Region 3 - Alliance Annual Report - March 1, 2019


ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
THE PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE (OSHA)
And
THE IRONWORKER EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PA INC.
March 1, 2019

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed

      March 11, 2003 Renewed: March 31, 2017

    2. Evaluation Period

      March 11, 2018 – March 11, 2019

    3. Overview

      The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and the Ironworker Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. (IWEA) aligned to foster and maintain an open line of communication with each other for the meaningful exchange of information on promoting OSHA compliance and Industry best practices in the Construction Industry and to understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational safety and Health Act.

    4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Christopher Robinson – Area Director, Pittsburgh Area Office
      Robert Carroll – Compliance Assistance Specialist, Pittsburgh Area Office

      Alliance participant

      Dave Daquelente – Executive Director, IWEA

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    May 31, 2018
    August 29, 2018
    December 17, 2018
    January 10, 2019
    March 1, 2019

    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact 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 hazards associated with the construction industry to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
    • To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by working with the Ironworkers Union Local #3 Apprenticeship School Coordinator and instructors to promote workplace safety throughout the apprentice and journeymen upgrade training.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Dissemination
    Training
    Region III "Focus Four Hazards" Campaign - Throughout this evaluation, the CAS has e-mailed the tool box talks on the Focus Four Hazards (Falls, Electrocutions, Struck by, Caught-in/between). The campaign was to raise awareness in the recognition, evaluation, and control of these hazards. The information is utilized for "Tool Box Talk" training at jobsites. Construction
    Struck-By Hazards
    Electrocutions
    Caught-in/Between
    Fall Prevention
    400
    Speech/Presentation
    Exhibit
    Training
    Dissemination
    The Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance held its annual conference. This group provides a venue that replaces the defunct Western Pennsylvania Safety Council. Member company representatives attend the event for the educational tracks on general industry, construction and oil-gas operation safety. The Pittsburgh OSHA Area Office staffed an information booth. The AAD presented an OSHA update as a general session for the conference. In addition, a Q&A Panel discussion was conducted with AAD and CAS. Worker Rights
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Construction
    Oil & Gas
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Recordkeeping
    Temporary Workers
    Hazard Communication
    Silica
    Small Business
    10
    Meeting
    Speech/Presentations
    Dissemination
    Worker Memorial Day Services held by the Allegheny County Labor Council was attended by member employees. Worker Rights 5
    Meetings
    Dissemination
    Speech/Presentation
    Training
    The Ironworkers Employers' Association of Western Pennsylvania is represented on the union joint apprenticeship and journeymen upgrade committee of the Ironworkers Local #3. The Association accomplishes this by appointing contractor members and the Executive Director to the committee. This committee is responsible for providing skilled construction workers through apprenticeship and training programs. Safety and Health information is promoted, supported and conveyed through these programs. The committee also reviews funding, liability, disciplinary and other joint management/labor functions.

