Region 3 - Alliance Annual Report - December 17, 2015

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
ALLENTOWN AREA OFFICE
THE LEHIGH CAREER AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
December 17, 2015

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed:

    August 23, 2003

    Date Renewed:

    August 23, 2005, March 27, 2008, April 19, 2010, September 6, 2012 (rewrite/renewed) December 12, 2012, renewed December 18, 2014

    Alliance Overview:

    The Alliance was formed to provide LCTI students, staff members and others, including public and private volunteer members of the Safety Occupational Advisory Council (Safety OAC) with information, guidance, and access to training resources in order to provide safety and health education to staff and students (youth entering the workforce) and to help promote, protect and on the LCTI campus.

    Implementation Team Members:

    • Tim Rushton LCTI
    • Daniel Kotran, LCTI
    • Holly Custodio, LCTI
    • Kurt Adam, LCTI
    • Scott G. Shimandle, USDOL/Allentown Area Office
    • Claude Kohl, retired
    • Craig Berrier, Alvin H. Butz, Inc.
    • Tom Civic, Merck Sharpe and Dohme
    • Christine Sullivan-Reitz, American Millwork & Cabinetry
    • Bill Horn, Lutron Inc
    • James Casey, Praxair Distribution, Inc.
    • Steve Hughes, Uline
    • Frank Baxter, Skanska USA
    • Jordan Hanna, Amazon
    • Kathyrn Hertzog, Lehigh Valley Health Network
    • Richard Warner, Lehigh Carbon Community College

     

  2. Implementation Team Meetings/Activities

    • October 16, 2014 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (10)
    • December 18, 2014 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (7)
    • February 19, 2015 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (11)
    • April 16, 2015 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (7)
    • October 15, 2015 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (7)
    • December 17, 2015 - Safety Occupational Advisory Council Meeting (10)

  3. Activities and Products

    Evaluation Period.

    April 17, 2014 through December 17, 2015.

    Alliance Activity.

    • Training and Education

      October 30, 2014 - “Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program” - An OSHA presentation was conducted for a class of Pre-Engineering students and their instructor (afternoon session). Topics covered during the presentation included emergency action plans, safe egress, personal protective equipment, hazardous chemicals, first-aid, control of hazardous energy, confined spaces and construction workplace hazards, including but not limited to falls, heat stress, noise, excavation and electrical hazards.

      April 13, 2015 – “The Need for Personal Protective Equipment”- Discussion and quiz presented to entire school faculty.

      May 20, 2015 – “Safety and Health Issues in Healthcare”- two sessions were held for the Health Occupations students. Topics focus on bloodborne pathogens, egress, workplace violence, ergonomics and slips/trips/falls.

      November 9, 2015 – “Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program”- outreach session for afternoon students.

      December 3, 2015 – “Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program” – repeated session for morning students.

    • Outreach and Communication

      Over this past evaluation period, there have been several outreach activities conducted by the Allentown Area Office (AAO). As noted above, these presentations were for the students and faculty of the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program and the Health Occupations Program. Additionally, an informal presentation was provided to all of the instructional staff and supervisors on “the need for personal protective equipment”. In addition to the presentation a quiz was provided to all faculty members and was used for discussion to emphasis when and why personal protective equipment is needed.

      The Safety OAC meetings discussed and reviewed numerous safety and health programs, policies and activities. A description (beyond the review and approval of previous meeting minutes) is as follows:

      October 16, 2014 - This council meeting, was attended by ten members and discussion began focusing on a review of the employee and student recordable injuries, followed by update on house project and the hiring of a law enforcement officer for the school. Additionally, the council discussed and reviewed the new protocol for earthquake drills (Great Shake-Out Day), which is now practiced yearly. Labs discussed and reviewed included Building Trades Maintenance, Electrical, Adult Education, Precision Machine, Welding Technology, Print Tech./Graphic Imaging, Commercial Photography, Advertising Design/Commercial Art, Carpentry, Computer Technology, Cosmetology, Health Occupations, Dental Technology, Web Design, Administrative Office Technology, Hospitality, Commercial Baking, Culinary Arts, Fitness Center and Food Service.

      December 18, 2014 – After a brief review of the previous minutes and discussion of the employee and student injuries, a short discussion was had relative to the school’s involvement with the Great Shake Out Day, a day which is set-aside for conducting earthquake drills. There was a discussion centered on workplace (school) violence and the “use of force” then a discussion on the various safety work orders that we processed by Facilities. Topics then focused on the use of the safe school grants and the various safety devices, features and equipment being considered, staged events for you-tube postings, protests and cell phone usage. Labs reviewed included Early Care and Education of Young Children, Health Occupations/Health Related Technology, Science, Criminal Justice, Painting and Decorating, Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space, Physics, Drafting/Computer Aided Design, Marketing and Business Education, Pre-Engineering, Electronics Technology/Nanofabrication, and Electro-Mechanical.

