The Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council
ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
May 29, 2008

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

May 17, 2004

Renewal Signed

May 15, 2006
May 28, 2008

Overview

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and The Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council aligned to provide Council members, including youth apprentice workers, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to the various hazards associated with the construction industry.

Implementation Team Members

Richard Stanizzo - Business Rep., Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trade Council
Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Frank Librich – Acting Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

Evaluation Period

May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2008

II. Implementation Team Meetings

III. Events and Products

Outreach and Communication

June 13, 2007 – Met with Steamfitters Local #449 Apprenticeship Coordinator to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. In addition, the CAS provided updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

June 13, 2007 - Met with the Sheet Metal Workers Local #12 Apprenticeship Instructors to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. In addition, the CAS provided the instructors with updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

June 15, 2007 - Met with Sprinkler Fitters Local #542 Apprenticeship Coordinator to discuss safety and health curricula, concerns and needs. Questions were answered by the CAS on OSHA policies/procedures and interpretations of standards. In addition, the CAS provided the instructors with updated handouts on the most frequently cited construction standards in Region III for the past two years, the fatality statistics out of the Pittsburgh Area Office, and OSHA booklets on construction standards.

February 2, 2008 – Met with Ironworkers Local #3 Apprenticeship Coordinator to review curricula for upcoming thirty hour training. In addition, the CAS provided the Coordinator with updated information and handouts frequently cited standards, fatality stats, scaffolding publications, employee rights, and “All about OSHA” publications. A variety of questions were answered by CAS on OSHA policies, procedures, and standard interpretations.

May 5, 2008 – CAS met with the Business Representative for the Council to discuss participation in a partnership at a large scale construction site. The partnership development at this future site are in the beginning stages.

May 28, 2008 – A second renewal agreement was signed

The various Business Agents and Apprenticeship coordinators/instructors called several times a month for discussion and guidance on construction standards and OSHA policy/procedure information.

Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

The National Office wrote a success story article on this alliance and posted the article on the OSHA public web page. The CAS and various signatory representatives assisted in providing input and developing the article. By posting this article on the OSHA public web page, anyone interested in promoting safety and health in the construction industry can utilize this outreach effort as an example to help assist them in this endeavor.

IV. Results

The outreach efforts and promoting national dialogue through the success story were well received. The Apprenticeship Coordinators, Instructors, and Business Agents found the information and handouts to be valuable in assisting them in their efforts of promoting and providing safety and health training and information to their members in reducing and preventing exposure to the various hazards associated with the construction industry. The Council represents approximately 20,000 members. The information distributed and success story posted on the OSHA public web page affects the entire membership and all parties visiting the success story on the public web page. The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance has been extremely positive.

V. Upcoming Milestones

The Alliance is looking into future opportunities in providing information for affected parties through meetings, roundtable discussions and training sessions. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties. On 5-28-08 a second renewal agreement was signed (Formalizing the automatic renewal clause required in the agreements by the National Office).