Region 6 - Alliance Agreement - August 20, 2018
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA OFFICE
OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OSHA CONSULTATION,
AND
LATINO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oklahoma City Area Office, the Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA), and the Oklahoma Department of Labor OSHA Consultation (OSHA Consultation or ODOL), recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, LCDA, and ODOL (collectively "Participants") hereby form an Alliance to provide LCDA 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 falls, electrocutions, excavation hazards, struck-by and caught-in-between hazards, and other hazards and understand 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. Participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.
Through the Alliance, Participants 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 LCDA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners (i.e., ODOL) 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
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 Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Consultation services, 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 safety 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 promoting educational materials and providing a wide-range of safety trainings in Spanish at LCDA to the Hispanic workforce community.
Training and Education
Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives:
- To develop effective training and education programs for the Hispanic Community including, but not limited to, prevention of heat-related illnesses, fall hazards in construction, electrical hazards, trenching and excavation hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
- To develop effective training and education programs for the Spanish speaking workforce to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, OSHA Consultation service, and the responsibilities of employers, and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
- To deliver or arrange for the delivery of the following courses: Fall Protection; Scaffolding; OSHA 10 Hour; Excavations; and Electrical Safety.
Outreach and Communication
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 and the LCDA's Web sites) to employers, and workers in the industry and the community at large.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's, ODOL's, or LCDA's conferences, local meetings, health fairs, or other events.
- To share information among OSHA and ODOL personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding LCDA's various programs benefiting the Hispanic community at large.
- To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects regarding the Spanish speaking workforce 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 and OSHA Consultation 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 Oklahoma City Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.
This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Each 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 20th day of August, 2018.
- Dr. Raul Font
- Executive Director
- Latino Community Development Agency
- Melissa McLawhorn Houston
- Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor
- David Bates
- Area Director
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration