AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
TAMPA AREA OFFICE
AND
SUNCOAST UTILITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Suncoast Utility Contractors Association (SUCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and SUCA hereby form an Alliance to provide employers and employees in the construction industry and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in the reducing and preventing of exposure to hazards during trenching and excavation procedures, confined space entry and other imminent dangers in the underground utility construction industry. The Alliance Participants will also work to increase the understanding of worker's rights and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and SUCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goal related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on underground utility construction hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace and/or to provide input on safety and health issues.

Training and Education

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

• To develop effective training and education programs for the utility construction industry regarding safe trenching and excavation procedures, confined space entry and other imminent dangers in the underground utility construction industry and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of underground utility construction courses.

Outreach and Communication

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

• 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 SUCA's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SUCA conferences, local meetings, or other outreach events.
• To share among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professional information regarding SUCA's good practices or effective approaches through outreach materials developed by OSHA and SUCA, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.

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 proven 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 plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the Participants. 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. OSHA Team members will include representatives of the OSHA Tampa Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects to participate on the Team.

This Agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided such signatory give 30-days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the written concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this ____ day of ______________, 2015