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AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN
REGION X
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
AND
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF WASHINGTON
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Region X, and the Associated General Contractors of Washington (AGC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful construction worksites. Region X OSHA and AGC therefore agree to form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge. Keeping in mind that the majority of the construction work that AGC members perform in Washington State is under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WISHA) and not OSHA, and that many members do work outside the State in other jurisdictions, programs produced by this alliance will be applicable to worksites in all jurisdictions. Also, as part of this alliance, OSHA will not render any decisions on WISHA policies, or compliance with WISHA policies or regulations.

Region X OSHA and AGC agree to establish an Alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions for construction employees by:
  • Providing AGC members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees’ safety and health, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to construction safety and health hazards.
     
  • Increasing access to safety and health information and training resources. Region X OSHA and AGC will also work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
     
  • Develop and implement training and education programs that can be used to improve construction safety and health programs. Training and education programs may be developed under the broad categories of: Training, Hazard Recognition, Management Systems and Health Hazards: Topics under the selected categories may include:

    Training

    • Hazard Recognition
    • Fall Protection
    • Accident Investigation
    • Shipyard Competent Persons and Marine Chemists
    • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Hand and Power Tools
    • Lock-out/Tag-out
    • Record keeping
    • OSHA Compliance Inspection Procedures – Employer/Employee Rights
    Hazard Recognition

    • Fire Protection
    • Scaffolding
    • Slips, Trips and Falls
    • Housekeeping
    • Electrical
    • Welding/Cutting/Burning
    • Materials Handling and Transportation i.e. Slings, Cranes and Forklifts
    • Confined Spaces
    • Trenching and Excavation
    Management Systems

    • Employee Participation
    • Workplace Violence
    • Subcontractors
    • Substance Abuse
    • Hispanic Worker Outreach Program
    Health Hazards

    • Painting
    • Blasting
    • Welding Fume
    • Lead/Cadmium/Arsenic
    • Asbestos
    • Noise
    • Silica
    • PPE
Should an AGC member desire assistance on any topics listed above, the OSHA Region X construction coordinator will be contacted and the assistance arranged by him or her. The compliance assistance to be provided will be negotiated by the Region X construction coordinator and the AGC member.

The AGC and Region X OSHA also believe the Alliance is an excellent tool to improve the overall safety of construction sites, increase outreach and communication between OSHA and the construction industry, develop expertise of compliance officers, and participate in the national dialogue on construction safety and health.

Region X OSHA and AGC will work together to the extent possible to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
  • Invite OSHA personnel onto their construction jobsites to observe best practice situations. Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health practitioners in AGC’s best practices or effective approaches.
     
  • Promote and encourage AGC’s members’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as the Voluntary Protection Program and Partnerships. In addition, encourage AGC members to act as mentors to AGC members/worksites that aspire to excellence in safety and health.
     
  • Seek opportunities to jointly develop and disseminate information at conferences, local meetings, events, or through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA’s and AGC’s Web sites.
Region X OSHA and AGC will work together to the extent possible to achieve the following goals related to promoting the dialogue on workplace safety and health:
  • Share information on best practices of AGC members/worksites, as jointly determined by Region X OSHA and AGC, with others in the industry through outreach by AGC and through Region X OSHA or AGC developed training programs and materials.
     
  • Convene or participate in forums or roundtable discussions to discuss injury and illness trends and common construction hazards in order to help forge innovative solutions to safety problems in the workplace.
     
  • AGC leaders will demonstrate their commitment and increase awareness by discussing workplace safety and health whenever AGC leaders address groups.
     
  • Provide OSHA with model programs that OSHA can incorporate as an industry recommendation for the Construction Safety and Health "eTools."
     
  • AGC and Region X OSHA will explore the interest in an AGC/OSHA sponsored Crisis Management Symposium.
The reports and documents developed under this Alliance that are retained by OSHA are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing. Region X and the AGC will meet prior to the expiration of this alliance to discuss accomplishments and if applicable, agree upon activities for the coming year. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories and may be terminated for any reason with 30 days written notice from either signatory.

Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)		     Associated General Contractors of Washington  

_______________________________
_____		  
______________________________
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Richard S. Terrill
Regional Administrator
Region X		 Date   Roland W. Dewhurst
Executive Director
AGC of Washington		 Date