On June 14, 2004, OSHA and NFIB formed an Alliance to focus on making health
and safety information and compliance assistance resources available to all employers, especially
small and independent businesses, and communicate the need for the implementation of safety and health
management system programs in the workplace. The Alliance was renewed July 31, 2006.
Because the OSHA and NFIB Alliance has achieved its goals, the organizations agreed to conclude the
Alliance as of June 14, 2008. While the current Alliance is concluding, the organizations agree to
continue to seek opportunities to work together in the future, including the possibility of
establishing a new Alliance. A number of successes resulted from the Alliance including:
- The NFIB and a number of other Alliance Program participants are supporting Drug Free Work Week
October 20-26, 2008. The Week is a public awareness campaign that highlights the fact that being
drug free is key to protecting workplace safety and health and encourages workers with alcohol and
drug problems to seek help.
- The NFIB and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the North American
Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week May 4 -10, 2008. The Week is sponsored annually by
American Society of Safety Engineers, another Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society
of Safety Engineering and focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the
workplace. The theme for 2008 NAOSH Weeks was "Safety is Good Business."
- On April 24, 2007 Alex Novas, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region VI, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA and Small Business" at the NFIB Area Workers' Comp and OSHA
Meeting, Monroe, Louisiana. The presentation was on OSHA's regulations, safety programs and
inspections.
- On August 8, 2006, Lee Anne Jillings, Director, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; Ron Tom, Manager, Texas Occupational
Safety and Health Consultation Program and Joann Natarajan, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region
VI, Austin, Texas Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, participated in the workshop, "Onsite Consultation:
Participating in Alliances" at the OSHA Annual On-site Consultation Conference in Dallas, Texas. The
workshop was presented twice.
- Ten Department of Labor-developed articles on workplace safety and health issues were produced and
posted on the NFIB's "Tools and Tips" Web page on the NFIB Web site including:
- "Can You Say "Work Safely" in Espaņol?
- "Consultation Helps Small Businesses Establish Safety and Health Programs"
- "Helping Small Businesses Benefit from being Drug-Free"
- "When Safety Is Your Business"
- Between July 2005 and April 2006, OSHA representatives spoke at 23 NFIB Area Action Council
Workers' Compensation Meetings in Texas and Montana reaching over 750 small business owners. The
speeches were on OSHA's compliance assistance activities and resources, Hispanic outreach and
On-site Consultation Program.
Report Prepared by: Adam Brumbergs, Research Assistant, Office of Outreach
Services and Alliances, June 23, 2008.
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