ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
THE CONSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
December 16, 2015

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed: December 19, 2005
   
   Date Renewed: Last Renewal December 10, 2013
   
   Alliance Overview.

   The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP) 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.
   
   Jack Mills – President, CAWP
   Richard Barcaskey – Executive Director, CAWP
   Jason Koss – Director of Industry Relations, CAWP
   Christopher Robinson – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
   Robert Carroll – Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   February 18, 2015	Conference Call
   April 16, 2015	In-person	Cranberry Twp, PA
   June 18, 2015	In-person	Cranberry Twp, PA
   October 20, 2015	In-person	Cranberry Twp, PA
   November 16, 2015	In-person	Cranberry Twp, PA

3. Activities and Products

   Evaluation Period.
   
   December 16, 2014 to December 16, 2015

   Alliance Activity.
   
   March 26, 2015 – Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) attended a press conference (local newspapers and TV stations), at an active highway construction project (Parkway West), promoting work zone safety with CAWP, Pennsylvania (PA) State Police, PennDOT, and representatives from a member contractor (managers and union employees at the site).

   April 16, 2015 – CAS and AD met with Director of Industry Relations to tour new facility and discuss fall stand down activities planned. In addition, OSHA regulatory agenda/initiatives and member questions/concerns were discussed.

   April 30, 2015 – The Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance held a conference. This group provides a venue that replaces the defunct Western Pennsylvania Safety Council. The CAWP Director on Industry Safety and member representatives attend the event for the educational tracks on construction and oil-gas operation safety. The Pittsburgh OSHA Area Office staffed an information booth. The CAS, AD, Assistant Area Director of Wage and Hour, and Industry Representatives participated on a roundtable panel discussion as a closing event for the conference. The topic of discussion was OSHA's Temporary Worker Initiative/Policies along with discussion on misclassification of workers.

   May 6, 2015 - As part of the fall protection stand down, the Constructors Association of Western PA held a safety committee meeting at the Laborers District Council of Western PA Apprenticeship School. Apprenticeship instructors reviewed the fall protection training they give their apprentices and provided a tour of the facility. The CAS and a CSHO presented information on fall protection talking points, local fatality statistics, fall inspection case reviews, and the new reporting requirements. In addition, the CAS and CSHO presented the information to a first year apprentice training class.

   May 4 – 15, 2015 - Throughout the fall stand down weeks, the CAWP had 15 member contractors conduct fall protection training at 212 construction projects reaching 3,027 workers.

   May 4, 2015 – “Safe Driving in Work Zones” training was conducted that trained 750 high school students on safe driving in work zones.

   June 18, 2015 - Safety & Risk Committee Meeting - CAS Attended and presented OSHA update information on fall protection, frequently cited standards, heat, confined space, silica, and injury/illness reporting. In addition, member concerns/issues on OSHA inspection activity and initiatives were discussed.

   June 29, 2015 – CAWP put out an electronic newsletter with OSHA links to frequently cited standards, local fatality statistics, and heat stress awareness.

   July 8, 2015 – CAWP was the co-host for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Safety and Health Conference. The CAS attended/participated in the AGC Safety and Health Conference. An OSHA Representative from the National Office's Construction Division presented a session on Federal OSHA Regulatory and Policy Update. In addition, the AGC Chair of the Government Subcommittee presented a session on Regulatory Update: The Industry Perspective. In addition, CAWP conducted a workshop on work zone safety and updated state regulations.

   July 21, 2015 - CAWP conducted a “Work Zone Safety” media event (local newspapers and TV stations) at the I-70 welcome station promoting work zone safety CAWP, PA State Police, PennDOT and representatives from member contractors (managers and union employees).

   September 24, 2014 - PA One Call Western PA Safety Day - Pittsburgh Area Office representatives staffed an information table and provided presentations on OSHA's fall protection and trenching/excavation. The staff provided handouts and answered a variety of question relating to excavation safety, construction standards, fall protection, heat stress, workers’ rights and OSHA policies/procedures. The CAWP Director of Industry Relations and member representatives participated and discussed issues and concerns relating to but not limited to OSHA policies/procedures, work zone safety, fall protection and excavation safety. In addition, CAWP staffed an information table.

   October 28, 2015 - Director of Industry Relations presented a variety of information at the OSHA staff to include but not limited to the organizations function, project funding, upcoming highway/bridge projects, PennDOT regulations and initiatives, Joint union management training set up for union apprenticeship schools, work zone safety, their outreach/media activities to include youth outreach at vo-tech schools, new training applications (apps), supervisor/foreman safety training programs, and member oil and gas involvement.

   November 9, 2015 - CAS e-mailed a safety alert to the Director of Industry Relations to disseminate to members on safety issues with a manufacture’s self-retracting lanyard.

   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 and30 hour outreach classes, First Aid/CPR/AED, Mobile Crane Safety, Rigging, Confined Space, Trenching/Excavation, Fall Protection, Flagger Train-the-Trainer, Accident Prevention for Supervisors, Defensive Driving, Safeland, GHS, and DOT Compliance.

   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. A traffic controller app was developed by CAWP for traffic control in a work zone. To date, the app has already had 11,000 downloads. In addition, the website provided a link to OSHA’s website.

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
   All CAWP sponsored training courses/classes/workshops to managers, supervisors, and union employees	700
   Press Conference promoting work zone safety (Parkway West) and Work Zone Safety Media Event (I-70)	12,000
   Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance Conference	50
   Safety Committee/Laborers Apprenticeship School fall stand down event	30
   Fall Stand Down Week – Fall Protection Training (15 Contractors at 212 Construction Projects)	3,027
   Safe Driving in Workzones Student Training	750
   PA One Call Western Pennsylvania Safety Days	200
   Safety Risk Committee Meeting	20
   CAWP Website and e-mail system – Links to OSHA website, Fall Stand Down information, Toolbox Talks safety alerts, newsletter, posting of organization events and training, Apps (ability to reach public, member and associate member employees)	23,000
   TOTAL	39,777

    

   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 for FY 2015:

   The Alliance is continually looking into future opportunities in providing information for affected parties. Since the Alliance has had a positive impact in our area, a signing to renew the Alliance is tentatively set for December 18, 2015. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.