary Distelhorst,
Executive Vice President of MIA, "This highly informative session provided the necessary details for
company owners to take back and reassess their own facilities' strengths and weaknesses in their
safety and health programs." At the end of the day, OSHA representatives had a panel discussion
during which seminar participants were encouraged to ask questions about workplace safety and health
hazards.
In November 2006, Julie Weis gave an update on the OSHA and MIA Alliance at MIA's Annual Conference
(StonExpo) in Las Vegas, Nevada. She provided information on specific safety and health regulations
and ways to comply with OSHA standards. In addition, she answered questions from some of the 150
attendees. MIA representatives found her presentation so informative that they requested a similar
talk be given at the StonExpo in Atlanta, Georgia in March 2007. As a result, Jonathan Worrell, CAS
in OSHA's Atlanta East, Georgia, Area Office, spoke at the event. Gary Distelhorst commented, "The
Marble Institute is very pleased with the positive relationship that we have developed with OSHA,
and in particular the OSHA Cleveland, Ohio, Area Office. Following the formalization of our
Alliance, we have worked together on safety training videos, safety modules, articles for our
newsletter, safety seminars at our annual convention and trade show, and a stand-alone safety
workshop here in the Cleveland area."
Through the Alliance, OSHA and MIA representatives also worked together to develop two DVD
videos--"Basics of Safe Stone Slab Handling," which is available in English and Spanish, and "Basics
of OSHA Compliance for the Natural Stone Industry"--for stone fabricators and distributors. The
videos were distributed to MIA member companies and others and inserted in its magazine, StoneWorld,
which has a circulation of more than 10,000 subscribers. The videos describe OSHA's basic policies
and procedures and OSHA's emphasis on silica exposure and material handling. OSHA personnel,
including the Cleveland, Ohio and Phoenix, Arizona Area Office Directors and the Cleveland, Ohio CAS
appear in the videos.
Further, to promote the national dialog on safety and health, Alliance representatives worked
together to produce a video Web cast about silica exposure in the stone industry. Bill Perry, Acting
Deputy Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance in OSHA's National Office was interviewed
extensively during the production about OSHA's silica emphasis program. He explained the background
on silica and silicosis and OSHA's official position on the topic of silica. Dr. Peter Mazzone, a
pulmonary specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, also participated and described silicosis symptoms.
According to OSHA's Perry, where fabrication is done, wet or dry or a combination of both,
fabricators should monitor their employees' exposure to the dust. The video was posted on www.stonenewschannel.com in early May 2007.
Said MIA's Gary Distelhorst, "The outcome has been a heightened awareness of safety and safe working
conditions throughout the stone industry, and while a lot remains to be done, I am confident that
our Alliance with OSHA will contribute to, and facilitate, more and better programs to raise safety
awareness and compliance."
For more information about this Alliance, contact
Julie Weis.
-- As of June 2007; updated July 2008.
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Alliance Among OSHA Region V Area Offices in Illinois*, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, Illinois On-site Safety and Health Consultation Program and Joint Utility Locating
Information for Excavators Reduces and Prevents Exposure to Trenching Hazards, Especially Involving
Underground Utilities
Getting the word out to excavation contractors about "Call Before You Dig" has been a success story
for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Region V. On June 10, 2005, the
Region V Illinois Area Offices signed an Alliance with the Joint Utility Locating Information for
Excavators (JULIE) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO)/Illinois
Safety and Health On-site Consultation Program (Illinois On-site Consultation Program) to help
educate the members of JULIE and its subcontractors, union laborers and others about reducing and
preventing exposure to trenching hazards, particularly those involving underground utility issues.
Through the Alliance, each of these organizations contributes to the development and delivery of
training courses and materials on safe trenching, shares resources and information to raise
awareness of and commitment to workplace safety and health and participates in a variety of forums
throughout Illinois. The Alliance implementation team hit the ground running by establishing
relationships with JULIE.
