SWRI - Alliance Annual report - February 20, 2009


ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the
Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWR Institute)
February 20, 2009


  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    February 20, 2003

    Dates Renewed

    July 21, 2005

    July 11, 2007

    Evaluation Period

    February 20, 2008 - February 19, 2009

    Overview

    The OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance focuses on providing SWR Institute members and others in the sealant, waterproofing, and restoration industry, including small businesses, with information and guidance that will help them protect employees' health and safety. Through the Alliance, the organizations are addressing workplace issues such as confined spaces, falls, lead and silica hazards and staging requirements.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Michael Buchet
    Office of Construction Services (OCS)
    John Franklin
    OCS
    Robert Ibarra*
    OCS
    Danezza Quintero
    OCS
    Rob Swick
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)

    SWR Institute:

    Dan Cain
    The George D. Alan Company, Inc.
    Dave Grady
    Tri-State High Rise Services
    Jim Grady
    Tri-State High Rise Services
    Deb Nemec
    SWR Institute
    Erin Nied
    SWR Institute
    Ron Pilla
    Valcourt Building Services
    Al Rose
    Richmond Primoid, Inc.

    * Robert Ibarra served on the Implementation Team until May 23, 2008

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    April 22, 2008
    Joint Meeting of the Design for Safety Workgroup and Fall Protection Workgroup
    June 4, 2008
    Implementation Team Meeting
    June 17, 2008
    Workshop Development Meeting
    July 28, 2008
    Workshop Development Meeting
    August 22, 2008
    Workshop Development Meeting
    September 18, 2008
    Joint Meeting of the Design for Safety Workgroup and Fall Protection Workgroup
    January 7, 2009
    Implementation Team Meeting
  3. Results

    1. Products and events

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

        Products

        OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance Web page

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

        SWR Institute Web site

        SWR Institute maintains an OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance Web page on its Web site. The page has information on the OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance and links to the OSHA Web site. In addition, the page features links to resources developed by SWR Institute through the Alliance Program, including a Fall Protection Slide Presentation and a SWR Institute Safety and Health Manual.

        Publications and Newsletters

        Information on the OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance activities and OSHA's compliance assistance resources appeared in BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter. For more information, please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

        OSHA Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Safety and Health Topics Page

        The following SWR Institute members are continuing to participate on the OSHA Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Industry Safety and Health Topics page's editorial board:

        • David Carter, Chapman Waterproofing Company, Inc. Boston, MA
        • Eric Johnson, Spray-O-Bond Company, Milwaukee, WI

        The Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Safety and Health Topics page was developed through the OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance.

        OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page

        The following SWR Institute member is continuing to participate on the OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics page editorial board:

        • David Carter, Chapman Waterproofing Company, Inc., Boston, MA
      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SWR Institute's conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as SWR Institute's Annual or Fall Technical Meetings.

        Events

        2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008, Washington, DC

        SWR Institute joined with more than 50 other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 NAOSH Week. NAOSH Week, sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, focuses on increasing the understanding of the positive benefits of investing in occupational safety, health and environmental programs among employers, employees and the public; raising awareness of the role and contribution of safety, health and environmental professionals; and reducing workplace injuries and illness by encouraging new safety and health activities at all companies and organizations. The theme for the 2008 NAOSH Week was "Safety is Good Business." In support of NAOSH Week, SWR Institute posted information regarding 2008 NAOSH Week on the SWR Institute and OSHA Alliance Web page on the SWR Institute Web site.

        National Safety Council 2008 Congress and Exposition, September 19-26, 2008, Anaheim, California

        On September 24, 2008 Lee Anne Jillings, Deputy Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; Rob Matuga, Assistant Staff Vice President, Labor, Safety & Health Department, National Association of Homebuilders; and Ron Pilla presented an Alliance-developed technical session entitled "Safety and Health Resources - Tools for the Construction Industry" to 30 safety and health professionals at the National Safety Council 2008 Congress and Exposition in Anaheim, California.

        SWR Institute Fall 2008 Technical Meeting, September 21-23, 2008, Baltimore, Maryland

        On September 23, 2008, Michael Walterschied, Area Director, Region III, Baltimore/Washington Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a "Keynote Presentation" to 190 sealant waterproofing and restoration executives and safety and health professionals during the SWR Institute Fall 2008 Technical Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, on September 23, 2008, Michael Buchet presented, "Construction Industry Issues" to 200 sealant waterproofing and restoration executives and safety and health professionals at the meeting.

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

        Products

        SWR Institute Safety and Health Field Manual

        Through the OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance, SWR Institute developed a draft SWR Institute Safety and Health Field Manual. The draft field manual addresses issues associated with sealant and waterproofing industry worksites, including competent person, aerial & scissor lift, excavation and trenching, fall protection, and respiratory protection. SWR Institute shared the draft field manual with OSHA for review and comment. The SWR Institute Safety and Health Field Manual is expected to be completed by summer 2009.

