AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
ALLENTOWN AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE PA/OSHA CONSULTATION PROGRAM
AND
THE LEHIGH VALLEY SAFETY COMMITTEE
A CONSORTIUM OF
NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS
(LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Allentown Area Office, the PA/OSHA Consultation Program and the Lehigh Valley Safety Committee, a consortium of the members of the former Lehigh Valley Area Labor Management Council, Northampton Community College (NCC), and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the LVSC (hereinafter referred collectively to as “the Participants”) hereby renew the Alliance signed December 15, 2009 and most recently renewed December 10, 2015, with a continued emphasis on construction related hazards, the impact of workplace fatalities and emergency preparedness issues. Specifically, the Participants are committed to providing LVSC members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address construction hazards, emergency preparedness and planning, hazard recognition and control programs, healthcare industry hazards and work and life wellness programs.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance’s activities. Alliance participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.

Through the Alliance, the participants may 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 on improving workplace safety. In developing this Alliance, the participants 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 of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• 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 convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction hazards, work and life wellness programs and emergency preparedness to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives, as the opportunities or resources permit:

• To develop effective training and education programs for LVSC members and others regarding construction related hazards, emergency preparedness, healthcare industry hazards and work and life wellness programs, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of such courses as: Emergency Preparedness, including National Incident Management System and Incident Command Systems; Healthcare industry hazards, including Bloodborne Pathogens and Ergonomic issues; Job Safety Analysis; Construction hazards; Personal Protective Equipment; and Safety Committee operations.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives, as the opportunity or resources permit:

• To develop ways of communicating the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the LVSC’s, NCC’s and/or the American Society of Safety Engineers – Lehigh Valley Chapter’s local emails and newsletter) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or LVSC meetings, local ASSE meetings, or other safety related events (e.g. Safety Expo V).
• To continue to work collectively on any newly identified or recognized safety and health issue or OSHA initiative, in an effort to improve workplace safety and health.

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 rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. 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 each organization, including an available worker representative, will meet to develop a work plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least 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 Allentown Area Office. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for five years. Either 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 both signatories.

Signed this 10th day of December, 2015.