Region 8 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - September 19, 2019


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE DENVER AREA OFFICE OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
WESTERN COLORADO CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION


The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Denver Area Office and the Western Colorado Contractors Association (WCCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces. To that end, OSHA and WCCA hereby renew the Alliance signed July 27, 2017, to provide WCCA members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of construction workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to fall hazards and trenching/excavation hazards, and addressing issues such as work zone safety and occupational health, and understanding 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 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 WCCA recognize that OSHA’s 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 and 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 construction hazards, fall hazards, struck-by hazards, caught-in or between hazards and electrical hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
  • 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 WCCA 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 WCCA web sites) to employers and workers in the construction industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or WCCA’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 19th day of September 2019.

 

Herb Gibson
Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

 

Jesse Nelson
President
Western Colorado Contractors Association

 

Shawna Grieger
Executive Director
Western Colorado Contractors Association