PLANET - Alliance Annual Report 2004-2005

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the
Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)
April 26, 2005

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    February 23, 2004

    This Alliance was initially signed by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (PLANET), an association which merged with the Professional Lawn Care Association of America to form the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) in January, 2005.

    Overview

    The OSHA and PLANET Alliance focuses on providing large and small landscape industry businesses, their employees, including youth and non-English speaking workers, with information and guidance that will help them reduce strains caused by manual material handling; amputations; motor vehicle crashes; and slips, trips, and falls injuries.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Bob Curtis
    Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
    Beau Ellis
    Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)
    Rick Harris
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Jim Mitchell
    Office of Small Business Assistances (OSBA)
    Bob Nester
    Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
    Lisa Ramber
    OOSA

    Contributors

    Glen Lamson
    SLTC
    Paul Murphy
    SLTC/OSHA Contractor

    AAOHN:

    Kirsten Combs
    Safety Program Coordinator
    Betsy Demorest
    Events and Products Manager
    Debra Holder
    Executive Director (former)
    Scott Jamieson
    Safety and Insurance Committee, The Care of Trees
    Mari Medrano
    Safety Officer, CoCal Landscaping
    Barb Mulhern
    Safety Specialist
    Peter Ruvalcaba
    Safety Consultant
    David Snodgrass
    Chairman, Safety & Insurance Manager, Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping
    Tanya Tolpegin
    Chief Operating Officer

    Evaluation Period

    February 23, 2004 – February 22, 2005

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    April 8, 2004
    Kick off meeting
    July 16, 2004
    Team Meeting
    August 24, 2004
    Conference Call
    September 9, 2004
    Conference Call
    September 23, 2004
    Conference Call
    November 3, 2004
    Meeting at GIC
    December 6, 2004
    Conference Call
    December 17, 2004
    Conference Call

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Develop and deliver safety training programs designed to meet the needs of the diverse workforce, using appropriate language, media, and delivery methods. Identify and mentor potential trainers who are bilingual and have knowledge of the industry to teach the courses.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team did not start 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 and links from OSHA's and PLANET's Web sites.

      Products

      Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics Page

      Members from the OSHA - PLANET Alliance implementation team provided information, landscaping industry photographs and comments to OSHA's SLTC staff during the development of OSHA's Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page. The following PLANET representatives will be members of the page's editorial board:

      • Dave Snodgrass - Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping
      • John Rovedo - American Civil Contractors, Inc.
      • Barb Mulhern - Safety Specialist

      OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web Page

      OSHA developed an OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes hyperlinks to the OSHA and PLANET Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. For more information on the number of visits to the OSHA and PLANET Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table in section C of this report.

      PLANET and OSHA Alliance Web Page

      PLANET established a PLANET - OSHA Web page, which links to the PLANET - OSHA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. Also, the PLANET Web page will link to PLANET's Safety Tips Sheets as they are developed and to OSHA's Landscaping and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page when it is posted on OSHA's Web site.

      PLANET Safety Tips Fact Sheet Series

      Through the OSHA and PLANET Alliance, the association is developing a Safety Tips Fact Sheet on slips, trips and falls in English and in Spanish and will post it on its Web site. It will be available to the landscape industry companies, employees and the public. The fact sheet discusses the causes of slips and trips injuries and how to prevent them.

      Slip and Trip Injuries is the first in a series of four tips sheets that PLANET will develop. The other sheets will address Defensive Driving, Manual Material Moving, and Prevention of Amputations which are focus areas identified in the OSHA – PLANET Alliance agreement.

      PLANET Safety SOLUTIONS© Newsletter

      PLANET publishes Safety SOLUTIONS©, a monthly members-only newsletter. Articles on the OSHA – PLANET Alliance and OSHA safety and health information are included in nearly every issue. For example, the November 2004 issue featured articles, "OSHA and Safety Update: Are you Prepared?" and "OSHA Alliance Update." This edition also included hyperlinks to OSHA's Strategic Management Plan Web page and OSHA's Spanish language Web page, OSHA en Español.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at PLANET and OSHA conferences such as local meetings, the Landscape Industry Conference & GIE, Student Career Days, PLANET Forum, Specialty Symposiums and other events.

      Events

      Green Industry Conference (GIC), Charlotte, North Carolina, November 3-6, 2004

      PLANET's Green Industry Conference (GIC) was held November 3-6, 2004 at the Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC. OSHA, North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and PLANET shared an exhibit booth in the PLANET Resource Center at the convention center. OSHA, North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health representatives and PLANET representatives distributed publications and answered questions from PLANET members. There were approximately 4,000 attendees at this event.

      Green Industry Exposition (GIE), Harrisburg, North Carolina, November 4, 2004

      PLANET's Green Industry Exposition (GIE) was held in conjunction with the GIC on November 4, 2004 in Harrisburg, North Carolina. OSHA and North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health representatives had an exhibit booth, distributed publications and answered questions from PLANET's members. There were approximately 1,000 attendees at this event.

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

        During this reporting period, the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Work with other Alliance Program participants on specific issues and projects in the landscape industry that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.
        Promoting the National Dialogue Goals:

      • In speeches and other public appearances PLANET leaders/mentors will demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health and raise the awareness of effective safety and health management in the industry.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team did not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues, especially those relating to "hard-to reach" and non-English speaking workers.

