AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
REGION IV, TAMPA, FLORIDA AREA OFFICE
AND
THE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, INC.,
FLORIDA GULF COAST CHAPTER

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Florida Gulf Coast Chapter recognizes the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter hereby form an Alliance to provide ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to falls, trenching and excavation, scaffold, confined space, struck-by, chemical and electrical hazards, as well as other prevalent safety and health hazards in the construction industry. Emphasis will also be placed on effectively communicating these issues to hard-to-reach groups, such as non-English speaking and youth workers. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter recognize that OSHA's State Plan and the Onsite Consultation project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for employers in the construction industry regarding fall protection, trenching and excavation, electrical safety, scaffold safety, confined space safety, steel erection, struck-by hazards and health issues, such as silica and hexavalent chromium, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
   
• Work with OSHA to develop training and education programs addressing the aforementioned topics in Spanish and for youth workers through the chapter's apprentice program.
   
• ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will deliver or arrange for the delivery of the above courses.

OSHA and ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of disseminating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professions regarding ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by ABC, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and through OSHA or ABC, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter developed material, training programs, workshops, seminars, lectures (or any other applicable forum).
   
• Promote and encourage the ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, and Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program and Florida Gulf Coast Chapter's safety and consultation services.
   
• Encourage other ABC, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues. ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter members will also be encouraged to register to receive the OSHA Region IV newsletter.

OSHA and the ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever ABC's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter leaders address groups.
   
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. 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 any of that party's products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations 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 a year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing. Either signatory may terminate the agreement 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 both signatories.