ROC - Alliance Agreement - October 20, 2011


AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTERS UNITED

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and ROC-United hereby form an Alliance to provide ROC-United members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them 1) protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic; slip, trip and fall; and cut and burn hazards, and addressing issues related to small businesses and youth workers, and 2) understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and ROC-United recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

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

  • To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.

Outreach and Communication

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

  • 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 ROC-United’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or ROC-United’s conferences, local meetings, or other events.
  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ROC-United’s good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
  • To develop and disseminate case studies on successes and lessons learned within the restaurant industry and publicize their results.

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 proved 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 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. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs 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. 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 20 day of October, 2011.


David Michaels, PhD, MPH
Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health


Saru Jayaraman
Co-Founder
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United