AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BIRMINGHAM AND MOBILE, ALABAMA AREA OFFICES
AND
ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION
WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Alabama Trucking Association Workers Compensation Fund (ATAWCF) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the ATAWCF hereby form an Alliance to provide ATAWCF 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 hazards on the highway, at pick-up and delivery points, at maintenance shops, and administrative business locations, to include traffic accidents, road rage, musculoskeletal stressors, struck-by incidents, chemical exposures, electrical shocks and burns, welding hazards, moving parts of machinery, slips, trips, falls, and general safety and health issues through hazard recognition training and development of safety and health programs. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the ATAWCF recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and the ATAWCF 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 trucking industry regarding safety and health hazards, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to ATAWCF employees and association members.
   
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of courses, i.e., effective safety and health programs (management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard control and elimination, training), incident investigation, fall protection, hazard recognition, and trend analysis.
   
• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on worksite hazards encountered on the highway, at delivery and pick-up sites, and at fixed member locations to include traffic accidents, road rage, musculoskeletal stressors, struck-by incidents, chemical exposures, electrical shocks and burns, welding hazards, moving parts of machinery, slips, trips, falls, and general safety and health issues.

OSHA and the ATAWCF will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the ATAWCF web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or ATAWCF conferences, local meetings or other safety events.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the ATAWCF best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by the ATAWCF and through OSHA or ATAWCF developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures.
   
• Encourage Trucking Association Workers Compensation Fund Members and their worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area offices to address health and safety issues, including the development of safety and health programs necessary to prevent injuries and illnesses.

OSHA and the ATAWCF will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace to develop formal safety and health procedures to control hazards in the workplace.

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 proven 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 per 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. 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 concurrence of both signatories.