AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A SAFETY AND HEALTH
EDUCATION ALLIANCE
AMONG
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
METHUEN AREA OFFICE, BRAINTREE AREA OFFICE AND SPRINGFIELD AREA OFFICE
AND
MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AND
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND
MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF VOCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
AND
MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety (DOS), Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE), Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA), Massachusetts Federation of Teachers (MFT) and the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA hereby form an Alliance to provide DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect vocational-technical education students' and educators' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health hazards in the workplace including schools. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA recognize that OSHA's Consultation Project partner (DOS) is an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Work together to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for vocational-technical education students and educators regarding safety and health hazards in the workplace and to provide expertise in communicating such information to students and educators.
   
• Deliver or arrange for delivery of OSHA #500 (construction) and OSHA #501 (general industry) train-the-trainer courses that certify trainers to conduct the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour courses at their respective schools.
   
• Each school with an OSHA #500 (construction) and/or OSHA #501 (general industry) certified trainer will conduct at least one 10-hour course for students each year. OSHA will provide assistance to instructors that are conducting OSHA 10-hour courses for students by providing the 1-hour “Introduction to OSHA” segment of the 10-hour course for at least one class each year.

OSHA, DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work together 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 and DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT, MTA Web sites) to vocational-technical education students and educators.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT, and MTA best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by, OSHA, DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA and through OSHA or DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
   
• Promote and encourage DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), Massachusetts DOS Consultation and OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

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 this Alliance, OSHA, DOS, DOE, MAVA, MFT and MTA are not endorsing any of the signatories' products or services; nor do the signatories enter into this Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of the organizations 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.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing and will be automatically renewed annually. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories and may be terminated for any reason within 30 days written notice to all other signatories and their organizations that are represented from any signatory.