Through the Alliance, in the winter of 2006, OSHA and the Illinois On-site Consultation Program were
invited to participate in the JULIE Excavator Safety Breakfasts by having an exhibit booth staffed
by their representatives who could answer questions. For 15 years, JULIE and its membership, which
is comprised of utility companies, have sponsored the Breakfasts to update contractors and city and
county government personnel on Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) laws and regulations regarding how
to locate utilities prior to any excavation or trenching work and the JULIE "One Call" System.
The response to OSHA's booth was positive and many participants said that it was about time OSHA
participated in the meetings and welcomed the opportunity to have their questions answered in a
non-enforcement atmosphere. During the Breakfasts, the Region V Illinois Compliance Assistance
Specialists (CASs) discussed the National Emphasis Program on trenching and other trenching issues,
as well as the role of the CASs in OSHA and the role of the On-site Consultation Program. In 2007,
for the first time, JULIE Prevention Managers (i.e., JULIE trainers) added some OSHA-created
training slides on sloping/shoring trench safety; information on cave-in hazards while digging,
trenching or excavating; and information on the On-site Consultation Program into their
presentations.
As a part of the Alliance, JULIE representatives also shared with OSHA Region V CASs their mailing
lists of more than 4300 employers and employees that they developed over the 15 years of holding
JULIE Breakfasts throughout Illinois. The OSHA Region V Peoria, Illinois Area Office staff members
used the JULIE mailing lists to promote follow-up training sessions on trenching regulations and
safety requirements. OSHA Peoria Area Office CAS, Peggy Zweber and Compliance Safety and Health
Officers, Rob Bonack and Ken Koroll used the list to invite the Breakfast attendees to an OSHA
Excavation/Trenching Safety Training for Contractors Course that they presented in April 2006 at
Illinois Central College to 54 attendees and in September 2006 at Heartland Community College to 46
attendees. They also offered JULIE and Illinois On-site Consultation Program representatives an
opportunity to participate in the training. The Illinois On-site Consultation Program
representatives made a presentation during the courses and described the services they provide.
During the training, the CASs used a slide presentation of the trenching requirements, a video clip
of a local trench accident and a Trenching Safety Card developed by the OSHA Peoria Area Office as
visual aids. Zweber copied these training materials onto CDs and distributed them in early 2006 to
all of the Illinois CASs, the Illinois On-site Consultation Program, and JULIE representatives.
As shown in the figure, the Trenching Safety Card is the size of a business card with general
trenching requirements printed on one side and sloping requirements printed on the other. Since its
introduction in December 2006, the card has grown in popularity. As of February 2007, 2,500 cards
have been printed and distributed throughout Illinois.
JULIE has proven to be a valuable asset to help OSHA get the word out to the people who perform
trenching work around underground utilities. According to Mark Frost, Executive Director of JULIE,
"We are very proud of our successful Alliance in Illinois. This collaboration helps JULIE, Inc. to
build trusting, cooperative relationships with OSHA and the State of Illinois Onsite Safety and
Health Consultation Program, leverage training resources and network with other groups committed to
workplace safety and health protection and gain recognition as a proactive leader in our industry."
Nick Walters, OSHA Area Director in Peoria, has commented, "This Alliance has been an extremely
positive and valuable resource to all of the Illinois Area Offices. Our number one priority is to
have every employee go home healthy and uninjured at the end of the day and we are confident this
Alliance is helping us meet that goal."
Deeper Than Five, Use The Three S's To Survive
All excavations deeper than 5 feet, up to 20 feet max., must use one of the cave-in protection
systems listed below:
- Shielding structure (trench box) able to support forces of cave-ins as designed and/or
approved by an engineer.
- Shoring system (hydraulic, timber, screw jack, etc.) that exerts pressure on the excavation
walls.
- Sloping/Benching Requirements: Class A Soil – ¾H to 1V, Class B Soil – 1H to 1V, Class C Soil
– 1½H to 1V
Class A Soil |
Class B Soil |
|
Requirements for working in Excavations
- A competent person must inspect the excavation before work starts each day and as needed
throughout shift.
- Classify soil as A, B or C with 1 visual & 1 manual test.
- All trenches (15' wide or less) 4 feet or deeper must have a way to get in/out, (ladder,
stairway, or ramp) every 25 feet.
