SCHC Alliance Annual Report - October 27, 2011

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) And The
Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance
October 27, 2011

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    October 22, 2003

    Date Renewed

    December 5, 2005
    March 24, 2008

    Evaluation Period

    October 22, 2009 ‐ October 21, 2010

    Overview

    The OSHA and SCHC Alliance focuses on providing SCHC’s members and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees’ health and safety. In particular, the Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals and addressing hazard communication, including training, labeling and material safety data sheets in the workplace. In addition, the Alliance will work to distribute information and increase awareness of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Cathy Cronin
    Director, Office of Training and Educational Development (OTED), Directorate of Training and Education (DTE)
    Karen Heckman
    Industrial Hygienist, OTED, DTE
    Deana Holmes
    Health Scientist, Office of Chemical Hazards-Metals (OCH-M), Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
    Kathy Landkrohn
    Health Scientist, OCH-M, DSG
    Kathy Landkrohn
    OCH‐M, DSG
    Bill Matarazzo
    Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs
    Morgan Seuberling
    Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, OOSA, DCSP

    SCHC:

    Ann Brockhaus
    Committee Member, SCHC
    Mark Cohen
    Past President, SCHC
    Denise Deeds
    Chairperson of Outreach, SCHC
    Dad Levine
    Chairperson of Web-Committee, SCHC
    Suzanne Matuszewski
    President, SCHC
    Dave W. Peters
    Vice-President, SCHC
    Michelle Sullivan
    Board Member, SCHC

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    October 26, 2010
    Implementation Team Meeting
    February 18, 2011
    Implementation Team Meeting
    July 12, 2011
    Implementation Team Meeting
    October 5, 2011
    Implementation Team Meeting

    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 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

        The OSHA and SCHC Alliance Implementation Team have not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

        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

        Info Sheet #7: Carcinogenicity

        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with the GHS definition and classification of carcinogenicity and addresses classification of carcinogens under GHS and hazard communication labeling. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #7 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it on the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page

        SCHC is continuing to update the SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page that is posted on the SCHC Web site. The page includes the goals of the Alliance and a link to the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on the Agency’s Web site. In addition, the site hosts resources developed by SCHC through the OSHA and SCHC Alliance including information sheets focusing on GHS, a number of OSHA’s compliance assistance tools, and updates on the Alliance program. Further, SCHC includes OSHA’s initiatives such Distracted Driving with links to the OSHA Web page.

        OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page

        OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and SCHC Alliance agreement, renewal agreements, annual reports, news releases, information on activities and events, milestones and successes of the alliance, and links to resources developed by SCHC through the Alliance Program.

        OSHA Electronic Assistance Tools

        Representatives from SCHC serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:

        • Hazard Communication
          • Michele Sullivan, Board Member SCHC; Annandale, VA

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

        • Making the Business Case for Safety and Health

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

        • Personal Protective Equipment

          • Denese Deeds, CIH, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc., Woodbridge, CT

        • Respiratory Protection

          • Denese Deeds, CIH, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc., Woodbridge, CT

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

        SCHC Spring Meeting, March 26-30, 2011, Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel, Seattle, Washington

        David W. Peters made a brief presentation on the activities and successes of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance to 90 members attending the session on March 30, 2011.

        American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce), May 14-19, 2011, Portland, Oregon

        SCHC made brief presentations on the activities and successes of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance during the AIHA Conference in Portland, Oregon:

        • On May 14, 2011, Denese Deeds gave a brief update on the Alliance Program activities to 60 attendees during the GHS PDC session entitled "The GHS: The New Hazard Communication."
        • On May 15, 2011, Michele Sullivan gave a brief update on the Alliance Program activities to 50 attendees during the GHS PDC session entitled "GHS for the IH and Safety Practitioner: How to Prepare You Company for the GHS."

        • On May 19, 2011, Denese Deeds made a brief presentation on the Alliance Program to 200 people during the GHS Roundtable.

        SCHC Fall Meeting, October 1-5, 2011, Marriott Gateway Crystal Hotel, Arlington, Virginia

        SCHC and OSHA gave the following Alliance updates during the Fall Meeting:

          • On October 4, 2011, David W. Peters, then Vice President, SCHC, gave a brief presentation on the activities and successes of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance to 61 attendees at the President’s Luncheon.

