The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) recognize the value of continuing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the HCANJ therefore agree to renew the Alliance, signed on July 11, 2003 to use their collective expertise to help advance a culture of accident prevention while sharing information, guidance, best practices, access to training resources and technical knowledge that will help protect employees’ safety and health. In particular, the Alliance focuses on reducing and preventing exposure to hazards endemic to the long term care industry such as, but is not limited to, tuberculosis, bloodborne pathogens, ergonomic stressors, workplace violence and slips-trips and falls. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and HCANJ recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and the HCANJ will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop and deliver training and education programs to provide HCANJ’s members with information and guidance that will help their membership protect employees from health and safety hazards including but not limited to: work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); tuberculosis; bloodborne pathogens; workplace violence; and slip-trip-and falls.

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

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic compliance assistance tools and OSHA’s and the HCANJ’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or HCANJ conferences, local meetings, or other events.
  
  
• Promote and encourage HCANJ members to participate in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. (SHARP).

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

• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
  
  
• Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever HCANJ’s leaders address groups.

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 continue to 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. Team members will include representatives from each of OSHA’s New Jersey Area Offices and HCANJ. Representatives from HCANJ member facilities may also participate in team activities as determined by the team. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

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.

Signed this 1st day of May, 2006.