The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the "Airline Group" recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the Airline Group (American Airlines, Air Transport Association of America, Inc., Continental Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Midwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways) hereby form an Alliance to provide the Airline Group's members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to amputations (pinch points, caught in or between), falls, struck by objects, and vehicle accidents/collisions while operating beltloaders and tugs (aircraft ground support equipment). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the Airline Group recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and Airline Group 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 the Airline Group's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or the Airline Group's (e.g. Airside Partners in Safety, Air Transport Association, and/or International Air Transport Association) conferences, and/or meetings.
  
  
• Promote and encourage the Airline Group's members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the On-site Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on ground support operations 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 all 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 all 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 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 concurrence of all signatories.