Reg 8 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - July 11, 2017


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE DENVER AREA OFFICE OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE DJ BASIN SAFETY COUNCIL

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Denver Area Office and the DJ Basin Safety Council continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the DJ Basin Safety Council hereby renew the Alliance signed February 6, 2013 and May 5, 2015 with continued emphasis on safety and health issues in the upstream oil and gas industry. Specifically, both organizations are committed to providing DJ Basin Safety Council members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

This renewal 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 continue to address hazards identified by OSHA emphasis programs, strategic areas of interest and OSHA campaign efforts. 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. The organizations will continue to address:

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

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 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 OSHA strategic focus hazards, hydrocarbon exposures, fire/explosion, falls, struck by hazards and transportation/driving hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues. As a member of the STEPS Network the DJ Basin Safety Council will help communicate safety and health information to the oil and gas community.
  • To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by including workers as members of the alliance implementation team and other planning committees as they are formed; and, providing training and increased access to safety and health information.

Training and Education

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

  • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of semi-annual OSHA seminars on a wide variety of topics.
  • To deliver or arrange for training events during the term of the agreement. Training may be delivered via webinar and/or appearances at DJ Safety Council meetings or OSHA events.

Outreach and Communication

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 DJ Basin Safety Council web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or DJ Basin Safety Council's local meetings, or other events.
  • To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding best practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.

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 team members will include representatives of the Denver Area Office and any other appropriate offices.

This agreement will remain in effect for four 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 11th day of July, 2017.

 



Herb Gibson
Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Carrie Jordan
President
DJ Basin Safety Council