I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
February 26, 2004
Evaluation Period
February 26, 2004 – February 25, 2005
Overview
The OSHA-NTSP Alliance focuses on providing telecommunications employees with information, guidance
and access to training resources and sharing best practices and technical knowledge to address
ergonomic issues in the telecommunications industry.
Implementation Team Members
OSHA:
Brett Besser
Bob Curtis
Brently Donaldson
Earl Hicks
Jess McCluer
Beth Sherfy
Joanna Sznjader |
Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC)
SLTC
Office of Training and Education
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
OOSA
OOSA
Office of Physical Hazards and Others |
NTSP:
Eric Allgaier
Lynn Alpaugh
Frank Bannister
Mary Beam
Kent Kunce
John Quinlan
Marie Robinson
Charles Slagle |
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II. Implementation Team Meetings
February 26, 2004
May 18, 2004 |
Kick-off Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC
Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC |
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education
- Develop training on ergonomics in the telecommunications industry to be jointly delivered, by NTSP
and OSHA, at the annual International Telecommunications Safety Conference.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
Outreach and Communication
- Develop and share ergonomics information through print and electronic media, including links from
the OSHA and NTSP Web sites.
Products
OSHA and NTSP Alliance Website
OSHA developed an OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web site that is posted on the Agency's Web page that
includes the OSHA and NTSP Alliance agreement, link to the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for
the Telecommunications Industry, news releases, and milestones and successes. This Web site is
updated on a regular basis.
NTSP Web site (www.telsafe.org)
The NTSP Web site has included information on the OSHA and NTSP Alliance on its Web site.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics page
A link to the NTSP Voluntary Guidelines for the Telecommunication Industry was added to OSHA's
Ergonomic Safety and Health Topics page.
Publications and Newsletters
Information and news releases on the OSHA and NTSP Alliance signing and the activities of the
Alliance have appeared in a number of printed and online publications, including: BNA
Occupational Health and Safety Reporter, Facility Safety Management and InsideHealthPolicy.com.
For more information on the articles, please the "Alliance Program Reach" table.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences such as the International Telecommunications Safety
Conference, local meetings, or other events.
Events
NTSP 2004 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, September 21-23, 2004, Golden, CO
Pamela Baptiste, Senior Industrial Hygienist, Region VIII, USDOL-OSHA, staffed an Alliance Program
exhibit booth and made a presentation on ergonomics to over 60 attendees.
- Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in NTSP ergonomic best
practices and/or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and NTSP.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Share information on ergonomic best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA and the NTSP, with
others in the industry through outreach by NTSP.
Products
NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for Telecommunications Industry
OSHA reviewed the April 2004 version of the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for the
Telecommunications Industry and provided comments. OSHA's comments were incorporated into the
September 2004 version of the manual. In addition, a letter from then Assistant Secretary John
Henshaw was included in the guidelines. In the letter, Mr. Henshaw congratulates NTSP for taking the
time to develop ergonomic guidelines for the telecommunications industry.
- Work with other Alliance participants who are addressing ergonomics, especially in the
telecommunications industry.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
- Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace ergonomics whenever
NTSP leaders address groups.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Share information on ergonomic case studies performed within the telecommunications industry and
publicize the results.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on ergonomics
issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to
address this goal.
- Executive Summary
Prior to signing the OSHA-NTSP Alliance, NTSP had already developed a working relationship with the
Agency. Kim Lazor then Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary John Hensaw and then Deputy
Assistant Secretary Gary Visscher made respective presentations at the 2002 and 2003 NTSP
International Telecommunications Safety Conference on OSHA's four-pronged approach to ergonomics.
While the implementation team met only two times during the Alliance's first year, OSHA and NTSP
developed a productive working relationship. OSHA learned more about ergonomic best practices in the
telecommunications industry and NTSP learned more about the ergonomic compliance assistance
resources that the Agency has developed. This information was disseminated to NTSP members and
others through the OSHA and NTSP Web pages and publications such as BNA Occupational
Health and Safety Reporter, Facility Safety Management and InsideHealthPolicy.com.
