AGREEMENT RENEWING AN
ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American Council
of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship
to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and ACIL, therefore, agree to renew the
Alliance, originally signed on July 29, 2003 and renewed on November 18, 2005, to use their collective
expertise to increase awareness of OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program
for general industry and, in particular, small businesses. This includes increasing awareness of
OSHA's requirements for product approvals by NRTLs. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and ACIL
recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of
the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and ACIL 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 ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media,
electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and ACIL's Web sites) to employers and employees in general
industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or ACIL's conferences, local meetings, ACIL's annual meetings,
legislative conferences or other NRTL-related events.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ACIL and through OSHA- or
ACIL-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other
applicable forum).
- Encourage ACIL members and OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to build relationships to address
health and safety issues relating to OSHA's NTRL Program.
OSHA and ACIL 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 NRTL product
approval and electrical safety 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
Science, Technology and Medicine and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan
States' and OSHA 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.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Health and
Safety Administration |
Date |
Charles E. Van Aken
Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director
American Council of Independent Laboratories |
Date |