AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN
SIOUX FALLS AREA OFFICE OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
SOUTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES SAFETY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
AND
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY OSHA CONSULTATION

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Sioux Falls Area Office (OSHA) and the South Dakota Agricultural Cooperatives Safety Directors Association (SDACSDA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the SDACSDA hereby form an Alliance to provide the SDACSDA members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers by reducing and preventing exposure to jobsite hazards in both general industry and construction 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. Alliance participants also agree to meet the "Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants" and the "Guidelines for OSHA's Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects."

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use available 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, including but not limited to member surveys, to evaluate the Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the SDACSDA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program 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: Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach) and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on addressing the hazards associated with daily operations to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues such as:
  • Falls (from heights);
  • Lock/Tag Out, Hazardous Energy Control;
  • Machine guarding;
  • Combustible dust;
  • Engulfment hazards;
  • Confined space entry;
  • Electric shock hazards;
  • Repetitive motion injuries;
  • Effects of Inclement weather on health and safety;
  • Failure to use proper personal protective equipment; and,
  • Non-English-speaking Workforce.
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by participating in annual conferences, and National Safety Stand-Downs including Stand Up for Grain Safety, Fall Stand Down and Safe + Sound.
• Identify hazards associated with grain handling construction activities while working with contractors to reduce worker hazard exposure, particularly the four leading causes of injury during construction operations.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and identify and implement ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's website) to employers and workers in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SDACSDA conferences, local meetings, or other National Safety Stand-Down events such as the Stand Up for Grain Safety initiative.

Training and Education

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

• Develop effective training and education programs for alliance members and the grain handling industry regarding the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards associated with grain handling.
• Develop effective training and education programs for small 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.

OSHA's Alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's initiatives, outreach, communications, training, and education. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet one to 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 Sioux Falls Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans' and OSHA On-Site Consultation program 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 18th day of January 2023.