Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Region II


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), New Jersey Public Employee's Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) and the Somerset County Business Partnership recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces. OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to provide leadership, guidance, and a positive example to employers and employees in both the private and public sectors. This Alliance will help foster a culture of worker health and safety and accident prevention through cooperative sharing of technical knowledge and best practices, including knowledge of specific standards, regulations, guidelines and procedures, and other general methods of improving workplace safety and health. OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership recognize that New Jersey's On-Site Consultation Program may assist in these efforts.

OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Use collective expertise to develop training and educational programs designed to promote and improve worker safety and health in Somerset County and facilitate communication between OSHA, PEOSH and employers, especially smaller employers. These training and educational programs will focus primarily on enabling employers to better understand OSHA's and PEOSH's requirements in specific occupational safety and health subject areas. This may include recordkeeping, walking and working surfaces, means of egress, flammable and combustible materials, personal protective equipment, machine guarding and lockout/tagout, material handling, electrical safety, bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazard communication. Training will also enable employers to be aware of emergent issues impacting worker safety and health within their companies or workplaces such as emergency preparedness and the incident command system, safety and health programs, motor vehicle safety, ergonomics, workplace violence and participation in the various cooperative programs.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to achieve the following outreach and communications goals:
  • Work together and share expertise in developing information and outreach materials designed to enhance employer and employee recognition and prevention of workplace hazards. Develop ways of communicating this information to employers and employees in the Somerset County area through print and electronic media (including the OSHA NJ E-Newsletter, compliance assistance tools, and OSHA's, PEOSH's and Somerset County Business Partnership's web sites).

  • Speak, exhibit or appear at Somerset County Business Partnership conferences and special events such as Incident Command System training seminars

  • Promote and encourage Somerset County Business Partnership private and public sector members' awareness of and participation in OSHA's and PEOSH's cooperative programs such as Alliances, Partnerships, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

  • Share information among OSHA personnel, PEOSH personnel, Somerset County Business Partnership members, and private and public sector safety and health professionals regarding effective approaches or best safety and health practices. Publicize results through outreach by OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset Business Partnership-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, lectures or any other applicable forum.

  • The Somerset County Business Partnership will make a portion of their publications obtainable, on a space available basis, for articles regarding safety and health education.

  • OSHA will give priority consideration to requests from Somerset County Business Partnership member companies for speakers and presenters on matters regarding safety and health.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
  • Work together with Somerset County Business Partnership membership organizations to build a safety and health awareness culture within the Somerset County community.

  • Raise awareness of workplace hazards and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health whenever OSHA, PEOSH or Somerset County Business Partnership leaders meet or address groups at forums and other periodic events.
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, 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 OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will conference to develop a plan of action and identify 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.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing. 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 concurrence of all signatories.

Signature date: __________________________________


For the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 



 
Louis Ricca, Jr.
Acting Regional Administrator
Region II		  



 
Robert D. Kulick
Area Director
Avenel Area Office 		 


For Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health



 
Leonard Katz
Assistant Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Labor Standards and Safety Enforcement		  


For the Somerset County Business Partnership



 
Thomas D. Sharpe
Interim President