- Wear bright vests, use proper signage/barriers near roads.
- Spoil piles must be at least 2 feet from the edge.
- Do not work under loads/buckets.
- Stay at least 10 feet from overhead power lines.
- All utilities must be located (JULIE: 1-800-892-0123).
- For further information refer to OSHA Standard 1926.652.
For Questions call OSHA at (309)589-7033
Website: www.osha.gov |
| Figure 1. The Trenching Card |
For additional information about this Alliance and it
activities, please contact
Julie Evans, OSHA
Region V.
-- As of March 2007.
*The Alliance signatories include the Aurora, Calumet City, Chicago-North and Peoria, Illinois Area
Offices and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO)/Safety and Health
On-site Consultation Program. OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral
part of the OSHA national effort.
Back to Top
Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry and OSHA Region V and VI Form
Alliances to Address Application of Polyurethane
Since this success story was posted on OSHA's Web site in
December 2006, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) (formerly known as the Alliance for
the Polyurethanes Industry) has developed through its Alliance with OSHA a new document about
exposure control in the truck bed liner (TBL) industry. "Exposure Control Guidelines in the Truck
Bed Liner Industry for Low Pressure System Applications" provides general information and explains
precautions and practices associated with the safe handling of diisocyanates (MDI). Specifically,
it discusses engineering controls (for example, adequate ventilation), personal protective
equipment and general work practices common to the TBL industry. The CPI guidelines supplement the
safe use and handling information in suppliers' material safety data sheets (MSDS) and provide
helpful information and examples for MDI users.
According to Barbara Cummings Bayer Material Science LCC, and Chair of the CPI Truck Bed Liner Task
Force, "…constructing a spray enclosure with sufficient ventilation can be challenging for this
industry, especially for smaller businesses. We hope publication of this document will help
address some of the commonly asked questions about exposure control in spray enclosures."
-- As of March 2007 |
|
Reducing and preventing employees' exposure to the diisocyanates (MDI) during
the application of the polyurethane in the truck bed liners industry is the focus of two Alliances
between the Alliance for the Polyurethane Industry (API) and the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's (OSHA) Region V and Region VI Offices.
MDI is a component of polyurethane and special handling and care, including proper ventilation and
environmental controls, is needed when spraying the polyurethane on the surface of truck beds.
Polyurethane is applied much like paint or coatings. The liner protects the surface of the truck bed
against scratches and scrapes, as well as the corrosion that can result over time due to this
damage.
Through the Alliances, OSHA and API are developing print and electronic outreach materials,
providing training and speaking and exhibiting at conferences and meetings to help polyurethane
users, especially small truck bed lining businesses, address workplace safety and health issues
including the:
- Proper use and storage of MDI
- Proper use, storage and maintenance of the equipment used to apply the polyurethane
- Fit and evaluation of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respirators
- Design of ventilation booths
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For example, both Alliances have published information to address
polyurethane-related safety and health hazards that may be encountered in the truck bed liner
industry. The Region V and API Alliance1, signed July 12, 2005, created a guide;
Safety Considerations for the Application of Spray-On Truck Bed Liners TBL, that provides the
polyurethane users with recommendations for engineering controls, PPE and work practices. The
Alliance also developed a Model Respiratory Protection Program, which is designed to help protect
employees from respiratory hazards and facilitate compliance with OSHA's Respiratory Protection
Program Standard.
The OSHA Region VI and API Alliance2, signed February 28, 2006, published a brochure, Spray on Truck
Bed Liner Applications Using MDI/PMDI; Seven Important Points. Developed for employers, the document
includes information on how to recognize MDI-related hazards and reduce employees' exposure to MDI.
In addition, API launched a Truck Bed Liners Web site in September 2006 that contains information
for the industry, including publications, events and statistical data. By October 2006, the Web site
(www.spraytruckbedliner.com) averaged over 400 visits per month.
The Alliances are also working to reach out to the truck bed liner industry's employers and
employees and the public through the dissemination of information through conferences and training
seminars. For example, API hosted an exhibit booth at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Market
Association Show, October 31-November 3, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada that was attended by more than
100,000 specialty auto parts industry representatives. The exhibit promoted the Alliance-developed
publications and raised awareness about the workplace safety and health issues associated using
polyurethane spray-on liners.
