ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
OSHA and the Washington Group International Alliance
March 22, 2005

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   December 12, 2002

   Date Renewed

   December 19, 2003

   Overview

   Through the Alliance, OSHA and the Washington Group International, Inc. are sharing best practices and technical knowledge in the areas of, but not limited to, cranes and rigging, hearing protection and ergonomics within the engineering and construction industry.

   Implementation Team Members

   OSHA:

   Ginger Henry

   Directorate of Construction

   Lisa Ramber

   Office of Outreach Services and Alliances

   Jerry Hockett

   Region X

   Van Howell

   Region X

   Washington Group International:

   Brad Giles
   Willie Piispanen

   Evaluation Period

   December 12, 2003 - December 11, 2004

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   March 3, 2004

   Implementation Team Meeting

   July 8, 2004

   OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable

   October 21, 2004

   Design for Safety Workgroup meeting

   November 9, 2004

   Implementation Team Meeting

   In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout this reporting period to monitor the Program's progress and results.

3. Results

   1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goals

      • Develop safety and health training and educational information that can be incorporated into existing company programs or develop new courses for employees and contractors.

      Events

      Washington Group International Safety Workshop, Post Training Sessions, Washington Group Corporate Offices, Boise, Idaho, February 11 - 13, 2004

      The Washington Group provided Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) / Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Certification Preparation Class after its Washington Group International Safety Workshop on February 11, 2004 in Boise, Idaho. Attendees included three small contractor employees, an OSHA representative from OSHA's Region X Boise, Idaho Area Office and eight Washington Group employees. The following presentations were given by Washington Group staff:

      • Accident Investigation, Rick Callor
      • Risk Management/Insurance, Aaron Moore
      • Engineering Mathematics, Rebecca Mirsky

      • Basic Chemistry, Willie Piispanen

      The Washington Group also presented "Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene" after its Washington Group International Safety Workshop, February 11 - 13, 2004. Attendees included two OSHA representatives from OSHA's Region X Boise, Idaho Area Office and four Washington Group employees. The Washington Group instructors for the course were Craig Beck, CIH and Tracy Collings, CIH, CSP.

      • Encourage employees and contractors to incorporate a proactive safety and health culture into their day-to-day operations.

      Events

      OSHA 10 Hour Training -- General Industry and Construction, Washington Group International, Boise, Idaho, October 7 - 8, 2004

      Washington Group International worked with the Idaho Department of Education to organize and host a two-day training program for trade school educators in the Boise area. Organizations joining the Washington Group in this effort included OSHA's Region X Boise, Idaho Area Office (Bill Bankhead and Jerry Hockett), Associated General Contractors' (AGC) Idaho Chapter and the American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Snake River Chapter. The Washington Group instructors for the course were Rick Callor and Aaron Moore. The event was attended by 67 educators.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Participate in the cross training of OSHA personnel, industry safety and health practitioners and engineering and construction contractors in the Washington Group's best practices and/or effective approaches in accident prevention.

      Events

      Washington Group 16-hour Safety Qualified Supervisor Training

      Washington Group International provided its 16-hour Safety Qualified Supervisor Training class, which includes OSHA's 10-hour course for the construction industry, to Washington Group and OSHA staff on several occasions. A total of 150 people in OSHA's Region IV, VIII, and X attended the following training sessions:

      • March 1, 2004, Denver, Colorado
      • April 28 - 29, 2004, Birmingham, Alabama

      • June 2-3, 2004, Seattle, Washington

      Region I's OSHA Construction Roundtable, Boston, Massachusetts, March 9, 2004

      On March 9, 2004, Aaron Moore from the Washington Group presented a program titled "Economics of Safety" to Region I's OSHA Construction Roundtable. Approximately 75 people attended the presentation in Boston, Massachusetts.

      Accident Investigation Techniques Training, Denver, Colorado, March 9, 2005

      On March 9, 2004, the Washington Group presented a program titled "Accident Investigation Techniques Training" to fifteen people, including three OSHA staff members.

