ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
BOSTON NORTH, BOSTON SOUTH, AND SPRINGFIELD AREA OFFICES
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STANDARDS/OSHA CONSULTATION
AND
THE MASS BREWERS GUILD
October 1, 2020

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed: August 5, 2019

   2. Evaluation Period: August 5, 2019 – August 5, 2020

   3. Overview

      The goal of this Alliance is to provide the Massachusetts brewing industry and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the safety and health of workers in the craft brewing industry, and to understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

   4. Implementation Team Members

      Katie Stinchon, Executive Director, MBG
      Kathy Flannary, Supervisor, OSHA Consultation Program, DLS
      Katie Nishimura, Assistant Area Director, Boston South OSHA Area Office

      List OSHA members and titles/offices

      Anthony Covelo, Area Director Boston North OSHA Area Office
      James Mulligan, Area Director Boston South OSHA Area Office
      Mary E. Hoye, Area Director Springfield OSHA Area Office

      List Alliance participant members and titles/offices

      Katie Stinchon, Executive Director, MBG
      Kathy Flannary, Supervisor, OSHA Consultation Program, DLS
      Katie Nishimura, Assistant Area Director, Boston South OSHA Area Office

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   October 10, 2019: Conference call to plan alliance events for the year.

   • Consultation and OSHA will send OSHA information/updates monthly to be included in the monthly MBG newsletters.
   • MBG would like an OSHA recordkeeping class to offer its members.
   • OSHA/Consultation will develop a half-day of workshops/presentations for MBG members in 2020.
   • MBG will reach out to the Safety Ambassador with the Brewers Association to see if he would be willing to do a training for OSHA inspectors/Consultation.
   • MBG is looking into a safety grant opportunity for Spring 2020
   • May 18, 2020 – MBG Technical Brewing and Business Conference – OSHA/Consultation table opportunity and consultation services plug

   • June 1, 2020 – MBG Summer Member Meeting – 15-20 min knowledge sharing session/table opportunity

   December 17, 2019: Follow-up to October conference call.

   • Consultation shared Western Mass/OSHA Alliance training schedule with MBG, including a Recordkeeping class on December 20, 2019.
   • OSHA inspector training – planned for May 19, 2020 at Harpoon Brewery. 30 spots available for MA OSHA offices and MA Consultation.
   • Planning safety training day(s) for brewery members. MBG will poll members for interest in OSHA/Consultation suggested topics:
     • OSHA Record Keeping & Reporting
     • Hazard Communication
     • Lockout/Tagout
     • Permit Required Confined Space
     • Emergency Action, Fire Prevention Plan, Egress and other emergencies
     • Electrical Safety
     • Walking Working Surfaces
     • Personal Protective Equipment
     • Working Safely with Outside Contractors
     • MA State Hoisting License Requirements

     • Overview of MA State Workplace Regulations (sick time, minimum wage, work hours, PFMLA. Meal breaks etc..)

   February 6. 2020: MBG poll results for requested training topics: OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting, Fire Prevention, Emergency Action Plans and Egress, Permit Required Confined Space.

   April 15, 2020: MBG Brewers Conference scheduled for May 2020 postponed to October 2020 due to COVID pandemic. Onsite OSHA training postponed to October also. MBG Summer Member Meeting in June postponed.

   August 12, 2020: Discuss moving OSHA inspector training to a virtual session held on October 6, 2020. MBG will set up an Eventbrite registration. Registration will be opened to anyone in OSHA Region 1 as well as all consultation programs in Region 1.

3. Evaluations

   The first year of this alliance started strong with the introduction and signing of the Alliance at a MBG Meeting and sharing OSHA and Consultation information with members at the meeting. OSHA/Consultation information and training opportunities were shared with MBG members through the monthly newsletters. The COVID pandemic however, forced us to either cancel or postpone all of the in-person training and meetings that were planned. Some of the trainings are being re-scheduled and will be held virtually.

4. Upcoming Milestones

   List major planned activities, products, and issues that the Alliance plans to work on during the next reporting period, including plans for renewal or conclusion.

   The plan for the next year is to continue the collaboration between OSHA, MBG, and MA Consultation to provide information and education to the brewing industry to improve the safety and health of their workforce.

Report prepared by: Katie Nishimura, AAD, Boston South OSHA Area Office.