The Region VI Alliance developed a one-day Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Training Seminar, which was held
in October and November 2006 for more than 70 people involved in the industry. During the seminar,
OSHA representatives provided information about the Agency's enforcement policies, compliance
assistance resources and cooperative programs, including the On-site Consultation Program, and a
number of safety and health topics, including:
- Hazard communications
- Respiratory protection and personal protective equipment
- Ventilation and engineering controls
- Equipment cleaning , waste disposal and spills
The seminar's content was modeled after a two-day Spray-On Truck Bed Liner
Training Seminar that was hosted by Region VI and API and attended by more than 800 industry
representatives on February 11-12, 2006, in Dallas, Texas. The seminar was held prior to the Alliance's
signing.
"As a result of the Alliance, many API members have requested and received On-site Consultation
visits," according to Susan Monroe, Industrial Hygienist, Region VI.
During 2006, the Alliances also provided an opportunity for OSHA and API to share information and
expertise at Agency and API-member company meetings. Representatives from both organizations have
talked with OSHA staff and truck bed liners companies and their employers and employees in Illinois
and Texas.
"API is excited to be working with OSHA on these worker safety and health issues" says Stephanie
Bernard, API. "Due to the small size of many businesses in the truck bed liner industry, it can be
difficult for some of those companies to educate workers about how to protect themselves from
exposures to MDI. By working through the Alliance, we can help companies learn how to provide
adequate worker protection for this industry and provide this important education."
For more information about these Alliances and their activities, contact
Charlie Shields, Assistant
Regional Administrator, in Region V, or
Susan Monroe, Industrial Hygienist, in Region VI.
-- As of December 2006; updated March 2007.
1Region V, Indiana Department of Labor, Michigan Department of
Labor, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Illinois On-site Consultation Program, Ohio
On-site Consultation Program, Wisconsin Health Consultation Program and Alliance for the
Polyurethane Industry.
2Dallas Regional Office and Dallas Area Office and Fort Worth Area Office and Alliance for the
Polyurethane Industry.
Back to Top
Alliance Reaches Out to Landscapers in Illinois
An Alliance between several OSHA Region V Area Offices in Illinois and the Illinois Landscape
Contractors Association (ILCA) is working to improve safety and health for landscape workers in
Illinois. The landscaping industry is one of the high incident/high severity industries identified
in OSHA's 2003-2008 Strategic Management Plan. As a result of this Alliance, OSHA has provided
safety training to landscape contractors, distributed targeted publications, and contributed monthly
articles to industry publications. The Alliance has also helped to open the lines of communication
between OSHA and landscapers in Illinois.
Several of OSHA's Area Offices in Illinois signed the Alliance with ILMA on March 8, 2004. The
Chicago Area Office took the lead in developing the Alliance, which was also signed by the North
Aurora, Calumet City, and Peoria Area Offices. These OSHA Area Offices have worked with the Illinois
On-Site Consultation Program to implement the Alliance. While not a signatory, the Consultation
Program has contributed its valuable expertise in providing outreach and training to small
businesses.
A major accomplishment of the Alliance was the development and delivery of an OSHA 10-hour course
tailored for landscape contractors on March 1 and 3, 2005. The course was developed by the Chicago,
North Aurora, and Calumet City Area Offices and the Illinois On-Site Consultation Program. Nancy
Quick, the OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) for the North Aurora Area Office, was the
course instructor. More than 30 company owners and managers attended the two-day course, which was
held at the newly established ILCA Institute in Oakbrook, Illinois.
Topics covered during the 10-hour course included an introduction to OSHA, electrical safety
(underground utilities, overhead power lines, safety-related work practices), personal protective
equipment, machine guarding (hedge trimmers, chain saws, lawn mowers), lockout/tagout, hazard
communication (pesticides), vehicle safety and earth-moving equipment, walking and working surfaces
(29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D), ladders and riding vehicles, an introduction to industrial hygiene
(hearing protection), bloodborne pathogens, toxic and hazardous substances (29 CFR Part 1910,
Subpart Z), and safety and health programs.
