AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
HOUSTON NORTH AREA OFFICE
AND
HOUSTON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Houston North Area Office and the Houston Contractors Association (HCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and HCA hereby form an Alliance to provide HCA 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 “Construction’s Focus Four” hazards, assist member companies with information to develop and improve small contractors safety and health programs, and other areas specific to construction industry safety and health. Both parties 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. 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 HCA 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 Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process. The Alliance will focus on assisting Member Company’s compliance programs related to subcontractor’s safety programs, silica in construction, and excavation safety.
• 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 establishing safety and health management programs, hazard identification, and safety leadership. Emphasis will be placed on developing methods to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace and providing input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by dissemination of local incident trend information to facilitate worksite discussions.

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 construction industry employees regarding the “Construction’s Focus Four” hazards and local construction incident trends and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for all employees and to promote understanding of workers’ rights including OSHA’s complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of safety and health training to employers through periodic attendance at Association monthly meetings and periodic workshops on focused topics suggested by the HCA.

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 through the HCA website.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at HCA conferences, local meetings, or other events as requested.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding HCA good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures developed by the participants.
• To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects, in particular, provide information and conduct workshops to assist small and medium sized contractors implement and improve their safety and health management programs.
• To develop and disseminate case studies on local and National construction incident trends 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 Houston North Area Office, and any other appropriate offices, and the Houston Contractors Association. 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 17^th day of March, 2020.