AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
HARRISBURG AREA OFFICE
AND
THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PCBI) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PCBI) hereby form an Alliance to provide PCBI members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards impacting those Pennsylvania employers who comply with the General Industry standards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and PCBI recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and PCBI will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Develop training and education programs for occupational safety and health issues relevant to PCBI members.
• Deliver and arrange for delivery of occupational safety and health speakers at an annual presentation to PCBI members on OSHA General Industry compliance.
• Increase PCBI’s current offerings of workplace safety and health curricula, including coverage of OSHA’s most frequently cited General Industry standards (e.g. Hazcom, recordkeeping, lockout/tagout, electrical), OSHA inspections, and training relating to ergonomics. PCBI would consider offering additional courses suggested by OSHA.

OSHA and PCBI will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA’s and PCBI’s web sites.
  • PCBI will continuously update its web page, Business Reference Desk, to link to a wide variety of safety and health information that offers OSHA compliance assistance.
  • OSHA will assist PCBI by providing compliance assistance news items for PCBI’s e-OSHA Alert.
  • PCBI will highlight and publicize safety and health success stories to its membership.
• Develop, speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings and other occupational safety and health events
  • OSHA will assist PCBI by suggesting topics for safety conferences and will provide speakers and handouts.
  • PCBI will assist OSHA with the annual state-wide Safety and Workplace Conference by serving on committees and task forces and helping during the conference as needed.
• Promote and encourage PCBI members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

OSHA and PCBI will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Raise awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to safety and health whenever PCBI leaders or OSHA representatives have the opportunity to address PCBI members and others about workplace safety and health.
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or related meetings to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

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 quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.

This agreement will remain in effect for one year. 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 all signatories.