ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
And the
Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of PA
And the
Lehigh Valley Safety Committee
A Consortium of
Northampton Community College (NCC)
And
The American Society of Safety Engineers
(Lehigh Valley Chapter)
December 12, 2018

Report Prepared by: Scott G. Shimandle, CAS, Allentown Area Office

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed

      December 10, 2015

   2. Evaluation Period

      December 16, 2017 – December 15, 2018

   3. Overview:

      The purpose of this Alliance is to continue the efforts in assisting LVSC members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address construction hazards, emergency preparedness and planning, hazard recognition and control programs, healthcare industry hazards and work and life wellness programs.

   4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Scott G. Shimandle, Compliance Asst. Specialist, Allentown Area Office

      Alliance participants

      Thomas Barnowski, Director Corporate & Public Safety, Northampton Comm. College
      Cynthia J. Mellen, Consultant, PA/OSHA Consultation at Indiana University of PA
      Heather Ehritz, Secretary, NCC
      Jennifer Kszak, Center for Business and Industry, NCC
      Lee Cunningham, Vice President – West Side Hammer Electric
      Jenelle Perich, Administrator, KidsPeace
      Monaca Flexer, Environmental/Health/Safety Engineer, Wacker Chemical Corporation
      Linda Sanchez, Loss Control Consultant, Risk Assist
      Fred Koeck, Sales Manager, Derby Supply Chain Solutions
      Jodi Simon, Occ. Health Nurse/Workers Comp. Manager, Americold Logistics
      Richard Fetzer, NCC
      Catharine Bliss, NCC
      Tim Duncan, Safety Manager, Sands Casino
      Carissa Eyman, Manager, Environment, Health & Safety, Crayola, LLC

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • January 8, 2018
   • February 27, 2018
   • April 17, 2018
   • May 23, 2018
   • June 7, 2018
   • July 17, 2018
   • August 21, 2018
   • October 23, 2018
   • December 11, 2018

   February 20, 2018
   March 20, 2018
   May 17, 2018
   June 4, 2018
   June 26, 2018
   July 19, 2018
   September 11, 2018
   November 13, 2018

