The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) / Joint Commission Resources (JCR) hereby renew the Alliance signed
July 27, 2004. OSHA and JCAHO/JCR continue to recognize the value of establishing a collaborative
relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. Both organizations are
committed to protecting health care employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and
preventing exposure to biological and airborne hazards in health care and addressing emergency
preparedness, ergonomics, and workplace violence issues. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and JCAHO/JCR
recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Onsite Consultation Project partners are an integral part of
the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and JCAHO/JCR will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs targeted to health
care workers on topics including:
- Emergency preparedness
- Biological and airborne hazards
- Ergonomics
- Workplace violence
OSHA and JCAHO/JCR 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 JCAHO/JCR's Web sites)
to employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or JCAHO/JCR conferences, local meetings, or other
jointly-sponsored events.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
JCAHO/JCR best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by JCAHO/JCR
and through OSHA or JCAHO/JCR developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and
lectures (or any other applicable forum).
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to health care
worker safety that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
OSHA and JCR 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 health care
worker safety related 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 Directorates of Cooperative and State Programs and Science,
Technology and Medicine as well as 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. All signatories 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.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration |
Date |
Karen
Timmons
President and Chief Executive Officer
Joint Commission Resources |
Date |
Dennis O'Leary
President
Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations |
Date |
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