Reg 5 - Alliance Annual Report - June 18, 2009
ANNUAL AREA OFFICE ALLIANCE REPORT
Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program – Operating Engineers, Local 150
June 18, 2009
- Alliance Background
Date Signed: May, 7, 2008 Renewed N/A
Expiration Date May, 7, 2010
Alliance Overview.
Primary goals of the alliance are to strengthen the relationship with the Operating Engineers - Local 150 and to participate in training session and work on special training projects that are mutually beneficial to all participants.
The alliance includes participation by all the OSHA offices in Illinois.
Implementation Team Members.
Mr. Martin Turek – Assistant Coordinator – Safety Administrator – Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program
Mr. James Martineck – OSHA – Calumet City Area Office
Mr. William Coulehan - OSHA -– Calumet City Area Office
- Implementation Team Meetings
Implementation team meeting are conducted by conference calls and e-mails regarding various projects and alliance activities. Last meeting was in December 2008
- Activities and Products
These report summaries activities through the alliance and include two activities prior to the official signing on May 7, 2008, and other Alliance activities through June 2009.
Alliance Activity.
The foundation of the alliance is OSHA’s participation in training sessions and the OSHA 10 hour program established by Local 150. Additional projects have included the organization and sponsorship by Local 150 of a “Tower Crane” course designed for OSHA compliance personnel and the development of a “Quick Coupler” hazard awareness webcast and permitted the use of their facility and photographs of their equipment for presentation. Local 150 also gave OSHA a tour of their new training facility and on overview of the training equipment at the site.
Participation in the OSHA 10 hour courses were as follows:
Date
Location
In Attendance
3/5/08 Wilmington, IL 40 3/19/08 Wilmington, IL 80 6/21/08 Wilmington, IL 40 9/25/08 Wilmington, IL 30 10/11/08 Wilmington, IL 40 12/13/08 Rock Island, IL 35 2/14/09 Wilmington, IL 52 2/28/09 Merrillville, IN 30 3/4/09 Wilmington, IL 24 3/18/09 Wilmington, IL 20 4/11/09 Wilmington, IL 50 5/27/09 Wilmington, IL 15 Total 456
Each session included a Q/A session between Local 150 attendees and OSHA personnel
It is important to mention two additional activities that were initiated as a part of the alliance. Several serious accidents involving Tower Cranes highlighted the importance of increasing the understanding of this type of equipment by OSHA compliance personnel. In April of 2008 Local 150 developed and sponsored a one- day training session on the basics of Tower Crane equipment, inspection procedures, and climbing (jumping) methods for OSHA personnel nationwide. The session was attended by 31 OSHA staff members including attendees from various Regions within OSHA. This training was also attended by a representative of ENR who wrote and published an article on April 23, 2008 which gave praise to the training session.
In addition, several accidents involving the failure or improper use of “quick coupler” attachments resulted in the development of an OSHA webinar on the hazards associated with this type of equipment and the proper inspection methods for casefile development. Local 150 opened their training facility to photographs and video examples of quick coupler attachments and proper testing methods for the presentation.
In addition to the above mentioned programs, OSHA and Local 150 continue to maintain an open line of communication. Local 150 representatives contact OSHA with various questions on working conditions and the OSHA standards. Local 150 has provided assistance in gathering information on specific crane and/or heavy equipment information to assist casefile development.
The value of this type of cooperative action, especially with the limited availability of these tower cranes, quick coupler and other equipment recourses within OSHA, can not be overstated.
Alliance Products.
Primary training products developed through the alliance include the Power Point and webinar material used in the Quick Coupler training and the material provided during the Tower Crane training.
Local 150 also made a presentation at the 2008 ASSE Conference on Heavy Equipment, Cranes, and PIVs. This conference was organized jointly by OSHA and the ASSE.
- Results
This alliance has been very successful in continuing the strong relationship between OSHA and Local 150. This alliance should be considered a major success, and the cooperation of Local 150 should be commended.
- Upcoming Milestones
In addition to continuing the OSHA presentations at Local 150’s 10-Hour courses, it is hoped the alliance can be expanded to include OSHA presentations and Q/A sessions at the annual HAZWOPER training Local 150 provides for its membership. As these courses are offered at several locations in Illinois and Indiana, this will probably involve a multi-year schedule. As identified, it is hoped that OSHA and Local 150 will continue to identify and work on mutually beneficial special projects.
Report Prepared by: William Coulehan, James Martineck, Martin Turek
For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to OSHA's website.