Georgia Institute of Technology-Safety, Health, and Environmental Technology Division, and American Society of Safety Engineers – Trench Safety Task Force: Alliance Agreement

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Georgia Institute of Technology –Safety, Health, and Environmental Technology Division (Georgia Tech) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) – Trench Safety Task Force recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, Georgia Tech and ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force hereby form an Alliance to provide ASSE 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 exposure to trenching and excavation hazards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, Georgia Tech and ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, Georgia Tech and ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for ASSE members and others regarding trenching and excavation hazards and provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the construction industry.
The Trench Safety Task Force will deliver or arrange for the delivery of trench safety training courses to authorities overseeing excavation work to increase their awareness of the trenching hazards and enable them to identify unsafe trench conditions.

OSHA, Georgia Tech and ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, such as an excavation safety fact sheet. Provide expertise in the communication of information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s and the disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA’s and ASSE’s Web sites) to employees and employers in the industry.
Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s, Georgia Tech’s or ASSE conferences, local meetings, or other construction events.
Encourage ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force members’ workplaces to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States, and Consultation Projects to address health and safety issues, including alerting OSHA to unsafe excavation operations by providing referrals to local OSHA offices for uncorrected trenching hazards.

OSHA, Georgia Tech and ASSE – Trench Safety Task Force will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

Raise construction contractors and others’ safety awareness of trenching and excavation safety requirements, competent person training and commitment to workplace safety and health whenever ASSE - Trench Safety Task Force members address groups.
Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on trenching and excavation 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 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. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

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.

Andre Richards Atlanta- West Area Director Occupational Safety and Health Administration	Date	Gei Thae Breezley Atlanta-East Area Director Occupational Safety and Health Administration	Date
Bob Wilson Director Georgia Chapter, American Society of Safety Engineers	Date	John T. Moore Construction Safety Chairman Georgia Chapter, American Society of Safety Engineers	Date
Daniel Ortiz Program Manager GA Tech Research Institute’s, Safety, Health & Environmental Technology Division	Date


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