      2004 OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions, Falls Church, Virginia, June 16, 2004

      Willie Piispanen, Corporate Industrial Hygienist for Washington Group International, was a workshop speaker on June 16 during the 2004 OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions in Falls Church, Virginia. During the workshop titled, "Industrial Hygiene Intervention for Lead, Arsenic & Crystalline Silica in Construction," Mr. Piispanen discussed methods for dealing with lead, arsenic and crystalline silica in construction and remediation projects.

      • Promote and encourage the Washington Group to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and Consultation and its Safety and Health Recognition Program. In addition, act as mentors to the Washington Group's contractors that aspire to excellence in construction safety and health.

      Products

      OSHA and Washington Group International Job Shadowing Program

      The Alliance Implementation Team has continued its work on the Job Shadowing Program that OSHA and the Washington Group developed during the Alliance's first year. The first phase of the program, Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, continued during 2004 and the training was offered in OSHA's Region IV, VIII, and X. The company also continued to review its upcoming projects for an appropriate project for OSHA representatives to take part in during the second phase of the program. During this phase, OSHA personnel will work with the Washington Group for one to three days on the planning and preliminary design phases of a construction project. To meet the third and final phase of the program, OSHA continued to review its upcoming VPP or Consultation site visits that would be appropriate for Washington Group representatives to take part in with OSHA personnel.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Seek opportunities to participate in stakeholder groups and other forums for providing input into the development of safety and health standards for the construction industry.

      Events

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

      Representatives from the Washington Group International participated in the Alliance Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances on July 8, 2004 in Washington, DC. 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 Washington Group has a representative on the Design for Safety Workgroup that was created during the roundtable meeting.

      • Share information regarding the Washington Group's engineering and construction safety and health best practices, and cost benefit analysis techniques, with others in the industry through outreach by the Washington Group and OSHA.

      Events

      Washington Group International Safety Workshop, Washington Group Corporate Offices, Boise, Idaho, February 9-10, 2004

      On February 9 -10, 2004, the Washington Group International held a Safety Workshop at the company's offices in Boise, Idaho. Workshop speakers included Richard Terrill, OSHA's Region X Regional Administrator, Dave Lauriski, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA); and Dave Stanton, Safety Manager for Middle East Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Representatives from OSHA and MSHA also attended the workshop.

      National Construction Safety Executives (NCSE) Meeting, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, September 2004

      Alliance Implementation Team member and NCSE member, Brad Giles (Washington Group International), invited OSHA to speak and attend the NSCE September 2004 meeting in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. OSHA attendees included Steve Cloutier with the Directorate of Construction.

      Products

      OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages

      Washington Group representatives are continuing as members of the following Safety and Health Topic pages' Editorial Boards and providing OSHA with input and comments on the pages' content:

      • • Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety - Rick Callor
        • Trenching and Excavation - Rick Callor
        • Workplace Violence - Joe Herrity
        • Safety and Health Programs - Lonnie Baldwin
        • Heavy Metals/Toxic Metals - Willie Piispanen
        • Scaffolding - Ron Cross

        • Crystalline Silica - Craig Beck

      • Promote the Washington Group International's engineering and construction safety and health success stories through the company's and OSHA's websites and publications.

      Products

      OSHA and Washington Group International Alliance Web Page

      The OSHA and Washington Group International Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site contains information on the Alliance, Products and Resources, Activities and Events, and Milestones and Successes. The page is updated regularly.

      Washington Group International Alliance Web page

      The Washington Group International has an Alliance Program section on its Web page that highlights the company's commitment to and participation in the Program. In addition, the page links to information on the Washington Group's involvement in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

      Publications and Newsletters

      Information and news releases on the signing of OSHA and Washington Group Alliance renewal agreement and the activities of the Alliance have appeared in a number of publications produced by OSHA, including news releases and QuickTakes. In addition, information on the Alliance has been published in a number of safety and health publications and the Washington International's publication; Washington Way. Please see the chart in this report under "Alliance Program Reach" for additional information.

