AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
PITTSBURGH AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE PITTSBURGH REGIONAL BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES
COUNCIL
(AFL-CIO)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Pittsburgh Area Office and the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction Trades Council continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and The Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction Trades Council (hereinafter referred to collectively as “the Participants”) hereby renew the Alliance signed May 17, 2004 and last renewed May 21, 2014 with a continued emphasis on reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with the construction industry. Specifically, the Participants are committed to providing union members, including apprentice workers, 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 Participants will continue to address hazards associated with the construction industry.

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 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 on improving workplace safety for employers and workers. In renewing 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 goals related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, 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 convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hazards associated with the construction industry to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by working with building trades unions and their apprenticeship schools to promote workplace safety through informational materials, discussions, meetings, organizational events, and training.

Training and Education

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

• To review or provide input on effective training and education programs for union workers, both journeymen and apprentices, and others regarding hazards associated with the construction industry and to communicate such information to constituent union workers and employers.
• To review or provide input on effective training and education programs for building trades unions to promote an understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, the responsibilities of employers, and to communicate such information to union workers and employers.

Outreach and Communication

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

• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction Trades Council conferences, local meetings, apprenticeship schools or other applicable events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction Trades Council good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the Participants.

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 Participant 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 OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Project’s 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 Participants.

Signed this 25th day of May, 2016.