The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Massachusetts Water Works Association, Inc. (MWWA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and MWWA hereby form an Alliance to provide MWWA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in water works issues.

OSHA and MWWA will work together to achieve joint training and education goals, including but not limited to the following:

• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA construction and safety training courses that are applicable to the drinking water profession, to address one or more of the following topics:
  • OSHA 10 hour construction safety and health course
  • Trenching and excavation
  • Electrical
  • Fall protection
  • Earth moving equipment
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • OSHA hazard recognition
  • Power tool safety
  • Health hazards in construction
  • Confined space

OSHA and MWWA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals, including but not limited to:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA’s and MWWA’s Web sites and the MWWA’s newsletter H₂O Pump
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or MWWA’s conferences or local meetings.
  
  
• Promote and encourage MWWA members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

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

• Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever MWWA leaders address groups.
  
  
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on water works 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 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. 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.