Region 4 - Alliance Annual Report - November 9, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Atlanta Regional Office
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Room 6T50
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(678) 237-0400; Fax (678) 237-0447
OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIEC)
Region IV Alliance Annual Report
November 9, 2020

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed

      September 29, 2015

      Renewal Date

      October 4, 2017

    2. Evaluation Period:

      September 30, 2019, through November 6, 2020

    3. Overview:

      The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Atlanta Regional Office and the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIECS) in Region IV recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. The OTIEC Alliance is focused on providing students and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to prevalent health and safety hazards in the general and construction industries.

    4. Implementation Team Membership and Contributors

      The implementation team included representatives from the OSHA Regional Office and the OTIECS in Region IV.

      OSHA

      Americo Pagan, Assistant Regional Administrator for Cooperative and State Programs
      Kaylene Sherrod-Moore, Regional Program Analyst
      Tom Bosley, Regional Alliance Coordinator

      Region IV - OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIECS)

      Sheryl Foucher, University of Alabama (UA) - OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTIEC)
      Mylene Kellerman, University of South Florida (USF) - OTI Education Center
      Wendy Laing, North Carolina (NC) State University – Southeastern OTI Education Center
      Bryan Lane, University of Tennessee – Southeastern OTI Education Center
      Myrtle Turner Harris, Georgia Tech - OTI Education Center
      Zach Rhodus, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) - OTI Education Center
      Bob Jankiewicz, Volunteer State Community College - OTI Education Center

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    The Alliance group conducted quarterly implementation team meetings by telephone and in person. Throughout this period, the Alliance participants also frequently communicated and coordinated by email.

    • November 13, 2019 (OSHA FFSHC Webinar Day)
    • Alliance Participants met in-person November 19 – 20, 2019, during the DTE/OTIEC meeting
    • August 25, 2020 (Zoom Meeting/Conference Call)

  3. Results

    Dissemination: Alliance Program participant shared information on OSHA-developed or OSHA Alliance Program-developed tools and resources, OSHA standards/rulemakings, enforcement, or outreach campaigns.

    Dissemination Type Date Description Emphasis Area(s)* Number Reached (numeric value)
    Dissemination 9/2019 - 9/2020 During this period, the OSHA Region IV Newsletter continued to include a quarterly feature known as "OTIEC Corner." Construction, Ergonomic, Fall Prevention, Hazard Communication/Chemical, Heat Illness Prevention, and Transportation 8,000 (circulation)
    Dissemination 9/2019 - 9/2020 During this period, the University of South Florida (USF) - OTIEC promoted OSHA campaigns and initiatives through its monthly newsletter. Construction, Ergonomic, Fall Prevention, Hazard Communication/Chemical, Heat Illness Prevention, and Transportation 21, 000 (circulation)
    Dissemination 9/2019 - 9/2020 During this period, the Southeastern OTIEC at NC State University continued to promote OSHA's campaigns and initiatives using its bi-monthly newsletter the "Safety Guardian." The newsletter is disseminated to employers and workers across North Carolina, including FFSHC members. Construction, Ergonomic, Fall Prevention, Hazard Communication/Chemical, Heat Illness Prevention, and Transportation 7,300 (circulation)

    Outreach Events and Training for non-OSHA Staff: Alliance Program participant or OSHA participation in events, which includes speeches/presentations, exhibits, roundtables, conferences, informational webinars or other meetings or training in support of the Alliance or an OSHA initiative.

    Activity Type Date Event Name Representative Name(s) and Affiliation(s) Title Of Presentation (if applicable) City State Emphasis Area(s)* Number Reached (numeric value)
    Training 11/13/2019 FFSHC Webinar Day Representatives from the following three OTIEC: Southeastern Consortium (represented by North Carolina State University); Eastern Kentucky University (EKU); and the Georgia Tech conducted a formal training sessions via a webinar for FFSHC members across Region IV. Official 49 council members participated in the one-day event. FFSHC Webinar Day (OSHA Recordkeeping, Fall Prevention, and Hearing Conservation) Region-wide FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, & TN Fall Prevention and Safety and Health Programs 49+ attendees
    Training During this Period Atlanta- -FFSHC During this period, the OTIEC at Georgia Tech offered participation in the following free seminars to members of the Atlanta-FFSHC:

