AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
ALLENTOWN AREA OFFICE
THE 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) Allentown Area Office and the Lehigh Valley Safety Committee (LVSC), a consortium of the Lehigh Valley Area Labor Management Council, the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (Red Cross) and Northampton Community College (NCC), 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 hereby renew the Alliance signed December 15, 2009, with a continued emphasis on construction related hazards, the impact of workplace fatalities, and emergency preparedness issues. Specifically, both organizations 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 work and life wellness programs. In renewing 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.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals 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.f
• 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 goals:

• To develop effective training and education programs for LVSC members and others regarding construction related hazards, emergency preparedness 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 First-Aid and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Bloodborne Pathogens, Accident Investigation, Hazard Identification, Safety Committee Operations and Job Safety Analysis, to name a few.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the LVSC’s, NCC’s and/or the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s conferences, local meetings, or other safety related events (e.g. Safety Expo IV).
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding LVSC’s good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
• To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on the impact of workplace fatalities that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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 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 share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Allentown Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and 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.

Signed this 12th day of December, 2011.