THE CONSULATE GENERAL
OF MEXICO IN ATLANTA

ALLIANCE BETWEEN
THE REGION IV OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO IN ATLANTA
AND
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION

The Region IV Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta (Mexican Consulate) and the Georgia Institute of Technology – Safety, Health and Environmental Division (Georgia Tech), hereinafter “the parties.”

Recognizing the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces,

Considering the importance of providing Mexican workers throughout the southeast with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety and allow them to exercise their rights fully,

Recognizing the usefulness for Mexican workers of other cooperative efforts such as the Alliance Program, the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, the Strategic Partnership Program and the Voluntary Protection Programs,

Considering the Mexico-US Joint Declaration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States and the Department of Labor of the United States of America concerning workplace laws and regulations and the Letter of Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States and the Department of Labor of the United States of America, through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration concerning workplace safety and health protection for Mexican Workers in the United States signed in Washington DC, on the 21st of July of 2004.

The parties will work together to achieve the following goals:

1. Informational materials
    
   • Develop informational materials in Spanish on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, such as public service announcements, videos and posters, brochures, pamphlets and wallet sized cards.
   • Publicize the OSHA toll-free telephone number and the Consulate special line for Mexican workers.
   • Develop work related stories based on real worksite accidents and hazards to promote risk awareness for Mexican workers.
   • Develop ways of communicating such information (e.g. print, such as the Mexican Consulate newsletter and electronic media, such as the OSHA Region IV e-newsletter, as well as electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s, the Mexican Consulate’s and Georgia Tech’s Web sites) to Mexican employers and employees.
2. Training Programs
    
   • Develop a Construction Hazard Awareness Training Program (CHAT) on worker’s rights related safety and health issues, as well as the prevalent hazards in industry sectors and work places with a high concentration of Mexican workers. All training material will be developed in both Spanish and English for this course.
   • Develop training for the Consulate employees to better assist Mexican workers in order to identify specific violations that may be brought to the attention of OSHA’s authorities.
   • Develop and conduct cultural cross training sessions to increase awareness of OSHA’s inspectors, compliance assistant specialists, consultants and trainers to the cultural sensitivities of Mexican workers.
3. Outreach and communication goals
    
   • Speak, exhibit, or appear at the mobile consulate meetings in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi coordinated by the Mexican Consulate.
   • Seek appropriate forums within the consular jurisdiction¹ that may include community based organizations and centers, worksites, the consulate facilities to teach the CHAT Program.
   • Promote the availability of OSHA’s resources for employers of Mexican workers in this region to further reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
   • In developing this Alliance, OSHA, the Mexican Consulate and Georgia Tech recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.
4. Information exchange
    
   • Share information regarding workplace fatalities and accidents involving Mexican citizens with OSHA, to ensure that all workplace accidents are properly investigated by OSHA and hazards are abated, to help prevent future accidents.
5. Plan of Action
    
   • An implementation team made up of representatives of the parties 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 this letter of agreement.

This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing and will automatically be renewed annually thereafter. This Alliance may be terminated by OSHA and the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. Additionally, this agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all the signatories.

¹Consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta covers the States of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.