AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PUERTO RICO AREA OFFICE
AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO RIO PIEDRAS CAMPUS

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico therefore agree to renew the Alliance, signed on January 22, 2004, to provide the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to occupational health and safety hazards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, through the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (DECEP for its Spanish acronym) and the Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety Office (OPASO for its Spanish acronym) will work together to achieve the following training and educational goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on various safety and health issues and targeted to general, construction and maritime industries, employees, students and the general community.
   
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of occupational health and safety courses.
   
• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula through the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety of DECEP.

OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico 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 tools and OSHA’s and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico conferences, courses, workshops, local meetings, or other educational events.
   
• Promote and encourage the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico employees and students participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professional regarding the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico and through OSHA or the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico developed materials, training, programs, workshop, seminars, and lectures.
   
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on occupational health and safety issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
   
• Encourage OPASO and DECEP of the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

OSHA and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico leaders address groups.
   
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
   
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on occupational health and safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

As part of this Agreement, both parties agree to comply with the following:

• No employee and/or functionary of the University of Puerto Rico have direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the subscription of this agreement consistent with Law no. 12, of July 4, 1985, known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Government Ethics Act. In the same way, the functionary who represents the precinct in this act does not have any kind of pecuniary interest in realizing the same.
   
• The University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus agrees to keep reports, working assistance sheets, and other documents related with services object of this agreement, so they can be audited or copied by the Office of Internal Auditors of the University of Puerto Rico, by an external audit firm hired by the University of Puerto Rico, or by the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico in their auditing procedures of the University of Puerto Rico. The audits will be made in reasonable dates during the course of the services or after rendering the same according to practices of audit generally known. Such documents will be kept for a period, no less than six (6) years or until an investigation by the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico is made, whichever come first.
   
• OSHA and the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus agree to comply with otherwise applicable Federal equal opportunity laws.

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 both 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. Team members will include representatives from the Puerto Rico Area Office; the ARA for Region 2 Training, Outreach and Partnerships (TOPS), and the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, through DECEP and OPASO.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years, from the date of its subscription. 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 concurrence of both signatories.