ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
American Foundry Society (AFS)
June 13, 2006

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

March 22, 2004

Evaluation Period

March 22, 2004 - March 21, 2005

Overview

Through the Alliance, OSHA and AFS are providing AFS members and others, including small businesses in the metal casting industry, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance specifically addresses workplace issues, including personal protective equipment, ventilation and reducing and preventing exposure to silica.

Implementation Team Members

II. Implementation Team Meetings

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Training and Education Goals
    
   • With OSHA's input, develop AFS training and education programs to address hazards in the foundry workplace and review and provide input into the AFS OSHA Compliance.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to OSHA's Office of Training and Education in developing education and training regarding hazards in the foundry workplace.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
   Outreach and Communication Goals
    
   • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools, presentations and links from OSHA's and AFS's Web sites.
   Products
   
   OSHA and AFS Alliance Web site
   
   OSHA developed an OSHA and AFS Alliance Web site that is posted on the Agency's Web page that includes the OSHA and AFS Alliance agreement, news releases, and milestones and successes. This Web site is updated on a regular basis.
   
   Publications and Newsletters
   
   Information and news releases on the OSHA and AFS Alliance signing and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in a number of printed and online publications, including: BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter and Modern Casting. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table on pages 5-6.
    
   • Speak, exhibit, and/or appear at OSHA and AFS conferences, local meetings, and other events such as the annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) conference and the Washington Conference.
   Events
   
   Safety in the Foundry XVII, March 15-17, 2005, Providence, Rhode Island
   
   Jess McCluer, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, gave a presentation to 45 attendees about the Alliance Program and the activities of the AFS Alliance on March 16, 2005 during the Safety in the Foundry XVII training course in Providence, Rhode Island. On March 17, 2005 John Grzywacz, Training Instructor, Office of Training and Education gave a presentation on "Fundamental Hazards of Electricity."
   
   2005 Government Affairs Conference, March 9-11, 2005, Washington, DC
   
   OSHA's Acting Assistant Secretary Jonathan L. Snare addressed the AFS 2005 Government Affairs Conference on March 11, 2005. Mr. Snare gave a presentation on the Alliance Program and updated 50 attendees on the activities of the OSHA and AFS Alliance.
   
   16th AFS Environmental Health and Safety Conference, August 15-17, 2004, Indianapolis, Indiana
   
   Jess McCluer, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances manned an Alliance Program tabletop exhibit at the event that had over 150 attendees. He distributed copies of the OSHA-AFS Alliance Fact Sheet and OSHA publications including All About OSHA and Industrial Hygiene.
   
   Ken Gilbert, Region V Indianapolis, Indiana Area Director, addressed the conference on August 16, 2004. Mr. Gilbert gave a presentation to over 100 attendees on OSHA's Alliance Program and enforcement activities.
    
   • Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in foundry best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and AFS.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Promote and encourage AFS member worksites to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects regarding silica, PPE and ventilation issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Encourage AFS chapters and worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
   Events
   
   AFS Chesapeake Chapter, AFS Keystone Chapter, Conestoga Foundry Association, AFS Metropolitan Chapter and Pennsylvania Foundry Association, February 17, 2005, York, Pennsylvania
   
   Ron Smay, Industrial Hygienist, Region III Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Area Office addressed the AFS Chesapeake Chapter, AFS Keystone Chapter, Conestoga Foundry Association, AFS Metropolitan Chapter and Pennsylvania Foundry Association on February 17, 2005 in York, PA. Mr. Smay gave a presentation titled, "OSHA's Silica Standard and Reducing/Preventing Exposure to Silica" to over 30 attendees.
   
   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
    
   • Raise others' awareness and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever AFS's leaders address groups.
     
     The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
2. Executive Summary
   
   During the OSHA and AFS Alliance's first year a productive working relationship was established between the organizations. OSHA learned more about the foundry industry and AFS learned more about the compliance assistance resources that the Agency has developed. In addition, through the Alliance, the AFS members have had the opportunity to hear from OSHA's national staff and regional/area office staff about compliance assistance programs and safety and health issues. For example:
    
   • On March 16, 2005 Jess McCluer, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances gave a presentation about the Alliance Program and the activities of the AFS Alliance during the March 15-17, 2005 Safety in the Foundry XVII training course in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition, on March 17, 2005, John Grzywacz, Training Instructor, Office of Training and Education gave a presentation on the topic of "Fundamental Hazards of Electricity."
      
   • On March 11, 2005, Acting Assistant Secretary Jonathan L. Snare addressed the AFS 2005 Government Affairs Conference and gave a presentation on the Alliance Program and the activities of the AFS Alliance.
      
   • On February 17, 2005, Ron Smay, Industrial Hygienist, Region III Harrisburg , Pennsylvania Area Office gave a presentation titled, "OSHA's Silica Standard and Reducing/Preventing Exposure to Silica" to the AFS Chesapeake Chapter, AFS Keystone Chapter, Conestoga Foundry Association, AFS Metropolitan Chapter and Pennsylvania Foundry Association.
      
   • At the August 15-17, 2004 16th AFS Environmental Health and Safety Conference, Jess McCluer, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances manned an Alliance Program tabletop exhibit. In addition, Ken Gilbert, Region V Indianapolis, Indiana Area Director gave a presentation on the Alliance Program and OSHA's enforcement activities.
   The OSHA and AFS' Alliance implementation team will work jointly with the Office of Training and Education to provide support for the OSHA Training Institute's 3210- Applied Foundry Principles Course that will be held March 29 - April 1, 2005. OSHA Implementation Team member, Frank Perrino is the lead instructor for the course. AFS member and OSHA Strategic Partnership Program participant, Ford Motor Company Foundry in Cleveland, Ohio is hosting the course. In addition, AFS Implementation Team member, Jack Schuldt will assist Mr. Perrino in instructing the course.
   
   Through the OSHA and AFS Alliance, OSHA to will review and provide comments on a personal protective equipment module for the AFS Safety and Health manual. Finally, AFS is providing booth space, free of charge, for the Alliance Program at the April 16-19, 2005, CastExpo '05 in St. Louis, Missouri. The OSHA Region VII St. Louis, Missouri Area Office will staff the booth during the conference.
   
   Overall, the Alliance Program exhibit and the presentations by OSHA staff helped AFS members learn about the numerous OSHA compliance assistance materials and resources available for use and distribution throughout the foundry industry.
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

The OSHA and AFS Alliance Implementation Team has discussed a number of activities that will be undertaken in the upcoming year. AFS is working with OSHA to host and instruct OTI 3210 - Applied Foundry Principles course that will be held on March 29 - April 1, 2005. OSHA Implementation Team member, Frank Perrino is the lead instructor for the course. AFS member and OSHA Strategic Partnership participant, Ford Motor Company Foundry in Cleveland, Ohio is hosting the course. In addition, AFS Implementation Team member, Jack Schuldt will assist Mr. Perrino in instructing the course.

Further, OSHA will review and provide comments on a personal protective equipment module for the AFS Safety and Health manual. OSHA Region VII St. Louis, Missouri Area Office will staff a booth space, provided by AFS free of charge, for the Alliance Program at the April 16-19, 2005, CastExpo '05 in St. Louis, Missouri.

AFS will encourage members to contact their regional and area offices in order to invite Compliance Assistance Specialists to make presentations at chapter meetings about OSHA's compliance assistance programs.

Finally, AFS plans to promote OSHA compliance assistance materials through articles in their monthly publication, Modern Casting and the AFS Web page.

Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, May 6, 2005