IWCA - Alliance Renewal Agreement - February 14, 2018


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
INTERNATIONAL WINDOW CLEANING ASSOCIATION


The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and IWCA hereby renew in part the Alliance signed June 10, 2010, and renewed October 31, 2012, with a continued emphasis on immigrant workers, small businesses, and employers with low literacy or limited English-speaking workers in the window cleaning industry. Specifically, both organization(s) are committed to providing IWCA members and others with information and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, and understand 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 address slips, trips, and falls from heights, and other issues related to the proper and safe use of high-reach access equipment, including, but not limited to, rope descent systems (RDS), ladders and scaffolding.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.

In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and IWCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

  • To share information on occupational safety and health laws, standards such as, but not limited to, Walking-Working Surfaces, and Hazard Communication as well as providing guidance resources, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers, whistleblower protections, and anti-retaliation responsibilities.
  • To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on fall, caught-in-between, and other scaffolding related hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:

  • To share information on OSHA's National Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives such as, but not limited to, OSHA's Safe and Sound Campaign, the National Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, and Heat Illness Prevention.
  • To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the IWCA's websites) to employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or IWCA conferences, local meetings, or other regional events.
  • To share information among industry safety and health professionals regarding IWCA good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least once per year to track and share information on activities and 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 Enforcement Programs, the Directorate of Standards and Guidance, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States and OSHA On-Site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for 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 both signatories.

Signed this 14th day of February, 2018.


Loren Sweatt
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health

 

William Chapman
President
International Window Cleaning Association