NAHB - Alliance Annual Report - May 11, 2007

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
May 11, 2007

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    May 8, 2003

    Alliance Renewed

    October 18, 2005

    Evaluation Period

    May 9, 2006 - May 8, 2007

    Overview

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and NAHB are providing members and others in the residential construction industry, including non-English and limited English speaking employees and trade contractors, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety. In addition, the agreement addresses fall, electrical, struck-by, and caught in/between safety hazards.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Michael Buchet
    Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    Stew Burkhammer
    OCS
    Lee Anne Jillings
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Jess McCluer
    OOSA
    Danezza Quintero
    OCS

    NAHB:

    Kevin Cannon
    Safety Specialist1
    Rob Matuga
    Director, Labor, Safety & Health Regulatory Affairs

    1Member of the Implementation Team beginning in October 2006

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    May 17, 2006
    Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC
    August 29, 2006
    Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC
    December 12, 2006
    Implementation Team Meeting, Washington, DC
    March 15, 2007
    Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC

    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education

       

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the residential construction industry, including non-English and limited English speaking employees and trade contractors, regarding fall, electrical, struck-by and caught in/between safety hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such information, in English, Spanish and/or other languages, to employers and employees in the industry.

        The OSHA and NAHB Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of safety training courses addressing fall, electrical, struck-by and caught in/between safety hazards in the residential construction industry in English, Spanish and/or other languages.

        The OSHA and NAHB Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

       

      Outreach and Communication

      • 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 in English, Spanish and/or other languages (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and NAHB's Web sites) to employers and employees in the residential construction industry.

      Products

      OSHA and NAHB Alliance Web page

      OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and NAHB Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web site. It includes the OSHA and NAHB Alliance agreement, renewal agreement, news releases, activities and events and milestones and successes.

      OSHA's Residential Construction Industry Safety and Health Topics Page

      NAHB staff and members are continuing to participate on the OSHA Residential Construction Industry Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board:

      • Rob Matuga, NAHB; Washington, DC
      • Vern Pottenger, Pottenger Builders; Beaufort, SC
      • Connie Wilhelm, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona; Phoenix, AZ

      The Topics page, which was posted to the Agency's Web site in August 2004, is a product of the Alliance.

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information and news releases on the OSHA and NAHB Alliance activities appeared in NAHB's Nation's Building News, ehSuite, and OSHA's Alliance Quarterly Review. For example, NAHB's November 11, 2006 edition of its weekly e-newsletter, Nation's Building News included an article, "OSHA Inspectors See Safety Through the Eyes of a Builder" that described the October 5, 2006 "How to Build a House" seminar which is a product of the Alliance. For more information on the articles, see "Alliance Program Reach."

      Products

      Fall Protection Safety Video

      Micheal Buchet and Danezza Quintero reviewed and provided comments on NAHB's draft script and handbook for a training video, Fall Protection Safety, on residential construction fall protection safety.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NAHB's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the NAHB International Builders Show.

      NAHB Safety and Health Committee Meeting, February 8, 2007, Orlando, Florida

      On February 8, 2007, Steven Witt, Director, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, attended the NAHB Safety and Health Committee meeting during the 2007 International Builders Show, February 7-10, 2007, Orlando, Florida.

      2007 International Builders Show, February 7-10, 2007, Orlando, Florida

      Veneta Chatmon, Exhibits and Meeting Specialist, Office of Communications, USDOL-OSHA, staffed the OSHA exhibit booth at the 2007 International Builders Show. OSHA provided compliance assistance publications including the OSHA and NAHB Alliance Activities Summary, which were distributed during the event.

      2007 NAHB Executive Board Meeting, February 4, 2007, Orlando, Florida

      On February 4, 2007, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, spoke to 150 attendees about the OSHA Alliance Program and the activities of the OSHA and NAHB Alliance at the 2007 NAHB Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NAHB's best practices and effective approaches and publicize the benefits of implementing safety programs and best practices through outreach by NAHB and through OSHA- or NAHB-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      Products

      "How to Build a House" Seminar

      The OSHA and NAHB Alliance continued to hold the one day "How to Build a House" Seminar, that was developed through the OSHA and NAHB Alliance. During the reporting period, the seminar was held May 26, 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana and October 5, 2006 in Elyria, Ohio. During the seminar, NAHB members and staff instructed 40 OSHA Region V, Indiana OSHA and Ohio On-site Consultation Program representatives on the makeup, structure and components of the home building industry. Following the classroom instruction, residential construction building techniques were highlighted for the seminar participants during worksite tours of NAHB member's Lennar Homes in Indianapolis, Indiana and Ryan Homes in Elyria, Ohio.

