ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
CLEVELAND OSHA OFFICE
THE CLEVELAND SAFETY FORUM
July 17, 2014

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed:

   June 19, 2012 (Initial Signing)

   May 23, 2014 (Renewal Signing)

   Overview

   OSHA and the Cleveland Safety Forum renewed the alliance for another two year period to continue to provide local construction companies, employees and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect the health and safety of construction workers. The members of the Safety Forum include a group of union contractors, management, and union training coordinators. The alliance addresses occupational topics such as crane regulations, fall protection, silica exposure and education, training in hazard recognition and control in the construction industry.

   Implementation Team Members

   Howard Eberts, Area Director, Cleveland OSHA Office

   Julie Weis, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Cleveland OSHA Office

   Kent Crytzer, Co-Chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

   William Hocevar, Co-Chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

   Don Mays, Co-chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

   Contributors

   Contributors include members of the Safety Forum who attend monthly meetings and provide input to further the cause of the alliance.

   Evaluation Period

   This report covers the period from June 19, 2013 to May 23, 2014.

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   June 21, 2013; Builder's Local Hall, meeting

   July 29, 2013; Marous Company Headquarters, meeting

   August 23, 2013; Operating Engineers Training Facility, meeting

   September 27, 2013; Carpenter's Training Facility, meeting

   October 25, 2013; Cement Mason's Union Hall, meeting

   November 18, 2013; Operating Engineer's Training Facility, meeting

   December 19, 2013; OSHA Office, meeting

   January 14, 2014; Holiday Inn, meeting

   February 11, 2014; Construction Safety Day, Tri-C Corporate College

   April 4, 2014; Carpenter's Training Center, meeting

   May 14, 2014; Operating Engineer's Training Center, meeting

   There were also many phone calls made and email correspondence over the course of the year regarding the progress of the alliance and to make plans for upcoming meetings.

3. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   • Events

     The second annual Construction Safety Initiative was held on February 11, 2014 at Cuyahoga Community College, Corporate College facility. This day-long event was developed jointly between all members of the alliance. It was again, a very successful event for local construction companies, superintendents, foremen, workers and other individuals within the Cleveland OSHA office jurisdiction. There were approximately 250 attendees. The content of the training included a variety of topics addressing the most hazardous areas in construction including falls, ladder safety, and power tools, cranes and confined spaces. Two keynote presentations were given, one by the Toledo OSHA Area Director on jobsite inspections and the other by a motivational speaker on the importance of safety training. Many vendors were onsite to offer their services from personal protection equipment to health and wellness programs. The feedback received from the attendees was very positive, most requesting to have a 3rd annual event next year.

     Another very successful event that was held nationwide was "OSHA's Fall Safety Stand Down Campaign." Throughout the week-long Stand-Down (June 2-6), employers and workers paused during their workday to focus on the hazards of falls and how to prevent them from occurring. Industry and business leaders, including universities, labor organizations, construction companies, and community and faith-based groups, had scheduled stand-downs in all 50 states and across the world. Locally, in the Cleveland area, OSHA participated with three construction companies in their training activities, all relating to the subject of fall protection. All of the companies had been a part of the alliance membership at some point during the past three years. All of the workers at the sites were represented by the local union building trades.

   • Products

     Through the alliance membership, the Job Safety Analysis form that was specifically developed to target the operations that are found on construction sites continued to be utilized this year as well. The focus is on the potential hazards that could occur and necessary personal protective equipment to protect the worker. Each task is analyzed to assure the worker is knowledgeable to complete the job. Training on the JSA form was incorporated into the local OSHA 30 hour classes being taught to construction workers, reaching over several hundred individuals.

   Outreach and Communication

   • Events

     On a monthly basis the local construction safety council has meetings that are designed around the needs of construction companies regarding improving safety and health on their jobsites. In conjunction with the local OSHA office, the area director and/or compliance officer would routinely speak at the meetings to update the audience on the latest topics relating to OSHA, enforcement, and the construction industry. One of the topics presented by the local OSHA office this year was on the OSHA recordkeeping standard requirements, where over 150 employers attended.

   • Handouts, pamphlets, and other products have been provided to safety council attendees. Especially critical were pamphlets and posters related to OSHA's heat and fall prevention campaigns.

   • The subject of silicosis prevention for construction workers remains a high priority for the members of the safety forum. Areas include health hazards created by silica dust and the need to develop an awareness (education), medical monitoring and respirator program. The purpose of the Monitoring, Awareness and Respirator Safety ("MARS") Program is to help facilitate the employers' efforts to provide a safe, healthy work environment for employees. Today, the MARS program has been implemented in the local unions for the cement masons as well as the laborers, covering over 200 employees.

   • Products

     Delivery of monthly Safety Newsletters to local construction companies. Over 5,000 companies and individuals receive the hard copy document that covered a variety of safety and health topics designed for construction businesses.

     On the date of the alliance renewal signing, all signatories participated in a video-taping sponsored by the Construction Employers Association (CEA) which will be placed on their website. The intent was to describe the merits of working together collaboratively through the formality of the alliance to make advances in the safety and health of the workers in the local construction industry.

4. Results

   The successful second year of this alliance has resulted in educating construction companies and individuals on the prevention of workplace hazards, OSHA regulations and methods for creating and maintaining safety and health programs. This alliance has been instrumental in furthering the relationship between OSHA and the construction industry of Northeast Ohio, and therefore, all parties agreed to renew it for two additional years.

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   Development of tailored Job Safety Analysis form specifically for construction sites	>300
   Construction Safety Initiative (Day long training)	250
   Monthly meetings held for construction companies by the Construction Safety Council of Northeast Ohio	1,000
   Monthly Safety Forum Meetings	<200
   The issuance of monthly Safety Newsletters to local construction businesses	5,000
   TOTAL	>6,000

5. Upcoming Milestones

   The major planned activity for the alliance is the 3rd annual Construction Safety Day currently being discussed for February 2015. The 1st and 2nd annual events were very successful day-long conferences for local construction companies, superintendents, foremen and workers. There were approximately 250 attendees each year.