AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE BISMARCK AREA OFFICE OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
A COALITION OF TRENCH TRAINING PARTNERS
INCLUDING
NORTH DAKOTA WORKFORCE SAFETY INSURANCE (WSI), NORTH DAKOTA SAFETY COUNCIL (NDSC), ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS(ABC) of MINNESOTA & NORTH DAKOTA, ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS(AGC), ENERGY COALITION FOR CONTRACTOR SAFETY(ECCS), MONDAKS SAFETY NETWORKS, and BAKKEN BASIN SAFETY CONSORTIUM

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The Bismarck Area Office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Coalition of Trench Training Partners recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful North Dakotan workplaces. The Coalition hereby forms an Alliance, to provide North Dakota's employers and workers with information, guidance and training resources that will assist them in implementing a robust systems approach to advancing the health and safety of employees within trenching and excavating in the construction industry and the energy services industry. The overarching goal of this Alliance is to reduce the number of occupational exposures to physical and chemical hazards, which can result in injuries and fatalities. 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.

The Coalition members will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Collaborate to develop and communicate training and education programs for the construction industry and the energy services industry that meets or exceeds the requirements for trenching and excavating in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.
• Collaborate to provide continual awareness to its members through presentations and printed media on the hazards associated with trenching and excavations.
• Collaborate with other governmental agencies and private entities to facilitate occupational and environmental health and safety presentations, training and resources at quarterly organizational meetings specifically related to trenching.

The Coalition members will provide feedback to OSHA quarterly on this partnerships effectiveness by:

• Identifying the total number of employers they have trained and the total number of employees affected by their training.
• Identifying the number of employees that have been trained as competent persons for trenching and excavating.
• Identifying the number of onsite inspections/monitoring's their organization have conducted regarding trenching and excavating and the most prevalent hazards identified. Company names will not be provided to OSHA, to ensure employer confidentiality.

OSHA will support the Coalitions efforts by providing the following as requested:

• Providing specific training to inspectors and auditors on how to identify trenching hazards.
• Provide outreach activities and presentations to these organizations relating to trenching and excavating.
• Assist in providing information for the development of training materials, hazard warnings, and safety alerts for coalition members.
• Coordinate for quarterly meetings to monitoring overall alliance progress.

The Alliance provides parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA Bismarck for the purposes of training and education, outreach and communication, and promoting a dialogue on workplace safety and health.

The Alliance has proved to be a valuable tool for both OSHA and its participants. By entering into an Alliance, The Coalition does not endorse any of the participant's products or services, nor does The Coalition enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet and develop a work plan, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Meetings will be scheduled quarterly 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. Any signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give a 30 day written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories.

Signed on May 3, 2018 in Bismarck, North Dakota.