    CAS meets with the Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructors of Ironworkers Local #3. CAS presented/discussed OSHA update information. In addition, safety and health issues/concerns relating to OSHA standards/regulatory agenda and OSHA inspection activities and initiatives were discussed.
    Worker Rights
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Construction
    Silica
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Young Workers
    (Union Apprentices)
    1200
    (Total Member Employees)
    Speech/Presentation
    Meeting
    Dissemination
    CAS and AD presented and participated in the IWEA Safety Roundtable Discussion at the IWEA Safety Committee meeting. A variety of information was discussed to include the following: Contractor challenges with current labor force, feedback on local enforcement inspections, frequently cited standards relating to members respective industry, Fatality stats, Regulatory Agenda and OSHA initiatives, and general discussion on member issues and concerns. Construction
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Silica
    Oil and Gas
    Small Business
    Recordkeeping
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Worker Rights
    Whistleblower Protections
    18
    Training
    Speech/Presentation
    Dissemination
    A local AGC association hosted a "Fall Protection in Construction" training day conducted by instructors from the Associated General Contractors of America. The training/materials were funded by a Susan Harwood Grant through OSHA. Representatives from IWEA members participated Construction
    Fall Prevention
    8
    Meeting
    Dissemination
    CAS and Executive Director participated in reviewing packets of a variety of construction jobs that had been submitted for the annual Safety awards. This effort assisted in recognition of companies and employees that have maintained safety excellence at particular jobsites. This activity enables OSHA to obtain "Best Practices" information on steel erection construction jobsites. Construction
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Fall Prevention
    400
    Dissemination Throughout this evaluation period, the CAS has e-mailed seven safety alerts on product defects relating to ladders, a harnesses, hard hats, safety boots, self-retracting lifeline, safety switches, and a confined space rescue kit. In addition, the CAS e-mailed frequently cited standards, local fatality stats, and FAQs on new crane standard. Construction
    Fall Prevention
    Confined Space
    Fire Safety
    Electrical
    PPE
    1200
    (Total member employees)
    Training
    Dissemination
    Speech/Presentation
    As Part of the fall stand down the following activities were conducted:
    The AD and CAS presented information on fall hazards, fall prevention, and local fatality stats to three second year apprenticeship classes at the Ironworkers Local #3 Apprenticeship School. Fall Stand Down Event hosted by a local AGC association at the MSA training Facility - OSHA and MSA Representatives conduct fall protection training. OSHA regulations, local fatality stats, fall hazards, and fall prevention systems were discussed. In addition, member contractors conducted tool box talks at jobsites.
    Fall Prevention
    Construction
    Young Workers
    (Union Apprentices)
    400
    Dissemination The IWEA's website posted information and links to the safety alerts sent and applicable safety information. The website has a safety section, referencing the alliance. The website also posts and maintains various past safety and health information (i.e. OSHA news releases, links to new standards and letters of interpretations, safety bulletins, product recalls, etc.) for continual review. The website lists electronic links to various government, labor organizations, and contractor associations. Construction
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Worker Rights
    Fall Prevention
    Struck-By Hazards
    Electrocutions
    Caught-in/Between
    Heat Stress
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Recordkeeping
    Silica
    Small Business
    1200 (Total member employees)
    Training and Education:
    • To review or provide input on effective training and education programs to produce skilled and safety conscious workers in the ironworker industry by working with the Ironworkers Union Local #3 Apprenticeship School Coordinator and instructors to address apprentice and journeymen needs.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Training
    Speech/Presentation
    Dissemination
    CAS and AD presented and participated in the IWEA Safety Roundtable Discussion at the IWEA Safety Committee meeting. A variety of information was discussed to include the following: Contractor challenges with current labor force, feedback on local enforcement inspections, frequently cited standards relating to members respective industry, Fatality stats, Regulatory Agenda and OSHA initiatives, and general discussion on member issues and concerns. Construction
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Silica
    Oil and Gas
    Small Business
    Recordkeeping
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Worker Rights
    Whistleblower Protections
    18
    Training
    Speech/Presentation
    Dissemination
    A local AGC association hosted a "Fall Protection in Construction" training day conducted by instructors from the Associated General Contractors of America. The training/materials were funded by a Susan Harwood Grant through OSHA. Representatives from IWEA members participated Construction
    Fall Prevention
    8
    Dissemination
    Training
    Region III "Focus Four Hazards" Campaign - Throughout this evaluation, the CAS has e-mailed the tool box talks on the Focus Four Hazards (Falls, Electrocutions, Struck by, Caught-in/between). The campaign was to raise awareness in the recognition, evaluation, and control of these hazards. The information is utilized for "Tool Box Talk" training at jobsites. Construction
    Struck-By Hazards
    Electrocutions
    Caught-in/Between
    Fall Prevention
    400
    Speech/Presentation
    Exhibit
    Training
    Dissemination
    The Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance held its annual conference. This group provides a venue that replaces the defunct Western Pennsylvania Safety Council. Member company representatives attend the event for the educational tracks on general industry, construction and oil-gas operation safety. The Pittsburgh OSHA Area Office staffed an information booth. The AAD presented an OSHA update as a general session for the conference. In addition, a Q&A Panel discussion was conducted with AAD and CAS. Worker Rights
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Construction
    Oil & Gas
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Recordkeeping
    Temporary Workers
    Hazard Communication
    Silica
    Small Business
    10
    Meetings
    Dissemination
    Speech/Presentation
    Training
    The Ironworkers Employers' Association of Western Pennsylvania is represented on the union joint apprenticeship and journeymen upgrade committee of the Ironworkers Local #3. The Association accomplishes this by appointing contractor members and the Executive Director to the committee. This committee is responsible for providing skilled construction workers through apprenticeship and training programs. Safety and Health information is promoted, supported and conveyed through these programs. The committee also reviews funding, liability, disciplinary and other joint management/labor functions.

    CAS meets with the Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructors of Ironworkers Local #3. CAS presented/discussed OSHA update information. In addition, safety and health issues/concerns relating to OSHA standards/regulatory agenda and OSHA inspection activities and initiatives were discussed.
    Worker Rights
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Construction
    Silica
    Fall Prevention
    Heat Stress
    Young Workers
    (Union Apprentices)
    1200
    (Total Member Employees)
    Training
    Dissemination
    Speech/Presentation
    As Part of the fall stand down the following activities were conducted:
    At a local Partnership site the CAS and Project Safety Manager presented information on fall hazards, fall prevention, and local fatality stats to union craft workers on the project site; the CAS presented information on fall hazards, fall prevention, and local fatality stats to three second year apprenticeship classes at the Ironworkers Local #3 Apprenticeship School; Fall Stand Down Event hosted by a local AGC association at the MSA training Facility - OSHA and MSA Representatives conduct fall protection training. OSHA regulations, local fatality stats, fall hazards, and fall prevention systems were discussed. In addition, member contractors conducted tool box talks at jobsites.
    Fall Prevention
    Construction
    Young Workers
    (Union Apprentices)
    400
    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 IWEA-Wp Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
    • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or IWEA-WP conferences, local meetings, or other applicable events.
    • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IWEA-WP good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the Participants.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Meetings
    Speech/Presentations
    Exhibit
    Training
    Dissemination
    All activities in previous sections apply (See Previous sections for reference) Construction
    Safety and Health Programs/Systems
    Fall Prevention
    Struck-By Hazards
    Electrocutions
    Caught-in/Between
    Heat Stress
    Whistleblower Protections
    Drug Addiction
    Workplace Violence/Suicide
    Employee Assistance Programs
    Worker Rights
    Employer Rights and Responsibilities
    Small Business
    Oil & Gas
    Recordkeeping
    Temporary Workers
    Hazard Communication
    Silica
    Youth Workers
    (Union Apprentices)
    1200 (Total member employees)
     
    TOTAL     4,841
  4. Evaluations

    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 construction jobsites.

    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

    The Alliance continues to look at future opportunities in providing information for affected parties. The Alliance Signatories will continue to work together to address the safety and health needs of the affected parties.

    Report Prepared by: Bob Carroll, CAS Pittsburgh Area Office