   2. Results

      During the second year of the OSHA and Washington Group International Alliance, the organizations increased the impact of the agreement through continuing their work to share safety and health information with OSHA's and the Washington Group's staff and also recognizing the need to incorporate safety and health curriculum into vocational technical schools. Activities of the Alliance during 2004 were varied and far-reaching.

      For example, the Washington Group offered its Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, including OSHA's 10 hour course for the construction industry, to OSHA representatives in Regions IV, VIII and X. Washington Group representatives also participated in the classes. Through these courses, OSHA and the Washington Group have shared information on how construction sites operate and OSHA regulatory and enforcement information. The Washington Group has also provided other training for and made a number of presentations to OSHA staff including Accident Investigation Techniques Training, Economics of Safety, OHST/CHST Certification Preparation, and Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. In addition, OSHA and the Washington Group worked to implement the second and third phases of the Alliance's Job Shadowing Program.

      During 2004, OSHA and the Washington Group also participated in each others' events. The Washington Group presented a workshop during OSHA's Compliance Assistance Training Sessions and OSHA made a presentation during the Washington Group's Safety Workshop. The company also participated in OSHA's Alliance Program Construction Roundtable and agreed to work with the Roundtable's Design for Safety Workgroup.

      In addition, both organizations are working together to reach out to local communities and share safety and health information. Recognizing the importance of incorporating safety training into trade school programs, the Washington Group took the lead on arranging and hosting a two-day training program for trade school educators in the Boise area. The company also invited OSHA's Region X Boise, Idaho Area Office, AGC's Idaho Chapter and ASSE's Snake River Chapter to join them in supporting this event. The Washington Group has also continued to develop programs and projects to support the regional Alliance that it signed with OSHA's Region I Braintree and Methuen Area Offices in Massachusetts on April 16, 2003.

      The Washington Group is continuing to provide its expertise to OSHA through serving on a number of OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages' editorial boards including Trenching and Excavation, Workplace Violence, and Safety and Health Programs. In addition, the company has continued to promote its participation in the Alliance Program on its Web site and through its magazine; Washington Way. OSHA's and the Washington Group's senior executives have also promoted the Alliance during speeches and presentations to a wide variety of audiences.

   3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      January 1, 2004, "OSHA Renews Alliance with Engineering and Construction Management Firm," OSHA's bi-monthly newsletter; QuickTakes	40,000
      February 9-10, 2004, Washington Group International Safety Workshop, Washington Group Corporate Offices, Boise, Idaho Speaker: Richard Terrill, OSHA Region X, Regional Administrator	250
      February 11 - 13, 2004, Washington Group International Safety Workshop, Post Training Sessions, Washington Group Corporate Offices, Boise, Idaho Washington Group Speakers: OHST/CHST Certification Preparation Training Accident Investigation, Rick Callor Risk Management/Insurance, Aaron Moore Engineering Mathematics, Rebecca Mirsky Basic Chemistry, Willie Piispanen Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Craig Beck, CIH; Tracy Collings, CIH, CS	20
      March 1, 2004, Washington Group 16-hour Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, Birmingham, Alabama Speaker: Rick Callor	100
      March 9, 2004, Region I's OSHA Construction Roundtable, Boston, Massachusetts, "Ergonomics of Safety" Speaker: Aaron Moore	75
      Spring 2004, "OSHA Washington Group Renew Safety Alliance," Washington Way	Data Not Available
      April 7-8, 2004, Denver Colorado, "Accident Investigation Techniques" Speaker: Rick Callor	15
      April 28 - 29, 2004, Washington Group16-hour Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, Birmingham, Alabama Speaker: Rick Callor	22
      June 2-3, 2004, Washington Group16-hour Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, Seattle, Washington Speaker: Rick Callor	28
      June 16, 2004, 2004 OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions, "Industrial Hygiene Intervention for Lead, Arsenic & Crystalline Silica in Construction Workshop," Falls Church, Virginia Speaker: Willie Piispanen	25
      July 8, 2004, OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable, Washington, DC	30
      Summer 2004, "Taking Safety to New Heights," Washington Way	Data Not Available
      September 2004, National Construction Safety Executives Meeting, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho	100
      October 7 - 8, 2004, OSHA 10 Hour Training -- General Industry and Construction, Washington Group International, Boise Idaho Speakers: Rick Callor Aaron Moore	Data Not Available
      OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages' Editorial Boards: Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety - Rick Callor Trenching and Excavation - Rick Callor Workplace Violence - Joe Herrity Safety and Health Programs - Lonnie Baldwin Heavy Metals/Toxic Metals - Willie Piispanen Scaffolding - Ron Cross Crystalline Silica - Craig Beck	Data Not Available
      OSHA and Washington Group International Alliance Web page	1,000
      Washington Group International Alliance Web page	Data Not Available
      TOTAL	41,585

