American Biological Safety Association (ABSA): Alliance Renewal Agreement

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AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE AMERICAN BIOLOGICAL SAFETY ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) hereby renew their Alliance originally signed on September 23, 2002 and renewed October 13, 2004 and January 29, 2007. OSHA and ABSA will continue to use their collective expertise both to enhance workplace health and safety and to assist employers, including small businesses, in developing a preventive focus for biological safety issues facing the American workplace. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and ABSA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and ABSA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the 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 ABSA’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA’s or ABSA’s conferences, local meetings, or other events such as ABSA’s Annual Conference.
Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ABSA’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ABSA and through OSHA or ABSA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

OSHA and ABSA will work together to achieve the following goal related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on Biosafety 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 both organizations 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. Team members will include representatives of OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, 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. 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.

Donald G. Shalhoub
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration

Date

Edward J. Stygar, III, MBA, CAE
Executive Director
American Biological Safety
Association

Date