Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI)

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

December 2, 2004

Overview

The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance provides BSCAI members and others, including those with limited English proficiency and small businesses with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety. Specifically, the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance focuses on reducing and preventing ergonomic injuries and exposure to hazardous materials in multiple work environments encountered by building service contractors and their employees.

Implementation Team Members

Evaluation Period

December 2, 2004 - December 1, 2005

II. Implementation Team Meetings

III. Results

1. Events and Products
   
   Training and Education Goal
    
   • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs that address workplace safety and health issues, such as ergonomics and exposure to hazardous materials.
   Products
   
   OTI Safety and Health Management Training Course
   
   OSHA and BSCAI identified an OSHA Training Institute's (OTI) short course, Introduction to Safety and Health Management, which would be of interest to BSCAI's members. The implementation team is collaborating through a workgroup to modify the course for the building services and maintenance industry.
   
   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 BSCAI's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   Products
   
   OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Web Page
   
   OSHA created an OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The page includes a copy of the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance agreement, a photograph of the signing ceremony, and the OSHA news release on the Alliance signing.
   
   BSCAI Web Site
   
   BSCAI created a page on its Web site, See the Latest, which lists up-to-date information for BSCAI members from many sources, including OSHA. For example, links to OSHA's Landscaping and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics Page, OSHA's Consultation Program and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Census on Fatal Occupations in 2004 are posted on the page.
   
   Print and Electronic Media
   
   Articles on the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance have appeared in a number of printed and online publications, including: World Oil, OSHA Quick Takes and BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter. Over 73,000 individuals were reached through the publications. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
   
   Other Publications
   
   BSCAI's Magazine Services
   
   In the February 2005 edition of BSCAI's magazine, Services, the association published an article, "BSCAI Inks Industry-Leading Alliance Agreement with OSHA," which promoted the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance agreement. The article contained a copy of the Alliance agreement and featured photographs from the Alliance signing ceremony. In addition, the article included a quote from OSHA's then Assistant Secretary John Henshaw and provided additional information on the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance and potential joint projects and outreach opportunities.
   
   Also, BSCAI created a new segment in Services, "OSHA Corner," where information on OSHA's compliance assistance resources, Alliance Program initiatives and other agency news was featured. Information on OSHA's activities, projects, products and programs included: an article highlighting OSHA's Compliance Assistance Web page resources; an announcement of Jonathan Snare's being named Deputy Assistant Secretary; information on OSHA's publications and other outreach resources; and an article on the OSHA Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable and the agency's efforts related to Globally Harmonized Systems.
   • Speak, exhibit and/or appear at OSHA's and BSCAI's educational conferences and trade shows such as the BSCAI Annual Trade Show.

   Events

   BSCAI 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show, Orlando, Florida, April 1-5, 2005
   
   During the BSCAI 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show, April 1-5, 2005 in Orlando, FL, BSCAI provided information on the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance and OSHA materials at the BSCAI registration table as well as in the BSCAI exhibit at the trade show. Also, a presentation on the Alliance Program was given during the convention's general session.
    
   • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding BSCAI's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by BSCAI and through OSHA or BSCAI developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum). The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
     
     The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Promote and encourage BSCAI members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
     
     The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Encourage BSCAI members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including ergonomics and handling of hazardous materials.
     
     The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

   Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:

   • Raise the awareness of other industry groups and the public with respect to workplace safety and health, and demonstrate the industry's commitment to the issues identified in this Alliance Agreement when BSCAI leaders address outside groups, at trade shows, and in educational conferences.

   Events

   BSCAI 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show, Orlando, Florida, April 1-5, 2005
   
   During the BSCAI 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show, April 1-5, 2005 in Orlando, FL, BSCAI leadership, when addressing BSCIA's members and others during breakout sessions, actively promoted the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance.
   
