SMACNA - Alliance Annual Report - August 22, 2005

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA)
August 22, 2005

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    August 16, 2004

    Evaluation Period

    August 16, 2004 – August 15, 2005

    Overview

    The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance is providing SMACNA members and others in the sheet metal and air conditioning and the construction contracting industries, including Hispanic and youth workers, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance is addressing issues such as motor vehicle safety, material handling, fall protection, and personal protective equipment with an emphasis on cuts and eye injuries.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Cathy Cronin
    Office of Training and Education
    Dale Krupinski*
    Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    Jess McCluer
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
    Danezza Quintero*
    OCS

    SMACNA:

    Charles Austin
    Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT)
    Mike McCullion
    SMACNA Director of Safety and Health
    Tom Meighen
    SMOHIT Trustee

    *Dale Krupinski was a member of the Implementation Team until May 2005
    *Danezza Quintero joined the Implementation Team in July 2005

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    July 8, 2004
    Construction Roundtable, OSHA, Washington, DC
    August 18, 2004
    Kick-off Meeting, SMACNA, Chantilly, Virginia
    January 12, 2005
    Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC
    May 2, 2005
    Meeting, Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC
    June 29, 2005
    Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for supervisors and employees on motor vehicle safety, fall protection and personal protective equipment, with an emphasis on the prevention of eye injuries and cuts and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

        The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      Outreach and Communication

      • 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 to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Web Site

      OSHA developed an OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Web site that is posted on the Agency's Web page that includes the OSHA and SMCNA Alliance agreement, news releases, and milestones and successes. This Web site is updated on a regular basis.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page

      The following member of the Alliance implementation team is participating on the editorial board of OSHA's Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page:

      • Mike McCullion, SMACNA, Director, Safety and Health, Washington, DC

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information and news releases on the OSHA and SMCNA Alliance signing and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in publications such as BNA Occupational Safety and Health. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table on pages 5-6.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's and SMACNA's conferences and events, such as the annual SMACNA Convention and chapter meetings.

        The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

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

      Products

      Personal Protective Equipment and Motor Vehicle Safety Tip Cards

      SMACNA is currently developing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a Motor Vehicle Safety (MVS) tip card. The PPE card will focus on the "Big 4" injuries within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry: falls, sprains/strains, cuts and eye injuries. The MVS cards will focus on operating construction and service vehicles. Both cards will identify safety tips for employees and employers in the HVAC industry and will include both photos and graphics for tips such as fastening your seat belt, paying attention to road signs, signals and other traffic control devices and ensuring that the workload is secure and stable.

      • Promote and encourage SMACNA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. SMACNA will act as mentor to members that aspire to excellence in safety and health.

        The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on sheet metal and air conditioning and the construction contracting industries hazards such as motor vehicle safety, fall protection and personal protective equipment that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Department of Labor, Washington, DC, July 8, 2004

      Prior to the Alliance signing, representatives from SMACNA participated in the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances on July 8, 2004. The roundtable participants discussed how the construction-related national Alliances could work together to address issues such as ergonomics, silica and motor vehicle safety. The Fall Protection and Design for Safety workgroups were developed at the roundtable meeting.

        • Fall Protection Workgroup

        • May 2, 2005 – Mike McCullion attended the workgroup meeting and volunteered to draft fall protection safety tip sheets for employers and employees for the workgroup to review.

      • Encourage SMACNA chapters to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States, and Consultation Projects to address safety and health issues such as motor vehicle safety, fall protection and personal protective equipment. This includes increasing Spanish-speaking employees and small businesses access to and understanding of safety and health information and available training resources.

      Events

      SMACNA Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting, December 6-7, 2004, Newport Beach, California

      Mike McCullion gave a presentation to over 300 attendees on the OSHA-SMACNA Alliance at the association's Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting December 6-7, 2004 in Newport Beach, California. During the presentation, he encouraged each independent chapter to work with their OSHA Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Programs in order to get information on OSHA's cooperative programs along with a wide range of safety and health topics.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

      • Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever SMACNA leaders address industry groups.

        The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on sheet metal and air conditioning and construction contracting industry issues such motor vehicle safety, fall protection, and personal protective equipment to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

      OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Department of Labor, Washington, DC, July 8, 2004

      Prior to the Alliance signing, representatives from SMACNA participated in the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances on July 8, 2004. The roundtable participants discussed how the construction-related national Alliances could work together to address issues such as ergonomics, silica and motor vehicle safety. The Fall Protection and Design for Safety workgroups were developed at the roundtable meeting.

    2. Executive Summary

      During the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance's first year a productive working relationship was established between the organizations. OSHA learned more about the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry and SMACNA learned more about the compliance assistance resources and cooperative programs that the Agency has developed.

      Currently, SMACNA is in the process of developing several products for OSHA to review and provide recommendations. This includes the Personal Protective Equipment and Motor Vehicle Safety tip cards. Both cards will identify safety tips for employees and employers in the HVAC industry and will include both photos and graphics for tips such as fastening one's seat belt, paying attention to road signs, signals and other traffic control devices and ensuring that the workload is secure and stable.

      In addition, through the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable, SMACNA is working with the Fall Protection workgroup to develop a Fall Protection Tip Sheet for both employers and employees.

      Further, Mike McCullion gave a presentation to over 300 attendees to share information on the OSHA Alliance Program at the SMACNA Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting December 6-7, 2004 in Newport Beach, California. During the presentation, he encouraged each independent chapter to work with their own OSHA Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Programs in order to get information on OSHA's cooperative programs along with a wide range of safety and health topics.

      Finally, SMACNA staff is participating and reviewing and providing comments on the editorial board of the OSHA Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity
      (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)      		 Number of Individuals
      Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site 4,200
      Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page 20,390
      March 2005 – "Construction Alliance Meeting Focuses on Fall Protection and Designing for Safety," Alliance Quarterly Review 750
      SMACNA Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting, December 6-7, 2004, Newport Beach, California

      Speaker: Mike McCullion, Director, Safety and Health, SMACNA      		 300
      September 1, 2004 – OSHA includes information on the OSHA/SMACNA Alliance signing in its bi-weekly e-newsletter; QuickTakes 38,000
      August 19, 2004 - "OSHA Joins with Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning Group," BNA Occupational Safety and Health Data Not Available
      August 16, 2004 – "SMACNA Signs Alliance with OSHA to Promote Safe American Workplaces," SMACNA press release announcing Alliance Data Not Available
      August 16, 2004 – "Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association Aligns with OSHA," OSHA press release announcing Alliance 25 News Services
      TOTAL 63,640

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Implementation Team has discussed a number of activities that will be undertaken in the upcoming year. SMACNA will complete, publish and distribute the draft Personal Protective Equipment and Motor Vehicle Safety tip cards, which SMACNA will share with OSHA to review and provide recommendations prior to publication. In addition, SMACNA will continue to be a member of OSHA's Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page editorial board and will review and provide comments on the page.

    SMACNA is also participating in the Fall Protection Workgroup that was created at the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable on July 8, 2004. The workgroup is currently reviewing the draft Fall Protection safety tip sheets for employers and employees that were drafted by SMACNA staffer, Mike McCullion.

    Finally, SMACNA plans to promote OSHA compliance assistance materials and cooperative programs and the OSHA-SMACNA Alliance through the SMACNA Web page and articles in the SMACNA quarterly publication, Safety Focus.

Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, August 22, 2005