Region 8 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - September 30, 2015


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Region VIII
AND
THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION #68
LOCAL UNION #111
AND
THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION ROCKY
MOUNTAIN CHAPTER
AND
THE DENVER JOINT ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING
COMMITTEE


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Region VITI (OSHA), The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #68, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union #111, The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Rocky Mountain Chapter, and Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Committee (DJEA TC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, IBEW, NECA, and DJEA TC hereby renew an Alliance to provide TBEW members and contractors, NECA members, and others in the electrical construction and maintenance industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance will particularly focus on reducing and preventing exposure to electrical shock, arc flash, arc blast, electrocution, falls, heat stress and motor vehicle hazards, a11d will continue to support Safety Training Supervisor (STS). The Alliance will also provide training for Contractors and employees specific to their industry. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, IBEW, NECA, and DJEATC recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project programs are an integral part of the OSHA national effort. State plan Agencies and Consultation Projects will be informed of and invited to attend all functions.

Normal Construction Labor Market is defined to mean the following geographical area plus the commuting distance adjacent thereto which includes the area from which the normal labor supply is secured. The IBEW Local #68 jurisdiction includes and encompasses the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, and Summit. The IBEW Local # 111 jurisdiction includes and encompasses the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld, and Yuma.

Training and Education

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

  • Developing effective training and education programs for Alliance members including training on electrical Safety and Certified Supervisory Courses, revised OSHA standards and best practices.
  • Developing effective training and education programs for Alliance member to promote the understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers to communicate such information to workers and employers.
  • Participating in various forums and groups to discuss ways of improving workplace safety and health programs.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals of raising awareness by:

  • Convening or participating in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
  • Sharing information on OSHA's emphasis programs, regulatory agenda and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
  • Keeping all members updated on OSHA topics.
  • Encouraging worker participation in workplace safety and health by having quarterly safety meetings.

Outreach and Communication

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

  • Developing and communicating information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards to employers and employees in the industry (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and web sites).
  • Sharing information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IBEW and NECA best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through OSHA, IBEW LU #68 and #111, NECA, and DJEATC developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  • Promoting and encouraging IBEW/NECA members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, and Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  • Encouraging IBEW Local Unions and NECA Chapters to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
  • Developing and disseminating case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing any of that party's products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of OSHA, IBEW, NECA, and DJEATC will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Team members may include representatives of Contractors, Insurers, and Local Unions. 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.

This agreement will remain in effect for a two-year period. 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 concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 30th day of September, 2015.

  • [for] Greg Baxter, Regional Administrator, OSHA Region VIII
  • Jim Mantele, Business Manager, IBEW LU 68
  • Bill Anderson, DJEATC, Program Training Director
  • Francis Marcotte, President, NECA, Rocky Mountain Chapter
  • Jack Cox, President IBEW LU 68, Co-Chair
  • [for] Rory Berumen, Executive Director, NECA, Rocky Mountain Chapter
  • [for] Sean McCarville, Business Manager, IBEW LU 111
  • Craig Clark, Governor, NECA, Rocky Mountain Chapter
  • [for] David Hoyt, Co-Chair