      • Promote and encourage NAHB's members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

        The OSHA and NAHB 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 such as fall, electrical, struck-by and caught in/between safety hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign: Build a Safe Work Foundation

      Through the Alliance Program, NAHB helped promote the OSHA 2007 Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign: Build a Safe Work Foundation. The campaign focuses on youth employed in the construction industry. NAHB along with Alliance Program participants, SkillsUSA, The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition and the following Drug Free Workplace Alliance members: the Associated General Contractors of America; the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; the Center to Protect Workers Rights; the Building and Construction Trades Department-AFL/CIO; the Construction Safety Council; the Laborers International Union of North America, joined Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. at the national kick-off event on April 17, 2007 at the Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring, Maryland.

      • Encourage NAHB's state and local associations and members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including fall, electrical, struck-by and caught in/between safety hazards.

      OSHA and NAHB Regional, Area Office and State Plan State Alliances

      The following OSHA Area Office and NAHB Chapter Alliance was signed during the current reporting period:

      OSHA Region VII Omaha Area Office and the Nebraska Workforce Development - On-site Consultation and NAHB's Metro Omaha Builders Association (MOBA), signed February 15, 2007

      Through the Alliance, OSHA and NAHB are working to provide MOBA members and others in the residential construction industry, including non-English and limited English speaking employees, with information, training opportunities, and guidance that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to residential construction industry hazards such as falls and electrocutions.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on issues including: fall, electrical, struck-by and caught in/between safety hazards in the residential construction industry, to help forge innovative solutions and provide input on safety and health issues.

      OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection Workgroup

      On July 8, 2004, representatives from NAHB participated in the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances. The Fall Protection Workgroup was developed at the Roundtable meeting.

      Fall Protection Workgroup - NAHB is participating on the Fall Protection Workgroup and helped develop the "Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry" training program. The program is designed for construction industry audiences, including small business owners, trainers, foreman and workers. In addition, the Workgroup is developing toolbox talks for ladders that address issues such as "Do's and Don'ts of Using a Ladder", "Choosing the Right Ladder" and "Set-Up and Use of a Ladder." Rob Matuga attended the August 29, 2006 Workgroup meeting and Mr. Matuga and Kevin Cannon attended the March 15, 2007 meeting.

      2007 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), May 6-12, 2007

      NAHB and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2007 NAOSH Week, May 6-12, 2006. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Rob Matuga and Kevin Cannon joined Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr at the Week's kick-off event which was held at the US Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building in Washington, DC.

      National Safety Council's 2006 Congress & Expo, November 5-9, 2006, San Diego, California

      On November 8, 2006, Stew Burkhammer, Director, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, and Rob Matuga, Director, Labor, Safety & Health Regulatory Affairs, NAHB spoke to 35 attendees about training products developed through the OSHA and NAHB Alliance in a workshop, "Training for Residential Construction: OSHA & NAHB," during the National Safety Council's 2006 Congress & Expo, November 5-9, 2006 in San Diego, California.

      Promoting the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Workgroup, October 25, 2006, Washington, DC

      Kevin Cannon, Safety Specialist, NAHB; and Robert Matuga, Director, Labor, Safety & Health Regulatory Affairs, NAHB; participated in the October 25, 2006 Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable's Promoting the GHS Workgroup meeting, in Washington, DC. During the Workgroup meeting, representatives from 15 Alliance Program participants identified compliance assistance tools and products to educate the public, particularly small businesses, about the GHS. They also provided recommendations on the target audiences, subjects and formats of and methods for distributing the information. The meeting was held as a follow-up to the February 15, 2005 Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable and the August 1, 2005 promoting the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals Workgroup meeting.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance, OSHA and NAHB are continuing to work together to develop compliance assistance products and resources to help protect residential construction industry workers from safety hazards such as falls, electrical, struck-by, and caught in/between. NAHB continued to present the one day "Building a House" Seminar that was developed through the OSHA and NAHB Alliance. The seminar was held for OSHA Region V and Indiana OSHA staff on May 26, 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana and for Region V and Ohio On-site Consultation staff on October 5, 2006 in Elyria, Ohio. During the seminars, NAHB members and staff instructed the OSHA representatives on the makeup, structure and components of the home building industry. During the seminars, residential construction building techniques were highlighted during a worksite tours.

