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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
National Telecommunications Safety Panel
March 12, 2007

I. Alliance Background

Date Signed

February 26, 2004

Date Renewed

June 9, 2006

Evaluation Period

February 26, 2006 – February 25, 2007

Overview

OSHA's Alliance with NTSP focuses on providing the telecommunications industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, by addressing ergonomics.

Implementation Team Members
 
OSHA:  
Brett Besser
Brently Donaldson
Lee Anne Jillings
*Beth Sherfy
Joanna Sznajder
**Bill Willson		 Salt Lake Technical Center
Office of Training and Education
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
OOSA
Directorate of Standards and Guidance
OOSA

NTSP:		  
Eric Allager
Lynn Alpaugh
Frank Bannister
Art Farmer
Kent Kunce
Laura Kiser
John Quinlan
Marie Robinson
Marshall Berry
Kathy Turner		 Sprint Nextel
AT&T
Sprint Nextel
Cincinnati Bell
AT&T
Cingular
Verizon
AT&T
BellSouth
BellSouth

* Beth Sherfy was the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Coordinator until November 2006.
** Bill Willson became the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Coordinator in December 2006.

II. Implementation Team Meetings
 
April 25, 2006
June 9, 2006
August 8, 2006
December 11, 2006		 Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference
Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference
Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference
Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference

III. Results
  1. Events and Products

    Outreach and Communication Goals

    • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards related to ergonomics, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and NTSP's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
    Products

    OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web Page

    OSHA continues to update the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. During the reporting period, information on the Alliance renewal including the renewal agreement, a photo of the signing and the OSHA news release was added to the page. The Web page also features links to related documents, information on activities and events, and milestones and successes.

    NTSP Web Site

    The NTSP Ergonomics Web page on the association's Web site features information about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance including a link to the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site and a link to the NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry, developed as product of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance. In addition, the NTSP Other Resources/OSHA Articles Web page on the association's Web site includes links to Department of Labor-developed articles on safety and health resources.

    Department of Labor (DOL)-Developed Articles

    The NTSP posted the following DOL-developed articles on its Other Resources/OSHA Articles Web page on the association's Web site:

      • "Drug Free Workplace"
      • "Electronic Resources"
      • "Hispanic Outreach"
      • "Onsite Consultation"
      • "Safe and Sober Holidays"
      • "Standards Interpretations"
      • "Workplace Violence"
    • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NTSP's conferences, such as the International Telecommunications Safety Conference, local meetings, or other events.
    Events

    2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, September 19-21, 2006

    On September 19, 2006, Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, USDOL-OSHA, spoke at the 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Besser gave a presentation on OSHA's cooperative programs that included information on OSHA's ergonomic-related Alliances and the Agency's Strategic Partnerships with the United States Postal Service and the National Parks Service.

    In addition, on September 19, 2006, Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T and John F. Quinlan, Ergonomist, Verizon members of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team, gave a presentation "NTSP Ergonomics Committee and OSHA and NTSP Ergonomics Alliance Update," during the 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Sprint Safety and Security Day, Reston, Virginia, June 29, 2006

    On June 29, 2006, Eric Allgaier, Group Manager-Environmental, Health and Safety, Sprint Nextel and a member of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team, gave a presentation about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance during the Sprint Safety and Security Day in Reston, Virginia.

    2006 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, March 6-9, 2006

    On March 6, 2006, Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T and a member of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team, discussed the OSHA and NTSP Alliance as part of her presentation to 25 attendees during the "Advanced Office Ergonomics: A Macroergonomics Perspective Workshop" at the 2006 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

    • Share information addressing ergonomics among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NTSP's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by NTSP and OSHA and through OSHA- or NTSP-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
    Event

    2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, September 19-21, 2006

    Two OSHA representatives from the Agency's Region VI, Little Rock, Arkansas Area Office attended the 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas to learn about ergonomics in the telecommunications industry.

    Product

    NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry

    NTSP updated its document Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry. The revised document was posted on the NTSP Ergonomics Web page on the association's Web site. In addition, OSHA's Web site links to the document from the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page and the Ergonomics Safety and Health Topics page.

