LIA - Alliance Renewal Agreement - August 22, 2007


AGREEMENT RENEWING 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 the Laser Institute of America (LIA) recognize the value of continuing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and LIA hereby renew the Alliance originally signed August 9, 2005 to provide LIA 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. Through the Alliance renewal agreement, the organizations will continue to share information on laser regulations and standards, bioeffects lasers have on the eyes and skin, laser control measures and laser safety program administration. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and LIA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of laser-related safety courses

OSHA and LIA 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 LIA's Web sites) to employers and employees in medical, industrial, military, research & development, and optical fiber communications industries.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or LIA's conferences, local meetings, or other laser safety training events such as, LIA's International Laser Safety conference.
  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding LIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by LIA and through OSHA- or LIA-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'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 Standards and Guidance, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine 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 two years. Any 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 all signatories.


Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Health and Safety Administration

Date


Richard M. Greene
Education Director
Laser Institute of America

Date