AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
TAMPA, FL AREA OFFICE
AND
SUNCOAST UTILITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Tampa Area Office and the Suncoast Utility Contractors Association (SUCA) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the SUCA hereby renew the Alliance signed April 17, 2015, and renewed on February 21, 2019, with a continued emphasis on safety and health in the construction industry. Specifically, both organizations are committed to providing the SUCA 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, both organizations will continue to place additional emphasis on the elimination of hazards during trenching and excavation procedures, confined space entry and other imminent dangers in the underground utility construction industry.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet the requirements for program participation laid out in the "Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants" and the "Guidelines for OSHA's Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects."

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 and the SUCA 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 may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• 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 the SUCA's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or the SUCA's educational awareness seminars, local meetings, or other outreach events.
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace violence, emergency planning, and occupational safety and health programs to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding SUCA's good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Develop effective training and education programs for the utility construction industry regarding safe trenching and excavation procedures, confined space entry and other imminent dangers in the underground utility construction industry and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to equitably meet the needs of their target audiences.
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of certified training courses and other courses on the topics above.

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 two 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 Tampa Area Office and any other appropriate offices.

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 22nd day of February 2024.