ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance
August 12, 2008

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   December 12, 2002

   Dates Renewed

   December 19, 2003 February 1, 2006

   Overview

   Through the Alliance, OSHA and the Washington Division of URS Corporation 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:

   Stew Burkhammer

   Office of Construction Services, Directorate of Construction)

   Jerry Hockett

   Region X

   Van Howell

   Region X

   Lisa Ramber

   Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
   Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs

   Washington Division of URS Corporation:

   Rick Callor
   Brad Giles
   Willie Piispanen

   Evaluation Period

   December 12, 2006 - December 11, 2007

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   January 4, 2007

   Implementation Team Meeting

   February 21, 2007

   Construction Roundtable, Design for Safety Workgroup Meeting

   March 15, 2007

   Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting

   September 12, 2007

   Construction Roundtable, Fall Protection Workgroup Meeting

   September 18, 2007

   Construction Roundtable, Design for Safety Workgroup

   November 15, 2007

   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 Program'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 on specific construction industry safety and health issues and provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

      Events

      ASP/CSP Safety Fundamentals Class

      The Washington Division of URS Corporation offers the ASP/CSP training, free- of-charge, to a wide variety of individuals and organizations. Through the OSHA and Washington Division Alliance, OSHA's Region X Boise Area Office worked with the company to offer this training. Willie Piispanen, Washington Division, Van Howell, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA and Dr. Dale Stephenson, Boise State University, organized"ASP/CSP Safety Fundamentals;" a two hour class presented October 2006 – January 2007. The classes covered the fundamental concepts of the ASP/CSP exam but were also open to anyone interested in receiving a fundamental training in safety concepts. The classes were held at the Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office and the Washington Division printed the class' lecture notes and supplied four instructors. Twenty people registered for the class

      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 Washington Group International's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages

      Washington Division representatives are continuing to provide their expertise as members of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages' editorial boards and are providing the agency with input and comments on the pages' content:

      • Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety, Rick Callor
      • Fall Protection, Rick Callor
      • Safety and Health Programs, Ken Way
      • Scaffolding, Ron Cross
      • Silica, Crystaline, Craig Beck
      • Toxic Metals, Willie Piispanen
      • Trenching and Excavation, Rick Callor

      • Workplace Violence, Joe Herrity

      OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Web Page

      The OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site contains information on the Alliance, including Products and Resources, Activities and Events, and Milestones and Successes. The page is updated regularly.

      Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Web Page

      The Washington Division of URS Corporation has an Alliance Program Web page on its Web site that highlights the company's commitment to and participation in the Program. In addition, the page links to the case study on OSHA’s Web site, "Washington Division Designs and builds a Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility," which was developed through the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable’s Design for Safety Workgroup.

      Publications

      Information on the activities of the OSHA and Washington Division Alliance has appeared in publications such as IEC Codes & Safety and OSHA's Alliance Quarterly Review. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

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

      Events

      2007 ASSE Safety Conference, Boise, Idaho, April 23-25, 2007

      Michelle Steeler, Washington Division, was the Chair of the Planning Committee for the 2007 ASSE Safety Conference that was held April 23-25, 2007 in Boise, ID. Rosemary Olney, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA was a Technical Session chair. During the event, Richard Terrill, Regional Administrator, Region X, USDOL-OSHA was the keynote speaker. In addition, Willie Piispanen, Washington Division was a session presenter on "Workplace Ergonomics" and David Mahlum, Assistant Regional Administrator, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, with the assistance of Willie Piispanen, presented a session on "The VPP Applications Process."

      Prevention through Design Workshop, Washington, D.C., July 9-11, 2007

      On July 9, 2007, Thomas H. Zarges, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Division of URS Corporation, gave the Workshop's Keynote Presentation during which he discussed the OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance at the Prevention Through Design Workshop in Washington, D.C.

