Roadway - Alliance Annual Report - February 29, 2012

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and
The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance
February 29, 2012

  1. Alliance Background  

    Date Signed

    January 25, 2007

    Date Renewed

    September 11, 2009

    Overview

    Signatories of the Alliance:
    • American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
    • Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
    • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
    • Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
    • LIUNA Education and Training Fund
    • National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
    • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
    Through the Alliance, OSHA, NIOSH, and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners will work to provide construction industry employers and employees and others with information, guidance and access to training resources. These resources will help the Alliance protect employees, including Spanish-speaking, and other high-risk or vulnerable "hard-to-reach" workers, from general health and safety hazards and reduce and prevent exposures to roadway work zone safety and health hazards. The Alliance will particularly focus on flagger safety, safer deployment of traffic control devices, positive protection, night work, work zone speeding and runovers/backovers.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Todd Briggs - Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
    Michael Buchet - Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    Eric Lahaie - OOSA
    Danezza Quintero - Office of Construction Services (OCS)

    NIOSH:

    David Fosbroke - Division of Safety Research

    The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners:

    Kevin Cannon - AGC
    Brian Deery - AGC
    Don Elisburg - NAPA
    Gary Fore - NAPA
    Gary Fuller - NAPA Walter Jones - LIUNA
    John J. LeConche -  LIUNA Training and Education Fund
    Omar Lopez - ARTBA
    Howard Marks - NAPA
    Travis Parsons - LIUNA
    Emmett Russell - IUOE
    Brad Sant - ARTBA
    Scott Schneider - LIUNA   
        
    Evaluation Period

    January 25, 2009 – January 24, 2010
     
  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    October 13, 2009 - Alliance Implementation Team Meeting

    In addition to this formal meeting, the Alliance Coordinators from each organization, including Don Elisburg, David Fosbroke and Brad Sant, spoke regularly with Todd Briggs to discuss and plan the activities of the Alliance.
     
  3. Results

    Events

    North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3-9, 2009, "Safety Means Always Coming Home”

    On May 3-9, 2009, The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance joined with 57 other Alliance Program participants to support 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Week focused on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was "Safety Means Always Coming Home." Howard Marks, Director, Regulatory Affairs, NAPA, attended the event and represented The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance.

    AGC Safety and Health Conference, June 24, 2009, Washington, DC

    OSHA's then-Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab, Lee Anne Jillings, DCSP; and Jim Maddux, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM), presented "OSHA Update” to 130 meeting attendees at the AGC Safety and Health Conference on June 24, 2009, in Washington, DC. 

    2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-25, 2009

    On October 19-25, 2009, The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2009 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.

    Events

    "Roadway Safety - An Updated Computer Training Tool for Workers” Webinar, December 7, 2009

    Representatives from The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners delivered the "Roadway Safety - An Updated Computer Training Tool for Workers” Webinar on December 7, 2009. The Webinar, delivered to more than 500 people, including OSHA staff and Alliance Program Participants, provided an overview of the Roadway Work Zone Awareness Training Program, which addresses safety and health issues on the nation's roadways.  

    Products

    Roadway Safety Awareness Training Program

    ARTBA and LIUNA updated the Roadway Safety Awareness Training Program to include new modules focusing on night work and emergency response. The updated program was provided to OCS for distribution to OSHA staff, including Compliance Assistance Specialists (CASs), to further promote the program to employers and workers in the construction industry.   

    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

    Events

    OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Meeting, Department of Labor (DOL), February 24, 2009, Washington, DC

    On November 19, 2009, representatives from The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners participated in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Alliance Program participants discussed products developed through the Roundtable and identified potential projects and compliance assistance resources to help address safety and health hazards in the construction industry. The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners are participating in the Roundtable's ongoing efforts.

    1. Products and Events

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's, NIOSH's and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners members' Web sites.

      Products

      Internal Traffic Control Plans Brochure

      The Alliance promoted and distributed copies of the "Internal Traffic Control Plans” brochure, which provides constructive steps for controlling the flow of motor vehicles within a construction work site. The brochure, developed through the concluded OSHA and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance, is linked to from the OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site.   

      The OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition Alliance Web Page

      The OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site continues to be updated with information on the Alliance, including products and resources, activities and events, and milestones and successes.  

