On April 23, 2001, the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) and the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed a Strategic Partnership Program Agreement (OSPP) for Worker Safety and Health. The Strategic Partnership was renewed in September 2002 for a two-year period.
The partnership includes SCA, participating Houston-area SCA members, and the Houston North and South Area OSHA offices. The agreement is designed to increase occupational safety and health awareness, and to reduce injuries and illnesses at participating SCA member sites located in and around the Houston Area.
“Focus Inspections” conducted by OSHA are performed in order to verify the partnering employer’s performance under the agreement. These inspections access struck-by, amputations, caught in-betweens, falls, electrical, confined spaces, lead and silica hazards.
Currently, two SCA members are participating in the program; Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. and Conrad Industries, Inc.
OSHA maintains a website dedicated to the Strategic Partnership Program. It can be found at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/regional/region6.html. Scroll down the page, the SCA/OSHA Strategic Partnership is #126.
What’s New
Spring 2006
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, LA hass teamed with the OSHA Houston South Area Office to develop a PowerPoint presentation assisting shipyards in identifying daily hazards. The presentation examines specific hazard situations, identify the correlating OSHA regulation and recommend abatement strategies. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is available at http://cms-shipbuilders.advancedlegal.com/pdfs/3302006120838P.pdf.
Fall/Winter 2004
SCA members and the OSHA Houston Area Offices are working together on a training program dealing with safety and health in shipyards. Mark Briggs, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist is conducting the project.
SCA and OSHA have renewed the Strategic Partnership for a three-year period.
Summer 2004
A Strategic Partnership meeting took place Wednesday, July 7, at the OSHA Houston Area South offices. Charles E. Williams, the new Area Director, lead the discussion. First Wave Marine, Inc., Southwest Shipyard LLP, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. and Conrad Industries, Inc. were represented at the meeting. The renewal of the Strategic Partnership agreement, along with the inclusion of Southwest Shipyard was discussed. Mr. Williams and Mr. Mark Briggs, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist, praised SCA members on the work that has been done thusfar, and they indicated that they are looking forward to continuing the successful work done through the Strategic Partnership.
Spring 2004
Charles E. Williams has replaced Raymond L. Skinner as the OSHA Houston South Area Director. SCA members in the Houston, TX area are convening a meeting with the new Area Director and other OSHA area officials to meet Mr. Williams and discuss SCA involvement in the Strategic Partnership Program.