ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC)
November 3, 2006

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   October 22, 2003

   Date Renewed

   December 5, 2005

   Evaluation Period

   October 22, 2005 ‐ October 21, 2006

   Overview

   OSHA's Alliance with SCHC focuses on providing SCHC members and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to chemical hazards and addressing hazard communication and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) in the workplace. In addition, the Alliance is distributing information and increasing awareness of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

   Implementation Team Members

   OSHA:

   Jackie Annis

   Directorate of Enforcement (DEP)

   Karen Heckman

   Office of Training and Education

   David O'Connor

   Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)

   Maureen O'Donnell

   DSG

   Lisa Ramber

   Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)

   Elizabeth Sherfy

   OOSA

   Jennifer Silk

   DSG

   SCHC:

   Ann Brockhaus

   Vice President

   Mark Cohen

   Vice President

   Denise Deeds

   Member

   David Levine

   Member

   Michele Sullivan

   Chair

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   December 5, 2005

   Implementation Team Meeting, Washington, DC

   April 6, 2006

   Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference

   August 12, 2006

   Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference

3. Results

   1. Events and Products
      
      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for small business and other employers regarding hazard communication and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      MSDS Writing Course for Small Businesses

      During the reporting period, the members of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance began developing a course for small businesses on how to write MSDSs.

      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 the SCHC's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page

      Representatives from the OSHA and SCHC Alliance continue to review and provide information for OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page. The following representatives from SCHC serve as members of OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board:

      • Daniel Levine, Product Safety Solutions; Basking Ridge, NJ

      • Michele Sullivan, MRS Associates, Annandale, VA

      OSHA's Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics Page

      Representatives from the OSHA and SCHC Alliance provided feedback and reviewed the agency's Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics page during its development. The page was posted on OSHA's Web site on October 5, 2006. The following representative from SCHC serves as a member of the Topics page's editorial board:

      • Ann Brockhaus, Consultant, ORC Worldwide, Washington, DC

      OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to update the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. The Web page features links to the Alliance agreement and related documents, information on activities and events, and milestones and successes. During the reporting period, the Web page was updated to add links to information related to the OSHA and SCHC Alliance renewal agreement signed December 5, 2005. For information on the number of visits to the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.

      SCHC Web Site

      SCHC continues to update a page on its Web site about the OSHA and SCHC Alliance. The Web page includes information about the goals of the Alliance and links to OSHA's Alliance Program and hazard communication resources. During the reporting period SCHC added information about the OSHA and SCHC Alliance renewal agreement signed December 5, 2006.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Articles on the OSHA and SCHC Alliance appeared in print and online publications and news releases, including: Facilities Management News, U.S. Newswire, SCHC's newsletter and OSHA news releases. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.

      • Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA's or SCHC's conferences, local meetings or other events.

      Events

      National Capital Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association, Laurel, Maryland, January 10, 2006

      Ann Brockhaus made a presentation to 30 attendees on “The GHS ‐ What You Need to Know” at the National Capital Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association meeting in Laurel, Maryland, January 10, 2006.

      SCHC 2006 Spring Meeting, Orlando, Florida, March 27, 2006

      Ann Brockhaus gave an OSHA and SCHC Alliance update to 150 attendees at the SCHC 2006 Spring Meeting in Orlando, Florida, March 27, 2006.

      SCHC 2006 Fall Meeting, Arlington, Virginia, September 12-13, 2006

      On September 12, 2006, Jennifer Silk, Deputy Director, DSG made a presentation, “GHS UPDATE – United States,” to 200 attendees at the 2006 SCHC Fall Meeting. An OSHA representative also staffed an exhibit booth and distributed OSHA compliance assistance information and resources.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding SCHC's effective approaches and publicize these results through outreach by SCHC and through OSHA‐ and SCHC‐ developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      Events

      SCHC 2006 Fall Meeting, Arlington, Virginia, September 12-13, 2006

      As a result of the Alliance, Jackie Annis, Industrial Hygienist, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, and Maureen O'Donnell, Industrial Hygienist, DSG, attended the SCHC 2006 Fall Meeting in Arlington, Virginia free-of-charge.

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

      Products

      Department of Labor (DOL)-developed Article, "Consultation helps small businesses establish safety and health programs"

      To educate it members about OSHA's On-site Consultation Program, SCHC posted the DOL-developed article, "Consultation helps small businesses establish safety and health programs" on SCHC's Alliance-related Web page.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on hazard communication that are addressed through the Alliance Program.

      Events

      TeleWeb Virtual Seminar, "The Globally Harmonized System for Worldwide Hazard Communication: Status and Update on U.S. Implementation," Fairfax, Virginia, December 13, 2006

      Jennifer Silk and Michele Sullivan participated in a teleWeb virtual seminar jointly sponsored by SCHC and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), an Alliance Program participant, on the “The Globally Harmonized System for Worldwide Hazard Communication: Status and Update on U.S. Implementation,” December 13, 2006 in Fairfax, Virginia.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hazard communication issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

        During this reporting period, OSHA and SCHC did not work on any new projects to address this goal.