    4/13/20, OSHA 7205, Health Hazard Awareness

    4/14/20, OSHA 7200, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Plan for Healthcare Facilities

    4/15/20, EST 8001, General Industry Safety and Health

    4/16/20, OSHA 7510, Intro to OSHA for Small Business

    4/16/20, OSHA 7100, Intro to Machinery and Machine Safeguarding    		 Free Safety and Health Seminars Atlanta GA Safety and Health Programs 250+
    Training 06/15 - 19/2020 National Trenching Safety Stand-Down During this period, the OTI Education Centers in Region IV supported OSHA's National Trenching Stand-Down by conducting the following courses:

    OSHA course #7410, Managing Excavation and Trenching Hazards

    OSHA course #3015, Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics    		 OSHA 7410: Managing Excavation and Trenching Hazards

    OSHA course #3015, Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics    		 Region-wide FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, & TN Fall Prevention and Safety and Health Programs 100+ attendees
    Training 08/10 thru 16/2020 OSHA Safe + Sound Campaign During this period, the OTI Education Centers in Region IV supported OSHA's Safe + Sound Campaign by conducting the OSHA 7500 course. OTI - 7500 Course, Introduction to Safety and Health Management Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC & TN Safety and Health Programs 500+ attendees
    Training 08/13/2020 OSHA Safe + Sound Campaign During this period, the University of South Florida (USF) OTI Education Center conducted a webinar in support of the OSHA Safe + Sound Campaign, emphasized the importance of a strong SHMS in developing a positive safety culture in the workplace. Webinar - Safety and Health Management (SHM) and Its Impact on Safety Culture Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC & TN Safety and Health Programs 89 - attendees
    Training 08/27/2020 Emergency Preparedness and Responding to COVID-19 During this period, the USF OTI Education Center conducted a series of webinars, which addressed emergency preparedness during the regions annual hurricane season, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. "Hurricane Preparedness Amidst COVID-19" and "Safety Matters: Emergency Preparedness" Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC & TN Safety and Health Programs, Small Business and Construction 197 - attendees
    Training/Outreach 09/14 thru 18/2020 National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down During this period, several OTI Education Centers in Region IV supported OSHA's National Fall Prevention Stand-Down by conducting the OSHA 7405 course - Fall Hazard Awareness in the Construction Industry. Additionally, several of the OTIEC's promoted the Stand-Down through newsletters and social media postings. OSHA 7405 course - Fall Hazard Awareness in the Construction Industry Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC & TN Safety and Health Programs, construction and Falls 500+ attendees
    Training 9/23/2020 OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention Campaign During this period, the USF OTI Education Center conducted a webinar in support of OSHA's ongoing Heat Illness Prevention Campaign. Heat Illness Awareness Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC & TN Safety and Health Programs, construction and Heat Illness Prevention 78 - attendees
    Training Oct/Nov 2020 North Carolina -FFSHC During the first quarter of FY2021, the Southeastern OTIEC at NCSU is planning to conduct a training session/meeting with the North Carolina -FFSHC via Zoom. An earlier meeting with the group was postponed due to the pandemic. North Carolina -FFSHC Training Session/Meeting Raleigh N.C. Safety and Health Programs N/A
    Training During this period Safety and Health Guidance in Response to COVID-19 During this period, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic the OTI Education Centers in Region IV implemented a wide-range of action to support employers in the construction and general industries, including the following:

    On June 11, 2020, the USF OTI Education Center conducted "Reopening America amidst COVID-19," which offered instructions on safely reopening during the pandemic. A total of 229 employers and employee participated in the event.

    Southeastern OTIEC at NC State University presented virtual OSHA guidance, during the COVID-19 crisis, for manufacturers on July 23, 2020, with more than 125 attendees.

    Georgia Tech OTIEC implemented a remote delivery for selected OSHA courses.

    EKU implemented a remote delivery for select courses.

    From March through May, the University of Alabama (UA) - OTIEC conducted several live webinars for construction and manufacturing firms across Alabama, in response to request for guidance and assistance operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.    		 COVID-19 related courses and training Region-wide AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, & TN Safety and Health Programs 1,000+ attendees

Report prepared by Tom Bosley, Region IV Alliance Coordinator, Atlanta Regional Office