Region 3 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - May 17, 2023


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
OSHA REGION III
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
SHIPBUILDERS COUNCIL OF AMERICA
AND
PENNSYLVANIA OSHA CONSULTATION PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region III Offices, Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) and Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, SCA and Pennsylvania OSHA Consultation Program hereby renew in part the Alliance signed July 27, 2021, with a continued emphasis on safety and health hazards in the shipyard industry. Specifically, each organization is committed to providing SCA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect 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 the safety and health hazards in the shipyard industry.

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 organizations will use available 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, including but not limited to member surveys, to evaluate the Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and the SCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program 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:

  • Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.

  • Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.

  • Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and communicate such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA and the SCA websites) to employers and workers in the industry.

  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and SCA conferences, local meetings, or other membership events.

  • Promote the OSHA On-site Consultation Program to SCA membership, and others.

  • Encourage SCA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including heat exposure, fall prevention, lockout/tagout, and other major health and safety issues in the industry.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the SCA's good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.

  • To support the delivery of effective training and education programs for shipyard employees regarding hazards associated with shipbuilding operations, and to communicate such information to industry and support employers and workers.

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, Norfolk and Philadelphia Area Offices, the Philadelphia Regional Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans' and OSHA On-Site Consultation programs' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for three 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.

Signed this 17th day of May, 2023


Michael River
Administrator, Region III
Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Davis Gaddy
Government Relations Manager
Shipbuilders Council of America


John M. Mulroy, PhD, CSP
Program Director
PA OSHA Consultation Program
Indiana University of Pennsylvania


Hilliary E. Creely, JD, PhD
Dean
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Indiana University of Pennsylvania