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11/01/2004
OSHA Relations Committee Update
How will a national NATE/OSHA Partnership play out?
This is a question I was recently asked. Will the State Plan states acknowledge and endorse the essential elements of the agreement? How will compliance officers learn of the partnership? What real benefits will come from the partnership to a participating member?
State run plans will see the national program and each state plan will go through the review process just like the states in Region V did when the first NATE/OSHA Partnership was signed. We should be prepared that most states will adopt the program in a few months and others may take a little longer. In the near future, compliance officers in every region of the country will see the success of the Region V Partnership.
For many of us, the thought of uniform understanding by a compliance officer would be a long hoped-for relief. Even better is the desire that when compliance officers do come to our sites they will be equipped with the knowledge and skill to accurately view the jobsite activities with a knowing and understanding eye.
I know that many have complained, “Not only do I have to explain to the compliance officer what I’m doing and how my equipment works, then they decide in their own minds what’s right and wrong and write me a citation anyway.”
This scenario will not disappear quickly. Ours is a unique and complex industry to those who have not studied its arts and sciences for many years. But among OSHA’s many resources, there will be a unique asset in Jocko Vermillion. Our former colleague, Jocko, is now an informed and active member of OSHA’s response team to help nationwide education and investigation. Jocko’s considerable knowledge and experience will only help to differentiate those who do and don’t get it.
NATE is offering assistance in training compliance officers and other OSHA and NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) personnel. Together and through education, the efforts of NATE and OSHA will now extend beyond Region V and become a nationwide program. Considerable work by both groups both separately and together is needed to bring training and education to government and private individuals who work in our field and for communication companies.
The payback extends beyond NATE and OSHA’s initial cooperative goals, which are significant. One has but to read the partnership agreement to know the benefits.
In addition, NATE and non-NATE tower contractors will be able to use all the resources available to promote safety education and safety training for all workers in the tower industry.
One of NATE’s founding principles was to help reduce accidents and injuries. That principle drives the efforts of the dedicated individuals who will make this national program a reality. This national partnership is another step forward in making our industry safer.
Don Doty serves as Chairman of the NATE OSHA Relations Committee as well as Vice Chairman of the Association. He is the Vice President of Doty-Moore Tower Services, Inc. of Cedar Hill, Texas and can be reached at 215-631-1300 or don.doty@stainlessinc.com
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