    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals

    • Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of ergonomics and publicize their results.
    NTP Case Studies

    In order to assist telecommunications industry employers and employees identify and correct safety hazards in the workplace, OSHA and NTSP are developing through the Alliance a number of case studies including:

    • Ladder Training
    • Material Handling/Warehouse
    • Pocket PC/Dual Monitor
    NTSP presented the draft case studies during the 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. When completed, the case studies will be posted on the NTSP's Ergonomics Web page on the association's Web site.

    • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on ergonomic issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

      During this reporting period, OSHA and NTSP did not work on projects to address this goal.
  2. Executive Summary

    During the 2006-2007 reporting period, OSHA and NTSP signed the Alliance renewal agreement to continue 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.

    Through the Alliance, OSHA and NTSP continued to update several informational resources about the Alliance and ergonomics. For example, the OSHA and NTSP Web page on OSHA's Web site includes links to the Alliance agreements, related documents, activities and events, and milestones and successes. In addition, NTSP maintains a Web page on its Web site with information about the Alliance and links to OSHA's Web site.

    NTSP also posted a number of the DOL-developed articles on its Web site, including:

    • "Drug Free Workplace"
    • "Electronic Resources"
    • "Hispanic Outreach"
    • "Onsite Consultation"
    • "Safe and Sober Holidays"
    • "Standards Interpretations"
    • "Workplace Violence"
    Through the Alliance, OSHA and NTSP also shared information through speaking opportunities. For example, on September 19, 2006, Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, spoke at the 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. NTSP representatives from its ergonomics committee also shared information about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance. In addition, on June 29, 2006, Eric Allgaier, Group Manager-Environmental, Health and Safety, Sprint Nextel and a member of the OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team, gave a presentation about the OSHA and NTSP Alliance during the Sprint Safety and Security Day in Reston, Virginia.

  3. Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
OSHA and NTSP Web page on OSHA's Web site 6,213
NTSP's Ergonomic Web page 7,000
NTSP's Other Resources Web page: OSHA Articles Data not available
NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry 10,147
March 6, 2006, "Advanced Office Ergonomics: A Macroergonomics Perspective," 2006 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Speaker:
Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T		 25
June 9, 2006, "OSHA Renews National Telecommunications Safety Panel Alliance
Agreement continues to highlight ergonomic-related issues"
OSHA News Release		 72 News Services
June 15, 2006, "OSHA Renews National Alliance with NTSP"
QuickTakes		 52,805
June 15, 2006, "OSHA Renews Telecommunications Alliance"
BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter		 Data not available
June 29, 2006, "OSHA and NTSP Alliance," Sprint Safety and Security Day, Reston, Virginia
Speaker:
Eric Allgaier, Group Manager-Environmental, Health and Safety, Sprint Nextel		 Data not available
August 2006, "OSHA Alliances"
OSHA Up To Date		 Data not available
September 19, 2006, "NTSP Ergonomics Committee and OSHA NTSP Ergonomics Alliance Update," 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas
Speaker:
Marie Robinson, Ergonomist, AT&T		 87
September 19, 2006, "OSHA Ergonomics Technical Update," 2006 International Telecommunications Safety Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas
Speaker:
Brett Besser, Ergonomist, Salt Lake Technical Center, USDOL-OSHA		 87
TOTAL 66,217

IV. Upcoming Milestones

In the upcoming year, the OSHA and NTSP Alliance implementation team members will continue to maintain and update the OSHA and NTSP Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site and NTSP's Alliance-related Web page on its Web site. In addition, OSHA representatives will promote the OSHA and NTSP Alliance and discuss ergonomics and hazard communication issues through speeches at meetings, such as NTSP's 2007 International Telecommunications Safety Conference in September 2007.

OSHA and NTSP will also work together to update NTSP's Ergonomics Guidelines for Common Job Functions in the Telecommunications Industry with the following job functions:
  • Driving Ergonomics
  • Lighting in Office Environments
In addition, OSHA and NTSP will work together to develop telecommunications-related safety and health case studies addressing issues in the industry such as:
  • Ladder Training
  • Material Handling/Warehouse
  • Dual Monitors (computer)
Finally, OSHA and NTSP will work together to finalize the NTSP's Fact Sheet on laptop use.

Report prepared by: Bill Willson, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 6, 2007.