AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE WISCONSIN OSHA AREA OFFICES OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
WISCONSIN SAFETY AND HEALTH CONSULTATION PROGRAM
AND
WISCONSIN UNDERGROUND CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee Area offices, Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program and the Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, Inc. (WUCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safe and healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program and WUCA hereby form an Alliance to provide WUCA members and others with information, guidance, and training resources to protect the health and safety of workers particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with trench cave-ins, underground utility strikes, confined space entries, struck-by equipment and material, respirable silica, heat illness, roadway work zones and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet 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 available 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 developing this Alliance, OSHA and WUCA recognize that OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program partner (Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program) is 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:

• Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and communicate such information (e.g., print, and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA and the WUCA website) to employers and workers in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and WUCA conferences, local meetings, or other related events.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on underground construction 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 WUCA's good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health increasing hazard awareness training and reporting.
• Develop and disseminate case studies on trenching and publicize their results.
• Encourage WUCA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including trenching, struck-by, underground utilities, confined space entry, and roadway work zone safety. Promote employer and employee participation in a Trench Stand Down with an OSHA representative.

Training and Education

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

• Develop effective training and education programs for the underground construction regarding trenching, struck-by equipment and materials, respirable silica, heat illness, underground utilities, confined space entry and roadway work zone safety, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• Develop effective training and education programs for the underground construction industry to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.

OSHA's Alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's initiatives, outreach, communications, training, and education. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and 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 one to 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 Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee Area Offices and any other OSHA Area Office representatives that may contribute to the success of the Alliance. Wisconsin Safety and Health Consultation Program will designate a representative to be on the implementation 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 all signatories.

Signed this 21st day of April, 2023