ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
THE CONSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
December 13, 2010

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed:

   December 19, 2005

   Date Renewed:

   December 14, 2007; December 15, 2009

   Alliance 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.

   John Gulisek – President, CAWP (Past)
   Chuck Niederriter – President, CAWP (Present)
   Richard Barcaskey – Executive Director, CAWP
   Jason Koss – Director of Industry Relations, CAWP
   Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
   Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   December 15, 2009 In-person Dormont, PA
   January 11, 2010 Conference Call
   April 15, 2010 In-person Dormont, PA
   July 29, 2010 Conference Call
   August 18, 2010 In-person Dormont, PA
   October 12, 2010 In-person Dormont, PA
   November 4, 2010 In-person Dormont, PA
   December 13, 2010 Conference Call

3. Activities and Products

   Evaluation Period.

   December 11, 2009 to December 13, 2010.

   Alliance Activity.

   December 15, 2009 – Alliance Renewal Agreement signing ceremony. January 28, 2010 – An OSHA Representative presented information on construction standards, policies/procedures, fatality inspection statistics from the local area office, and OSHA’s internet site during a 10 hour OSHA training course hosted by the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP).

   April 15, 2010 – The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania held a Safety and Risk Committee meeting with member safety representatives (three of the representatives are card carrying members of the local Laborers, Carpenters, and Teamsters unions). Highway safety construction information was discussed. In addition, Bob Carroll (Pittsburgh AO CAS) presented information on OSHA updates specifically relating to emphasis programs and upcoming proposed standards.

   April 21, 2010 – CAWP, PennDOT, and OSHA held a press conference to promote Workzone Awareness Week. The event was held in an active workzone, at the location of one of the billboards designed by CAWP utilizing winning entries of the Kids Construction Safety Calendar. A local TV news station and Pittsburgh newspaper were present. Also in attendance were two children (winners of the calendar contest in their age groups) and their parents. The event was to draw attention to the importance of Workzone Awareness Week.

   August 18, 2010 - 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. Many of the participating children had relatives that were members of the Laborers and Operating Engineers. In addition to the various company members, the Laborers and Operating Engineers Unions participated as sponsors of the Safety Calendar.

   October 7, 2010 – CAS participated in an informational meeting with the Director of Safety for CAWP, the Carpenter’s Regional Council Apprenticeship Coordinator, and instructors from three of the Building Trades Union Apprenticeship Schools (Carpenters, Pile Drivers, Operating Engineers) on specifics of the new crane standard. The meeting focused on the training requirements in the standard.

   October 12, 2010 – CAS participated in a webinar (put on by AGC – Associated General Contractors) on the new crane standard hosted by CAWP for representatives of member companies, union craftspeople and other heavy/highway construction companies. Following the webinar the CAS presented information clarifying the requirements for the signal person and qualified rigger in the standard.

   November 4, 2010 – CAS participated in a webinar (put on by ARTBA – The American Road & Transportation Builders Association) on the new crane standard hosted by CAWP for representatives of member companies, union craftspeople, and other heavy/highway construction companies. Following the webinar the CAS presented interpretation information on the new crane standard. In addition, the Crane instructor from the Operating Engineers presented an update on Pennsylvania’s pending operator certification requirements.

   The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania has monthly Safety and Risk Committee meetings. These meetings not only work on planning future events, they act as a forum to exchange safety and health technical information and best practices. In addition, CAWP provides safety educational opportunities throughout the year for both members and non-members in the following areas: OSHA 10 hour, First Aid/CPR/AED, Mobile Crane Safety, Rigging, Trenching/Excavation, Fall Protection, Flagger Train-the-Trainer, Accident Prevention for Supervisors, Defensive Driving, and DOT Compliance.

   The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania is represented on all heavy and highway union joint apprenticeship committees operating in western Pennsylvania. The Association accomplishes this by appointing contractor members to each of these programs, which include the six basic trade unions: Carpenters, Cement Masons, Laborers, Operating Engineers, Pile Drivers and Teamsters. These committees are responsible for providing skilled construction workers through apprenticeship and training programs. Safety and Health information is promoted, supported and conveyed through these programs.

   Alliance Products

   CAWP website was utilized to provide safety information and promote the various safety activities the organization conducts.

   In an effort to promote and educate viewers on the new crane standard, the website has a page titled “OSHA’s New Crane Rule”. This site provides links to guidance documents and training resources and products. In addition to specific CAWP guidance documents, included are links to OSHA, International Laborers Health & Safety Fund, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The site also promotes and references the following Union training programs: Operating Engineers – CCO Operator Certification and Signal Person, Carpenters/Pile Drivers – Rigging & Signal Person and Rigger Refresher, Laborers – Rigging and Signal Person.

   The Kids Construction Safety Calendar promoting the importance of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry has been a popular product. In addition, the photos from this calendar were placed on highway billboards throughout the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania areas during Workzone Awareness Week this past April.

4. Results

   The activities provided during this evaluation period were well received. The member representatives and the recipients of the safety and health outreach activities/communications found the information valuable in assisting them in promoting and improving their safety and health efforts at their heavy and highway construction jobsites.

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   OSHA 10 hour construction training course	43
   Safety and Risk Committee Meeting	12
   Kids Construction Safety Calendar Press Conference	15 attended; In addition it was estimated by the event advertising company that approx. three million people would have seen the billboards and news stories (Television and Newspaper)
   Kids Construction Safety Calendar Distribution	1500
   Informational meeting on new crane standard with Carpenters, Pile Divers, and Operating Engineers Reps.	10
   Hosted AGC Webinar on new crane standard and local OSHA presentation	25
   Hosted ARTBA Webinar on new crane standard and local OSHA and Operating Engineers updates	15
   Website page titled “OSHA’s New Crane Rule”	Approximately 25,000 Construction employees would have access (per CAWP Director of Safety)
   TOTAL	26,620 + Kids Construction Safety Calendar Promotions (Event advertising company estimated approx. three million people would have seen the billboards and news stories(Television and Newspaper)

   The individuals reached by the outreach activities/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 continues to be very positive.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   The Alliance is continually 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.