AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
ALLENTOWN AREA OFFICE
AND
TRICOUNTY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce hereby form an Alliance to provide the Chamber members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing employee injuries and illnesses. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the Chamber recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and the Chamber will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Develop training and education programs on occupational safety and health issues relevant to Chamber members.
  
  
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of courses/seminars addressing various safety and health topics, including but not limited to: Preparing for an OSHA Inspection, Effective Safety and Health Programs, OSHA Recordkeeping Regulations, Top Violated Conditions in Construction and General Industry worksites, Multi-Employer Worksite issues, and/or others as deemed appropriate for the members of this Chamber.
  
  
• Encourage Chamber members to participate in OSHA Training Institute courses offered through the OSHA Training Institute and/or through the numerous designated Educational Centers.

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

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's and the Chamber's Web sites.
  • The Chamber will continuously update its web page, to link to a wide variety of safety and health information that offers OSHA compliance assistance.
  • OSHA will assist the Chamber by providing compliance assistance news items for posting on its web page.
  • The Chamber will highlight and publicize safety and health outreach sessions and success stories to its membership.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at Chamber conferences, local meetings, or other occupational safety and health events in order to raise awareness of occupational safety and health and accident/incident prevention.
  
  
• Promote and encourage Chamber members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, Partnerships, and the Voluntary Protection Program, the Consultation Program, and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding Chamber best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by the Chamber and through OSHA or Chamber developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  
  
• Encourage Chamber members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to share technical expertise about industry practice and to address health and safety issues.

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

• Raise awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever the Chamber leaders or OSHA representatives have the opportunity to address Chamber members and others about workplace safety and health.
  
  
• 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 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 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 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. 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.