AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE TOLEDO AREA OFFICE of
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE SAFETY COUNCIL OF NORTHWEST OHIO

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Toledo Area Office and the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio (SCNWO) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and SCNWO hereby renew the Alliance signed December 20, 2005 and renewed on January 25, 2008 and again on January 28, 2010, with a continued emphasis on training and education. Specifically, both organizations are committed to providing SCNWO 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 implementation methods for safety and health management systems; performance of job safety analyses; transportation and traffic accident reduction/safe driving methods; ergonomic hazards, particularly in healthcare industries; and, employee/employer hazard recognition, evaluation, analysis and control methods. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and SCNWO recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
• 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 construction and general industry safety and health topics 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 sharing information between organizations to further the knowledge of OSHA and SCNWO stakeholders.

Training and Education

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

• To develop effective training and education programs for OSHA and SCNWO stakeholders regarding topics such as the implementation methods for safety and health management systems; transportation and traffic accident reduction/safe driving methods; ergonomic hazards, particularly in healthcare industries, electrical arc flash hazards; fall hazards and health hazards in the construction industry; and, combustible dust hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for construction and general industry workers and employer representatives 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.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of courses on the above-mentioned topic areas.

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 SCNWO’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or SCNWO’s conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as the annual Safety and Health Day of Northwest Ohio.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding SCNWO good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
• To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on general industry and construction safety and health topics that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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 Toledo Area OSHA 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 day of February, 2012.