AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
AUSTIN AREA OFFICE
CORPUS CHRISTI AREA OFFICE
DALLAS AREA OFFICE
EL PASO AREA OFFICE
FORT WORTH AREA OFFICE
HOUSTON NORTH AREA OFFICE
HOUSTON SOUTH AREA OFFICE
LUBBOCK AREA OFFICE
SAN ANTONIO AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
DAMAGE PREVENTION COUNCIL OF TEXAS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston North, Houston South, Lubbock and San Antonio Area Offices and Damage Prevention Council of Texas recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and Damage Prevention Council of Texas hereby form an Alliance to provide Damage Prevention Council of Texas chapters, members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to trenching and excavation hazards, while also providing information on understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

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 Damage Prevention Council of Texas 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/Regional/Local Emphasis Program, 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 the trenching and excavation hazards 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 participation in seminars and events.

Training and Education

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

• To develop effective training and education programs for workers regarding trenching and excavation hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for employers 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 trenching and excavation safety courses.

Outreach and Communication

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

• 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 Web site) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or Damage Prevention Council of Texas conferences, local meetings, or other events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding Damage Prevention Council of Texas 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 trenching and excavation that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
• To develop and disseminate case studies on trenching and excavation hazards and publicize their results.

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 Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston North, Houston South, Lubbock and San Antonio Area Offices 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. 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 30th day of January, 2020.