AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
ALLENTOWN AREA OFFICE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE LEHIGH VALLEY SAFETY COMMITTEE
A CONSORTIUM OF
THE LEHIGH VALLEY AREA LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY
NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Lehigh Valley Safety Committee (LVSC), a consortium consisting of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Area Labor-Management Council and the Northampton Community College, recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the LVSC hereby form an Alliance to provide LVSC members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to construction related hazards, including fall hazards, struck by hazards, caught between hazards, and electrical (arc flash) hazards, as well as motor vehicle safety issues and pandemic influenza programs. Additionally, this Alliance will attempt to address emergency preparedness planning, safety and health committees, personal protective equipment issues and the economics of safety and health programs. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the LVSC recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Provide expertise to develop training and education programs for construction and general industry employers regarding such issues as: construction related hazards, motor vehicle safety programs, emergency preparedness programs, safety and health committees and appropriate personal protective equipment for emergency response activities, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in these industries.
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of developed courses.
• Provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on emergency preparedness and identifying the costs of implementation of effective safety and health programs.

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

• Provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the individual member organizations Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or LVSC conferences, local meetings, or other sponsored events.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding LVSC best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by LVSC and through OSHA or LVSC developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Promote and encourage LVSC members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects such as arc flash protection, safety and health committees and emergency preparedness planning that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

• 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: electrical safety issues, including arc flash protection; safety and health committees; emergency preparedness and appropriate personal protective equipment for responders; construction hazards; motor vehicle safety issues and other hazards, to discuss safety and health issues and 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 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 all 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 shareinformation on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team member will include a representative of the Allentown OSHA's Area Office. OSHA will encourage OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. 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 written concurrence of all signatories.