      In addition, OSHA and NAHB representatives provided their expertise and information through a number of different avenues. For example:

      • NAHB members are continuing to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA Residential Construction Industry Safety and Health Topics page, which is a product of the OSHA and NAHB Alliance.

      • On November 8, 2006, Stew Burkhammer, Director, Office of Construction Services, USDOL-OSHA and Rob Matuga, Director, Labor, Safety & Health Regulatory Affairs, NAHB spoke to 35 attendees about training products developed through the OSHA and NAHB Alliance in a workshop, "Training for Residential Construction: OSHA & NAHB," during the National Safety Council's 2006 Congress & Expo.

      • On February 4, 2007, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA spoke to 150 attendees about the OSHA Alliance Program and the activities of the OSHA and NAHB Alliance at the 2007 NAHB Executive Board Meeting.

      • On February 8, 2007, Steven Witt, Director, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA, attended the NAHB Safety and Health Committee meeting that was held during the 2007 International Builders Show.

      • February 7-10, 2007, Veneta Chatmon, Exhibits and Meeting Specialist, Office of Communications, USDOL-OSHA, staffed the OSHA exhibit booth, at the 2007 International Builders Show.

      • NAHB has representatives on the Fall Protection Workgroup that was created at the July 8, 2004 OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting.

      • NAHB partnered with other Alliance Program participants to promote the OSHA 2007 Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign: Build a Safe Work Foundation.

      • NAHB along with other Alliance Program participants supported 2007 NAOSH Week.

      NAHB is also promoting the activities of the OSHA and NAHB Alliance and providing information on through articles in its weekly e-newsletter, Nation's Building News. Finally, as a result of the successes, NAHB is working with the Agency to develop an Alliance renewal agreement.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

       

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and NAHB Alliance Web site on OSHA's Web page 6,602
      NAHB Web site - Link to Alliance Agreement Data Not Available
      OSHA Residential Construction Safety and Health Topics page 21,285
      May 1, 2006 - "OSHA Responds to NAHB Study of Construction Site Noise," Nation's Building News 150,000
      May 26, 2006 - "How to Build a House" Seminar," Indianapolis, Indiana 20
      June 26, 2006 - "Indiana OSHA Staff Get Insights into Home Building", Nation's Building News 150,000
      July 3, 2006 - "NAHB Meets With OSHA Head to Advance Construction Safety," Nation's Building News 150,000
      October 5, 2006 - "How to Build a House Seminar," Elyria, Ohio 20
      November 8, 2006 - 2006 National Safety Congress & Expo, San Diego

      Speakers: Stew Burkhammer, Director, Office of Construction Services, USDOL-OSHA and Rob Matuga, Director, Labor, Safety & Health Regulatory Affairs, NAHB      		 35
      November 11, 2006 - "OSHA Inspectors See Safety Through the Eyes of a Builder," Nation's Building News 150,000
      December 2006 - "Alliance Program Participants Share Best Practices Techniques," Alliance Quarterly Review 30
      February 4, 2007 - NAHB Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

      Speaker: Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA      		 150
      February 7-10, 2007 - 2007 International Builders Show, Orlando, Florida

      OSHA Exhibit      		 100,000
      February 19, 2007 - Nation's Building News

      "Home Builder Safety Professional"

      "OSHA Inspectors See Safety Through the Eyes of a Builder"      		 150,000
      February 20, 2007 - "OSHA, Metro Omaha Builders Association and Nebraska Form Alliance to Protect Construction Workers," ehsSuite Data Not Available
      TOTAL 878,412

       

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA's and NAHB's positive relationship will continue to grow and the Implementation Team will undertake several activities. In addition, the organizations will sign an OSHA and NAHB Alliance renewal agreement.

    To continue sharing information with OSHA staff, the OSHA and NAHB Alliance will hold additional "How To Build a House" seminars. For example, NAHB's Maryland chapter is working with Maryland OSHA to hold the seminar in Laurel, Maryland. Further, the association will continue to work with the OSHA to develop an online residential construction training course.

    The association also will continue to participate on the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable's Fall Protection workgroup and provide feedback on products that are developed by the group. In addition, NAHB staff and members will continue to serve on OSHA's Residential Construction Industry Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board and will review and provide comments on the tool. NAHB will also support and participate in the 2007 NAOSH Week, May 6-12, 2007.

    Finally, NAHB will continue to promote the activities of the OSHA and NAHB Alliance through publishing articles in its weekly e-newsletter, Nation's Building News and updating its Web site to include a specific section to promote the OSHA and NAHB Alliance.

Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, May 11, 2007