Region 3 - Alliance Annual Report - December 13, 2011
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
THE CONSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
December 13, 2011
- 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
Chuck Niederriter – President, CAWP
Richard Barcaskey – Executive Director, CAWP
Jason Koss – Director of Industry Relations, CAWP
Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Robert Carroll – Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS), OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office - Implementation Team Meetings
March 14, 2011 Conference Call April 12, 2011 In-person Monroeville PA June 6, 2011 In-person Dormont, PA July 26, 2011 Conference Call August 25, 2011 In-person Dormont, PA October 13, 2011 In-person Dormont, PA December 8, 2011 In-person Dormont, PA - Activities and Products
Evaluation Period
December 13, 2010 to December 13, 2011
Alliance Activity
- Training and Education:
June 6, 2011 – The Pittsburgh AO CAS met with the Director of Industry Relations to discuss and review resources for heat stress (posters and fact sheets were provided). CAWP sent an e-mail out to member companies and had a link to OSHA’s Heat Illness Campaign website. September 7, 2011 – The Director of Industry Relations and member representatives attended the annual Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Conference. The Pittsburgh Area Director presented an OSHA update at the conference. The Pittsburgh Area Director and CAS met with the Director and member representatives and discussed various member issues and concerns relating to OSHA and construction safety. - Outreach and Communication:
April 8, 2011 – The Pittsburgh AO CAS staffed an information booth at the Western Pennsylvania Construction Career Day/Job Fair at the Forbes Road 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. The attendees and participants included over one thousand high school students from forty-two schools, one hundred teachers, and one hundred exhibitor personnel. Several construction trades apprenticeship coordinators and instructors (Laborers, Ironworkers, Operating Engineers, Cement Masons, Carpenters, and Bricklayers) 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.
August 25, 2011 - 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, Operating Engineers and Carpenters. In addition to the various company members, the Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Carpenters Unions participated as sponsors of the Safety Calendar.
September 22, 2011 – At the PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days, the CAS presented information on the new crane standard relating to power line safety and excavation safety. In addition, the CAS staffed an information booth. The CAWP Director of Industry Relations and member representatives attended this event. The CAS met with the Director and member representatives and discussed issues and concerns on OSHA policies, crane standard, and excavation safety. - Promotion of National Dialogue:
June 6, 2011 – The Pittsburgh AO CAS met with the Director of Industry Relations to discuss and review resources for heat stress (posters and fact sheets were provided). CAWP sent an e-mail out to member companies and had a link to OSHA’s Heat Illness Campaign website.
The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania has quarterly 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, Confined Space, 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 following trade unions: Carpenters, Cement Masons, Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Pile Drivers. In addition, a training fund is used for education of 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.
CAWP website was utilized to provide safety information and promote the various safety activities the organization conducts. The website has a link to the on-line safety training provided by the AGC of America. In addition, the website provided a link to OSHA’s Heat Illness Campaign Website. 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, April 2011.
- Training and Education:
- 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
Western Pennsylvania Construction Career Day/Job Fair
1200
Kids Construction Safety Calendar Distribution
1500
MASHA Conference
20
PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days 200 Website page - link to OSHA’s Heat Illness Campaign Webpage Approximately 25,000 Construction employees would have access (per CAWP Director of Industry Relations) TOTAL
27,920 + 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. - Upcoming Milestones
As a result of the positive working relationship between the Alliance signatories, an Alliance Renewal Agreement will be signed on December 20, 2011. 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.
Report Prepared by: Bob Carroll, CAS OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.