   With the development of a Sub-Committee, dealing with Safety Training – Comprehension and Literacy, additional meetings had been held over the evaluation period. In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from OSHA and Northampton Community College maintained regular contact (email and phone calls) throughout the reporting period 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 construction hazards, work and life wellness programs and emergency preparedness to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Meetings Dissemination	Over the past year, at every meeting and outreach event, this CAS provided an update on OSHA initiatives (nationally, regionally and locally), standards, trends (injuries, fatalities, violations issued) and regulatory agenda.	Silica, Falls, Construction hazards, Temp. Workers, Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, Hazard Communication, Safety and Health Programs, Beryllium and Trenching	309
   Training and Education: To develop effective training and education programs for LVSC members and others regarding construction related hazards, emergency preparedness, healthcare industry hazards and work and life wellness programs, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers. To deliver or arrange for the delivery of such courses as: Emergency Preparedness, including National Incident Management System and Incident Command Systems; Healthcare industry hazards, including Bloodborne Pathogens and Ergonomic issues; Job Safety Analysis; Construction hazards; Personal Protective Equipment; and Safety Committee operations.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training/Speech Presentation Meetings	January 18, 2018 – Safety Comprehension and Literacy Planning March 20, 2018 – Quarterly Event – "Safety Committee Operations" Feb. 27, 2018 – Safety Comprehension and Literacy Planning March 20, 2018 - Safety Comprehension and Literacy Planning March 20, 2018 – Silica in Construction April 17, 2018 – Safety Expo Planning May 17, 2018 – Safety Expo May 23, 2018 – OSHA 30 Hour June 4 and 7, 2018 – Economics of Risk Management and Safety Compliance Planning Meeting, To be co-presented with HMK Insurance June 26, 2018 – Safety Comprehension and Literacy Planning: Follow-up meeting and discussion June 26, 2018 – Expo Recap and Alliance Planning Meeting July 17, 2018 – Economics of Risk Management and Safety Compliance Planning Meeting, To be co-presented with HMK Insurance July 19, 2018 – Economics of Risk Management and Safety Compliance, Co-presented with HMK Insurance Aug. 21, 2018 – OSHA Q & A Sept. 11, 2018 – Improving the Safety Culture, presented by Sands Casino Safety Director October 23, 2018 – Quarterly Event - The Big Three: Navigating the ADA/FMLA/Worker's Comp Minefield, presented by KingSpry Attorney Nov. 13, 2018 – Construction Risk Management, presented by representatives of Borden Perlman Dec. 11, 2018 – Slips, Trips and Falls, presented by Sands Casino Safety Director	Safety/Health Training Safety & Health Programs, Accident Investigations Safety/Health Training Safety/Health Training Silica Med. Marijuana, OSHA Consultation, PPE, Safety Programs As listed above, plus – Safety Committees, Hazard Identification and Accident Investigations Inspections, Enforcement and Emphasis Programs Safety Pay$ Safety/Health Training Safety/Health Committees, Safety Programs, JSA's, PPE Safety Pay$ Safety Pay$ Hot Topics, LEP's, NEP's, Silica, WWS Safety Culture/SHMS Injury/Illness Management Injury/Illness Management and Costs WWS	12 25 6 8 45 8 104 12 8 6 16 4 65 27 30 20 28 28
   Dissemination	Through the use of Corporate and Public Safety eNewsletter Northampton Community College and the Center for Business and Industry, continues to promote all of the various LVSC Alliance activities, update on OSHA regulations, OSHA guidelines, and any of the latest OSHA News Releases, as well as the multitude of safety/health training courses that are offered through NCC and the OSHA Training Institute (Mid-Atlantic).	Recordkeeping, Update on Reporting Requirements, Regulatory Updates, Silica Regulation, Safety and Health Committees, Crane Standard Update, Top Violations	600*
   Outreach and Communication: To develop ways of communicating the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the LVSC's, NCC's and/or the American Society of Safety Engineers – Lehigh Valley Chapter's local emails and newsletter) to employers and workers in the industry. To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or LVSC meetings, local ASSE meetings, or other safety related events (e.g. Safety Expo 2018). To continue to work collectively on any newly identified or recognized safety and health issue or OSHA initiative, in an effort to improve workplace safety and health.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Training/Speech Presentation Meetings	In addition to the multitude of outreach activities and meetings listed above, efforts to promote this Alliance and its activities had been promoted with and through other outreach activities, including: CarePlex – Safety Peer Group ASSE – Lehigh Valley Chapter Society of Human Resource Management Upper Bucks County Technical School Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Safety Peer Group of Lehigh Valley - HealthWorks Warehouse Partnership Members St. Luke's University Health Network Numerous emails and phone conversations with various members and stakeholders	OSHA Update, including WWS, 1904 Updates and Top Violations	350
   Dissemination	May 17, 2018 – Safety Expo – booth exhibit		*
   TOTAL			*1711

   *The Total Number reached is conservative (low), as this assessment does not truly (with 100% accuracy) reflect the total number of participants reached for the dissemination of information through email distribution, as there is no mechanism to measure the sharing of materials beyond the initial alliance participants, and the dissemination of information at the 2018 Safety Expo has been captured (recorded) in the Training and Education Activity, which was previously listed.

4. Evaluations

   In summary, the activities (meetings and outreach events) that were provided during this evaluation period were very well received. However, as previously mentioned in prior evaluations the attendance continues to be a slight challenge as the meetings are held in the afternoon and some of the members have indicated it becomes difficult to attend when workplace activities warrant their attention, as most of the members are responsible for safety and health within their respective organizations. Additionally, a few meetings had been postponed due to weather conditions and since meetings are held at the College, any delay or cancelation of classes, results in a cancelation (or postponement) of LVSC activities.

   The individuals reached by the outreach/communication activities represent various sized companies, unions, insurance agents and brokers, youth and family service centers, healthcare industry and temporary staffing agencies all of which have employees and/or members that would be directly affected by the various safety and health information that has been provided.

   The working relationship between the Alliance signatories and the feedback on the Alliance continues to be extremely positive. Additionally, it should be noted that NCC is looking to extend the efforts and activities of this Alliance northeast Pennsylvania. Conversations had been had with the OSHA Area Office located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania as well as a few community colleges and a local Safety Council. Although not directly related to this Alliance, this effort illustrates the success and working relationship developed with the stakeholders.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   Efforts are currently being developed to hold a full day "Safety Committee" Workshop. This workshop/seminar will focus on how to get Pennsylvania Safety and Health Committee Certification, and will include all of the required training topics for the attendees to obtain certification and/or recertification of their Committee, as training is required every year. The topics which will be covered (and are required for Committee certification) include: Safety Committee Operations, Workplace Hazard Identification and Accident/Incident Investigations.