The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of PA
And the
Safety Peer Group Network

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed

      September 20, 2017, Renewed September 16, 2019

   2. Evaluation Period

      September 20, 2018 – September 19, 2019

   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. Efforts will be made to specifically and particularly address 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, Executive Director, Occupational Health Services, Lehigh Valley Health Network - HealthWorks

      Scott Appnel, Manager, Business Development – HealthWorks- Occupational Medicine
      Populytics Inc.

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • December 12, 2018 Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • February 6, 2019 Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • March 13, 2019 Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • April 24, 2019 Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • June 12, 2019 Safety Peer Group Network Meeting
   • June 28, 2019 Implementation Team Meeting
   • September 11, 2019 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	OSHA Updates following every Safety Peer Group meeting.	Fatalities, Silica, Beryllium Safe+Sound Campaign, Focus Four Campaign, Emphasis Programs (National, Regional and Local), Heat Stress and Fall Prevention		265
   Dissemination	OSHA regulation updates, Campaigns and Initiatives, free webinars and Focus Four   material via email distribution	As noted above		Approx. 600
   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.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary		OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Speech/Presentations
   Dec. 12, 2018	The Latest from the PA Workers' Compensation Bureau, presented by Scott Weiant, Deputy Secretary Compensation & Insurance - PA Dept. of Labor and Industry		Injury and Illness recording/reporting, new WC Bureau initiatives, legislative updates, drug use impact, common WC errors, services available from the WC Bureau	35
   February 6, 2019	Drugs in the Workplace – A Panel Discussion. Panelist included: Kevin Vrablik, MD, MPH, FACOEM of Lehigh Valley Health Network; Timothy Gilsbach, Esquire of King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLC; and Carolyn Lamparella, Ed.S., LPC of Preferred EAP		Medical Marijuana and Opioids	115*
   March 13, 2019	Environmental Health Hazards – Lessons learned from a high-hazard industry – health care, presented by Tim Docherty, MBA, CIH, CPHRM, Director, Occupational Safety and Health Management - Lehigh Valley Health Network		Industrial hygiene, BBP, indoor air quality, biohazards – mold and Legionella, and the hierarchy of controls, including PPE usage	55*
   June 12, 2019	The Dangers of Worker Fatigue - What You Can Do to Combat it at Work, presented by LVHN Sleep Disorder Center and Carolyn Lamparella, Ed.S., LPC, Program Director, Preferred EAP		Worker Fatigue	60*
   September 11, 2019	Legal Case Studies on Employee Health: What Did the Courts Say? Presented by Keely J. Collins, Esq. King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC Chair of the Employment Practice Group		Workplace Injuries and Illnesses	65*
   * denotes that the event had a call-in option.  The number of participants is approximate, although with the exception of the Drugs in the Workplace panel discussion, most attendees participated in person.
   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/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	Listed above
   Meeting	Medical Student discussion on Occupational Health standards and guidelines		Expanded health standards, respiratory protection, noise and medical records	3
   Meeting	Implementation Team members to meet new Wilkes-Barre CAS, Ms. Seandra Williams, for networking and opportunity to establish a similar network in northeast Pennsylvania		Expand safety and health information sharing	6
   Speech/Presentation	See above – Section III		Listed above	Listed above
   †Note:  Efforts were made to develop a case study on occupational exposure to crystalline silica, by a medical student, however during the review and discussion process (OSHA, Office of Occupational Medicine, and Lehigh Valley Health Network), it was identified that the initial efforts appeared to have been incomplete and the target audience was not clear.  Many studies have already been conducted on exposure to crystalline silica and as such, this particular case study was not deemed necessary.       SPECIAL NOTE: LVHN staff have been (and continue to be) valuable contributors in the Area Office’s Best Practices Workshops, which are free events where various businesses and organizations get together to share ideas and concepts to enhance their safety and health programs. LVHN staff not only support this effort (which is not directly related to this Alliance), through use of space for meetings, but also their professional and occupational staff members have contributed through outreach and participation in the events.
   TOTAL				Approx. 1200

    

    

4. Evaluations

   This Alliance continues to see growth in the SPG attendance. The opportunity to “call-in” to the meetings in a Webinar format has provided many with the opportunity to participate without having to travel to the varied locations of the events. However, it is during the post SPG meeting time that, at least for those in attendance, continues to be of value in that they have an opportunity to interact on a level that is 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.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   Recently renewed this Alliance for a five-year period. Additionally, as noted live streaming webinars are in use for some presentations and now provide opportunities for participation other than “in-person”.

   Report prepared by:

   Carmine J. Pellosie, DO, MPH, MBA, FACOEM, Executive Director, Occupational Health Services, Lehigh Valley Health Network - HealthWorks

   Scott Appnel, Manager, Business Development – HealthWorks- Occupational Medicine
   Populytics Inc.

   Scott G. Shimandle, Comp. Asst. Specialist, USDOL/OSHA – Allentown, October 9, 2018.