The objective of this alliance is to foster a mutually beneficial environment for effective communication and training between the hotel and tourism industry and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association (USVIHTA) and the USVI OSHA Consultation Program-“Safety in Paradise” recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, USVIHTA and USVI OSHA Consultation Program hereby form an Alliance to provide members of the USVIHTA and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to fire, and, electrical hazards, and addressing personal protection equipment and hazard communication issues. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, USVIHTA and USVI OSHA Consultation Program recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, USVIHTA and USVI OSHA Consultation Program will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the hotel and tourism industry regarding fire and electrical hazards, and addressing personal protection equipment and hazard communication issues, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
  
  
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of effective hazard communication, electrical hazards, personal protective equipment, and fire protection courses.
  
  
• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula in the US Virgin Islands.

OSHA, USVIHTA and USVI OSHA Consultation Program 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 assistance tools and OSHA’s and the USVIHTA Member Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s, USVIHTA’s or USVI’s OSHA Consultation Program conferences, local meetings, or other hotel and tourism industry events.
  
  
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding USVIHTA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by USVIHTA and through OSHA, USVIHTA, or USVI OSHA Consultation Program-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  
  
• Promote and encourage USVIHTA members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on effective hazard communication that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
  
  
• Encourage USVIHTA chapters and Member worksites to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

OSHA, USVIHTA and USVI OSHA Consultation Program 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 USVIHTA leaders address groups.
  
  
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
  
  
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hotel and tourism industry issues such as hazard communication to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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 the 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 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 (2) years. 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.