Red Cross - Alliance Annual Report - June 16, 2009

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
The American Red Cross
June 16, 2009

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    May 19, 2005

    Overview

    Through the OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance, the organizations are providing employers and employees, including non-English and limited English speaking employees, with information, guidance, and access to training resources. In particular, the Alliance specifically addresses emergency preparedness, disease prevention education and first aid training.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA

    Sheila Arbury

    Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM)

    Kay Dellinger

    Office of Occupational Medicine (OOM), DTSEM

    Sandra Khan

    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)

    Darla Royal

    OOM, DTSEM

    Dionne Williams

    Office of Health Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs

    American Red Cross:

    Pat Bonifer

    Director, Research and Product Development

    Dee Cozart

    Sr. Director, Corporate Safety Officer

    Jean Erdtmann

    Senior Director, Program Development and Sales Support

    Pamela King

    Associate, Community and Marketing

    Steve Rieve

    Director, Program and Product Management/Health and Safety Services

    Keith Robertory

    Manager, Disaster Education

    Evaluation Period

    May 19, 2008 – May 18, 2009

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • August 12, 2008
    • December 18, 2008
    • May 12, 2009

    In addition to the scheduled Implementation Team 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

      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 American Red Cross’ Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      OSHA and the American Red Cross Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to update its OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The Web page features links to the Alliance agreement and related documents and information on activities and events, and milestones and successes. The page also includes links to the American Red Cross Pandemic Flu Web page and the Alliance-related Web page on the American Red Cross Web site.

      American Red Cross Alliance-related Web Page

      The American Red Cross developed an Alliance-related Web page on the American Red Cross Web site that features the goals of the OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance and a link to the OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. In addition, the page featured information about the 2009 NAOSH Week, May 3-9, 2009 and the 2008 Department of Labor Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Information and news releases on the OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance's activities appeared in numerous publications, including Occupational Health & Safety Magazine, Medical Environment Week, and HealthCare Pro. For more information regarding the articles, please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

      Through the Alliance, American Red Cross representatives, Ted Crites, CHES, American Red Cross First Aid/CPR Project Manager, and Edward V.Sargent, MPH, PhD, DABT, American Red Cross Advisory Council on First Aid, Aquatics, Safety, and Preparedness (ACFASP), are serving on the OSHA Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics page’s editorial board.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and the American Red Cross conferences or other events such as the American Red Cross local chapter meetings.

      American Red Cross Workplace Seminars

      OSHA Regional and Area Offices and State Plan State representatives continue to work with local American Red Cross Chapters to provide speakers for their Workplace Seminars throughout the United States. During the seminars, the OSHA representatives provide information and guidance to the attendees on OSHA regulations and standards, including ergonomics, bloodborne pathogens, first aid and fire prevention. Large and small business representatives in the local communities attended the following seminar:

      • American Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter Workplace Seminar – October 25, 2008
      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding American Red Cross best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by American Red Cross and through OSHA or American Red Cross developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      “Emergency Preparedness: Safe at Work, Safe at Home,” Web Expo, May 6, 2009

      OSHA and the American Red Cross worked together to develop the content for the Web cast, “Emergency Preparedness: Safe at Work, Safe at Home,” conducted on May 6, 2009. During the Web cast, Christina Jones, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Science and Technology Assessment, DTSEM, USDOL-OSHA, delivered a presentation entitled "OSHA's Emergency Response Role and Helpful Resources for Preparedness," and Jose Benavides, Team Leader, Office of Small Business Assistance, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, and Jim Boom, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Partnerships and Recognition, DCSP, USDOL-OSHA, delivered a presentation entitled “OSHA Cooperative Programs: On-site Consultation and OSHA Challenge Pilot Program." More than 2,500 safety and health professionals viewed the Web Expo.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues to increase emergency preparedness and disease prevention education to the workplace and also increase first aid information to individuals with LEP and youth workers.

      2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3-9, 2009

      The American Red Cross (ARC) and more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. 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. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home." Scott Conner, Senior Vice President, Preparedness and Health and Safety Services, ARC, John Hendrickson, Senior Associate, Preparedness and Health and Safety Services, ARC, Lynda Harris, Manager, Preparedness and Health and Safety Services, ARC, Dawn Latham, Senior Associate, Government Relations, ARC, attended the NAOSH Week Kick-off event at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC on May 4, 2009. Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab, USDOL-OSHA; Warren Brown, President, ASSE; and Andrew Cooper, Secretary, CSSE; provided brief remarks. The Kick-off also featured an Alliance Program participant panel with presentations from Alliance Program participants American Heart Association, ASSE, Independent Electrical Contractors, and National Safety Council focusing on workplace safety and health issues.

      The American Red Cross also supported the Week by providing handouts and first aid kits as giveaways for the NAOSH Week bags provided to the 200 attendees at the kick-off event.

      2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008

      The American Red Cross and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.

      • Encourage American Red Cross chapters to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Vice President for Preparedness and Health and Safety Services Offices to increase emergency preparedness and disease prevention education to workplaces and increase first aid information to LEP and youth workers.

