AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE JOINT COMMISSION AND JOINT COMMISSION RESOURCES, INC.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), and Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, TJC, and JCR hereby renew in part the Alliance signed July 27, 2004, and renewed November 8, 2006, January 14, 2009, and August 21, 2013, with a continued emphasis on reducing and preventing exposures to healthcare industry hazards. Specifically, OSHA, TJC, and JCR are committed to providing TJC-accredited healthcare organizations and other healthcare industry stakeholders with information, guidance, and access to 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. Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks; workplace violence; bloodborne pathogens; tuberculosis; slips, trips, and falls; and other healthcare industry hazards, as appropriate.

This 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.

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, including but not limited to member surveys, to evaluate the Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA, TJC, and JCR recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program 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.

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

• Share information on OSHA's National Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and communicate such information (e.g., via print and electronic media, including JCR's Environment of Care News and TJC's The Joint Commission Online e-newsletter; social media; and the OSHA, TJC, and JCR websites) to employers and workers in the healthcare industry.
• Share information with OSHA personnel and healthcare industry safety and health professionals regarding good practices or effective approaches for safeguarding healthcare worker safety through training programs, workshops, seminars, webinars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, TJC, or JCR conferences, local meetings, or other events.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on healthcare industry hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

OSHA's Alliance Program provides organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA and has proven to be a valuable tool 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 at least once per year to discuss the responsibilities of the participants, to share information on activities, and to 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 Enforcement Programs, the Directorate of Standards and Guidance, the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans' and OSHA On-Site Consultation programs' participation on the team.

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

Signed this 12th day of February, 2019.