Annual Alliance Report
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Region V OSHA Office
And
Consulate General of the Ecuador in Chicago, Illinois
October 1, 2015

1. Alliance Background
   1. Date Signed:

      August 28, 2014

   2. Evaluation Period:

      August 28, 2014 through August 28, 2015

   3. Overview:

      The Alliance with the Consulate General of Ecuador was established to facilitate fostering cooperative relationships for such purposes as, training and education, outreach and communication, and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health.

      The Participants intentions are to establish a collaborative relationship to provide Ecuadorian workers information, guidance, and access to education and training resources to promote workers’ rights in protecting their occupational safety and health, and to help them understand U.S. domestic law on the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

   4. Implementation Team Members:

      Occupational Safety and Health Administration

      Nick Walters

      Regional Administrator, Region V

      Darnell Crenshaw

      Assistant Regional Administrator Region V

      Lisa Sciolaro

      Labor Liaison, Region V

      Andres Saldana

      Region V Alliance Program Manager, Region V

      Consulate General of the Ecuador

      Catalina Rosa Landivar Guerrero

      Vice Consul of the Ecuador Consulate

2. Implementation Team Meetings
   • The Chicago Assistant Regional Administrator held their first planning meeting via phone with the Vice Consul the week after the Alliance signing. Several OSHA resources were discussed that would be of use for the Consulate. A midyear meeting was held at the Ecuadorian Consulate on April 16, 2015 to review the progress of the alliance goals along with a discussion for brainstorming additional outreach events throughout the year. The group discussed additional plausible venues of collaborations where OSHA may assist with Ecuadorian workers’ matters.
3. Activities and Products

   Training and Education

   • The Chicago Regional Office was able to facilitate construction safety training provided by a Region V Susan Harwood grant organization. The training took place over a weekend in March 2015 which resulted in 31 Ecuadorian nationals being trained on construction hazards, the OSH Act, and employer/employees’ rights and responsibilities.
   • An additional training was provided in April 2015 which consisted of a Train-the- Trainer that focused on hazard recognition in the workplace along with employer/employee safety rights. This training was also provided through the connection with a Region V Susan Harwood Grantee.
   • The Chicago Regional Office and Vice Consul of Ecuador participated in several worker rights roundtable discussion meetings that discussed strategies in bridging resource gaps amongst various federal and state agencies so that vulnerable workers may be reached more effectively.

   Outreach and Communication

   • The Chicago Regional Office participated in a mobile consular event in Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 18, 2014. Information was presented on worker’s rights under OSHA along with several publication materials on construction and general industry safety and health.
   • The Chicago Regional office participated during a Labor rights week consular event on November 15, 2014 which presented information about worker rights under OSHA, handed out publications and answered questions the Ecuador constituent workers had.
   • The Indianapolis OSHA Area Office participated in the Latino Indiana Expo on June 20th 2015. The OSHA Area Director provided the consulate and others in attendance with OSHA publications which included educational brochures, pamphlets and training materials. The publications and information provided by Region V are made available at the consulate for distribution throughout the year.

   Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

   • The Chicago Acting Assistant Regional Administrator and Program Manager attended a consular outreach service, and ceremony for the 206th anniversary of the Declaration of Ecuador Independence on August 7, 2015.
4. Results
   • Through the joint efforts of the Alliance, the Consulate General of Ecuador now has greater access to OSHA outreach information and publications for the Ecuadorian workers in Region V. In addition an increased awareness of OSHA’s continued efforts to reach at-risk workers remains a paramount goal.
5. Upcoming Milestones

   The Alliance plans to reestablish its collaborative efforts and continue towards meeting the goals for the next evaluation year. In the first quarter of the new fiscal year, Region V has scheduled a tele-conference with the Vice Consul for the purpose of conducting an overall review of Alliance achievements and goals. A focus will be based on expanding outreach assistance to Ecuadorian nationals in the state of Ohio. Strategic goals for the follow-on period of the alliance will also be reviewed. Region V is jointly continuing:

   • Promotion of occupational safety and health for the Ecuadorian community in Region V.
   • OSHA participation in mobile consulate events.
   • OSHA participation in consulate activities during the year.