AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BRIDGEPORT AND HARTFORD AREA OFFICES,
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
OSHA ONSITE CONSULTATION PROGRAM,
AND
THE CONNECTICUT TREE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, OSHA Onsite Consultation Program (CONN-OSHA) and the Connecticut Tree Protective Association, Inc. (CTPA) recognize the value of a collaborative relationship to promote safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, CONN-OSHA and CTPA hereby form an Alliance to provide CTPA members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety, including but not limited to, working in proximity to electrical hazards, chain saw safety, avoiding motor vehicle accidents, proper job site planning, and safe climbing techniques. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, CONN-OSHA, and CTPA recognize that OSHA’s Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, CONN-OSHA and CTPA will work together to achieve the following education and training goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for CTPA members regarding compliance with ANSI standards and OSHA regulations.
   
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of safety and health training on topics of clear concern to those who work in the tree care industry. A list of such topics would include, but would not be limited to, the following: working in proximity to electrical hazards, chain saw safety, avoiding motor vehicle accidents, proper job site planning, and safe climbing techniques.

OSHA, CONN-OSHA and CTPA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s, CONN-OSHA’s and CTPA’s Web sites) to members and to all employers and employees in the tree care industry.
   
• Develop tools and materials that will help in the achievement of outreach and communication goals regarding workplace hazards, health and safety.
   
• Promote and encourage CTPA member’s participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), Consultation, Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Programs (SHARP).

OSHA, CONN-OSHA and CTPA will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• CTPA will share with OSHA and CONN-OSHA information on best practices in the tree care industry as it relates to workplace health and safety, and will call attention to already existing publications, programs and studies relating to these best practices.
   
• OSHA and CONN-OSHA will share with CTPA any information developed from local, regional or national studies regarding workplace health, safety or hazards that may be helpful to CTPA or to the Alliance in the promotion of the general goals of the Alliance.
   
• Raise awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever CTPA leaders address groups.
   
• Develop and disseminate case studies that illustrate the business value of workplace safety and will publicize these results.
   
• OSHA, CONN-OSHA and CTPA will participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on safety and health issues in the tree care industry and outside of this industry, in order to help achieve innovative solutions to the problem of hazardous conditions in the workplace and to provide input on safety and health issues generally.

OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. 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 any of that party’s products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of all three organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Team members will include representative of OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs. 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.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Any signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time provided they give thirty days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories.