Region 1 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - November 7, 2018


AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
PROVIDENCE AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE SAFETY ALLIANCE FOR FURTHERING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN
RHODE ISLAND


The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Providence Area Office and Safety Alliance Furthering Education Resources in Rhode Island (SAFER) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and SAFER hereby renew the Alliance signed October 1, 2008, to provide SAFER members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers by reducing and preventing exposure to construction hazards 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 effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving workplace safety and health. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and SAFER recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Project 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:

  • To share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
  • To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
  • To 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's and the SAFER Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA' or other local Safety and Health Conferences, local meetings, or other safety aware1wss events.
  • To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction related safety topics to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues
  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding construction good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  • To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by education and leadership.
  • To collaborate with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on construction activities.
  • To develop and disseminate case studies on construction hazards and publicize their results.
  • To encourage SAFER to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including high hazard construction activities.

Training and Education

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

  • To develop effective training and education programs for SAFER regarding construction hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
  • To develop effective training and education programs for SAFER 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.
  • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of information for monthly round table meetings.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties 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 its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party'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 Providence Area Office 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 a period of five years. 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 7th day of November, 2018.


  • Maryann Medeiros
  • Area Director
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Providence Area Office

  • Maurice "Rick" Devine
  • HART Companies
  • SAFER Membership Chair

  • Wayne Estes
  • Atmed Occupational Medicine
  • SAFER Steering Committee

  • Jane Viscolsi
  • New England Laborers health and Safety Fund
  • SAFER Steering Committee

  • Robert Kunz
  • Dimeo Construction Company
  • SAFER Steering Committee Chair

  • John Conroy
  • Arden Engineering
  • SAFER Webmaster

  • Kevin Howland
  • Century Drywall
  • SAFER Steering Committee