      Safety and Health Professional Development Forum, Boise, Idaho, October 22-26, 2007

      On July 22-26, 2007, the Washington Division held its Safety and Health Professional Development Forum, also known as the Safety Workshop, in Boise, Idaho. Bill Bankhead, Region X, Boise Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA was the Forum’s plenary speaker and made a presentation to more than 200 environmental, safety and health professionals from the Division’s projects around the world.

      Products

      OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Job Shadowing Program

      The OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance continued its work on the Alliance's Job Shadowing Program. The Washington Division is reviewing its upcoming projects for an appropriate opportunity for OSHA representatives to work with the company for one to three days on the planning and preliminary design phases of a construction project. Projects that are under consideration include the "Build Idaho" program through which all of Idaho's interstates will be redeveloped.

      • Promote and encourage the Washington Group International to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

      OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

      During the reporting period, the Washington Division's Wisconsin Power Constructors and Pine Bluff Chemical DeMil facility were recognized as OSHA VPP Star sites. A number of the company’s employees completed the required training to become Special Government Employee (SGEs) and they have assisted OSHA as VPP onsite evaluation team members. In addition, an SGE training session was held in conjunction with the Washington Division’s Safety Workshop October 25-26, 2007. Dave Baker, VPP Manager, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, was the session’s coordinator. Three Washington Division employees also participated in the training.

      Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

      • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.

      Washington Group International Designs and Builds a Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility, Washington Division of URS Corporation Case Study

      Though the Washington Division's participation on the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable's Design for Safety Workgroup, the company worked with OSHA to develop a case study, "Washington Group International Designs and Builds a Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility," that describes how it incorporated its design for safety process into the construction of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility in eastern Idaho. The case study was completed and posted on OSHA’s Web site in February 2007.

      • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on engineering and construction industry issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

      Events

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

      On July 8, 2004, representatives from the Washington Division of URS Corporation participated in the Alliance Program's Construction Roundtable for construction-related national Alliances. The Washington Division has representatives on the Design for Safety and Fall Protection Workgroups that were created during the roundtable meeting.

      Design for Safety Workgroup – The Washington Division is participating on the Design for Safety Workgroup and worked with OSHA and the Workgroup to complete a case study describing how it incorporated its design for safety process into the construction of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility in eastern Idaho. A Washington Division representative attended the Workgroup meetings on February 21, 2007 and September 18, 2007.

      In addition, the Washington Division is using information developed through the Workgroup to implement a company training program; Safer Design in Construction. Rick Callor presented an abbreviated version of the course to the Design for Safety Workgroup on February 21, 2007.

      Fall Protection Workgroup – The Washington Division is participating on the Fall Protection Workgroup and helped develop the "Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry" training program. The program is designed for construction industry audiences, including small business owners, trainers, foreman and workers. In addition, the Workgroup completed toolbox talks for ladders that address issues such as "Do's and Don'ts of Using a Ladder", "Choosing the Right Ladder" and "Set-Up and Use of a Ladder." A Washington Division of URS Corporation representative attended Workgroup meetings on March 15, 2007 and September 12, 2007.

   2. Executive Summary

      Through the OSHA and Washington Division Alliance, the organizations are continuing to focus on developing training programs and sharing safety and health information and resources. In addition, the successful collaborative relationship that the Washington Division has established with OSHA's Region X Boise Area Office continued throughout the reporting period. As a result, both organizations agreed discuss renewing the Alliance for two years.

      During the past year, representatives from the Washington Division and OSHA’s Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office worked together to teach an ASP/CSP Safety Fundamentals class. Representatives from the organizations also worked together to make presentations at a number of trade association and industry events such as the ASSE Safety Conference that was held April 23-25 in Boise, Idaho.

