The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Bergen County Health Officers Society (BCHOS) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safe and more healthful workplaces. OSHA and BCHOS hereby form an Alliance to provide BCHOS members and others, including young workers, with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect worker health and safety. The Alliance will focus on a number of areas, and in particular, reducing and preventing exposure to amputations, hazardous materials, electrical and other hazards.

In developing this Alliance, OSHA and BCHOS recognize that OSHA’s NJ State Plan Program, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Program and the On-Site Consultation Program are an integral part of this Alliance.

OSHA, PEOSH, On-Site Consultation and BCHOS will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Increase access to safety and health training resources and related materials for employers, employees and young workers who may be working with slicing machines, balers and other equipment.
  
  
• Provide yearly, safety hazard awareness training to BCHOS members. The training will focus on proper machine guarding, electrical safety, emergency evacuation and hazardous material handling.
  
  
• In addition to the above, training will include an update on the Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Program and the On-Site Consultation Program.

OSHA and BCHOS will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• BCHOS Registered Environmental Health Specialists will be trained and be able to recognize safety hazards; unguarded slicing machines and band saws, blocked exits, hazardous materials storage and handling and electrical hazards.
  
  
• Develop and disseminate safety and health information to select business establishments in Bergen County, New Jersey. The materials will be given out during the normal course of business.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at BCHOS conferences, local meetings or other events.
  
  
• Promote and encourage BCHOS members to provide information on the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program, On-site Consultation Program, Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), and Governor’s Safety Award Program to both private and public sector employers.
  
  
• Encourage other BCHOS type County Health Officer Organizations to build relationships with other OSHA Area Offices.

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 product or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet on a regular quarterly schedule 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. 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 concurrence of signatories.