The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness (UPCPHP) and the Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. UPCPHP, CPHP and OSHA hereby form an Alliance to provide rural responders 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 hazards associated with pandemic influenza. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and UPCPHP and CPHP recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

UPCPHP, CPHP and OSHA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Deliver training to each of the rural counties within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that addresses what rural responders must know about public health emergencies, specifically addressing pandemic influenza, common hazards, biological hazards, personal protection and OSHA’s role in disaster response.
• Share expertise to develop training and education programs that address all of the occupational safety and health hazards specific to rural emergency responders and to communicate such information to employers and employees in the industry.

UPCPHP, CPHP and OSHA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Share expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information, such as print and electronic media and electronic assistance tools, to employers and employees in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at rural responders’ conferences, local meetings, or other special events.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by UPCPHP and CPHP and through OSHA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Work with other Alliance participants on issues and projects addressing pandemic influenza and all other hazards specific to rural emergency responders that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
• Encourage rural responder organizations to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States, and Consultation Projects to address health and safety issues, including all hazards addressing pandemic influenza issues.

UPCPHP and CPHP and OSHA 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 UPCPHP and CPHP leaders address groups.
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on all hazards addressing pandemic influenza issues 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 OSHA enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of all 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 three years. A 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 OSHA, UPCPHP, and CPHP.