AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
TEKSOLV – AMERICAN ALLIED SAFETY COUNCIL (AASC)
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
COUNCIL OF OWNERS AND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (COCA)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fairview Heights Area Office and the American Allied Safety Council (AASC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA , TekSolv, the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council, and the Council of Owners and Construction Associates, Inc. (COCA) hereby form an Alliance to provide skilled trades and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will reduce and prevent exposures – such as electrical, fall, struck-by, caught-in-between, fire, explosion, lockout/tagout, and confined spaces – at major industrial and utility firms located in southwestern Illinois, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

The AASC is administered through TekSolv which administers occupational health, training and safety services to COCA “Owner/User” and “Construction Associate/Contractor” membership – which; in turn, employ skilled trades through the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council. The AASC provides the following benefits:

• Quality and consistent training which exceeds OSHA standards resulting in a safer regional workforce.
• Meets various recordkeeping requirements for contractors and is fully auditable and accessible to stakeholders.
• Creates a “regionally qualified worker” by eliminating repetitive training and other pre-entry requirements.
• Cost effective training for contractors which translates to cost savings for facility owners.
• Contractor onboarding process which is streamlined resulting in “badge ready” and “tool ready” workforce.

In providing a regionally qualified worker, the annual estimated 10,000 affected skilled trades completing the AASC program represented through the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council includes the following collective bargaining units:

• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters
• International Glaziers
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• International Union of Elevator Constructors
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers
• Laborers’ International Union of North America
• International Union of Operating Engineers
• Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Union
• Painters and Allied trades International Union
• United Association of Plumbers, Sprinkler Fitters, Pipe Fitters, Welders, and Steam Fitters
• United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters

COCA “Construction Associate/Contractor” members include various construction companies, design and engineering firms, equipment and materials suppliers, and firms which provide other services necessary to insure safe and well-managed construction projects in the “Owner/Users” COCA facilities. These sites are represented by the major industrial and utility firms located in southwestern Illinois who procure significant construction and maintenance services. Current COCA membership sites who utilize the AASC include:

• Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC – Wood River, IL
• Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC – Baldwin, IL
• Olin Brass – East Alton, IL
• Prairie State Generating Company, LLC – Marissa, IL
• U.S. Steel Granite City Works – Granite City, IL
• WRB Refining, LLC (Phillips 66) – Roxana, IL

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance’s activities. Alliance participants will 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 developing this Alliance, OSHA and the AASC 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 objectives related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To share information on OSHA’s National/Local Emphasis Programs and regulatory agenda.
• To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on industrial construction and maintenance to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by obtaining feedback on the AASC activities through the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objective:

• To develop effective training and education programs for industrial contractor, skilled trades, and other personnel regarding hazards in the industrial and utility sectors.
• To develop effective training and education programs to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• Educate OSHA personnel through AASC and COCA training sessions involving electrical, fall, struck-by, and caught-in-between hazards specific to the industrial contracting and utility industries.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:

• Provide a forum for an OSHA representative to address the COCA Annual Conference on a biennial basis.
• Promote awareness of OSHA’s Fall Prevention and Heat Campaigns.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of industrial construction or maintenance hazards and develop innovative ways of communicating such information; such as through print, electronic media, electronic assistance tools, OSHA’s web site, etc. to safety professionals, employers, and workers in the commercial construction industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at the annual Southern Illinois Occupational Safety & Health (SIOSH) Day event to share information among workers, employers, and industry safety and health professionals. Topics may include best practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures developed by the participants.
• OSHA to develop and disseminate case studies on notable agency activities addressing industrial construction, maintenance, or utility events.

Summary

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 work plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least two 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 Fairview Heights 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 from the date of the Alliance. Any 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 all signatories.

Signed this 22nd day of September, 2016.