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 16, 2019

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed

      December 10, 2015

   2. Evaluation Period

      December 16, 2018 – December 15, 2019

   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
      Scott Parker, EH&S Manager, Brandenburg Industrial Services
      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
      Scott Appnel, Business/Marketing Manager, LVHN – Popultyics
      Robert Bryson III, Engineering Specialist, Fluortek, Inc.
      Jade Simmers/Ryan Anton, HMK Insurance

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • January 15, 2019
   • March 19, 2019
   • April 18, 2019
   • June 11, 2019
   • September 10, 2019
   • November 13, 2019

   February 26, 2019
   April 9, 2019
   May 15, 2019
   August 14, 2019
   October 15, 2019
   December 10, 2019
   

   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, results and future meeting topics.

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 (attended), this CAS provided an update on OSHA initiatives (nationally, regionally and locally), standards, trends (injuries, fatalities, violations issued) and regulatory agenda.	Silica, Amputations, Construction hazards - falls, struck-by, caught-in and electrical, Temp. Workers, Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, Hazard Communication, Safety and Health Programs, Beryllium and Trenching	325
   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 5, 2019 – Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention and Medical Management (Dr. John Martin) Feb. 26, 2019 – (Drug and Alcohol) Reasonable Suspicion At the Workplace (Carolyn Lamparella, Ed.S., L.P.C., Preferred EAP LVHN) March 19, 2019 – Active Shooter Awareness (Jade Simmers, HMK Insurance, Dave Erickson, Borden Perlman & Tom Barnowski, NCC) April 9, 2019 – Manual Material Handling (Stephen Hughes, Uline PA Safety Coordinator) April 18, 2019 – All About OSHA (NCC and OSHA) May 17, 2018 – Safety Workshop/Expo Safety Committee Exploration (NCC, PA Dept. of Labor and Industry – Bureau of Workers’ Compensation) June 10, 2019 – All About OSHA for the Hospitality Industry (NCC and OSHA) June 11, 20189– Implementation Team Meeting: Expo follow-up and future planning discussion Aug. 14, 2019 – Safe + Sound Workshop Safety, Leadership & the Value of Engagement (NCC, OSHA, Crayola LLC, Brandenburg Industrial Services, and Flourtek Inc.) Sept. 10, 2019 – Safety Training Evaluation Profile (ABC – STEP) presented by Billy Hurst (Worth & Company) October 15, 2019 – Medical Emergencies in the Workplace (Suzanne Cochran, Genus Lifesciences Inc.) Nov. 13, 2019 – Risk Assessment and Management (Ryan Anton - HMK Insurance) Dec. 10, 201 – Holiday Safety – Griswold Style (Jesse Hassan - Avantor & Carl Flesher - Dorney Park)	Ergonomics Safety & Health Programs, Accident Investigations Safety/Health Program, Emergency Action Ergonomics Safety/Health Training Safety and Health Programs/Accident Investigation/Hazard Identification Safety/Health Training Safety and Health Programs Safety and Health Programs Safety/Health Programs, Training JSA’s, PPE, Inspections Emergency Response Programs Hazard Identification and Control Methods Motor Vehicle Safety, Ladder Safety, Chemical Safety, PPE, Electrical, Hygiene, Fire Safety, Tool Safety and Fall hazards	35 38 52 30 23 53 7 10 37 15 25 18 23
   Dissemination	Through the use of the 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 and 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, NEP’s, Fatal Updates	800
   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. Safe + Sound Workshop 2019). 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 Updates, including regulatory updates, Top Violations, Safety and Health Training, 1904 issues, Silica, Beryllium, and new resources	400
   Dissemination	May 15 2018 – Safety Committee Workshop/Expo – booth exhibit		*
   TOTAL			1525

   *The Total Number reached is conservatively 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. The dissemination of information at the 2019 Safety Committee Workshop/Expo has been captured (recorded) in the Training and Education Activity, which was previously listed.

4. Evaluations

   In short summation, the activities (meetings and outreach events) held during this evaluation period were very well received. During this period only one meeting had to be rescheduled due to winter weather and one meeting did not have an OSHA representative, as this CAS had another work-related commitment.

   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. Finally, as previously reported it should be noted that NCC has moved forward with its steps to extend the efforts and activities of this Alliance into northeast Pennsylvania, with the Wilkes-Barre Area Office. Although not directly related to this Alliance, this effort illustrates the success and working relationship developed with the various stakeholders.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   Efforts are currently being developed to hold our next full day “Safety Expo 2020”. This Expo/Workshop will consist of three tracks (general industry, construction and healthcare) each of which will have several different safety/health topics. Specific topics are currently being finalized.

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