AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE LASER INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Laser Institute of America recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and Laser Institute of America hereby form an Alliance to provide Laser Institute of America's members and others, including small businesses with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to laser beam and non-beam hazards in industrial and medical workplaces. In addition, the organizations will focus on sharing information on laser regulations and standards, bioeffects lasers have on the eyes and skin, laser control measures and laser safety program administration. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and Laser Institute of America recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and Laser Institute of America will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for OSHA staff, laser manufacturers and laser users of Class 3a, 3b and 4 lasers regarding laser program administration information to employers and employees.
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of laser-related safety courses.

OSHA and Laser Institute of America will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of laser hazards in the workplace, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the Laser Institute of America's Web site) to employers and employees in medical, industrial, military, research & development, and optical fiber communications industries.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or Laser Institute of America's conferences, local meetings, or other laser safety training events such as, Laser Institute of Americas International Laser Safety conference.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding Laser Institute of America's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by Laser Institute of America and through OSHA- or Laser Institute of America-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on laser safety that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

OSHA and Laser Institute of America will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on laser safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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 and the Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA 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.