ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of PA
And the
Safety Peer Group Network
September 12, 2018

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed

      September 20, 2017

   2. Evaluation Period

      September 21, 2017 – September 19, 2018

   3. Overview

      The purpose of this Alliance is to provide the SPG Network members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards, healthcare environmental conditions, chemical hazards and by addressing injury and illness prevention programs, effective safety training, and OSHA's cooperative program opportunities, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

   4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Scott G. Shimandle, Compliance Assistance Specialist – USDOL/OSHA - Allentown

      OSHA Consultation

      Cynthia Mellen, CSP, Safety Consultant, PA-OSHA Consultation at Indiana Univ. of PA

      Alliance participant

      Carmine J. Pellosie, DO, MPH, MBA, FACOEM, Exec. Director, Occ. Health Services
      Scott Appnel, Marketing & Client Management, LV Health Network - HealthWorks

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • November 6, 2017      Implementation Team Meeting
   • December 13, 2017    Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • December 20, 2017    Consultation with Medical Intern
   • February 16, 2018      Implementation Team Meeting
   • April 26, 2018             Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • June 13, 2018             Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • August 16, 2018          Implementation Team Meeting
   • September 7, 2018      Implementation Team Meeting
   • September 12, 2018    Safety Peer Group Network Meeting

   In addition to the meetings that were held, the Alliance participants maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to provide technical assistance and to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

3. Results

   The following table summarizes the Alliance's activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement.

   Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: To share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process. To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers. To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on various safety and health topics including but not limited to: ergonomics, substance abuse testing and prevention programs, medical marijuana, legionella, silica, injury and illness prevention programs, OSHA Consultation Program and OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Alliance Product	No product developed at this time
   Speech/Presentation Meetings April 26, 2018	OSHA Update 2018 - What's Hot in OSHA	Recordkeeping Silica, Beryllium Falls, Safe+Sound Initatives, Walking-Working Surfaces, Trench and Excavation, Emphasis Programs (National, Regional and Local)	34 attendees + 650 others who could not attend but received content electronically
   Dissemination	OSHA regulation updates via email distribution	Recordkeeping Egress Lighting Occupation Noise Training Formaldehyde Evacuation Plans	Approx. 700
   Training and Education: To develop effective training and education programs for SPG Network members regarding, ergonomics, substance abuse testing and prevention programs, medical marijuana, legionella, silica, injury and illness prevention programs, OSHA Consultation Program and OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers. To develop effective training and education programs for SPG Network members to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Speech/Presentations Dec. 13, 2017 June 13, 2018 Sept. 12, 2018	Medical Marijuana in the Workplace, presented by Dr. Basil Dolphin and Dr. Kevin Vrablik Walking the Line: ADA & Mental Health, presented by Keely Jac Collins, Esquire Injury Prevention: Tips, Myths and Techniques, presented by Holly Ehrenfried, OTR/L CHT and Jeffery S. Smee, Doctor of Chiropractic	Drugs in the Workplace - Drug Policies Safety/Health Programs Recordkeeping Safety/Health Programs Ergonomics	65 41 44
   Outreach and Communication: To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the Lehigh Valley Health Network - HealthWorks' Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry. To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SPG Network conferences, local meetings, or other events, as scheduled and as time and resources permit. To educate stakeholders and encourage the voluntary use of the free, confidential onsite consultation services provided by the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program. To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding SPG Network members good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, written documents and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the Participants. To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on injury and illness prevention and hazard mitigation and control that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program. To develop and/or disseminate case studies on various occupational health hazards, as identified, and publicize their results.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Meetings	See above - Section II	Listed above	20
   Speech/Presentation	See above - Section III
   TOTAL			Approx. 1550

4. Evaluations

   This Alliance has truly seen growth not only in the SPG attendance and duration of meeting length (now 90 minutes to allow for more opportunities for "one on one" question and answer), but has also seen a significant increase in the number of stakeholder contacts receiving the varied SPG outreach materials, which is attributable to the efforts and the services of the Marketing & Client Management team. The post SPG meeting time has been an opportunity for participants to interact on a level that's very specific to their circumstances concerning workplace prevention, advice and compliance guidance. The Alliance team, have actively encouraged this time (private Q&A moment) with many attendees benefitting.

   Efforts have recently been discussed to consider utilizing LVHN's Innovation Center to provide more opportunities for outreach by conducting webinars on various occupational safety and health topics and at varied intervals throughout the year. Conversations have centered on the premise that these proposed webinars would supplement the current quarterly meetings… not replace them.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   As noted above, webinars are currently being considered to support other varied occupational safety and health topics, which may include: PA Worker's Compensation – Rules and Abuses, Update on Drug Testing Programs, Industrial & Environmental Hygiene, Pre-Employment Screening, Emotional Health, Sleep Disorders, Occupational Health Case-Study Panel Discussion, Safety Challenges – Employer Panel Discussion, and an overview of the PA/OSHA Consultation Program and Services, just to name a few.

   Report prepared by: Carmine J. Pellosie, Exec. Director, Occ. Health Services, Scott Appnel, Marketing & Client Management, LV Health Network and Scott G. Shimandle, Comp. Asst. Specialist, USDOL/OSHA – Allentown, September 12, 2018.