AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
BILLINGS AREA OFFICE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS,
BIG SKY CHAPTER

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Big Sky Chapter recognizes the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and The American Society of Safety Engineers, Big Sky Chapter hereby form an Alliance to provide ASSE, Big Sky members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by identifying, reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated within the varied general and construction industries throughout Montana and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and ASSE Big Sky chapter recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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 to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage student participation in workplace safety and health by involving the Montana Tech Big Sky Student Section in training and outreach activities.
• To encourage ASSE memberships' employees participation in workplace safety and health by providing input into the development of Job Hazard Analyses and On site safety Audits.

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

• To develop effective training and education programs for ASSE, Big Sky chapter members regarding hazard awareness and the development of safety and health program elements and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for ASSE Big Sky members 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.

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 the ASSE Big Sky Web sites) to employers and workers in their industries.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or ASSE Big Sky's conferences, local meetings, or other events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ASSE Big Sky's 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 issues and projects that are addressed and developed through this 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 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 this agreement for any reason at any time provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this 3rd day of February, 2012 by:

• Trina Mailloux, Acting Area Director, OSHA
• Jamey Wheeler, President, ASSE, Big Sky Chapter