Patricia Cassady, Executive Director of the ILCA, said that the 10-hour course "was very well
received, with high ratings for the presentations" and that the publications provided at the course
were greatly appreciated. She also noted that the participants received a great deal of valuable
information to take back to their companies.
As part of the Alliance, OSHA contributes articles to The Landscape Contractor, which is ILCA's
monthly publication. The topics, tailored to the landscaping industry, have included:
- West Nile Virus
- Working outdoors in the heat
- Hearing conservation programs
- Personal protective equipment
- A review of OSHA standards
- Tips for working in the cold
- Alliances/Partnerships developed in the landscaping industry in 2004
- Transportation issues in the landscaping industry
James Dillard, the CAS with the Chicago Area Office, writes most of the articles.
CASs from the North Aurora and Calumet City Area Offices have also contributed articles.
The Alliance has also helped distribute safety and health publications to landscape contractors. The
Illinois On-Site Consultation Program printed thousands of pocket-sized cards called "Landscapers
Quick Guide to Safety," which are available in English and Spanish. OSHA staff has been distributing
the cards to workers in the field. In addition to the card, the Chicago North Area Office developed
and distributed a tri-fold brochure entitled "Landscaping and Horticultural Services: The Worker's
Guide to Safety," which is also available in English and Spanish.
Diane Turek, Area Director of OSHA's Chicago North Area Office, said, "The Alliance has proven that
when government and industry work together, the employees greatly benefit. This benefit is realized
in safer and healthier working conditions for all employees. The dissemination of information by
both parties, such as training or best practices, will serve to enhance the relationship as well as
better working conditions. OSHA looks forward to our continued Alliance with ILCA."
ILCA's Patricia Cassady added, "ILCA has a long-standing history of providing quality educational
opportunities to enhance the professionalism of members and the landscape industry. Safety has
always been a primary concern and the Alliance has given the Association greater access to classes
and materials – both in English and Spanish. This collaboration, and its focus on education,
presents OSHA in a positive, helpful, non-threatening manner. Working together for the health and
safety of all landscape workers will continue to be the goal."
For more information on the OSHA-ILCA Alliance and its activities, contact
James Dillard.
-- As of April 2005.
Back to Top
Alliance Reaches Out to Landscapers in Ohio
An Alliance between OSHA's Area Offices in Ohio and the Ohio Landscape
Association (OLA) targets the landscaping industry, which is one of the high
incident/high severity industries identified in OSHA's 2003-2008 Strategic
Management Plan. As a result of this Alliance, OSHA has provided safety training
to landscapers in Ohio, distributed targeted publications, and contributed
monthly articles to industry publications. The Alliance has also opened the
lines of communication with an industry that historically had little interaction
with OSHA.
OSHA's Cleveland Area Office in Region V signed the Alliance with OLA on October
15, 2003. The Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo Area Offices are also
participating in this statewide Alliance. Through the Alliance, OSHA is helping
to improve safety and health in the landscaping industry in Ohio by promoting
safety and health programs, exhibiting and speaking at conferences, training
landscaping contractors and employees, publishing articles in OLA's monthly
publication, and sharing best practices.
"By working with this association we can provide member contractors with
information on OSHA requirements on a proactive basis," noted Rob Medlock,
Director of OSHA's Cleveland Area Office. "This positive approach to preventing
accidents rather than investigating tragedy is the best way for all of us to
help workers return safely to their families at the end of each work shift."
OLA's Executive Director Sandy Munley added: "We have been very pleased with the
progress since the signing of the Alliance with OSHA. Our members have shown a
great amount of interest in learning more about safety and health and the
protection of their employees. We are continuing to work together with OSHA for
the common goal of reducing injuries/illnesses and fatalities in our industry."
Julie Weis, OSHA's Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) in the Cleveland Area
Office, provided training sessions at OLA's WinterGreen Expo and Conference in
February 2004. The training sessions covered written safety and health programs,
as well as recent fatalities and accidents. OSHA also had a booth at this event.
