Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Alliances

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees AFT / AFL-CIO (HPAE) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the HPAE hereby form an Alliance to provide the HPAE membership with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect their health and safety by reducing and preventing exposure to health care industry hazards. OSHA and HPAE will focus on a number of areas including, work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s), tuberculosis, blood borne pathogens, slips, trips, and falls, electrical hazards, and workplace violence.

In developing this Alliance, OSHA and HPAE recognize that OSHA’s NJ On-Site Consultation Program is an integral part of this Alliance and the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and HPAE will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Provide HPAE members, including non-English speakers, with training, information and guidance that will protect them from health and safety hazards including but not limited to: work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); tuberculosis; blood borne pathogens; slips-trips-and falls; electrical hazards; and workplace violence.

  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of the OSHA 10 Hour General Industry course for the membership, including non-English speakers, with added emphasis on health care industry safety and health hazards.
OSHA and the HPAE will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
  • Provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace safety and health hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and the OSHA and HPAE Web sites) to the membership and their employers.

  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, or other events such as the alliance partners joint NJ Health Care Association / NJ Hospital Association / NJ Association of Non Profit Homes for the Aging / HPAE / OSHA Ergonomics Conference.

  • Promote and encourage employers of HPAE members’ awareness of, and participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as, compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program and the free On-Site Consultation Program, and the NJDLWD Governor’s Safety and Health Awards Program.

  • Share information among OSHA personnel and health care industry safety and health professionals regarding best practices or effective approaches, and publicize the results through outreach by HPAE and through OSHA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars or any other applicable forum.

  • Encourage the HPAE membership, and in particular, bi-lingual members, to take the OSHA Train the Trainer course for General Industry, in order that they may qualify to teach the HPAE membership and others, such as newly hired and non-English speaking workers.
OSHA and HPAE will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
  • Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever HPAE members and administrators address health care industry groups.

  • Develop and disseminate case studies and success stories illustrating the business and social value of workplace safety and health and publicize their results in the OSHA Region 2 Newsletter and on the HPAE website.

  • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions or meetings such as the HPAE annual conference to focus on health care industry issues such as work related musculoskeletal disorders, hazard recognition and communication and workplace violence.
OSHA’s Alliances provide partners and their constituents with 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. OSHA Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance partners. 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 working 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 Alliance goals. Team members will include representatives of OSHA, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, On-Site Consultation Program and HPAE.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing. Signatories may terminate it for any reason at any time, providing they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with concurrence of signatories.
 
Signed on this 6th day March, 2006

 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration    



 
Patricia K. Clark
Regional Administrator		  


 
Lisa Levy, Area Director
Hasbrouck Heights Area Office		  



 
Robert D. Kulick, Area Director
Avenel Area Office		  


 
Philip M. Peist, Area Director
Parsippany Area Office		  



 
Gary Roskoski, Area Director
Marlton Area Office		  
 		  


New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development		  



 
Leonard Katz, Assistant Commissioner
Labor Standards & Safety Enforcement		      


Health Professionals and Allied Employees AFT / AFL-CIO		  



 
Ann Twomey, President		  


 
Bernie Gerard, Jr., Vice President		  



 
Mary Ann Milligan, Secretary/Treasurer