American Foundry Society (AFS)
(signed March 22, 2004; renewed April 28, 2006; renewed April 11, 2008; concluded January 2, 2014)
Through the Alliance, OSHA and AFS will encourage AFS members and others, including small businesses, in the metalcasting industry to increase employee access to safety and health information and training resources on workplace issues. In particular, the Alliance will address personal protective equipment (PPE), heat stress and reducing and preventing exposure to silica. The Alliance's goals include:
Training and education
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on the foundry workplace issues including, PPE, heat stress and silica.
Outreach and communication
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and AFS's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
- Share information among OSHA personnel, including Compliance Safety and Health Officers, and industry safety and health professionals regarding AFS's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by AFS and through OSHA- or AFS-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects regarding PPE, ventilation and silica issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
- Encourage AFS chapters' or worksites' to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including PPE, heat stress and silica.
Related Documents
Alliance Agreements
- Agreement signed March 22, 2004.
- Renewal Agreement signed April 28, 2006.
- Renewal Agreement signed April 11, 2008.
Alliance Annual Reports
- Alliance Annual Report 2004-2005, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2005-2006, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2006-2007, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2007-2008, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2008-2009, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2009-2010, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Alliance Annual Report 2010-2011, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances.
- Close-out Report as of January 2, 2014.
Alliance News Releases
- OSHA Renews Alliance with the American Foundry Society. OSHA News Release, (2008, April 14).
- OSHA, American Foundry Society Renew Alliance. OSHA News Release, (2006, April 28).
- OSHA, American Foundry Society Form Alliance. OSHA News Release, (2004, March 22).
Products and Resources
Alliance Program Participant Developed Products
- Fact Sheet: Hearing Protection in Metalcasting Facilities. Through the OSHA and American Foundry Society (AFS) Alliance, AFS developed "Fact Sheet: Hearing Protection in Metalcasting Facilities." This Fact Sheet provides metalcasting employers and workers with an overview of how to manage noise exposure in metalcasting facilities. (2010, April).
- Establishing a Foundry Heat Stress Management Program. Through the OSHA and American Foundry Society (AFS) Alliance, AFS developed, "White Paper: Establishing a Foundry Heat Stress Management Program." The White Paper is designed to provide foundry industry employers and employees with information that can help control the potential hazards of heat stress. (2008, December).
- Control of Silica Exposure in Foundries. Through the OSHA and American Foundry Society (AFS) Alliance, AFS developed "Control of Silica Exposure in Foundries." The document is designed to provide foundry industry employers and employees with information that can help control the potential hazards of respirable crystalline silica. (2008, April).
- Guide for the Selection & Use of Personal Protective Equipment & Special Clothing for Foundry Operations. Through the OSHA and American Foundry Society (AFS) Alliance, AFS developed "Guide for the Selection & Use of Personal Protective Equipment & Special Clothing for Foundry Operations." The Guide describes special considerations for the selection and use of personal protective equipment and special clothing in the foundry industry. (2005, September).
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
- Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
- Occupational Heat Exposure
- Lead
- Powered Industrial Trucks - Forklifts
- Respiratory Protection
- Silica, Crystalline
- Ventilation
OSHA eTools
Success Stories
- Metal Casting Facility's Work with OSHA On-site Consultation and Participation in Iowa VPP Lead to Improved Workplace Safety and Health. OSHA, (2011, February). Through the OSHA and American Foundry Society Alliance, OSHA collaborated with the Clow Valve Company, a metal casting facility, to highlight how the company's commitment to safety, work with On-site Consultation, and participation in Iowa VPP resulted in improved workplace safety and health performance.
Publications and Newsletters
- AFS eConnections. (2006, August 15). This edition of AFS's weekly e-newsletter includes an article, "Phone Scams Threaten OSHA Fines" that describes an alleged phone scam in which people claiming to be OSHA employees threaten companies with fines unless they purchase materials that will supposedly put them into compliance with OSHA requirements.
Additional Resources
- AFS/OSHA Alliance page
†Alliance Implementation Team members participated in the development of this resource.