AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
ERIE AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE PENNSYLVANIA OSHA CONSULTATION PROGRAM
AND
GANNON UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Erie Area Office, Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program and Gannon University Small Business Development Center (Gannon University SBDC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program, and Gannon University SBDC (herein after referred to collectively as “the Participants”) hereby form an Alliance to provide small businesses 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 occupational safety and health hazards, and understanding 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 participants will use relevant 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 to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort to improving workplace safety for employers and workers. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and Gannon University SBDC recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and 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, as resources permit:

• To share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
• To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• To share information on workplace hazards and communicate information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and participant web sites) to employers and small businesses.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at participant workforce education events.
• Promote and communicate the free service provided by the Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Service to employers and small businesses.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives, as resources permit:

• To assist in the development of effective training and educational programs for small businesses and others regarding workplace hazards within the construction and general industry sectors and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To assist in the development of effective training to promote understanding of the responsibilities of employers.

OSHA’s Alliances provide organizations 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 Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization’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 Erie and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans’ and OSHA On-Site Consultation program’ 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 concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 23^rd day of June, 2021.