ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
THE CLEVELAND SAFETY FORUM
CLEVELAND OSHA OFFICE

June 20, 2016

Alliance Background

Date Signed:

June 19, 2012 (Initial Signing)
May 23, 2014 (Renewal Signing)
June 6, 2016 (Renewal Signing for 5 year timeframe)

Overview:

OSHA and the Cleveland Safety Forum renewed the alliance for a five year period on June 6, 2016 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 May 23, 2015 to June 6, 2016.

1. Implementation Team Meetings and Locations

   July 24, 2015	Precision Environmental, meeting
   August 28, 2015	Precision Environmental, meeting
   September 29, 2015	Precision Environmental, meeting
   November 23, 2015	Precision Environmental, meeting
   December 17, 2015	Precision Environmental, meeting
   January 25, 2016	Precision Environmental, meeting
   February 17, 2016	Annual Construction Safety Day, LaCentre Conference Facility, Westlake
   April 22, 2015	Precision Environmental, 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.

2. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   • Events

     The fourth annual Construction Safety Initiative was held on February 17, 2016 at LaCentre Conference Facility, Westlake, Ohio. 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 280 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 Cleveland OSHA Office Area Director who spoke about current OSHA initiatives and enforcement topics and the other by a motivational speaker on the importance of safety training. Approximately 25 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, requesting to have a 5th 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 (May 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 two construction companies in their stand down training activities at their projects. The companies have been a part of the alliance membership at some point during the past several years. All of the workers at the sites were represented by the local union building trades and by management. Several other local companies conducted their own safety stand downs as well.

     The Construction Safety Forum 8 Hr. Safety Refresher teaches workers how to identify, abate, avoid, and prevent job related hazards according to the OSHA regulations as well as about their rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

     The 8 Hr. Safety Refresher is voluntary. It is not meant to meet the training requirements contained in any OSHA standard. Some employers, unions, and various other jurisdictions also require workers to have this training to work on job sites and to fulfill their own safety training goals. Groups who have integrated the program into their overall safety and health training plans include the building trades, general contractors and employer associations. The participant must bring OSHA 30 card or proof of attendance in order to take this course. This class is open to signatory contractors and union members only. This refresher training is applicable for 3 years.

   • 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. More companies have incorporated this process into their daily operations. 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 again this year.

   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, new standards and other information that directly affects the construction industry.

   • 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, especially due to the new OSHA standard. 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. The MARS program has been implemented in the local unions for the cement masons as well as the laborers, covering over 200 employees thereby educating this workforce on such an important health topic.

   • 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.

3. Results

   The successful fourth 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 we look forwards to its fourth year of activities and growth.

   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	>600
   Construction Safety Initiative (Day long training sessions)	250
   Monthly meetings held for construction companies by the Construction Safety Council of Northeast Ohio	1,000
   Monthly Safety Forum Meetings	~150 per mtg.
   The issuance of monthly Safety Newsletters to local construction businesses	5,000
   TOTAL	>6,000

4. Upcoming Milestones

   The major planned activity for the alliance is the 5th annual Construction Safety Day currently being planned for February 2017. The first four annual events were very successful day-long conferences for local construction companies, superintendents, foremen and workers. There were approximately 280 attendees this past year.

Photos below depicting activities from the Construction Safety Day at LaCentre Conference Facility, February 17, 2015.