Reg 4 - Alliance Annual Report - June 14, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Atlanta Regional Office
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Room 6T50
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 562-2300; Fax (404) 562-2295

Region IV Alliance Annual Status Report
June 14, 2017

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed:

      September 26, 2003

      Renewal Dates:

      December 20, 2006; July 1, 2011; April 11, 2014; and December 13, 2016

    2. Evaluation Period:

      May 31, 2016, through May 30, 2017

    3. Overview:

      The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (SLCC/NECA), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 5th and tenth districts, and the Southeastern Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training (SELCAT) work cooperatively to provide workers and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards

    4. Implementation Team Memberships and Contributors:

      OSHA
      Atlanta Regional Office, Atlanta-East Area Office and Atlanta-West Area Office

      Alliance Participants
      SLCC/NECA, IBEW, and SELCAT

  2. Implementation Team Membership and Contributors:

    Representatives from OSHA, SLCC/NECA, IBEW, and SELCAT communicated regarding the Alliance during the following periods:

    • August 31, 2016 (formal meeting)
    • November 29 – 30, 2016 (Alliance renewal)
    • December 15 – 16, 2016 (Alliance renewal)

    Alliance meetings were conducted in-person and by telephone. The Alliance coordinators from each group 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:

    The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goal related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

    • To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on electrical injury and illnesses and common safety hazards in order 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

    Other

    		 During this period, OSHA, the SLCC/NECA, the IBEW (represented by the 5th and tenth districts), and SELCAT renewed their OSHA Alliance. Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    1,600

    Speech/Presentation

    		 On August 31, 2016, representative from the OSHA Atlanta Regional Office led the group in a discussion regarding the new OSHA rule for enhanced injury and illness reporting. Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    20
     

    Training and Education: The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

    • To develop effective training and education programs for workers in the electrical utility industry regarding hazard recognition, safety and health management systems (SHMS) and health hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
    • • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of courses regarding fatal accidents in the electrical utility industry, including improper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), failure to maintain a safe distance, and failure to utilize proper equipotential grounding techniques. The Alliance participants will ensure that experienced workers, as well as, inexperienced workers, including, but not limited to apprentices lineman will receive training.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Training During this period, SELCAT continued its efforts to provide workers with effective training and education programs focusing on electrical utility industry issues, as well as safety and health. Course topics included the following:
    • OSHA 10-hour training course
    • First-Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)
    • Pole Top and Bucket Truck Rescue
    • Transformer Safety Courses 1 & 2
    		 Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    100+
     

    Outreach and Communication: The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

    • 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 IBEW's, SELCAT's and the SLCC/NECA's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
    • To speak, exhibit, or attend the IBEW Fifth and Tenth Districts Annual Progress Meetings, Outside Apprenticeship Conference, IBEW Fifth District Construction Organizing Summit, SELCAT and SLCC/NECA Membership Meetings, local labor meetings, training sessions, or other events.
    • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IBEW's, SELCAT's, and SLCC/NECA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA and through OSHA or IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA developed materials, 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
    Dissemination In January and February 2017, members of the Alliance group distributed information about the Alliance during Service Electric's Annual Safety Training Conference. Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    1,100
    Dissemination During this period, the following OSHA safety and health stand-down events were promoted to the Alliance group:
    • The Georgia Struck-by Alliance l Safety Stand-down conducted April 3 thru 7, 2017.
    • The OSHA National Fall Safety Stand-down conducted Monday, May 8 thru Friday, May 12, 2017.
    • The OSHA Region IV Heat Illness Prevention Campaign Stand-down conducted May 22 through May 24, 2017.
    		 Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    200+
    Dissemination During this period, the Alliance group continued to offer employees and member companies the opportunity to share their near-miss information with other participants through the NECA Chapter Web site. Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    1,600
    Dissemination During this period, the group continued to publish and distribute the Safety Alliance Update Quarterly Newsletter. Construction, Fall Protection, Heat Illness prevention, Small Business, Temporary Workers and Young Workers

    1,600

  4. Evaluation

    N/A

  5. Upcoming Milestones in FY 2017 - FY 2018

    • The Alliance group will continue to disseminate the quarterly Alliance newsletter.
    • The Alliance group will continue to promote an effectively safety culture to employers in the electrical, transmission and distribution (ET&D) industry.
    • Continue to encourage interested State Plan Programs to support and participate in the Alliance

    Report Prepared by: Tom Bosley, Regional Alliance Coordinator