4. Upcoming Milestones

   OSHA and the Washington Group International will continue the Alliance's education and training and outreach and communication efforts in the upcoming year. The company will again support of the Idaho Department of Education's Safety Training initiative and host a two-day training program for trade school educators in the Boise area. The training will feature OSHA's 10 hour courses for General Industry and Construction. In addition, OSHA's Training Institute will participate in the training initiative and the AGC Idaho chapter and ASSE Snake River Chapter are committed to supporting this event. In addition, ASSE may offer to provide voluntary safety assessments of the vocational schools' facilities as part of the program.

   OSHA staff from Region X and its National Office will also attend the company's Safety Workshop in April 2005 in Boise, Idaho. In addition, Willie Piispanen, a Washington Group member of the Alliance's Implementation Team is on the Conference Planning Committee for the first Intermountain Northwest Safety Conference that will be held April 6-8, 2005 in Butte, Montana. As a member of the committee, he has arranged for a technical session that focuses on OSHA's VPP and implementing safety and health management systems in the workplace. Representatives from OSHA's Region X have also been invited to participate on the panel.

   OSHA and the Washington Group will continue working on the Job Shadowing Program that the Alliance developed during its first year. The initial phase of the program, Safety Qualified Supervisor Training, will continue during 2005 and the Washington Group has indicated that it will present the class in Region VIII. The company will also continue its review of upcoming projects to identify an appropriate project for OSHA representatives to take part in the design phase, including office planning, constructability review, and project start-up experience. In addition, Washington Group and OSHA's Region X are working together to identify sites for the for Washington Group representatives to join OSHA's Partnership Program as it conducts on-site reviews of the program's participants.

   The Washington Group is also committed to working with other Alliance participants to develop compliance assistance information and products for OSHA staff and employers and employees in the construction industry. The company will attend meetings of the Design for Safety Workgroup that was established as a result of the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable. In addition, a Washington Group Implementation Team member, Brad Giles, has agreed to participate in a workshop, “Supporting SH&E Careers in Government,” that will be presented on June 15, 2005 during ASSE's annual conference, Safety 2005, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The panelists will provide government employees in the safety, health and environmental fields with career development information, including the paths and milestones for professional level certification. The presenters will discuss various paths and milestones that are common to achieving professional level credentials and recognition. The speakers also include representatives from OSHA, ASSE and the Board Certified Safety Professionals (both organizations are Alliance Program participants).

   The company is also pursuing developing additional regional Alliances in local communities. For example, the Washington Group has been working to develop an Alliance with OSHA's Region V Milwaukee, Wisconsin Area Office and We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power Co. and Wisconsin Gas LLC, the principal utility subsidiaries of Wisconsin Energy Corporation) in Wisconsin.

Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, OSHA and Washington Group International Alliance Coordinator, July 20, 2005.