- Alliance Background
Date Signed: December 19, 2005
Date Renewed: December 14, 2007
Overview
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office
and The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania aligned to provide
Council members and others with information, guidance, and access to training
resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in
reducing and preventing exposure to the hazards associated with the heavy and
highway construction industry.
Implementation Team Members
Michael Palo – President, CAWP
Richard Barcaskey – Director of Industrial Relations, CAWP
Jason Koss – Director of Safety, Education, and Membership, CAWP
Robert Szymanski – Area Director, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Robert Carroll – CAS, OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office
Evaluation Period
December 20, 2007 to December 20, 2008
- Implementation Team Meetings
February 22, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA
April 22, 2008 Conference Call
August 27, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA
October 31, 2008 Conference Call
December 4, 2008 In-person Dormont, PA
- Events and Products
Training and Education
February 22, 2008 – The CAS presented information on construction standards,
policies/procedures, and fatality inspection statistics from the local area
office and OSHA’s internet site during a 10 hour OSHA training course.
November 6, 2008 – Jason Koss, Director of Safety, Education and Membership –
CAWP, participated in a joint OSHA cross-training day at the Operating Engineers
Apprenticeship School. OSHA representatives from the Pittsburgh and Erie Area
Offices participated in the training. The training improved the OSHA
representatives knowledge base and gave them a better understanding &
appreciation of the work the men and women do operating heavy equipment.
Outreach and Communication
July 31, 2008 – The Pittsburgh Area Office emailed a safety alert on a defect
mobile crane boom to the CAWP Director of Safety. The Director distributed this
alert to their membership by placing is on their newsletter website. It was
estimated by the CAWP Director of Safety that approximately 25,000 construction
employees would have access to this information.
August 27, 2008 – The CAS participated in a youth event promoting the importance
of safety in the heavy and highway construction industry. The CAS was one of the
judges in the Kids Construction Safety Calendar Contest. Participants were asked
to color a picture showing their parent or relative working safely on a heavy
and highway construction project. Before the children began to draw, parents or
relatives were encouraged to talk to their children about the importance of
safety on a project they had worked on, and the measures that were taken to
ensure a safe working environment. Examples may have included discussions on the
importance of personal protective equipment, highway work zone safety, trench
safety, working around heavy equipment, fall protection, maintaining a drug-free
workplace, and general safety awareness. This was a great opportunity to provide
a positive outlet for discussion on what construction safety, as well as general
safety, means for the entire family.
December 9, 2008 – CAS staffed an information booth at the SW Pennsylvania
Career Day/Job Fair at the Western Area Career and Technology Center (Event
sponsored by CAWP). The primary purpose of the event was to raise the awareness
of high school students to the career paths available to them. The focus of the
event was on careers related to highway and bridge design, construction and
maintenance. The booth staffed by OSHA and construction safety professionals
provided the students with information on the importance of safety in the heavy
and highway construction industry and to promote interest in the safety and
health profession. Over six hundred high school students from seven counties
were in attendance. In addition, several heavy construction trades
apprenticeship coordinators and instructors (Laborers, Ironworkers, Operating
Engineers, Cement Masons, and Carpenters) had information booths and practical
hands-on demonstration areas. The CAS was able to network with the union
representatives and promote OSHA’s role in providing outreach efforts in safety
and health.
December 11, 2008 – The Pittsburgh Area Office e-mailed a safety alert on a
defect fall protection anchorage product to the CAWP Director of Safety. The
Director distributed this alert to their membership by placing is on their
newsletter website. It was estimated by the CAWP Director of Safety that
approximately 25,000 construction employees would have access to this
information.
Representatives of CAWP and company members have called throughout the year for
interpretations and guidance on construction standards and OSHA policy/procedure
information. In addition, a variety of OSHA construction publications have been
requested and supplied to the organizations and its members.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
- Results
The training and outreach communication information provided was well received.
The CAWP representatives and recipients of the training and outreach
communication found the information to be valuable in assisting them in
promoting and improving their safety and health efforts at their jobsites
| Type of
Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of
Individuals Reached or Trained |
| OSHA 10 Hour Construction
Course at CAWP Training Center (2-22-08) |
60 |
| OSHA Cross-Training
(11-6-08) |
14 |
| Career Day (12-9-08) |
600 |
| Newletter website safety alert
posting |
Approximately 25,000
Construction employees would have access (per CAWP Director of Safety) |
| TOTAL |
25,674 |
Note: The individuals trained and reached by the outreach
communication activities represent companies/unions with many employees/members
that would be directly affected by the safety and health information provided.
The working relationship between the Alliance Signatories and the feedback on
the Alliance has been very positive.
Upcoming Milestones
The Alliance is looking into future opportunities in providing information for
affected parties through internet use, roundtable discussions and training
sessions. The Alliance signatories will continue to work to address the safety
and health needs of the affected parties.
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Printing Instructions