ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
DES MOINES AREA OFFICE

AND THE

IOWA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
DIVISION OF LABOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

AND THE

LOCAL NUMBER 55
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS

March, 2019

  1. Alliance Background

    1. Date Signed

      2. October 25, 2016

    2. Evaluation Period

      3. November 1, 2017 – October 30, 2018

    3. Overview

      4. To provide OSHA’s, Iowa OSHA’s, and IBEW’s members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards and hazards associated with electrical transmission and distribution operations, and understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

    4. Implementation Team Members

      5. OSHA
      Larry Davidson, Area Director, Des Moines Area Office

      Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Division of Labor Services Department of Workforce
      Joseph Mullen, Consultation Bureau Chief

      IBEW Local 55

      Mike Sawyer, Business Manager
      Willie Dennis, Asst. Business Manager/Construction Rep
      Rusty McCuen, Asst. Business Manager/Organizer
      Shane Nelson, Asst. Business Manager/Unit Rep
      Cody Eigenheer, Safety Committee Chairman

      Dwayne Heckman, Consultant

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • 10/30/2018: - Discussed during the meeting included:

      • Increasing certified Accident Investigators in the Principles of Occupational Safety and Health within Local 55. Doing so will raise the level of knowledge of accident root causes and further educate contractors on accident prevention measures.
      • Scheduling a Transmission and Distribution (T&D) training session for OSHA enforcement officers to help OSHA better understand electrical T&D associated hazards, thereby increasing hazard recognition skills to help reduce T&D hazards.
      • Participants develop an annual incentive award (trophy, plaque, and/or certificate) to award contractors for outstanding safety accomplishments.
      • Outreach to police and other emergency responders on what to do during emergencies to protect themselves from downed T&D lines.
      • OSHA getting the latest OSHA updates to Local 55 as quickly as possible for further dissemination to contractors.

  3. Results

    4. The following table summarizes the Alliance’s activities in support of the goals in the Alliance agreement.

    These tables are best viewed on tablets, notebooks, or desktop computer screens.

    Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives: Educate IBEW, OSHA, and Public on rules and means of compliance.

    Activity Type

    Activity Name/Summary

    OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported

    Number Reached

    Alliance Product

    No Activity

     

     

    Dissemination

    Water Rest Shade Heat Injury/Illness Prevention Information was disseminated by IBEW

    Heat Injury/Illness Prevention

    18

    Event

    No Activity

     

     

    Exhibit

     

     

     

    OSHA Product Review

    No Activity

     

     

    Speech/Presentation

     

     

     

    Training

    Accident Investigation in Principles of Occupational Safety and Health for Local 55 Safety Committee

    Trend Analysis for Accident Prevention

    5

    Other

    Met with participants to reinforce information provided in the past year and inform participants on plans for the upcoming year.

    Electrical Safety

    7
     

    Training and Education: Develop and deliver effective training and education programs for workers in the electrical utility industry and enforcement officers.

    Activity Type

    Activity Name/Summary

    OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported

    Number Reached

    Safety Training

    Accident Investigation-Principles of Occupational Safety and Health for Safety Committee Staff

    Accident Reduction

    5
     

    Outreach and Communication: Reach out to contractors to take advantage of the alliance’s education and information sharing benefits.

    Activity Type

    Activity Name/Summary

    OSHA Areas of Emphasis Supported

    Number Reached

    Reached out to IBEW contractors

    IOSHA provided the following information and webpage links to IBEW who in turn sent out the information to contractors for further sharing.

    Heat Injury Prevention

    36
     

    TOTAL

    71
  4. Evaluations

    5. The goal of the alliance to educate the public and workers on electrical grid hazards was not as successful as planned. This year was a highly unusual year for unforeseen human resource and time shortfall. This shortfall severely impacted ability to reach desired goals. However, the participant was successful in the local outreach to non-local associated contractors in a continuing effort to share electrical grid hazard information with contractors, thereby increasing awareness in an overall outreach effort to educate workers. The effort to educate safety committee members in accident investigations was also successful and will allow better trend analysis and resulting accident reduction through education.

  5. Upcoming Milestones

    6. This alliance has expired and the participants are working on a renewal of the alliance. The following are potential milestones for the renewal.

    Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings.
    Share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/State Plan Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and participate in the rulemaking process.
    Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
    Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by involvement in innovative solutions to reduce and prevent exposure to electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards and hazards associated with electrical transmission and distribution operations.
    Develop and deliver effective training and education programs for workers in the electrical utility industry and enforcement officers.
    Develop information on the recognition and prevention of electrical workplace hazards, and ways of communicating such information to first responders.
    Share pertinent OSHA information at IBEW Local Number 55 Membership Meetings, local labor meetings, training sessions, or other events as it unfolds.
    Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IBEW's best practices or effective approaches through developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or applicable forum).
    Develop and disseminate case studies on electrical transmission and distribution accidents and fatalities and how they could have been prevented, and publicize their results.

Report prepared by:

Willie Dennis, Assistant Business Dwayne Heckman, Consultant Manager, and Construction Representative IBEW Local 55

Joseph Mullen, Consultation Bureau Chief, Iowa Division of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health

Larry O. Davidson, Sr., Area Director, Des Moines Area OSHA Office