AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BRIDGEPORT AREA OFFICE
HARTFORD AREA OFFICE
AND
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
AND
THE CONNECTICUT TREE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION INC.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bridgeport and Hartford Area offices, the Connecticut Department of Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA) and the Connecticut Tree Protective Association continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship in order to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, CONN-OSHA and the Connecticut Tree Protective Association hereby renew the Alliance signed July 21, 2005 and renewed July 21, 2007. In doing so, these parties continue to place an emphasis on reducing and preventing exposure to working in proximity to electrical hazards, encouraging safe practices with respect to the use of chain saws and wood chippers, avoiding motor vehicle accidents, encouraging safe climbing techniques, and working on other safety issues of inherent concern with the arboriculture and tree care industry.

Through this document, the parties indicate their recognition of the importance of committing to safety at the individual and company level and the need to provide all in the workplace with the education, training and respect for safe practices that are essential to achieving the goals that are sought through this Alliance.

Specifically, the Bridgeport and Hartford Area Offices of OSHA, CONN-OSHA and the Connecticut Tree Protective Association are committed to providing the Connecticut Tree Protective Association members and others with the information, guidance and training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, and that will further the understanding of the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address occupational hazards and issues through training and outreach. These efforts will include hazards and issues specifically related to arboricultural and tree care activities as well as those that are more fundamental in nature and so are also of concern within the tree care worker community.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants agree to work towards summarizing specific activities and timeframes for completion of these activities and recording these goals in a written work plan.

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use relevant injury, illness, and hazard exposure data, as appropriate, to help identify areas of emphasis. The Alliance will also explore and evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance through assessments of the impact of its overall efforts on improving workplace safety for all involved in tree care, including both employers and workers. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA, CONN-OSHA and the Connecticut Tree Protective Association recognize that OSHA's State Plan and its On-site Consultation Project partners are integral parts of the OSHA national effort. Information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together in order to:

• Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions and stakeholder meetings on all hazards related to the arboriculture and the tree care industry and all related general industry standards related to arboriculture and tree care, in order to forge innovative solutions in the workplace and provide input on safety and health issues as relate to arboriculture and tree care.
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health efforts through worker participation in National Safety Organization activities, the hosting of safety awareness events and the conducting of training and outreach efforts.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives:

• The development of effective training and education programs for all employees regarding proper and safe arboricultural and tree care activities and communication of such information to constituent employers and workers.
• Through the use of these training and education programs, promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process.
• Through the use of these training and education programs, promote understanding of the responsibilities of employers to communicate the importance of safety and of workers' rights to workers.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:

• To 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 Connecticut Tree Protective Association website ) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or the National Safety Organization's conferences, Connecticut Tree Protective Association conferences and local meetings, or other safety and health events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the Connecticut Tree Protective Association good practices and effective efforts to foster safety within all workplaces throughout the arboriculture and tree care industry, including the use of training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures developed by the Participants.
• To work with other Alliance Participants on specific issues and projects regarding employee safety and health within the arboriculture and tree care industry, including those that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
• To develop and disseminate case studies, when needed and as applicable, on best practices and the effective management of safety and health hazards to the arboriculture and tree care industry, and to publicize these results as appropriate.

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 each organization will meet to develop a work plan, 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 Bridgeport and Hartford Area Offices and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for five (5) 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 concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 19^th day of July, 2018.