In addition, through the Alliance, the NTSP members had the opportunity to hear from OSHA's regional staff
about ergonomics. Examples of these activities include:
- On September 21, 2004, Pamela Baptiste, Senior Industrial Hygienist, Region VIII, USDOL-OSHA,
staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and made a presentation on ergonomics at the 2004
International Telecommunications Safety Conference.
- OSHA reviewed the April 2004 version of the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for the
Telecommunications Industry and provided comments that were incorporated into the September 2004
version of the manual.
During the past year, the OSHA and NTSP's Alliance implementation team has
also discussed working with other ergonomic-related Alliances to develop
material on upper body muscoskeletal disorders; develop success stories
on the impact of the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for the
Telecommunications Industry in the telecommunications industry; and
develop twelve new job functions and a new module that would focus on the
activities within retail stores for the NTSP's guidelines.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained |
| OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site |
3,600 |
| NTSP Web site – Link to Alliance Agreement |
Data Not Available |
| Ergonomics Safety and Health Topics page |
395,202 |
| September 21-23, 2004 – NTSP 2004 International
Telecommunications Safety Conference |
60 |
September 21, 2004 – NTSP 2004 International
Telecommunications Safety Conference
Speaker: Pamela Baptiste, Senior Industrial Hygienist, Region VIII USDOL-OSHA |
60 |
| September 2, 2004 – "Citing Lack of Ergo Enforcement,
Union Refused to Join Alliance," InsideHealthPolicy.com |
Data Not Available |
| March 8, 2004 – "OSHA Signs Ergonomics Alliance with
Telecommunications Industry," InsideHealthPolicy.com |
Data Not Available |
| March 5, 2004 – "OSHA Alliance with
Telecommunications Safety Panel Focuses on Ergonomics," Facility Safety Management |
Data Not Available |
| March 4, 2004 – "OSHA Aligns With Telecommunications
Industry," BNA Occupational Health and Safety Reporter |
Data Not Available |
| March 1, 2004 – OSHA includes information on the
OSHA/NTSP Alliance signing in its bi-weekly e-newsletter; QuickTakes |
38,000 |
| February 27, 2004 – "OSHA and Telecommunications
Industry Align for Ergonomics," Facility Safety Management |
Data Not Available |
| February 26, 2004 – OSHA press release announcing
Alliance |
25 News Services |
| TOTAL |
436,922 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
The OSHA and NTSP Alliance Implementation Team has discussed a number of activities that will be
further pursued in the upcoming year. NTSP would like to continue to work with OSHA to develop
success stories on the impact of the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for Telecommunications
Industry in the telecommunications industry.
In addition, NTSP would like to work with other ergonomic-related Alliances to develop material on
upper body muscoskeletal disorders and develop twelve new job functions and a new module that would
focus on the activities within retail stores for the NTSP Voluntary Ergonomic Guidelines for
Telecommunications Industry.
NTSP has expressed interest in participating in an OSHA Alliance Program Ergonomic Roundtable for
ergonomic-related National Alliances. In addition, NTSP has volunteered to host their own ergonomic
industry workgroup for ergonomic-related National Alliances.
NTSP member John Quinlan has volunteered to participate in the September 22, 2005 ergonomic-related
workshop titled, "Successes of OSHA's Ergonomic Alliances" at the September 21-23, 2005 National
Safety Congress in Orlando, Florida. The workshop will include representatives from OSHA and the
Alliance Program and provide a brief overview of the Alliance Program and discuss the products and
activities that have been developed to address ergonomic-related issues.
Finally, NTSP would like to invite an OSHA representative to make a presentation on ergonomics at
the 2005 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, September 13-15, 2005 in St. Louis, MO.
Report prepared by: Jess McCluer, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
April 14, 2005
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