      February 19, 2015 - After review of the previous meeting minutes, the council discussed the staff and student injuries, safe school grant, a recent bomb scare and all of the actions that took place during and after the event. A lengthy discussion was held about the event and the subsequent actions to be taken. Labs reviewed included: Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Heating/Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Masonry, Plumbing and Heating, Auto Body/Collison Repair, Auto Technology, Indoor/Outdoor Maintenance, Floral Design/Greenhouse Management, Landscape Construction, Heavy Equipment Operations, and Material Handling.

      April 16, 2015 - As with previous meetings after a review of the last meeting minutes, a short discussion was held concerning the employee and student injuries. The council members then discussed the school’s house project, which was visited by the council. Additional issues included propane storage tanks and the opportunity to meet with the Safe School Committee, which is made up of students, faculty and administrators.

      October 15, 2015 – At this meeting some time was spent discussing the recordable injuries and illnesses to staff and students and then on the changes in the school’s administration, as some faculty have retired and others assumed new roles. A discussion was then had on the new protocol for suicide prevention and active shooter drill, and the earthquake drill. Labs reviewed included those within the Transportation Wing which includes: Auto Body/Collision Repair Technology, Auto Technology, Auto Specialization Technology, Diesel /Medium & Heavy Truck Technology, Small Engines/Recreational Vehicle Repair, Indoor/Outdoor Maintenance, Building Trades Maintenance and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

      December 17, 2015 – After introductions and review of the previous meeting minutes, we discussed the employee and student recordable injuries. New business included a review of audible/visual alarms for garage doors, safe school grants and equipment needs, and review of the previous audit and corrective action. Labs reviewed included Drafting, Electromechanical, Marketing & Business Education, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/Space Science, Cafeteria, Commercial Baking, Culinary Arts, Laundry and Health and Fitness Center.

      As stated in the previous report, most of the council members are from the “private sector”, and with several new members being added the various issues, ideas, and control strategies that are discussed are not contained just within the school but is being shared, communicated and disseminated to new stakeholders.

    • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

      During this evaluation period, there were no specific efforts made by this OSHA office in promoting the national dialogue on safety and health with Career and Technical Institutions. However, staff and faculty of LCTI and members of the Safety Advisory Council continue to promote safety and health curriculum and school safety at the various Administrator and other Occupational Advisory Council meetings.

    Alliance Products.

    During this evaluation period a PowerPoint presentation had been modified for the specific topics/subject matter listed above.

    As noted above, a PowerPoint presentation was developed/modified for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program and used locally.

    • Training and Education
    • Outreach and Communication

  4. Results

    The Alliance activities conducted during the reporting period, albeit limited, continue to enhance the safety performance and culture throughout the entire school. Faculty and students continue to demonstrate more and more safety knowledge and internal bi-weekly inspections are identifying fewer unsafe conditions as hazards are reported and corrected promptly.

    The table below lists each of the activities conducted and the number of individuals reached or trained during the reporting period.

    Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (10/16/2014) 10 council members
    Outreach - Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program (10/30/2014) 10 students + 1 Instructor
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (12/18/2014) 7 council members
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (2/19/2015) 11 council members
    Outreach – Need for PPE (4/3/2015) 150 faculty
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (4/16/2015) 7 council members
    Outreach - Safety and Health Issues in Healthcare (5/20/2015) 65 students + 2 instructors
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (10/15/2015) 7 council members
    Outreach - Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program (11/9/2015) 22 students + 1 instructor
    Outreach - Safety and Health Issues for the Pre-Emerging Engineering Program (12/3/2015) 18 students + 1 instructor
    Meeting - Safety Occupational Advisory Council (12/17/2015) 10 council members
    TOTAL 322 (actual)
    3,000 (approximate – all faculty and students)

    As noted previously, the only issue that has some significant bearing on the Alliance’s implementation is that the Safety OAC only meets during the academic school year. Therefore, the insight, technical assistance and expansion of safety and health promotion beyond the school may be somewhat limited. However, the AAO CAS continues to be in constant contact with LCTI officials throughout the entire year, as Building Maintenance and Services are year round functions.

  5. Challenges (past and upcoming)

    As previously noted the Safety OAC meetings have gone to a quarterly schedule. With only four meetings being scheduled, efforts continue to be made to ensure that the entire school and all academic programs will be reviewed by the fourth and final meeting. Efforts continue to be made to have council members regularly attend, as there has only be 4 or 5 (non-school members) actively participating.

Report Prepared by: Scott G. Shimandle, Allentown AAO CAS

For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.