AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
CONCORD AREA OFFICE
AND
KEENE STATE COLLEGE WORKWISE NH
AND
NEW HAMPSHIRE COALITION FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Concord Area Office, Keene State College Workwise NH and the New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, KSC Workwise NH and NHCOSH hereby form an Alliance to provide Employers, Employees, Temporary Staffing Workers, Youth Workers, Immigrants and Refugees as well as others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to hazards in Construction, General Industry and Agriculture Industries while addressing common hazards within their industries and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
This 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.
Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives 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 opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
- To share information on 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 workers' rights, workplace violence and to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
- To encourage worker education and participation in workplace safety and health by providing outreach to Employers, Employees, Temporary Staffing Workers, Youth Workers, Immigrants and Refugees as well as others.
- To provide advocacy work and support for injured workers as well as support and resources for families of deceased workers.
Training and Education
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives:
- To develop effective training and education programs for Employers, Employees, Temporary Staffing Workers, Youth Workers, Immigrants and Refugees as well as others within Construction, General Industry and Agricultural Industry on common hazards found within their industries. Hazards include but are not limited to; Falls, Struck by, Caught in, Electrical, Chemical Hazards, Machine Hazards, Ergonomic Hazards, Workplace Violence as well as Heat and Cold Stress.
- To develop effective training and education programs for employers, employees and youth workers in order to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
- To deliver or arrange for the delivery of training and outreach session for the Construction, General Industry and Agricultural Industry. Topics include; Introduction to OSHA, Workplace Rights and Workplace Violence. Target Audience will include employer, employees, youth and teen workers, temporary staffing workers as well as various immigrant groups.
Outreach and Communication
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:
- 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 NHCOSH Local and National COSH Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NHCOSH conferences, local meetings, or other events.
- To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding Construction, General Industry and Agricultural best practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
- To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on Construction, General Industry and Agricultural that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
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 work plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least two 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 Concord NH Area Office 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 two years. Any 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 all signatories.
Signed this 24th day of September, 2015 by:
- Rosemarie Ohar-Cole, Area Director, OSHA
- Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, OSHA
- Rick Rumba, Consultation Program Manager, Keene State College, Workwise NH
- Brian Mitchell, Executive Director, New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health