The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
December 16, 2008

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed: December 19, 2005

   Date Renewed: December 14, 2007

   Overview

   The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania aligned to provide Council members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to the hazards associated with the heavy and highway construction industry.

   Implementation Team Members

    

   Michael Palo – President, CAWP
   Richard Barcaskey – Director of Industrial Relations, CAWP
   Jason Koss – Director of Safety, Education, and Membership, CAWP
   Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
   Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

   Evaluation Period

   December 20, 2007 to December 20, 2008

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   February 22, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA
   April 22, 2008 Conference Call
   August 27, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA
   October 31, 2008 Conference Call
   December 4, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA

3. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   February 22, 2008 – The CAS presented information on construction standards, policies/procedures, and fatality inspection statistics from the local area office and OSHA’s internet site during a 10 hour OSHA training course.

   November 6, 2008 – Jason Koss, Director of Safety, Education and Membership – CAWP, participated in a joint OSHA cross-training day at the Operating Engineers Apprenticeship School. OSHA representatives from the Pittsburgh and Erie Area Offices participated in the training. The training improved the OSHA representatives knowledge base and gave them a better understanding & appreciation of the work the men and women do operating heavy equipment.

   Outreach and Communication

   July 31, 2008 – The Pittsburgh Area Office emailed a safety alert on a defect mobile crane boom to the CAWP Director of Safety. The Director distributed this alert to their membership by placing is on their newsletter website. It was estimated by the CAWP Director of Safety that approximately 25,000 construction employees would have access to this information.

   August 27, 2008 – The CAS participated in a youth event promoting the importance of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry. The CAS was one of the judges in the Kids Construction Safety Calendar Contest. Participants were asked to color a picture showing their parent or relative working safely on a heavy and highway construction project. Before the children began to draw, parents or relatives were encouraged to talk to their children about the importance of safety on a project they had worked on, and the measures that were taken to ensure a safe working environment. Examples may have included discussions on the importance of personal protective equipment, highway work zone safety, trench safety, working around heavy equipment, fall protection, maintaining a drug-free workplace, and general safety awareness. This was a great opportunity to provide a positive outlet for discussion on what construction safety, as well as general safety, means for the entire family.

   December 9, 2008 – CAS staffed an information booth at the SW Pennsylvania Career Day/Job Fair at the Western Area Career and Technology Center (Event sponsored by CAWP). The primary purpose of the event was to raise the awareness of high school students to the career paths available to them. The focus of the event was on careers related to highway and bridge design, construction and maintenance. The booth staffed by OSHA and construction safety professionals provided the students with information on the importance of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry and to promote interest in the safety and health profession. Over six hundred high school students from seven counties were in attendance. In addition, several heavy construction trades apprenticeship coordinators and instructors (Laborers, Ironworkers, Operating Engineers, Cement Masons, and Carpenters) had information booths and practical hands-on demonstration areas. The CAS was able to network with the union representatives and promote OSHA’s role in providing outreach efforts in safety and health.

   December 11, 2008 – The Pittsburgh Area Office e-mailed a safety alert on a defect fall protection anchorage product to the CAWP Director of Safety. The Director distributed this alert to their membership by placing is on their newsletter website. It was estimated by the CAWP Director of Safety that approximately 25,000 construction employees would have access to this information.

   Representatives of CAWP and company members have called throughout the year for interpretations and guidance on construction standards and OSHA policy/procedure information. In addition, a variety of OSHA construction publications have been requested and supplied to the organizations and its members.

   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

4. Results

   The training and outreach communication information provided was well received. The CAWP representatives and recipients of the training and outreach communication found the information to be valuable in assisting them in promoting and improving their safety and health efforts at their jobsites

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   OSHA 10 Hour Construction Course at CAWP Training Center (2-22-08)	60
   OSHA Cross-Training (11-6-08)	14
   Career Day (12-9-08)	600
   Newletter website safety alert posting	Approximately 25,000 Construction employees would have access (per CAWP Director of Safety)
   TOTAL	25,674

   Note: The individuals trained and reached by the outreach communication activities represent companies/unions with many employees/members that would be directly affected by the safety and health information provided.

    

   The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance has been very positive.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   The Alliance is looking into future opportunities in providing information for affected parties through internet use, roundtable discussions and training sessions. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.