AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JACKSON, MS AREA OFFICE
AND
ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATIONS OF MISSISSIPPI

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Jackson Area Office and the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi (EPA of MS) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the EPA of MS renew the Alliance signed May 23, 2003, and renewed on June 27, 2005; June 19, 2012; July 9, 2014, a with a continued emphasis on the electrical transmission and distribution industry. Specifically, OSHA and the EPA of MS are committed to providing EPA of MS 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 the prevention of worker’s exposure to hazards in the electric power transmission and distribution, as well as the construction industries.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants may summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan. Through the Alliance, the organizations 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, OSHA and the EPA of MS 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 goal related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings regarding electric utility issues to help forge innovative solutions to 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 on electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards targeted to electric utility workers employed by EPA of MS members, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of Advance Lineman Training courses, conducted by EPA of MS, for electric utility workers employed by EPA of MS members.

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 EPA of MS’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the electrical transmission and distribution, as well as the construction industries.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at EPA of MS’s Annual Safety Coordinators Conference, local meetings, or other events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding EPA of MS’s 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 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 Jackson 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. 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 signatories.

Signed this 12^th day of October 2016.