ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Dallas and Fort Worth Area Offices
And the
National Utility Contractor Association of North Texas (NUCA)
September 15, 2018

1. Alliance Background

   1. Date Signed:

      Alliance originally signed September 18, 2015 and renewed November 17, 2017

   2. Evaluation Period

      September 16, 2017 through September 15, 2018

   3. Overview

      The Alliance with OSHA Dallas and Fort Worth Area Offices and the National Utility Contractors Association of North Texas (NUCA) is directed towards reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the trenching and excavation utilities construction industry. NUCA offers OSHA representatives a platform during quarterly Safety Roundtable meetings and NUCA Membership participate in discussion and sharing of best safety practices. Guest Speaker at Monthly NUCA Member safety meetings provided industry Safety Managers information regarding worker rights, statistics, available resources and networking.

   4. Implementation Team Members

      OSHA

      Basil Singh, Area Director, Dallas Area Office
      Jack Rector, Area Director, Fort Worth Area Office
      Elias Vela, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Dallas Area Office
      Doug Huddleston, Regional Alliance Coordinator

      NUCA North Texas

      Driscoll Tubbs, President NUCA North Texas chapter
      Lisa Ferrand, Executive Director

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) Elias Vela, and Regional Alliance Coordinator, Doug Huddleston, presented briefings and Power-point presentations at a monthly NUCA Safety meeting, where audience attendance ranged from approximately 15 to 25. Alliance member companies selected topics for each meeting, and the varied topics included industry best practices, accident trends, and an OSHA topic question and answer session.

   Alliance coordination and planning was conducted through phone calls, emails and monthly/quarterly safety roundtable meetings.

   In addition to these formal meeting, the Alliance coordinators maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

3. Results

   The following table summarizes the Alliance's activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement. Participation in the Alliance has enabled maintenance and the improvement of knowledge and the sharing of best practices. The group discussed rulemaking process, initiatives, fatal workplace accident trends, DOT distracted driving policies, and other topics, during these meetings, and OSHA outreach literature was distributed to the attendees.

   Outreach and Communication: Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and ways of communication such information working in North Texas. To speak, exhibit, or appear at the Participants' conferences, local meetings, or other events.
   Activity Type	Activity Name/Summary	OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported	Number Reached
   Meeting	Quarterly Safety RoundTable meeting 01/19/2018	Worker safety and fatal statistics. Provided discussion on upcoming campaigns and events throughout the Region.	16
   Meeting	Quarterly Safety RoundTable meeting 04/27/2018	Lisa Ferrand welcomed group. NUCA group discussed priorities going forward for 2018. Group discussed annual Trenching Safety Stand Down Week (June 18th through 23rd). Regional Coordinator discussed industry trends, fatal workplace accidents, and questions & answer session.	21
   Meeting	Quarterly Safety RoundTable meeting / OSHA Update PPT presentation 07/13/2018	Lisa Ferrand welcomed group. Regional Coordinator discussed recent accident trends, and OSHA rulemaking process, and updates on new rules. Group discussed upcoming NUCA / OSHA Trench Training Event.	27
   Training and Education: Develop effective safety training and education programs for utilities contractors and workers and promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and employees.
   Training	NUCA Safety Program on Trench Safety 05/16/2018	NUCA provided "Safety Tool Box Talk" training on trenching hazards avoidance and protection measures.	17
   Training	NUCA Live Trench Training Event 09/28/2018	NUCA Trench Training Event	230+
   TOTAL			311

4. Evaluations

   Previous evaluation was conducted on or about September 15, 2017. Discussions regarding the effectiveness of this Alliance resulted in an agreement in favor of renewing the Alliance on November 17, 2017, for an additional two years.

5. Upcoming Milestones

   1. Continue to encourage NUCA Membership to develop and utilize Written Safety and Health programs. Future discussions on how the Association can track and encourage Members providing OSHA Safety Training and reporting progress of improving recognition of members with exemplary "find and fix" safety hazard inspections.
   2. Successful collaboration on the NUCA and OSHA co-sponsored 4-hour Live Outdoor Trench Training event, which was held in Southlake, Texas on September 28, 2018. This was the fourth such event that has been held and was offered to both Spanish and English speaking attendees. There were over 220 registered participants, which included over 14 OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers, Assistant Area Directors, and Area Directors. Each station featured a NUCA Instructor as well as a representative from OSHA Region VI. Instructors provided information regarding work procedures, industry practices and lessons learned, while the OSHA representatives provided insight into past accident trends, as well as various compliance resources and methods available to mitigate those hazards.

Report prepared by: Doug Huddleston, Regional Alliance Coordinator, February 5, 2019