At OLA's WinterGreen Expo and Conference in February 2005, OSHA provided four
training sessions: written safety and health programs, documentation needed for
an OSHA inspection, OSHA's protocol during an inspection, and a hands-on session
with various landscaping equipment.
In November 2004, the Cleveland Area Office participated in OLA's annual
meeting, which was devoted almost entirely to safety and health issues. Over 100
employees and contractors attended. As part of the training, an OSHA Compliance
Safety and Health Officer gave a hands-on demonstration on skid steer loaders
and other landscaping equipment and hazards. The CAS from OSHA's Cleveland Area
Office gave a presentation on the OSHA standards applicable to landscapers and
written safety and health programs.
Since this Alliance was signed, the CAS has published monthly articles in OLA's
"Growing Concern" publication on a variety of safety and health topics,
including heat stress, back injuries and ergonomics, electrical hazards, and
personal protective equipment. The CAS is also developing a toolbox handout that
will provide material targeted to landscapers.
To further promote outreach to this industry, the Cleveland Are Office provided
OLA with copies of a trifold brochure called "Landscaping and Horticultural
Services: The Worker's Guide to Safety." The brochure, developed by the Chicago
North Area Office in English and Spanish, includes sections on why workers
should care about safety, major hazards, employee rights and responsibilities,
summaries of recent accidents and fatalities, and how OSHA can help.
In January 2005, OSHA participated in a major landscaping convention in
Columbus, Ohio, which was attended by over 15,000 people. The event, the 76th
Annual Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), ran concurrently with
the Ohio State University Nursery Short Course. Both OSHA and OLA had booths at
CENTS. OSHA also conducted a seminar at the Short Course on how to prevent
landscape fatalities. Over 130 people attended the seminar.
For more information on the OSHA/OLA Alliance and its activities, contact
Julie Weis.
-- As of March 2005.
Back to Top
Madison Area Office and the Interfaith Coalition for
Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin Sign an Alliance to Reach Out to
Hispanic Workers
Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Region V, Madison, Wisconsin Area Office and
the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin (ICWJSCW)1, a faith-based
coalition, signed an Alliance on March 3, 2003 to reach out to Hispanic and non-English speaking
workers to promote worker rights and safe and healthy workplaces. The Alliance encourages employers
of Hispanic and Latino workers to protect workers' health and safety by reducing exposure to hazards
in the workplace. The goals of this Alliance include: conducting training in Spanish on safety and
health issues, worker rights and responsibilities, and providing outreach materials to employers,
community, faith-based and labor organizations.
"Statistics have shown that the language and cultural barriers contribute significantly to
on-the-job accidents and injuries. The Alliance with ICWJSCW has allowed the Madison OSHA Office to
build bridges into the Latino business community and its community leaders in hopes of removing
those barriers. It has afforded us the opportunity to proactively approach and educate employees and
employers alike on safety and health issues and in turn positively impact injury/illness rates. The
Alliance has proven to be a great opportunity for the Agency and our Hispanic and Latino customers",
said Kimberly Stille, Area Director Madison OSHA Office.
Through the Alliance, the OSHA Madison Area Office has provided OSHA publications, pamphlets and
videos, in English and Spanish, to the Center. The Area Office also has contributed CDs to the
center that contain OSHA, Department of Labor and National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health publications in Spanish, Chinese, Cambodian, Hmong, Polish, and Russian.
The Coalition's members have assisted OSHA and local Wisconsin safety councils by speaking to
Hispanic and non-English speaking groups at local events. Also, ICWJSCW has supported OSHA
activities by conducting training seminars for employers of Hispanic workers on a number of topics,
such as safety and health hazards and outreach services that are available to Hispanic and other
non-English speaking workers. Area Office personnel attend interfaith meetings, breakfast and
luncheon meetings and other local events, offering safety and health assistance and advice.
"The ICWJSCW Alliance with OSHA has been a valuable tool to educate ourselves and immigrant workers
about health and safety rights and responsibilities," said Sarah Shatz, Director of the coalition.
For additional information about this Alliance and it activities, please contact
Julie Evans, OSHA
Region V.
