AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL
CENTER FOR THE POLYURETHANES INDUSTRY, DIISOCYANATES AND ALIPHATIC DIISOCYANATES PANELS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Chemistry Council Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI), Diisocyanates (DII) and Aliphatic Diisocyanates (ADI) Panels (hereafter known collectively as ACC) recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and ACC hereby renew the Alliance signed September 13, 2017, to provide members, workers, occupational physicians, stakeholders, and others within the polyurethanes value chain with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help protect the health and safety of workers handling diisocyanates. In particular, the Alliance will focus on 1) workplace practices for reducing and preventing exposure to aliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates (MDI, TDI, HDI, HMDI and IPDI); 2) promoting guidance and information that address the health and safety issues affecting workers within the polyurethanes value chain, as well as the broader chemical industry; and 3) understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to look for opportunities to create and disseminate guidance materials that encourage a safe working environment.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance’s activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet the requirements for program participation laid out in the “Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants” and the “Guidelines for OSHA’s Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects.”

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use relevant injury, illness, and hazard exposure data, when appropriate, to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options, such as surveying membership and downstream organizations, to evaluate the Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and ACC recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program partners are integral to ensuring employers provide safe and healthful workplaces and share information about the products and activities of the Alliance for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Share information about OSHA’s national initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), compliance assistance products, and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process, including those relevant to diisocyanates and the general chemical industry.
• Share information about occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Develop and disseminate information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA and/or ACC websites) to employers and workers that promotes the safe use and handling of diisocyanates.
• Educate the broader chemical industry about OSHA’s initiatives, campaigns, and resources that promote a safer working environment.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, ACC or industry conferences (e.g., CPI annual Technical Conference), local meetings, or other events.
• Encourage CPI, DII, and ADI Panels’ membership and their downstream user networks to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues relevant to the polyurethanes value chain.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Work with applicable safety and health workers from the polyurethanes value chain to develop products, workshops, and other training resources on chemical hazards as well as OSHA standards and regulations.
• Deliver effective training to educate OSHA personnel on safe use and handling of diisocyanates, including an “Introduction to Diisocyanates” webinar that will communicate health and safety guidance information.

OSHA’s Alliance Program provides organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s initiatives, outreach, communication, training, and education. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and Alliance Program participants. By entering into an Alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet one to two times per year to discuss the responsibilities of the participants, share information on activities, and track results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, the Directorate of Standards and Guidance, the Directorate of Enforcement Programs, the Directorate of Construction, the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans and OSHA On-Site Consultation Programs to participate on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for a period of five years. Either signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days’ written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 15th day of September, 2020.