AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE KANSAS CITY REGIONAL, KANSAS CITY AREA, AND ST. LOUIS AREA
OFFICES OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
MISSOURI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (MHA)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Kansas City Regional, Kansas City Area, and St. Louis Area Offices (OSHA) and the Missouri Hospital Association recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the MHA hereby form an Alliance to provide MHA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, 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.
Through the Alliance, the organizations will address musculoskeletal disorders related to patient handling; bloodborne pathogen and infection control; tuberculosis; slip, trip, and falls; and workplace violence hazards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and MHA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.
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 that may affect MHA members.
- To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
- To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by organizing and holding a state-wide workplace violence stand-down (webinar), focusing on the prevention of workplace violence.
Outreach and Communication
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:
- To provide information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the MHA Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or MHA conferences, local meetings, or other safety and health events.
- To participate in OSHA's and others 'safety weeks', such as but not limited to the Fall Stand-Down and Safe and Sound Week initiatives.
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 from the Kansas City Regional 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 for 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 26th day of March, 2018.
- Karena Lorek
- Area Director
- OSHA Kansas City Area Office
- William McDonald
- Area Director
- OSHA St. Louis Area Office
- Herb B. Kuhn
- President and CEO
- Missouri Hospital Association