AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
HARTFORD AREA OFFICE
AND
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
AND
INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ConnOSHA) and the Independent Electrical Contractors of New England, Inc. (IECNE) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, ConnOSHA and IECNE hereby form an Alliance to provide IECNE members with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety. The Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health hazards, including but not limited to electrical, falls, caught-in-between and struck-by hazards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and IECNE recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, ConnOSHA and IECNE will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for IECNE members regarding electrical safe work practices, scaffolding, trenching, fall protection, caught-in-between, struck-by hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
Deliver or arrange for the delivery of Train-the-Trainer courses.
Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on Electrical Work Safe Practices.

OSHA, ConnOSHA and IECNE will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s and the IECNE Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or IECNE’s conferences and local meetings.
Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IECNE best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by IECNE and through OSHA- or IECNE-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Encourage IECNE regional council members to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

OSHA, ConnOSHA and IECNE will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever IECNE leaders address groups.
Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction industry issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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 all organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Team members will include representatives of OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs. In addition, they will meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.

This agreement will remain in effect for two 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 concurrence of both signatories.

C. WILLIAM FREEMAN Area Director Hartford Area Office Occupational Safety and Health Administration	Date	RONALD BISH President Independent Electrical Contractors of New England, Inc.	Date
RICHARD PALO Director Connecticut Department of Labor Division of Occupational Safety and Health	Date