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

        The OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance Implementation Team is working to identify another SWR Institute member company who used On-site Consultation Program and is willing to share its experience as a success story.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal

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

        Events

        OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups

        SWR Institute is continuing to participate in the Design for Safety and Fall Protection Workgroups that were created at the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable on July 8, 2004. During the reporting period, SWR Institute participated in the following meetings:

        • On April 22, 2008, Ron Pilla joined representatives from other construction-related Alliances and participated in a joint meeting of the Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups in Washington, DC. During the meeting, the group discussed a number of initiatives, including enhancing the fall protection slide presentation with a design for safety component and information on residential falls. The group also began working on an outline for a new "Design for Fall Prevention and Protection" slide presentation focusing on the top 10 most frequent types of falls. The presentation, targeted to designers and business owners, would include information on making the business case for safety and health and construction-related fatalities, the reason or problem that caused the fall, and recommended design changes or solutions to help prevent the fall. In addition, the group discussed a potential national awareness outreach campaign focusing on fatalities in the construction industry targeted to the public, employees, general contractors with a special emphasis on business owners and designers. OSHA provided an update on other national outreach campaigns, including OSHA's Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign and NAOSH Week.
           
        • On September 18, 2008, Ron Pilla joined representatives from other construction-related Alliances and participated in a joint meeting of the Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups in Washington, DC. During the meeting, the group discussed common construction-related interests and further refined the promising project ideas developed at a previously-held January 2008 Alliance Program Construction Roundtable. The group also received updates on the "Design for Construction Safety 2-4 Hour Course," and Design for Construction Safety Web site. Further, the group also reviewed and provided feedback on the draft "Prevention of Fall Fatalities and Injuries in Construction" slide presentation, received an update on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's prevention through design initiative, and discussed a white paper on a proposed national public awareness outreach campaign focusing on fatalities in the construction industry. In addition, the group formed two new subgroups. The first subgroup will focus on strains/sprains and material handling. The second subgroup will develop case studies and success stories related to design for safety and falls in construction industry.
    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and SWR Institute continued to work together to address safety and health issues in the sealant, waterproofing and restoration industry. Through the OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance, SWR Institute developed a draft SWR Institute Safety and Health Field Manual. The draft field manual addresses issues associated with sealant and waterproofing industry worksites, including competent person, aerial & scissor lift, excavation and trenching, fall protection, and respiratory protection.

      In addition, OSHA and SWR Institute representatives shared their expertise through participation on OSHA's electronic assistance tools' editorial boards, speaking opportunities, and other activities including:

      • SWR Institute representatives serve on the OSHA Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Industry; and OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards.
      • On September 23, 2008, Michael Walterschied gave a "Keynote Presentation" to 190 sealant waterproofing and restoration executives and safety and health professionals during the SRI Institute Fall 2008 Technical Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, on September 23, 2008, Michael Buchet presented, "Construction Industry Issues" to 200 sealant waterproofing and restoration executives and safety and health professionals at the meeting.
      • On September 24, 2008, Lee Anne Jillings, Ron Pilla and Rob Matuga presented an Alliance-developed technical session entitled "Safety and Health Resources - Tools for the Construction Industry" to 30 safety and health professionals at the National Safety Council 2008 Congress and Exposition in Anaheim, California.
      • SWR Institute joined with more than 50 other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 NAOSH Week.
      • Ron Pilla joined representatives from other construction-related Alliances and participated in joint meetings of the Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups in Washington, DC on April 22, 2008 and September 18, 2008.
    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (e.g., Conference, Training, Printing and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance Web page the Agency's Web site 11,273
      OSHA Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Industry Safety and Health Topics page 15,684
      OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page 9,669
      September 23, 2008: SWR Institute Fall 2008 Technical Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, "Keynote Presentation"

      Speaker: Michael Walterschied, Area Director, Region III, Baltimore/Washington OSHA Office, USDOL-OSHA
      190
      September 23, 2008: SWR Institute Fall 2008 Technical Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, "Construction Industry Issues"

      Speaker: Michael Buchet, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction, USDOL-OSHA
      200
      September 24, 2008: National Safety Council 2008 Congress and Exposition in Anaheim, California, "Safety and Health Resources - Tools for the Construction Industry"

      Presenters: Lee Anne Jillings, Deputy Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; Ron Pilla, Vice President, Valcourt Building Services, and Rob Matuga, Assistant Staff Vice President, Labor, Safety & Health Department, National Association of Homebuilders
      30
      October 2, 2008: "Alliance Program Affords OSHA Inspectors Supplemental Training by Residential Builders," BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter Data unavailable
      TOTAL 37,046
  4. Upcoming Milestones

    The OSHA and SWR Institute Alliance implementation team has discussed a number of activities that will be undertaken in the upcoming year. OSHA and SWR Institute plan to renew the Alliance agreement for an additional two years on the same terms as the current Alliance. Through the Alliance, SWR Institute will finalize the Safety and Health Field Manual. The manual will address over twenty topics including aerial & scissor lifts, fall protection, ladders, and respiratory protection.

    In addition, members of the SWR Institute will continue to serve on OSHA's Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Industry, and Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics pages editorial boards and will review and provide comments on the pages. SWR Institute members will also attend meetings of the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Design for Safety Workgroup and Fall Protection Workgroup meetings when scheduled.

    Finally, SWR Institute will support 2009 NAOSH Week and invite OSHA representatives to speak at the SWR Institute Fall 2009 Technical Meeting in October 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Report prepared by: Rob Swick, Program Analyst, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, February 27, 2009