Alliance Renewal Agreement - September 16, 2014


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and NSC hereby renew in part the Alliance signed September 2003, and renewed September 2005, October 2007, and August 2012, to continue to provide NSC members and others with information, guidance, 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 motor vehicle safety, construction safety, temporary and contract workers, and the importance of establishing an injury and illness prevention program. The Alliance will also support and promote NSC's “Journey to Safety Excellence” (JSE) campaign.

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use relevant data, such as injury and illness data, workers' compensation experience, and data on known and suspected exposure to hazards in general industry and construction to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving worker safety. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and NSC 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 will 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 goals related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

  • Share information on OSHA's National Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process through the NSC Web site and NSC publications, such as OSHA Up to Date and Membership News Alert, and targeted communications to selected NSC Divisions whose activities may revolve around specific hazards, industry segments, or other topics.

  • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction safety issues, transportation safety issues, temporary and contract workers, or best practices in injury and illness prevention programs, such as the OSHA Construction Roundtable, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

  • Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by developing a sample policy for employers focused on encouraging worker engagement in hazard identification and developing a best practices document for training and engaging workers on hazard identification and control.

Outreach and Communication

The participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

  • Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, as well as develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, OSHA's and NSC's Web sites, and NSC's Divisions) to employers and workers in construction and general industry.

  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NSC's conferences and local meetings, or other events, such as the annual NSC Congress & Exposition.

  • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on construction or general industry safety that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

OSHA's Alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for multiple purposes. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance 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 to develop a work plan with specific measurable objectives and timelines, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet once per year, with other meetings as needed, 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 Construction, 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 16th day of September, 2014.

 

Dr. David Michaels
Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health

 

Deborah A.P. Hersman
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Safety Council