   2. Executive Summary

      During the 2005-2006 reporting period, OSHA and SCHC renewed their Alliance agreement to continue to work together to reach out to small business and others to provide resources and increase awareness about hazard communication, MSDSs and the GHS.

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and SCHC developed several resources with information about the Alliance and hazard communication. For example, the OSHA and SCHC Web page on OSHA's Web site provides links to the Alliance agreement, related documents, activities and events, and milestones and successes. SCHC also maintains a Web page with information about the Alliance and links to OSHA's Web site. During the reporting period, SCHC posted the DOL-developed article, “Consultation helps small businesses establish safety and health programs.” Further, representatives from SCHC serve as members of OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board.

      In addition, SCHC worked with AIHA, another Alliance Program participant, to deliver the teleWeb Virtual Seminar, “The Globally Harmonized System for Worldwide Hazard Communication: Status and Update on U.S. Implementation,” to 425 people on December 13, 2006.

      OSHA and SCHC representatives also promoted the Alliance and hazard communication awareness during numerous speaking and exhibiting opportunities. For example, Ann Brockhaus gave an OSHA and SCHC Alliance update to the attendees at SCHC's 2006 Spring Meeting in Orlando, Florida, on March 27, 2006. During the SCHC's 2006 Fall Meeting, September 12-13, 2006 in Arlington, Virginia, OSHA staff made a presentation and hosted an OSHA and SCHC Alliance Program exhibit.

   3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SCHC Web page on OSHA's Web site	4,649
      SCHC's Web site	Data Not Available
      OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page	19,400
      December 5, 2005, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance," OSHA News Release	69 News Services; 1,700 news papers; and 5,000 radio and television stations
      December 5, 2005, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance; Focus Continues on Improving Hazard Communication and Material Safety Data Sheets," U.S. Newswire	Data Not Available
      December 5, 2005, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance; Focus Continues on Improving Hazard Communication and Material Safety Data Sheets," American Society Quality – News	Data Not Available
      December 7, 2005, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance; Focus Continues on Improving Hazard Communication and Material Safety Data Sheets," Community Dispatch	Data Not Available
      December 7, 2005, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance; Focus Continues on Improving Hazard Communication and Material Safety Data Sheets," Internet News	Data Not Available
      December 13, 2006, TeleWeb Virtual Seminar, "The Globally Harmonized System for Worldwide Hazard Communication," Fairfax, Virginia Speakers: Jennifer Silk, Deputy Director, DSG Michele Sullivan, Chair, SCHC	425
      January 9, 2006, "OSHA Forms Alliances for Worker Safety in Various Industries," Facilities Management News	Data Not Available
      January 10, 2006, "The GHS-What You Need to Know Now," National Capital Chapter of ASSE and the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association, Laurel, Maryland Speaker: Ann Brockhaus, President, SCHC	30
      January 16, 2006, "OSHA Forms National Alliance, Renews Others," News for OSC	Data Not Available
      January 25, 2006, "OSHA Alliances Cover Metalforming, Chemistry, Paper, and Utility/Construction Industries," Facilities Management News	Data Not Available
      Fall/Winter 2005/2006, "OSHA and SCHC Renew Alliance," Society for Chemical Hazard Communication Newsletter	Data Not Available
      March 27, 2006, OSHA and SCHC Alliance Update, SCHC's 2006 Spring Meeting, Orlando, Florida Speaker: Ann Brockhaus, President, SCHC	150
      September 12, 2006, "GHS UPDATE – United States," SCHC's 2006 Fall Meeting, Arlington, Virginia Speaker: Jennifer Silk, Deputy Director, DSG	200
      September 12, 2006, SCHC's 2006 Fall Meeting, Arlington, Virginia Exhibit	60
      TOTAL	29,914

4. Upcoming Milestones

   In the upcoming year, OSHA and SCHC will continue to promote awareness of the Alliance Program and hazard communication related issues. The Alliance implementation team members will also continue to maintain and update the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site and SCHC's Alliance-related Web page. In addition, SCHC representatives will review and update OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics page through their participation on the editorial board. Through the Alliance, SCHC will also be developing a fact sheet on the GHS symbols.

   OSHA and SCHC will work together to develop a training curriculum on writing MSDSs for use by the Agency's Office of Training and Education. In addition, representatives from the OSHA and SCHC Alliance will participate in the Alliance Program Hazard Communication Roundtable's Promoting the GHS Workgroup meeting, which will be held on October 2006. Representatives from OSHA and SCHC will continue to promote the Alliance and hazard communication through speeches and exhibits at meetings such as SCHC's 2007 spring and fall meetings.

   SCHC will also work with other Alliance Program participants to help review and provide comments on their hazard communication related training and materials. For example, SCHC will review the ISSA's Hazard Communication Training Program.

   Report prepared by: Elizabeth Sherfy, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, November 3, 2006.