        During this reporting period, the OSHA and PLANET Alliance Implementation Team did not start work on programs or projects to address this goal.

    2. Executive Summary

      In the first year of the Alliance, OSHA and PLANET established an excellent working relationship. Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and PLANET are working to reduce injuries and exposure to hazards in the workplace for the landscape industry.

      OSHA developed an OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and PLANET Alliance agreement, OSHA news releases, a photograph of the signing ceremony, and activities and events, products and resources, and milestones and successes. PLANET also established a PLANET - OSHA Web page, which links to the PLANET - OSHA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site.

      The Alliance implementation team also worked together to provide OSHA with input on the development of an OSHA electronic assistance tool; Landscaping and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page. The tool will be posted on OSHA's Web site. In addition, Dave Snodgrass, John Rovedo, and Barb Mulhern will become members of the editorial board for the Topics page when it becomes available to the public.

      Through the Alliance, OSHA, PLANET and North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health representatives shared an exhibit booth at the Green Industry Conference in Charlotte, NC. In addition, OSHA and North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health representatives staffed an exhibit booth at the Green Industry Exposition in Harrisburg, NC. At both events, OSHA and North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health representatives answered attendees' questions and distributed publications.

      In addition, PLANET began developing and OSHA will provide feedback on PLANET's Slip and Trip Injuries Safety Tips Facts Sheet. This document is the first in a series of four tips sheets. The other sheets will address Defensive Driving, Manual Material Moving and Prevention of Amputations identified as focus areas in the OSHA – PLANET Alliance agreement. The Safety Tips Facts Sheets will be posted on PLANET's Web site, be available in English and Spanish and linked to, as appropriate, from OSHA's Web site.

      PLANET also developed articles on safety and health topics for the landscape industry. Through the Alliance, PLANET shared information with OSHA by furnishing copies of the articles, such as those in PLANET's SafetySoultions© newsletter.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity Number of Individuals Reached
      February 26, 2004, "OSHA Forms Alliance Focusing on Landscape Work"
      BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter      		 Data not available
      March 10, 2004, "OSHA Aligns With Landscapers for Worker Safety"
      Safety2.blr.com      		 Data not available
      April 5, 2004, "ALCA AND OSHA FORM ALLIANCE ALCA and OSHA Unite in Efforts to Provide a Safer Work Environment for the Landscape Industry"
      PLANET News Release      		 Data not available
      September 2004, "Reduce Injuries and Fatalities Thorough Safety Programs Can Help Landscape Companies Avoid OSHA-Related Litigation"
      Landscape Management      		 Data not available
      October 2004, "ALCA Expands Efforts to Promote Safety"
      Landscape Contractor News      		 2,500
      November 2004, "ALCA Adds Safety Hotline to Long List of Member Benefits,"
      Landscape Contractor News      		 2,500
      November 3-5, 2004, Green Industry Conference, Charlotte, NC
      OSHA exhibited      		 4,000
      November 4, 2004, Green Industry Exposition, Harrisburg, NC
      OSHA exhibited      		 1,000
      November 2004, "OSHA and Safety Update: Are You Prepared"
      PLANET's SafetySolutions© newsletter      		 7,000
      December 1, 2004, "Landscape Contractors Take Workplace Safety to the Next Level"
      PLANET News Release      		 Data not available
      OSHA and PLANET Alliance Web page 4,800
      PLANET - OSHA Alliance Web page on PLANET's Web site Data not available
      TOTAL 21,800

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and PLANET will continue its excellent working relationship and collaborate on a number of projects to support the Alliance agreement.

    The OSHA and PLANET Alliance will finalize the development of four Safety Tips Facts Sheets, in English and Spanish, on the landscape industry hazards identified as focus areas in the Alliance agreement. Topics of the Safety Tips Fact Sheets will be: Slip and Trip Injuries, Manual Material Moving, Defensive Driving and Prevention of Amputations.

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and PLANET will continue efforts to finalize OSHA's Landscape and Horticultural Safety and Health Topics page. PLANET members, Dave Snodgrass, John Rovedo, and Barb Mulhern will become members of the Landscaping and Horticultural Services Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board when the page is launched.

    OSHA and PLANET will continue to raise awareness of safety and health issues pertinent to the landscaping industry through joint activities at the PLANET Student Career Days, which will be held March 20-21, 2005 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. OSHA, PLANET, and a Maryland Occupational Safety and Health representative will share an exhibit booth on March 20, 2005, at the Student Career Fair, a recruitment fair held during Student Career Days. In addition, OSHA Region III and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health will provide safety observers to monitor the twenty-three competitive events known as the "Olympics of the Green Industry" at the University of Maryland on March 21, 2005.

    The OSHA and PLANET Alliance will consider opportunities to promote and educate others on safety and health issues associated with the landscaping industry, such as at the Green Industry Conference and Exposition, November 2-5, 2005 in Orlando, Florida. PLANET will be inviting OSHA to exhibit at the conference and to give a presentation on OSHA's Consultation Program.

    In addition, PLANET will continue to develop articles on safety and health topics, for its members and others, on OSHA's compliance assistance materials and safety and health that impact landscape industry.

Report prepared by: Richard L. Harris, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services Alliances, April 29, 2005