      OSHA Regional and Area Office Alliances

      Kay Dellinger, Medical Officer, OOM, DTSEM, serves on the ARC and American Heart Association (AHA), an Alliance Program participant, First Aid Advisory Taskforce. The First Aid Advisory Taskforce is responsible for updating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and first aid guidelines every five years.

      The American Red Cross Chapters are continuing to recognize the value of working together with OSHA through the Alliance Program. During the reporting period, the following Regional and Area Office Alliances were active:

      • Region III, Allentown and Philadelphia Pennsylvania Area Offices and the American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter Alliance signed October 27, 2005, renewed November 28, 2007

        Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing local businesses and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to fall, amputation, ergonomic, chemical, electrical and other physical hazards and/or addressing implementation of effective safety and health program issues. In addition, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter added a link to the OSHA and American Red Cross national Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site to its Web site.

      • Region III, Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania Area Office and the American Red Cross, Wyoming Valley Chapter signed January 11, 2008

        Through the Alliance, the organizations are providing local businesses and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to fall, amputation, ergonomic, chemical, electrical and other physical hazards and/or addressing implementation of effective safety and health program issues.

      Promoting the National Dialogue Goals

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to discuss emergency preparedness, disease prevention education and first aid issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

      First Aid Advisory Taskforce

      Kay Dellinger, Medical Officer, OOM, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA, serves on the American Red Cross and American Heart Association (AHA), an Alliance Program participant, First Aid Advisory Taskforce. The First Aid Advisory Taskforce is responsible for updating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and first aid guidelines every five years.

    2. Executive Summary

      The positive relationship that OSHA and American Red Cross established over the past three years has led to the development of many programs and projects that the team is currently working on or has produced. For example, through the OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance the organizations developed the content for the Web Expo, “Emergency Preparedness: Safe at Work, Safe at Home," that was conducted on May 6, 2009. More than 2,500 safety and health professionals viewed the Web Expo. In addition, OSHA and American Red Cross representatives provided their support, expertise and shared information through a number of different avenues. For example:

      • OSHA Regional and Area Offices and State Plan State representatives are giving presentations at Workplace Seminars for local chapters of the American Red Cross throughout the United States.
      • American Red Cross continues to encourage its Chapters to form Regional and Area Office Alliances. To date, the American Red Cross and OSHA have signed Alliance agreements with Region III, Allentown, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Area Offices and Region V, Peoria, Illinois Area Office.
      • OSHA representative, Kay Dellinger, Medical Officer, OOM, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA serves on the American Red Cross and AHA First Aid Advisory Taskforce.
      • American Red Cross, along with more than 55 other Alliance Program participants supported the 2009 NAOSH Week.
      • American Red Cross supported and promoted the DOL Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc. Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and American Red Cross Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 4,256
      American Red Cross and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the American Red Cross Web site 15,223
      OSHA Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics Page 12,965
      August 13, 2008:  OSHA Renews Alliance with American Red Cross Occupational Health & Safety Magazine 80,100
      August 19, 2008: OSHA Renews Red Cross Alliance Medical Environment Weekly Data not available
      August 12, 2008: OSHA Renews Alliance with American Red Cross CCH NetNews Data not available
      September 2, 2008: OSHA Renews Red Cross Alliance HealthCare Pro Data not available
      November 2008: Safety First!Belcher Roofing Centers Company Around Safety, Quality, Production OSHA Up to Date 62 News Services
      December 10, 2008: Making Sure Workers Come Home Safely The Virginia Engineer Data not available
      May 6, 2009: “Emergency Preparedness: Safe at Work, Safe at Home” Web Expo 2,500
      Total 115,106

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and the American Red Cross will renew their Alliance agreement and undertake several activities to reach the goals of the Alliance. For example:

    • Through the Alliance, the American Red Cross and OSHA plan to continue to develop free-of-charge Web casts on a number of emergency preparedness topics, including emergency evacuation plans and bloodborne pathogens.

    • The organizations also plan to develop compliance assistance resources for non-or English-speaking employers and employees, including developing fact sheets on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators.The American Red Cross will also work with the American Heart Association, an Alliance Program participant, to develop a Best Practice Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Fact Sheet.

    • American Red Cross Chapter representatives will work with OSHA Regional and Area Offices to form new Alliances.

    • OSHA representatives will continue to provide speakers for local Chapters of the American Red Cross, including Workplace Seminars.

    • The American Red Cross will revise its Alliance-related Web site in 2009.

    • American Red Cross representatives will continue to serve on the editorial board of the OSHA Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics pages

    • The American Red Cross will join with other Alliance Program participants in supporting the 2009 Drug-free Work Week and the 2010 NAOSH Week.

    Finally, the American Red Cross will join other Alliance Program participants, including the American Heart Association and the American Biological Safety Association to provide their expertise to OSHA as it develops a Healthcare Worker Outreach Training Course.

    Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, June 16, 2009.