          • On October 4, 2011, OSHA personnel staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and disseminated information to 100 safety professionals.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding effective approaches to hazard communication issues in the workplace and publicize these results through outreach by SCHC and through OSHA- or SCHC-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures.

        OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinars

        Through the OSHA and SCHC Alliance, SCHC has provided OSHA staff with access to the following informational Webinars:

          • On August 25, 2011, Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a Webinar through the SCHC entitled "GHS Mixture Series-Skin/Eye Endpoint." Six OSHA staff participated in the Webinar.

          • On August 30, 2011, Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a Webinar through the SCHC entitled "GHS Mixture Series-Acute Toxicity Endpoints." Two OSHA staff participated in the Webinar.

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

        SCHC and the Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWRInstitute) Alliance-Guidance Document for Multi-components Chemical Products

        David W. Peters, then Vice President, SCHC, reviewed and provided comments on hazards associated with the SWRInstitute proposed Alliance project.

        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.

        2011 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 1-7, 2011, Washington, DC

        The Society for Chemical Hazard Communication and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2011 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, 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 2011 was "Celebrating a Century of Safety."

        To help support the week, SCHC promoted 2011 NAOSH Week at the Spring Meeting and distributed the 2011 NAOSH poster to its members.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and SCHC are working together to develop resources that will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals and addressing hazard communication, including training, labeling and material safety data sheets in the workplace. In addition, the Alliance is working to distribute information and increase awareness of the GHS. The positive relationship that SCHC has developed over the past eight years has led to the development of the many programs and projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.

      Through the Alliance Program, SCHC developed and disseminated an information sheet focusing on carcinogenicity. The Info Sheet is a valuable resource to educate the public and increase awareness of the forthcoming GHS standard. SCHC posted the information sheet on its Web site, and OSHA linked to it on the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Products page on the OSHA Web.

      In order to share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding effective approaches to hazard communication issues in the workplace, SCHC has sponsored the following Webinars that OSHA personnel listened to:

      • GHS Mixture Series-Acute Toxicity Endpoints

      • GHS Mixture Series-Skin/Eye Endpoints

      In addition, SCHC invited OSHA staff to attend the professional development courses on GHS and staff an OSHA and SCHC Alliance exhibit booth at their Fall Meeting, October 1-5, 2011, in Arlington, Virginia.

      SCHC representatives are also sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages:

      • Hazard Communication
      • Making the Business Case for Safety and Health
      • Personal Protective Equipment

      • Respiratory Protection

      Finally, as part of their outreach efforts, SCHC supported 2011 NAOSH Week, May 1-7.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity
      (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)      		 Number of Individuals
      Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on OSHA Web site No Data Available
      SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page on the SCHC Web site 5,763

       
      OSHA Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics Page 76,558
      OSHA Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics Page 17,659
      OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Safety and Health Topics Page 68,245
      OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page 162,613
      October 4, 2011 – SCHC Fall Meeting, October 1-5, 2011, Arlington, Virginia Exhibit: OSHA staffed an Alliance booth 100
      August 25, 2011 – OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar Speaker: Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a webinar entitled "GHS Mixture Series-Skin/Eye Endpoints." 6
      August 30, 2011 – OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar Speaker: Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a webinar entitled "GHS Mixture Series-Acute Toxicity Endpoints." 2
      TOTAL 261,348

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and SCHC plan to undertake several additional projects through the Alliance to help employers and workers reduce or prevent exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals. For example, through the Alliance, SCHC will translate Info Sheets #1- #7 into Spanish and finalize two more resources: Info Sheet #8 Compressed Gas and Info Sheet #9 Reproductive Toxicity.

    SCHC will also develop resources to help workers comprehend and use information on a Material Safety Data sheets. In addition, SCHC will host several Webinars addressing GHS issues, to which OSHA staff will be invited.

    SCHC will work with OSHA on projects related to the publication of the final Hazard Communication rule, including but not limited to a possible Alliance Program GHS Roundtable. SCHC has committed to participate with OSHA in the rollout activities of the revised Standard.

    In addition, SCHC representatives will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages: Hazard Communication, Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protection.

    Finally, SCHC representatives will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support 2012 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 6-12, 2012, "Safety, What Every Business Needs."

    Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 27, 2011.