-- As of October 2004.
1ICWJSCW was established in Madison, WI during 1999. The coalition's membership
includes religious congregations, interfaith bodies, labor unions and community organizations. The ICWJSCW is committed to educating and mobilizing the religious and labor communities of South Central
Wisconsin to improve the workplace for immigrant workers.
Back to Top
OSHA and Northwest Carpenters Alliance -- Working to
Protect the Safety and Health of Construction Workers
Since this success story was posted on OSHA's Web site in October 2003,
OSHA's Region V and the Northwest Carpenters renewed their Alliance on February 23, 2007 for two
years.
Through the Alliance, Region V has reached out and provided safety and health information to the
construction industry in Northwest Ohio by participating in the Northwest Carpenters
conferences, meetings and especially their training program. OSHA representatives spoke during
workshops and provided information on trenching awareness, employee rights, noise and hearing
loss information and Ohio construction-site fatality statistics. In addition, OSHA
representatives met with construction employers and employees at quarterly meetings, annual
visits and the apprenticeship classes designed for the Alliance's unions' training for
individuals to become journeyperson carpenters, floor-layers, and millwrights. Topics that OSHA
representatives discussed during the meetings included OSHA's inspection activities and
statistics, the unions' participation in informal conferences and OSHA's Residential
Construction Local Emphasis Program (LEP) in Region V.
In addition, through the Alliance, OSHA's On-site Consultation Program representatives together
with staff from OSHA Area Offices in Cleveland and Toledo, the Alliance's union members,
Building Industry Association, and private consultants developed a residential construction
training CD; hundreds of which have been distributed via informal conferences. In June 2005,
OSHA's article, "Labor and Government Working Together" was published in Carpenters Blue Print
Magazine, which has a circulation of 19,500; in June 2006, another OSHA article, "The History of
OSHA," was published in the magazine.
Further, a representative from one of the Alliance's unions attended an OSHA Area Office staff
meeting to discuss residential construction and new scaffold equipment. Finally, the unions'
Carpenters' Training Center offered all Region V compliance staff members free attendance at its
classes including the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Passport Class, which is a course
similar to the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach Course.
-- As of February 2007 |
|
A goal of OSHA's 2003-2008 Strategic Management Plan is to achieve a four percent drop in
construction industry injuries and illnesses and a three percent drop in fatalities. OSHA has
defined a number of strategies for meeting these goals including, providing compliance assistance,
outreach training and education and working with organizations through OSHA's cooperative
programs, such as the Alliance Program.
OSHA's Region V Toledo, Ohio Area Office recognized the positive impact it can have on improving
the safety and health of construction industry workplaces through working collaboratively with
local organizations and, as a result, signed an Alliance with the Northwest Ohio Carpenters1 on
March 5, 2003. The agreement focuses on reducing and preventing exposure, for construction
workers, to electrical, fall, struck-by and crushed-by hazards.
During the OSHA/Northwest Ohio Carpenters Alliance Implementation Team meeting on October 15;
Laura A. Ulczynski, Compliance Assistant Specialist in the Toledo, OH Area Office, spoke to more
than twenty attendees including carpenters and members of the Associated General
Contractors. During her presentation, Ms. Ulczynski talked about the construction fatalities that
have occurred within Ohio since 1991. Following her talk, the group had a productive discussion
that focused on fatality statistics, OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program, residential
construction hazards and the reporting of observed unsafe working conditions.
Implementation Team members were pleased with the productive discussions that resulted from the
presentation. According to Ms. Ulczynski, the team members agreed that it is beneficial to have
groups interested in the Alliance, such as members of the Associated General Contractors, attend
future meetings.
For additional information about this Alliance and it activities, please
contact Julie Evans,
OSHA Region V.
-- As of October 2003; updated February 2007. |
1The Northwest Ohio Carpenters Alliance includes Teriors Systems Local 248, Carpenters Local 1138,
Carpenters Local 2239, Carpenters Local 1581, Carpenters Local 372, Millwrights Piledrivers Local 1393 and
Residential Carpenters Local 1365.
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