The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Tarrytown, Manhattan, and Avenel area Offices (OSHA) and Dignet of New York City and Long Island, Inc. (Dignet) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and Dignet hereby form an Alliance to provide Dignet members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to trenching and excavation hazards and addressing struck-by and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issues, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and Dignet recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
• To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• To convene or participate in forums or stakeholder meetings on trenching and excavation hazards in order to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by encouraging dialogue between employers and employees concerning the development and implementation of injury and illness prevention plans.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• To develop effective training and education programs for Dignet members regarding trenching and excavation hazards and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for Dignet members to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers, and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of trenching and excavation courses.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and Dignet’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or Dignet’s annual conferences and local meetings.

Through the Alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, faith & community based organizations, businesses and educational institutions. OSHA and the participant groups will work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections.

OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. 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 or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of DigNet, Tarrytown, Avenel, and Manhattan Area Office representatives 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. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Any 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 written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 20th day of April, 2011