AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE 
BETWEEN 
KANSAS CITY AND SAINT LOUIS AREA OFFICES 
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
AND 
MISSOURI ON-SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONSULTATION PROGRAM 
AND 
MISSOURI COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE (MCGA)

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Kansas City, and Saint Louis Area Offices, Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, and the Missouri Common Ground Alliance (MCGA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, and the MCGA hereby form an Alliance to provide employers and employees conducting excavation work with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers by reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health hazards related to trenching activities in the construction industry. Throughout this alliance, OSHA, Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, and MCGA will work in a cooperative manner to disseminate information related to 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 MCGA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Missouri On-Site Consultation Program 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:

• 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 particularly through MCGA and MO 811 One Call Meetings.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards during trenching activities and communicate such information to MCGA and MO 811 One Call members. Ensure information developed encourages and reflects the diversity of the workforce and is accessible in multiple languages and formats.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, and MCGA conferences, local meetings, or other events.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on excavation and trench safety to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
• MCGA will share information with OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding MCGA Board's best work practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health through the MCGA Annual Conference.
• Collaborate with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on trench safety.
• MCGA will share case studies on excavation mishaps and publicize their results in the MCGA's website.
• Encourage MCGA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, and Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program to address health and safety issues, including trenching and excavation safety.

Training and Education

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

• MCGA will develop effective training and education programs for their members regarding identification, prevention, and control of potential trenching and excavation hazards. Also, MCGA is responsible to communicate this 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. OSHA will be providing technical guidance, information, and compliance assistance to MCGA.
• MCGA will develop effective training and education programs for MCGA members 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. Also, MCGA will ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to equitably meet the needs of their target audiences.

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 Kansas City and Saint Louis Area Offices, Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans' 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 written concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this 6 day of December 2023.