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information and news releases on the signing and activities of the OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance have appeared in numerous publications, including AGC’s news releases. Please see the chart in this report under "Alliance Program Reach" for additional information.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

      Representatives from the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners are serving on the editorial board of OSHA’s Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics page on the OSHA Web site.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's, NIOSH's or The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners' conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the Public Works Association meetings.
      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners and through OSHA or The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, lectures (or any other applicable forum).
      • Promote and encourage The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Coalition members' and their affiliates' 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 evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on work zone safety and health issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

        During this evaluation period, no products or resources have been developed to meet this Alliance goal.
      • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.

        During this evaluation period, the Alliance drafted case studies focusing on roadway work zone-related fatalities, including lessons learned and what workers/supervisors can do to protect themselves in highway work zones. The case studies will be finalized within the next reporting period.
      • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on work zone safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues./li>
    2. Executive Summary
       

      The OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance continues to work together to provide the roadway work zone industry and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that help protect employees from roadway work zone safety and health hazards. For example, members of the Alliance implementation team are sharing their work zone safety and health expertise by serving on the editorial board of OSHA’s Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics Page.

      OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners worked together to support and promote a number of national outreach campaigns in 2009 including, NAOSH Week and Drug-Free Work Week.

      The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners also delivered a Webinar to OSHA staff focusing on safety and health issues in highway work zones and worked to draft case studies focusing on roadway work zone-related fatalities.

      The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners will continue to update and disseminate the Roadway Work Zone Awareness Training Program and other construction-related outreach products and resources developed through the Alliance Program to workers in the construction industry. OSHA will continue to update the OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Alliance Web page with Alliance-related information such as news releases, annual reports and milestones and successes.

      In addition, a number of presentations were made at conferences and meetings promoting the activities of the OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance, including OSHA's presentation to 130 people at the 2009 AGC Safety and Health Conference in Washington, DC.

      Lastly, members of the implementation team participated in the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, which is developing design for safety-related outreach documents for employers and workers focusing on the prevention of falls in construction.

    3. Alliance Program Reach
       
      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Web page 4,682
      OSHA Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades Safety and Health Topics Page 21, 899
      September 22, 2009, "AGC Joins Alliance with OSHA to Show Value of Safety Programs”

      AGC News Release      		 33,000

      June 24, 2009, AGC Safety and Health Conference, Washington, DC

      Speakers:
      OSHA then-Acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab, Lee Anne Jillings, DCSP; and Jim Maddux, DTSEM

      		 130

      December 7, 2009, "Roadway Safety - An Updated Computer Training Tool for Workers” Webinar

      Speakers:

      Don Elisburg, NAPA; Walter Jones, LIUNA; Emmett Russell, IUOE; Brad Sant, ARTBA; Scott Schneider, LIUNA

      		 500
      Total 60,211
  4. Upcoming Milestones
     

    To build on the success of the Alliance’s first three years, the OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance will be working on a number of compliance assistance projects and activities. For example, members of the Alliance implementation team will be speaking at a number of conferences and meetings to promote the Alliance, including the World of Asphalt/Traffic Management and Work Zone Safety Conference, February 16-18, 2010, in Cincinnati, Ohio. OSHA will also staff an Alliance Program exhibit booth at the conference.

    Members of the Alliance Implementation Team will also continue to participate in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meetings to develop compliance assistance and outreach materials for employers and employees in construction. For example, the Construction Roundtable DFS and Fall Protection Subgroups are developing slide presentations, toolbox talks, safety tips sheets focusing on strains and sprains and case studies, and success stories focusing on design for safety in the construction industry.

    In addition, Alliance representatives will continue to serve on the editorial board of the Agency’s Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, Barricades Safety and Health Topics page and review and provide feedback on OSHA-developed outreach products focusing on roadway work zones.

    The OSHA and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance is joining with other Alliance Program participants, such as the National Safety Council, the Independent Electrical Contractors and the American Heart Association, to promote and support 2010 NAOSH Week, May 2-8, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces.” In addition, the Alliance will support and promote other national outreach campaigns in 2010 such as National Work Zone Awareness Week and Worker Memorial Day.

    Further, members of the Alliance Implementation Team will work to deliver a series of seminars for OSHA staff focusing on the best safety and health practices in roadway work zones. The Alliance will also promote the "Internal Traffic Control Plans" brochure which is available on the National Work Zone Information Clearinghouse and work to finalize the highway work zone fatality case studies focusing on runovers/backovers and blind spots and an outreach document focusing on high visibility apparel.

    Lastly, the Alliance is working to add AASHTO as a signatory to the Alliance agreement through an addendum.

Report prepared by: Todd Briggs, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 29, 2012.