   Chief Executive Officer Seminars, June 25, 2005, Toronto, Canada; September 30, 2005 - October 1, 2005, Hershey, Pennsylvania; October 29, 2005 Columbus, Ohio; November 12, 2005 Albuquerque, New Mexico
   
   BSCAI executive leadership presented information about the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance during Chief Executive Officer Seminars on June 25, 2005; September 30, 2005; October 1, 2005; October 29, 2005 and November 12, 2005.
    
   • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health, such as the use of ergonomic tools in the building services industry, and publicize their results.
     
     The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
      
   • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on issues related to, workers with limited English proficiency, small businesses, ergonomics and hazardous materials handling to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

   OSHA Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable, Washington, DC, February 15, 2005

   Mike Zolandz, BSCAI Legal Counsel, participated on behalf of the association in the OSHA Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable, February 15, 2005 in Washington, DC. This roundtable provided Alliance Program participants with an opportunity to learn about the status of OSHA's Hazard Communication initiative; share information about their own Alliances, including any activities related to Hazard Communication; and learn about what other Alliances are doing to address Hazard Communication issues. Representatives from 18 Alliances participated in the roundtable.
   
   At the meeting, the following workgroups were established and projects were identified for the Alliance Program participants to work on together to develop Hazard Communication related compliance assistance resources:
    
   • Hazard Communication and Awareness Training;
   • Developing Model Material Safety Data Sheets and;
   • Promoting the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
   Mike Zolandz is a member of the Hazard Communication Awareness and Training workgroup.
    
2. Executive Summary
   
   Through the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance, the association began sharing information with the Agency related to safety and health hazards encountered by building services and maintenance industry employers and employees. In addition, BSCAI includes links to OSHA safety and health information from the "See the Latest" section of the association's Web site. For example, information from OSHA that BSCAI posted includes an article on OSHA's Consultation Program and a link to OSHA's Landscaping and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page.
   
   OSHA also created an OSHA and BSCAI Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The page includes a copy of the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance agreement, a photograph of the signing ceremony and a link to the agency's news release on the signing.
   
   In addition, BSCAI promoted the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance through its monthly members-only publication, Services magazine. For example, in the February 2005 edition of Services, BSCAI published an article, "BSCAI Inks Industry-Leading Alliance Agreement With OSHA," which promoted the OSHA and BSCAI Alliance agreement and featured photographs of Alliance's signing ceremony. Continuing its efforts to promote safety and health, BSCAI created a section in Services called "OSHA Corner" which provides information on OSHA's projects, activities and products. Information published includes: an article highlighting OSHA's Compliance Assistance Web page resources; information on OSHA's small business outreach efforts; and an article the OSHA Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable.
   
   To address the Alliance's training and education goal, OSHA and BSCAI identified an OSHA Training Institute's (OTI) short course, Introduction to Safety and Health Management, which would be of interest to BSCAI's members. The implementation team is collaborating through a workgroup to modify the course for the building services and maintenance industry. The Alliance is discussing presenting the revised course at BSCAI's 2006 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN.
    
3. Alliance Program Reach

IV. Upcoming Milestones

In the next year of the Alliance, OSHA and BSCAI will continue to work together to identify opportunities to promote safety and health in the building services and maintenance industry. For example, BSCAI will continue to publish safety and health information in its "OSHA Corner" in Services magazine. The column will highlight information on OSHA's products, activities and projects that may benefit the industry. In addition, BSCAI will continue to update BSCAI's Web site, "See The Latest" page, with safety and health information from OSHA.

OSHA and BSCAI will complete the modification of OTI's short course, "Introduction to Safety and Health Management," for the building services and maintenance industry. The course will be presented at BSCAI's 2006 Annual Meeting, March 24-28, 2006 in Nashville, TN.

In addition, OSHA and BSCAI will invite Acting Assistant Secretary Jonathan L. Snare to make a keynote presentation during of the meeting. The OSHA and BSCAI Alliance is also considering having an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distribute OSHA's safety and health, compliance assistance and cooperative program information and publications.

Further, the Alliance will be developing safety tips fact sheets on hazards that impact on the safety and health of employees in the building services and maintenance industry. The first fact sheet that will be produced will address slips and trip injuries.


Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances, December 4, 2005