AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND THE
AMERICAN PIPELINE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and APCA hereby agree to renew the Alliance signed January 25, 2007 to continue to provide APCA members and others in the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety. The organizations will continue to focus on reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and APCA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and APCA will continue to work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees regarding equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such information in both English and Spanish to employers and employees in the industry.

OSHA and APCA will continue to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide the expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s and APCA’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the pipeline construction industry.
• Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA’s or APCA’s conferences, local meetings or other events such as the APCA Annual Meeting.
• Promote and encourage APCA’s members’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs, such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects, including trenching and excavation, which are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing any of that party’s products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, Directorate of Construction and any other appropriate office. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two 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 concurrence of both signatories.