      In addition, Thomas H. Zarges, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Division of URS Corporation, gave the Prevention Through Design Workshop's Keynote Presentation on July 9, 2007 in Washington, D.C. During the presentation he discussed the OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance. On July 22-26, 2007, the Washington Division held its Safety and Health Professional Development Forum, also known as the Safety Workshop, in Boise, Idaho. Bill Bankhead, Region X, Boise Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA was the Forum’s plenary speaker and made a presentation to more than 200 environmental, safety and health professionals from the Division’s projects around the world.

      The Washington Division continues 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, representatives from the Washington Division continue to participate in the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable's Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups. Through the Design for Safety Workgroup, the company worked with OSHA to complete a case study that describes how the company incorporated its design for safety process into the construction of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Facility in eastern Idaho.

      During the reporting period, the Washington Division's Wisconsin Power Constructors and Pine Bluff Chemical DeMil facility were recognized as OSHA VPP Star sites. A number of the company’s employees completed the required training to become SGEs and have assisted OSHA as VPP onsite evaluation team members. In addition, an SGE training session was held in conjunction with the Washington Division’s Safety Workshop October 25-26, 2007. Dave Baker, VPP Manager, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, was the session’s coordinator. Three Washington Division employees also participated in the training.

   3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      November 2, 2007, "Latest in OSHA Compliance Assistance Tools," ASSE Government Affairs Update	Data not available
      October 22-26, 2007, Safety and Health Professional Development Forum, Boise, Idaho Plenary Speaker: Bill Bankhead, Region X, Boise Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA	208
      July 9, 2007, Prevention through Design Workshop, Washington, D.C. Speaker: Thomas H. Zarges, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Division of URS Corporation	200
      May 2007, "Design for Worker Safety Pays off for Construction Project," IEC Codes & Safety	Data not available
      April 23-25, 2007, 2007 ASSE Safety Conference, Boise, Idaho Speakers: "Keynote Presentation" Richard Terrill, Regional Administrator, Region X, USDOL-OSHA "Workplace Ergonomics" Willie Piispanen, Washington Division "The VPP Applications Process" David Mahlum, Assistant Regional Administrator, Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office, USDOL-OSHA	Data not available
      March 2007, "Design for Worker Safety Pays Off for Construction Project, Alliance Quarterly Review	300
      OSHA Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety; Safety and Health Topic page	40,142
      OSHA Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics page	89,390
      OSHA Safety and Health Programs Safety and Health Topic page	49,533
      OSHA Scaffolding Safety and Health Topic page	64,815
      OSHA Silica, Crystalline Safety and Health Topic page	40,986
      OSHA Toxic Metals Safety and Health Topic page	32,408
      OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety and Health Topic page	33,866
      OSHA Workplace Violence Safety and Health Topic page	98,521
      OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Web page	3,030
      Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Web page	Data not available
      TOTAL	453,091

4. Upcoming Milestones

   Through signing an Alliance renewal agreement in January 2008, OSHA and the Washington Division of URS Corporation will continue the Alliance's education and training and outreach and communication efforts in the upcoming year. For example, the company will host the third annual Safety Fest of the Great Northwest in January 2008. In addition, OSHA staff and Washington Division representatives will make presentations on designing for safety. The company’s staff will also speak to local and regional groups about its participation in the Alliance Program and the company's successful safety and health programs.

   OSHA and the Washington Division will continue working on the Alliance's Job Shadowing Program and the company will review its upcoming projects to identify an appropriate opportunity for OSHA representatives to take part in during the design phase. OSHA's Region X, Boise, Idaho Area Office will also work to identify sites for Washington Division representatives to join its staff as worksite reviews of OSHA's Strategic Partnership's and VPP participants are conducted.

   Representatives from the Washington Division of URS Corporation will also attend the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable's Fall Protection and Design for Safety Workgroups meetings. In addition, the Washington Division will continue to work to have all of its worksites recognized as VPP Star sites through its participation in the OSHA VPP Corporate Pilot.

Report prepared by: Lisa Ramber, OSHA and Washington Division of URS Corporation Alliance Coordinator, August 12, 2008.