Ohio Contractors Association

Safety Committee Minutes

March 5, 2019

I.        Committee meeting held on March 5, 2019 in OCA Conference Room B, Columbus, Ohio.

II.       PRESENT

OCA/Committee Members:

Dean Breese                     Gerken Paving Inc.                                Napoleon

Robert Dunlevey, Jr.          Taft Law                                               Dayton

Terry Folk                         E.S. Wagner Co.                                   Oregon

Marty Fritz                        J.D. Williamson Const. Co.                    Tallmadge

Mike Guzzo                      Double Z Const. Co.                              Columbus

Ed Hammond                    George J. Igel & Co., Inc.                      Columbus

Melissa Linton                   OSHA                                                   Columbus

John Logue                       CompManagement                                Columbus

Randy Martin                    Beaver Excavating Co.                          Canton

Nick Murdock                    Double Z Const. Co.                              Columbus

Parr Peterson                   Paul Peterson Company                        Columbus

Mark Potnick                     OCA – Committee Secretary                  Columbus

Ron Rainsburg                  Tiremax                                                Toleco

Mary So                            George J. Igel & Co., Inc.                      Columbus

Drew Williams                   The Great Lakes Construction Co.          Hinckley

Ill.       Summary of Discussion

Those in attendance were welcomed by OCA, and self-introductions followed.

The Committee reviewed OCA’s By-Laws and Anti-Trust provisions.

The minutes of November 13, 2018 were approved.

The Committee reviewed a compliance summary prepared for OSHA’s Certified Crane Operator Standard.  The summary covers five major points contractors should implement in order to comply with the current standard.

The Committee discussed the latest on ODOT’s Work Zone Traffic Control Supervisor (WTS) testing.  ODOT is beginning to take note of some OCA concerns about the testing.  ODOT has scheduled the WTS testing at the District 8 office and is working on doing the same at the Cleveland District 12 office.  ODOT has been experiencing administrative issues with no-shows.  They have asked OCA to request of its members that they insure employees who register for the ODOT testing show up for that scheduled exam. 

OCA continues to work with ODOT and hopes to get access to the exam in order to prepare a meaningful preparation course for OCA members. 

Melissa Litton, of OSHA’s Columbus area office updated the Committee on OSHA activities.  She confirmed that OSHA’s Trench Emphasis Program is still active.  She addressed the issue of OSHA using Ohio BWC drones to view worksites.  She confirmed that OSHA is abiding by its published drone policy, and is only utilizing drones to review existing citation and/or accident (fatality) sites to enhance the fact finding.  OSHA is not using drones to view employer sites in order to issue citations.  The OSHA policy requires the approval of the employer prior to use of the drones.  OSHA’s drone policy is available on their website at www.osha.gov.

Bob Dunlevey, Jr., of Taft Law reviewed a recent OSHA Review Commission Case that he believes is of importance to the construction industry.  His client, a roofing contractor was found not to have violated the General Duty Clause and training standards for an employee who died following his collapse on a roof.  The case serves as important guidance on what employers should do to address heat stress and train employees, but also limits OSHA’s recent attempts to foist ad hoc requirements on employers through the General Duty Clause of OSHA regulations.  Bob provided the committee with a written summary of the case to retain for reference. 

The Committee next revisited the issue of overhead line and structure hazards on ODOT projects, and the best way to warn employees and particularly truck drivers of how to avoid striking them.  The Subcommittee formed to address this issue will reconvene to move forward on developing an actual prototype of devices necessary to properly warn of the overhead hazards.   Melissa Litton, of OSHA has agreed to sit on the subcommittee to insure whatever device is developed meets OSHA requirements.  The Committee requested that OCA poll its national affiliates to see if this issue may have been addressed in other states.  OCA will report any results back to the subcommittee. 

The Committee reviewed information about BWC’s new “Better You/Better Ohio” wellness program.  Employees working for BWC covered employers can secure wellness services individually via on-line programs.  BWC flyers for the program were distributed to the Committee. 

The Committee was reminded of ATSSA’s Transportation Conference on April 10 at the Marriott Hotel on Olentangy River Road in Columbus.  Registration information was distributed in OCA’s newsletter. 

Bob Dunlevey notified the Committee of a Workers Compensation Seminar he is conducting in Dayton on April 14.  Registration information was distributed. 

The next Safety Committee meeting is scheduled on May 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned.