Region 4 - Alliance Annual Report - March 15, 2018

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Alliance

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Jackson Area Office
Dr. A.H. McCoy Federal Building
100 West Capitol Street, Suite 749
Jackson, MS 39269
(601) 965-4606; Fax (601) 965-4610

March 15, 2018

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed:

      May 23, 2003

      Renewal Date

      June 27, 2005; June 19, 2012; July 9, 2014; and October 12, 2016

    2. Evaluation Period

      May 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018

    3. Overview:

      The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Electric Power Associations of Mississippi (EPA of MS) Alliance is focused on reducing and preventing employee exposure to electrical power transmission and distribution equipment hazards.

    4. Implementation Team Membership and Contributors:

      The Alliance Implementation Team included representatives from the OSHA Area Office in Jackson, MS, and the EPA of MS.

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    Three implementation team meetings were conducted during this period:

    • August 16, 2016
    • March 29, 2017
    • August 22, 2017

  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:

    • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings regarding electric utility issues to help forge innovative solutions to safety and health issues.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Speech/Presentation During this period, OSHA participated in the Full-Time Safety Coordinator Round Table Meeting in Ridgeland, MS, in support of the Alliance on the following dates: 8/16-17/16; 3/29/17; and 8/22/17. Construction, Small Business, Young Workers, as well as Fall and Heat Illness Prevention 75

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

    • To develop effective training and education programs on electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards targeted to electric utility workers employed by EPA of MS members, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
    • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of Advance Lineman Training courses, conducted by EPA of MS, for electric utility workers employed by EPA of MS members.
    Activity Type Activity Name/Summary OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported Number Reached
    Training During this period, OSHA supported the Holmes Community College Apprentice Electric Lineman School conducted on the following dates: 10/12/16; 3/9/17; 10/17/17; and 2/21/18. Construction, Small Business, Young Workers, as well as Fall and Heat Illness Prevention 200+

    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 EPA of MS's Web sites) to employers and workers in the electrical transmission and distribution, as well as the construction industries.
    • To speak, exhibit, or appear at EPA of MS's Annual Safety Coordinators Conference, local meetings, or other events.
    • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding EPA of MS's 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
    Speech/Presentation and Dissemination During this period, OSHA supported the Underground Damage Prevention Summit in Philadelphia, MS, on the following dates: 11/2-4/16 & 11/1-3/17. Construction, Small Business, Young Workers, as well as Fall and Heat Illness Prevention 200+
    Speech/Presentation and Dissemination During this period, OSHA participated in the Underground Damage Prevention Meetings in Flowood, MS, conducted on the following dates: 10/28/16; and 7/14/17. Construction, Small Business, Young Workers, as well as Fall and Heat Illness Prevention 100+
    Speech/Presentation and Dissemination During this period, OSHA participated in the Arboriculture Seminar in Meridian & Raymond, MS, in support of the Alliance on the following dates: 1/12/17; and 1/25/18. Construction, Small Business, Young Workers, as well as Fall and Heat Illness Prevention 100+

  4. Evaluation

    N/A

  5. Upcoming Milestones in FY 2018-2019

    • During this period, the EPA of MS Alliance group will continue to support the Full-Time Safety Coordinator Round Table Meeting.
    • During this period, the EPA of MS Alliance group will participate in the 2019 Arboriculture Seminar.
    • During this period, the EPA of MS Alliance group will continue to support the Apprentice Electric Lineman School.
    • During this period, the EPA of MS Alliance group will participate in the Underground Program offered through Electric Power Associations of MS.

Report Prepared by: Courtney Bohannon, Assistant Area Director (AAD) for the OSHA Area Office in Jackson, MS