L-R OSHA's then-Acting Assistant Secretary, Jonathan L. Snare and Richard Jennison,
President & CEO, BIA sign National Alliance agreement on March 20, 2006.
L-R OSHA's Assistant Secretary, Edwin G. Foulke (left) and Joseph Casper,
Vice-President Environment, Health & Safety, BIA (right)
sign National Alliance renewal on March 27, 2008.
BIA and OSHA formed an alliance on March 20, 2006 and renewed that alliance on March 27, 2008 in order to help disseminate useful information about health and safety to the brick industry.
Alliance Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the detection and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of disseminating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, and electronic assistance tools) to employers and employees in the industry.
- Share information among industry safety and health professionals regarding BIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by BIA and through OSHA- or BIA- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum including outreach events).
- Promote and encourage BIA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
The Alliance Agreement
OSHA Cooperative Programs
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages and E-tools
BIA - OSHA Alliance Events
-
BIA participated in the 2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) May 5 - 9th through a variety of events.
-
Almost two dozen brick industry employees participated in BIA's "Best Practices Seminar on Silicosis Prevention" on February 8, 2007 at the National Brick Research Center (NBRC) at Clemson University in coordination with the OSHA Alliance.
Brian Robertson, Industrial Hygienist for OSHA based out of the Columbia, South Carolina office,
demonstrates monitoring equipment for Jeff Wyers (left) of Nash Brick. February 8, 2008
-
On February 7, 2007, BIA held it first Silicosis Prevention Program. This event included the involvement of James Lane, an industrial hygienist from the Department of Labor in South Carolina. Given that South Carolina is a state plan state, the South Carolina Department of Labor acts as OSHA's representative in consultative and enforcement actions there. Lane participated throughout the interactive session, and took the opportunity to promote his own department's compliance assistance programs.
Certified industrial hygienist, Robert Glenn,
addressing the silicosis prevention meeting at NBRC. February 7, 2007
Alliance Developed Products
The Occupational Health Program for Exposure to Crystalline Silica in the Brick Industry Manual
Brick News Online Articles on OSHA
Brick News Online is the Association's members-only publication. Starting in 2006, this e-newsletter has published several articles provided by OSHA.
- May 8, 2008 Letter from OSHA's Assistant Secretary, Edwin G. Foulke.
- April 10, 2008 "NAOSH Week" details the goals of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.
- February 14, 2008 "BIA Joins OSHA in Staging Silicosis Prevention Program at NBRC" describes the program presented through the BIA -OSHA Alliance.
- November 8, 2007 "OSHA's Comprehensive Ergonomics Plan Features Targeted Guidelines and Tough Enforcement" that describes OSHA's comprehensive ergonomic plan.
- September 27, 2007 "Hispanic Worker Outreach: OSHA Can Help" that describes the ways to conduct outreach to Hispanic Workers to ensure their safety and health.
- December 14, 2006 "Consultation Helps Small Businesses Establish Safety and Health Programs" that describes the services and benefits of the On-site Consultation Program for small businesses.
- October 12, 2006 "OSHA Alliance-Provided Information" that describes the features of the OSHA website including compliance assistance resources and electronic assistance tools.
