OSHA Alliance

The OHSA Alliance is between Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter, Southeastern Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training and OSHA Region IV Office. The alliance is a formal OSHA cooperative outreach program that engages industry leaders promoting the exchange of information to address engrained practices amongst the industry’s workforce. All working together to improve safety for workers in the electric line construction industry. It is one of only a few Alliances that exist today between employers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Alliance goals include the following:

1. Training and Education

Develop Training and Education Programs. Safety and health programs will be developed under the broad categories of Hazard Recognition, Management Systems, and Health Hazards.
Training Delivery. Alliance participants will ensure that all workers, experienced and inexperienced, receive training.
Develop Safety and Health Curricula. The participants will continue to develop curriculum focusing on the primary causes of fatal accidents in the electrical utility industry, including improper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), failure to maintain a safe distance, and failure to utilize proper grounding techniques.

2. Outreach and Communications

Recognition and Prevention Information. Alliance participants will 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 websites) to employers and employees.
Speak, Exhibit, and Attend. The Alliance will be exposed at the IBEW Firth and Tenth Districts Annual Progress Meetings, Outside Apprenticeship Conference, IBEW Fifth District Construction Organizing Summit, SELCAT and SLCC/NECA Membership Meetings, local labor meetings, training sessions, or other events.
Sharing Information. The participants will share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professional regarding best practices or effective approaches through developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures.
OSHA Cooperative Programs. The participants will promote and encourage IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA members to participate in programs, such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program, as well as Onsite Consultation.
Worksite Mentoring. Alliance participants will act as mentors to participating worksites that aspire to excellence in safety and health.

3. National Promotion

Raising Awareness. The participants are continuing to raise awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA leaders address groups.
Participation in Discussions. Alliance participants will convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to discuss subjects such as, electrical injury and illnesses and common safety hazards in order to help forge innovative solutions to electrical safety problems in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

History of the Alliance

In 2003, a group of employers, IBEW officials, OSHA representatives, SELCAT and Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter, NECA representatives met in Atlanta to address safety concerns associated with the Outside Line Industry. What evolved from that meeting was a program (OSHA Alliance) that would establish outreach methods and provide participants with avenues to exchange information that will address engrained practices amongst the industry’s workforce.

OSHA Alliance Document
OSHA Alliance Agreement

Near Miss
Report a Near Miss

Past Newsletters
OSHA Newsletter 1Q 2012
OSHA Newsletter 4Q 2010
OSHA Newsletter 3Q 2010
OSHA Newsletter 2Q 2010
OSHA Newsletter 1Q 2010
OSHA Newsletter 4Q 2009
OSHA Newsletter 2Q 2009
OSHA Newsletter 2Q 2008
OSHA Newsletter 1Q 2008
OSHA Newsletter 4Q 2007
OSHA Newsletter 1Q 2007