The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Printing
Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) and the
Screenprinting & Graphic Imaging Association International (SGIA) recognize the
value of establishing a collaborative relationship to cultivate safer and more
healthful American workplaces. OSHA, PIA/GATF, and SGIA therefore agree to form
an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of injury
and illness prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge,
especially in the area of ergonomics.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), PIA/GATF and SGIA
agree to establish an Alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions
for graphic communications employees by:
- Providing PIA/GATF and SGIA members with information and
guidance that will help them protect employees? health and safety, particularly
in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards.
- Reach out to members who may benefit from mentoring or
guidance in developing, implementing, or improving ergonomic programs.
OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will work together to achieve the
following outreach and communication goals:
- Seek opportunities to jointly develop and disseminate information at
conferences, events, or through print and electronic media that serve the
graphic communications industry, including links from OSHA's, PIA/GATF's and
SGIA's Web sites.
- Seek opportunities to speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local
meetings, or other events that serve the graphic communications industry to
promote the effectiveness of ergonomic programs.
- Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health practitioners in PIA/GATF
and SGIA ergonomic best practices or programs.
- Promote and encourage PIA/GATF and SGIA members' participation in OSHA's
cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection
Program, Consultation, SHARP. In addition, act as facilitators to PIA/GATF's and
SGIA's members/worksites that aspire to excellence in safety and health.
OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will work together to achieve the following goals
related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- Encouraging PIA/GATF and SGIA members/worksites to act as industry liaisons
and resources for OSHA?s cooperative programs and Compliance Assistance
Specialists.
- Develop, promote and share information on best practices of PIA/GATF and SGIA
members/worksites with others in the graphic communications industry through
outreach by PIA/GATF and SGIA and OSHA's various programs.
- Share data supporting the solutions to ergonomic hazards developed by PIA/GATF
and SGIA, as well as examples of hazard recognition strategies and analytical
tools with OSHA and others in the graphic communications industry to encourage
wide implementation.
- Convene or participate in forums and round table discussions on ergonomic
problems to help forge innovative solutions to ergonomic issues in the
workplace.
OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will also work together to achieve the following
training and education goals:
- Develop and deliver training and education programs on ergonomic hazard
reduction and elimination in the graphic communications industry.
An implementation team made up of representatives of all signatory 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 Directorates of Federal-State Operations, Compliance
Programs, Safety Standards, and Technical Support. OSHA will afford the
opportunity for representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan
Association and the association of state Consultation Projects to participate as
well.
This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing and
will automatically be renewed annually thereafter. This agreement may be
modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories and may be
terminated for any reason with 30 days written notice from any of the
signatories.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
______________________ ____
John Henshaw Date
Assistant Secretary
Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation
______________________ ____
Benjamin Y. Cooper Date
Executive Vice President
Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International
______________________ ____
Michael Robertson Date
President
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