Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Region I

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, heralded a new era in the history of public efforts to protect workers from on the job injuries and illnesses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") is a special agency within the United States Department of Labor ("USDOL") created by the Secretary of Labor ("Secretary") to administer the OSH Act.

The Utility Contractors Association of New England, Inc. ("UCANE") is a non-profit corporation created under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. UCANE represents more than 100 union and non-union contractors principally engaged in public construction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other New England states, as well as more than 100 materialmen, suppliers, and associate members who assist those directly engaged in public construction. UCANE members and their employees have supplied the materials and constructed the infrastructure of New England, including its water treatment facilities, water, sewer and utility pipelines, highways, tunnels, mass transit projects, and airports, including, but not limited to, the Boston Harbor Clean-Up Project, Central Artery Third Harbor Tunnel Project ("Big Dig"), the construction and expansion of Logan International Airport and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority subways and commuter rail lines.

UCANE and OSHA continue to strive to meet contractors’ needs by providing information, assistance, and training that will enable employers and employees to successfully eliminate and reduce the hazards associated with working in the utility construction industry.

UCANE and OSHA recognize the value that successful safety and health management systems add to a work site and the impact of using a cooperative approach between OSHA, management, and employees. UCANE and OSHA agree to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge by:
  • Sharing information and best practices as jointly determined by OSHA and UCANE to avoid accidents, injuries, and illnesses in the utility construction industry with particular emphasis on trenching and excavation and other hazards common to the utility construction industry.
     
  • Promoting occupational safety and health through mutual effort and cooperation of management, employees, and OSHA.
     
  • Establishing lines of communication between OSHA, UCANE, its members and their employees and other related stakeholders that will encourage cooperation with OSHA, foster understanding of the safety and health needs of the members and allow the exchange of technical information and safe work practices associated with working in the construction industry.
     
  • Encouraging the use of OSHA’S outreach services, including consultation, training, and technical assistance.
UCANE, their members and employees, and OSHA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
  • Exchange technical information and safe work practices.
     
  • Update UCANE members regarding OSHA procedures and policy issues at UCANE meetings.
     
  • Use existing safety and health communication tools including web sites, newsletters, outreach, and conference exhibits.
     
  • Provide workshop information at UCANE meetings.
     
  • Establish links with OSHA area offices, OSHA’S Compliance Assistance Specialists and Massachusetts Consultation Projects.
UCANE and OSHA will also work together to affect the following training and education goals:
  • Provide instruction on construction safety and health hazards to member companies through their UCANE representatives.
     
  • Invite representatives of the Massachusetts Consultation Project on a periodic basis to participate as guest speakers at the meetings.
An implementation team made up of UCANE and OSHA representatives will meet periodically to achieve the goals of the Alliance. Additional team members may be brought in, as needed, to assist with technical matters or special projects. The implementation team will determine Alliance procedures, identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants, track, analyze and share information on activities and results, and meet annually to evaluate the effectiveness of the agreement.

This Agreement will remain in effect for one (1) year from the date of signing and will automatically be renewed annually thereafter. This Agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories and may be terminated for any reason within 30 days written notice from either signatory.


OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

BY:_________________________________
ITS:________________________________
DATE:_______________________________
UTILITY CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

BY:_________________________________
ITS:________________________________
DATE:_______________________________