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AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE AND THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) agree to establish an Alliance to promote safe and healthy working conditions within the petroleum and petrochemical liquid storage industries. Specifically this Alliance will promote safe tank entry, cleaning, maintenance, and rescue operations and work within and around petroleum and petrochemical liquid storage tanks. The workers include, but are not limited to tank owners and operators, tank maintenance and repair workers, tank contractors and rescue personnel. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, API, and NFPA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort. OSHA, API and NFPA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals: Encourage petroleum and petrochemical industry workers including tank owners and operations supervisors, tank repair and maintenance supervisors, tank contractor supervisors and confined space rescue leaders to take the OSHA train-the-trainer course on occupational safety and health standards and to carry that knowledge back into field to train operators, workers and rescuers in safe work practices in the petroleum and petrochemical liquid storage industry. Share information on best practices and lessons learned, as jointly determined by OSHA, API, and NFPA, with others in the industry and publicize the results through outreach by API and through OSHA-, API- or NFPA-developed training programs and materials. Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's, API's, and NFPA's Web sites. Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or industry conferences such as the API/NFPA Safety Tank Entry Workshop. Promote and encourage the petroleum and petrochemical industry's participation in OSHA cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. 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 proved 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 each of the organizations 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 quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States? and OSHA Consultation Projects? participation on the team. This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Any signatory may terminate the agreement or their participation in the agreement for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice to the other participants. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories. _____________________ ________ John Henshaw                     Date Assistant Secretary Occupational Safety and Health Administration _____________________ ________ Red Cavaney                      Date President and CEO American Petroleum Institute _____________________ ________ James M. Shannon              Date President and CEO National Fire Protection Association