AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THE
LASER INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Laser Institute of America (LIA) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and LIA hereby renew the Alliance signed August 9, 2005, and renewed August 22, 2007, and May 8, 2012, with a continued emphasis on laser safety. Specifically, both organizations are committed to providing LIA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by: (1) reducing and preventing exposure to beam and non-beam hazards in industrial, construction, medical and research workplaces; and (2) understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

Through the Alliance, the organizations will help identify training opportunities and areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement a means to evaluate the effectiveness of the Laser Safety training program. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and LIA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that they may participate in Alliance activities.

Training and Education

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

• Deliver the Laser Safety Best Practices Seminar three times per year to OSHA staff, On-site Consultation staff, and Compliance Officers in selected Regional/Area Offices. OSHA's State Plan Compliance Officers and Onsite Consultation staff in the selected regions will be invited to attend.
• Develop a web based training program focusing on the Laser Safety Best Practices Seminar that can be accessed by OSHA staff, OSHA State Plan staff and Onsite Consultation staff. The online training webinar will be developed and instituted within the first two years of the agreement.

Outreach and Communication

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

• Disseminate quarterly (via print and electronic media, social media, electronic assistance tools, and the LIA's web site) information on topics such as OSHA's initiatives, workers' rights, employer and employee responsibilities, and other information on occupational safety and health to employers and workers in the laser industry.
• Provide opportunities annually for OSHA to speak, exhibit, or appear at the Lasers in Manufacturing Event and for OSHA's participation at the biennial International Laser Safety Conference.
• Work with other Alliance participants (e.g., The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources) to make training on laser safety available to their members, as appropriate.

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 resources, and outreach and communication programs. 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 develop a written plan of action, establish time lines for projects, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least twice 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 Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, the Directorate of Standards and Guidance, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for five 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 18th day of December, 2014.