The Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
May 29, 2009

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   Original Agreement: 5-17-04 Renewal Agreement: 5-15-06 Renewal Agreement: 5-28-08

   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 – Assistant Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

   Evaluation Period

   May 29, 2008 to May 29, 2009

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   July 16, 2008

   Conference Call

   August 12, 2008

   In-person Pittsburgh PA

   November 3, 2008

   Conference Call

   January 13, 2009

   In-person Clairton PA

   April 30, 2009

   In-person Pittsburgh PA

   May 27, 2009

   Conference Call Pittsburgh PA

3. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   November 6, 2008 – Through the cross-training venue of this Alliance, the compliance staff from the Pittsburgh and Erie Area Offices were trained in crane and rigging safety by the instructors at the Operating Engineers Local #66 apprenticeship school. The training also included hands-on operating of the cranes and heavy equipment at the facility.

   March 23 & 30, 2009 – CAS conducted presentations on OSHA inspection policies/procedures, local fatality stats and causes, and use of the OSHA internet to the new apprentices at Steamfitters Local #449 apprenticeship school. This activity was included as part of the initial forty hour training for the two new incoming apprenticeship groups.

   April 17, 2009 – The CAS attended the Ironworkers Local #3 Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition and received cross-training in Ironworker construction activity by viewing the various competitions and receiving instruction by the Apprenticeship Instructors.

   Outreach and Communication

   July 31, 2008 - The Pittsburgh Area Office e-mailed a safety alert on a defect a JLG lift had with bolts shearing off to the Apprenticeship Coordinator for the Operating Engineers Local #66. The alert was distributed to their instructors and members.

   August 12, 2008 – The Pittsburgh Area Office and PJ Dick/Hunt entered into a Partnership agreement for the construction of the Pittsburgh Penguins new arena and had the signing ceremony on this date. Richard Stanizzo, Business Representative for the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, and Bill Brooks, President of the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, participated in the ceremony pledging support for the Partnership. The Pittsburgh Building Trades Council was listed in the written Partnership agreement formalizing their support for the Partnership.

   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 apprenticeship coordinators and instructors from following Pittsburgh Building Trades Unions participated in the event: Laborers Local #1058, Ironworkers Local #3, Operating Engineers Local #66, Cement Masons Local #526, and Carpenters District Council. The CAS visited the various hands-on demonstrations by the Unions to promote OSHA and safety relating to highway and bridge construction and maintenance work.

   January 13, 2009 - The Pittsburgh Area Office and Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc. entered into a Partnership agreement for the construction of the USS Clairton “C” Coke Battery and had the signing ceremony on this date. Richard Stanizzo, Business Representative for the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, participated in the ceremony pledging support for the Partnership. The Pittsburgh Building Trades Council was listed in the written Partnership agreement formalizing their support for the Partnership.

   January 15, 2009 – 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. 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. In addition, CAS met with apprenticeship instructor to plan OSHA participation in the upcoming training for the new apprenticeship groups.

   February 23, 2009 – CAS and CSHO met with Operating Engineers Local #66 Crane Instructor and Apprenticeship Coordinator to exchange information on best practices for inspection, maintenance, and testing of pendant cables and attachments on mobile cranes.

   April 17, 2009 – The CAS attended the Ironworkers Local #3 Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition and Annual Contractors/Construction Professionals Open House event. The CAS provided updated OSHA information and answered numerous questions relating to OSHA construction standards throughout the event day.

   Various Business Agents and Apprenticeship coordinators/instructors call monthly for discussion and guidance on construction standards and OSHA policy/procedure information.

   Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

4. Results

   The training and outreach communication information provided was well received. The member union representatives of the council found the information to be valuable in assisting them in their efforts of promoting and providing safety and health training to their members in reducing and preventing exposure to the various hazards associated with the construction industry. In addition, the OSHA Compliance staff that received cross-training from the Operating Engineers in crane and rigging safety found the training to be excellent and extremely valuable in assisting them in the field. In fact the training was so well received the compliance staff indicated they would like to see this type of cross-training continued in the future.

   Apprenticeship Coordinators, Instructors, Business Agents and members who have called throughout the year indicated the information received from the Pittsburgh Area Office was very helpful in interpreting OSHA’s policies and standards as they related to their current construction activities. The Council represents approximately 20,000 members. The information exchanged with the Building Trades Council would eventually have the potential to affect the entire membership, that being approximately 20,000 members. The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on the Alliance has been extremely positive.

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   E-mailed Safety Alert (JLG Bolt Defect) Operating Engineers Local #66 7-31-08	5000
   PJ Dick/Hunt Pgh Penquins Arena Partnership formal support pledge 8-12-08	650
   Cross-Training OSHA Compliance Officers on Crane and Rigging Safety by Operating Engineers Local #66 11-6-08	14
   SW Pennsylvania Career Day/Job Fair at the Western Area Career and Technology Center 12-9-08	600
   USS Clairton “C” Coke Battery Partnership formal support Pledge 1-13-09	600
   Steamfitters Local #449 Apprenticeship Coordinator Meeting Provided training handout information for apprentices 1-15-09	141
   Operating Engineers Local #66 Crane Instructor and Apprenticeship Coordinator to exchange information on best practices for inspection, maintenance, and testing of pendant cables and attachments on mobile cranes 2-23-09	75
   OSHA inspection policies/procedures, local fatality stats and causes, and use of the OSHA internet to the new apprentices at Steamfitters Local #449 apprenticeship school 3-23,30-09	40
   Ironworkers Local #3 Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition and Annual Contractors/Construction Professionals Open House event 4-17-09	200
   TOTAL	7,240

5. Upcoming Milestones

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