SMACNA - Alliance Annual Report - October 16, 2006

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA)
October 16, 2006

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    August 16, 2004

    Evaluation Period

    August 16, 2005 - August 15, 2006

    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
    Jess McCluer
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
    Danezza Quintero1
    Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    Camille Villanova2
    OCS

    SMACNA:

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

    1Danezza Quintero was a member of the Implementation Team until January 2006
    2Camille Villanova joined the Implementation Team in January 2006

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    January 12, 2006
    Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC
    January 31, 2006
    Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC
    May 17, 2006
    Fall Protection Workgroup, Washington, DC
    July 11, 2006
    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 page

      OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and SMACNA Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web site. It includes the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance agreement, renewal agreement, news releases, events and milestones and successes.

      SMACNA Web site (www.smacna.org)

      The Safety section of SMACNA's Web site includes information on the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance and a link to the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Agency's Web site. In addition, the SMACNA Web site contains a link to its Safety Focus e-newsletter, which includes articles promoting the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance and the OSHA Alliance Program.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page

      The following SMACNA staff member is continuing to participate on the OSHA Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board:

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

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information on the activities of the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance have appeared in a number of the organizations publications, including: the monthly SMACNA News, quarterly Safety Focus and OSHA's Alliance Quarterly Review. For more information on the articles, see "Alliance Program Reach."

      • 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

      Construction Vehicle and Service Vehicle Safety Cards

      In order to educate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) employees and employers about operating construction and service vehicles, the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance developed Construction Vehicle and Service Vehicle Safety Cards. The cards were completed in October 2005 and include pre-use inspection checklists and photos and graphics on how to safely operate construction and service vehicles. The cards were distributed at the SMACNA Annual Convention, October 16-20, 2005 in Palm Desert, California.

      Heat Stress and Heat Illness Safety Tips Card

      The OSHA and SMACNA Alliance is developing a Heat Stress Safety Tips card. The Heat Stress and Heat Illness card will be based on the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health's Emergency Heat Illness Prevention Standard. It will focus on various aspects of heat exposure including drinking plenty of fluids, wearing proper clothing, and taking breaks in the shade or ventilated areas.

      • 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.

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

      • 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, 2005, Naples, Florida

      On December 6, 2005, Mike McCullion gave a presentation to over 100 attendees on the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance at the association's Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida. During his 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 and 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, Fall Protection Workgroup

      On July 8, 2004, representatives from SMACNA participated in the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances. The Fall Protection Workgroup was developed at the Roundtable meeting.

      • Fall Protection Workgroup - SMACNA is participating on the Fall Protection Workgroup and helped develop Fall Protection Safety Tips Sheets for Employers and Employees. The Tips sheets were based on information provided by Mike McCullion. The Workgroup also provided comments on the "Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry" training course, developed by OSHA's Office of Training and Education. The training program is designed for construction industry audiences, including small business owners, trainers, foreman and workers.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and SMACNA are continuing to work together to develop products for sheet metal and air conditioning and the construction contracting industries workers. The Alliance addresses issues such as motor vehicle safety, material handling, fall protection, and personal protective equipment with an emphasis on cuts and eye injuries. This positive relationship has led to the development of products that the team is sharing with the public. For example,

      • The OSHA and SMACNA implementation team developed Construction Vehicle and Service Vehicle Safety Cards. The cards provide pre-use inspection checklists along with photos and graphics on how to safely operate both construction and service vehicles. The cards were distributed at the SMACNA Annual Convention, October 16-20, 2005 in Palm Desert, California.

      In addition, OSHA and SMACNA representatives are sharing their expertise through participation on OSHA's electronic assistance tools' editorial boards and speaking opportunities to help encourage SMACNA chapters to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States, and Consultation Projects. For example:

      • A SMACNA representative serves on the editorial board of OSHA's Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page.

      • On December 6, 2005, Mike McCullion updated over 100 attendees on the OSHA Alliance Program, the activities of the OSHA and SMCANA Alliance and encouraged each independent chapter to work with their own OSHA Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Programs at the SMACNA Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida.

      • SMACNA has a representative on the Fall Protection Workgroup that was created at the July 8, 2004 OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting.

      SMACNA is continuing to promote the activities of the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance through the Safety section on its Web page and articles in its e-newsletters, SMACNA News and Safety Focus. Finally, SMACNA is in the process of developing several products for OSHA to review, including the Heat Stress and Heat Illness Safety Tips Card. As a result of the Alliance related successes, the organizations have agreed to renew the Alliance for an additional year.

    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 5,340
      SMACNA Web site - Safety Section Data Not Available
      Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page 25,401
      December 2005 - "New eTools, Safety and Health Topics Pages Highlight OSHA's Alliance Program Fiscal ‘05 Safety and Health Products Development," Alliance Quarterly Review 300
      December 6, 2005 - SMACNA Council of Chapter Representatives Annual Meeting, Naples, Florida

      Speaker: Mike McCullion, Director, Safety and Health, SMACNA      		 100
      March 2006 - "Workgroups Develop Design for Safety and Fall Protection Information Products," Alliance Quarterly Review 300
      April 4, 2006 - "SMACNA - OSHA National Alliance Update," SMACNA Safety Focus 1,700
      April 7, 2006 - "SMACNA - OSHA National Safety Alliance Delivers Safety Program Improvement Tools for Members," SMACNA News 1,700
      TOTAL 34,841

  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 Heat Stress and Heat Illness Safety Tips cards, which SMACNA will share with OSHA to review and provide recommendations prior to publication. In addition, SMACNA will develop a draft Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Safety Tips Card, after the Heat Stress and Heat Illness card is completed, for OSHA to review. The PPE card will focus on the "Big 4" injuries within the HVAC industry: fall, sprains/strains, cuts and eye injuries.

    SMACNA will promote the OSHA and SMACNA Alliance and the OSHA Alliance Program through its Web page and articles in their monthly e-newsletter, SMACNA News and quarterly e-newsletter, Safety Focus. SMACNA staff also will continue to be a member of OSHA's Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics page editorial board and review and provide comments on the page.

    The association remains committed to working with OSHA and other Alliance Program participants to develop compliance assistance information and products for Agency staff and employers and employees in the construction industry. SMACNA will continue to attend meetings of the Fall Protection Workgroup that was established at the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable.

    In addition, representatives from the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health and OSHA Region IX will staff an OSHA and SMACNA Alliance exhibit on October 8-12, 2006 at the SMACNA Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

    SMACNA has expressed interest in renewing the Alliance agreement for one year in order to continue the collaborative efforts of raising awareness of OSHA's compliance assistance resources and cooperative programs to SMACNA's local chapters. Finally, SMACNA's Kansas City Chapter is developing an Area Office Alliance with the OSHA Region VII Kansas City Area Office focusing on reducing and preventing exposure to electrical, fall, struck-by, and crushed-by hazards.

Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, October 16, 2006