Region 4 - Alliance Annual Report - April 2, 2024

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Atlanta-East Area Office
2296 Henderson Mill Road, NE, Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
(770) 493-6644; Fax (770) 493-7725

Georgia Warehouse Alliance

Alliance Annual Report
April 2, 2024

  1. Alliance Background
    1. Date Signed
      February 22, 2023
    2. Evaluation Period
      February 22, 2023, through March 31, 2024
    3. Overview
      The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Atlanta-East, Atlanta-West, and Savannah Area Offices and Ergonomics Assist Systems & Equipment Council (EASE) of MHI recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, and EASE of MHI hereby form an Alliance to provide EASE of MHI members and others, including owners and operators of public warehouses and other third-party warehouses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers, including hard-to-reach and youth workers, by reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomics issues related to material handling.
    4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA
      Robin Bennett, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS), Atlanta-East Area Office (AO)
      Jessica Bookman, Assistant Area Director (AAD), Savannah Area Office
      Tom Bosley, Region IV Alliance Coordinator

      Alliance participant
      Anna Harreveld, manager of Industry Groups (ASRS, EASE, ICWM, ProGMA and SMA)
      Rob Beightol, Gorbel
      Randy Dickinson, Southworth
      Kelly Wehner- Boston Tech/EASE Chair
      Patrick Lippert- Hamilton
      Jodi Fritsch- Hamilton
      Michael Famularo- MHI
      Paul Schlumper, Georgia Tech
  2. Implementation Team Meetings
    • The Alliance group met of the following dates to discuss its goals and objectives.
      • April 5, 2023
      • May 4, 2023
      • May 12, 2023
      • August 2, 2023
      • November 2, 2023
      • December 21, 2023
      • January 4, 2024
      • February 1, 2024
    • In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from each organization maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance’s progress and results.
  3. Results of Alliance Activities in Support of Agreement Goals

    Dissemination: Alliance Program participant shared information on OSHA-developed or OSHA Alliance Program-developed tools and resources, OSHA standards/rulemakings, enforcement, or outreach campaigns.

Dissemination Type

Date

Description

Emphasis Area(s)*

Number Reached (numeric value)

Dissemination

April 5, 2023

During this period, Georgia Tech Enterprise innovation Institute – Safety, Health and Environmental services Group joined the Alliance group as a stakeholder.

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

N/A

Dissemination

August 2023

During this period, the Alliance group promoted OSHA’s Safe & Sound Campaign- promote via social media, potential blog integration (align applicable blog topic).

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

100+

Dissemination

August 2, 2023

During this period, a representative with OSHA provided the Alliance group members with information regarding the following OSHA National Emphasis Programs (NEP):

  1. NEP for Heat
  2. NEP for Falls
  3. NEP for Warehousing

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

100+

Dissemination

August 23, 2023

During this period, a representative with the Alliance group assisted in coordinating OSHA’s National Office presentation to the Teamster Warehouse Division regarding the OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations.

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

N/A

Dissemination

Sept. 8, 2023

During this period, the Alliance group promoted the EASE Ergonomic Alliance during the Georgia Environmental, Health and Safety Conference.

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

100+

Dissemination

January 18, 2024

During this period, a member of the Alliance group shared several ergonomic-related material handling guides to OSHA. These documents provide information regarding industry best practices.

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

60+

Dissemination

March 11 – 14, 2024

During this period, OSHA support the annual MODEX Full Spectrum Supply Chain Show at the Georgia World Congress Center, in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. OSHA representatives staffed an exhibit booth and participated in a panel discussion.

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

1,000+

Outreach Events and Training for non-OSHA Staff: Alliance Program participant or OSHA participation in events, which includes speeches/presentations, exhibits, roundtables, conferences, informational webinars or other meetings or training in support of the Alliance or an OSHA initiative.

Activity Type

Date

Event Name

Representative Name(s) and Affiliation(s)

Title Of Presentation (if applicable)

City

State

Emphasis Area(s)*

Number Reached (numeric value)

Training/Presentation

April 11, 2023

Ergonomics Training Session

A representative from Blickle USA Wheels and Casters

During this period, Blickle USA Wheels and Casters, which is a member of the Alliance group, provided ergonomics training to OSHA employees from the three Georgia area offices. Blickle is a casters manufacturing facility with a cutting-edge ergonomics lab.

State-wide

GA

Safety and Health Management System, and General Industry

 

Training/Presentation

June 12, 2023

Warehouse Safety Training Course

Georgia Tech Enterprise innovation Institute – Safety, Health, and Environmental services Group

On June 12, 2023, the Georgia Tech Enterprise innovation Institute – Safety, Health and Environmental services Group conducted the OSHA 7005, which is the warehouse safety training course.

Atlanta

GA

Small Business, Safety and Health Management System, and Ergonomics

10

Report prepared by Robin Bennett, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS), Atlanta-East Area Office