The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Atlanta Regional Office, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Southeastern Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training (SELCAT), and the Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter (SLCC)/ National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the IBEW, SELCAT and the SLCC/NECA hereby renew the Alliance signed September 26, 2003 and renewed on December 20, 2006, with a continued emphasis on protecting worker’s health and safety. Specifically, in reducing and preventing exposure to electrical transmission and distribution equipment hazards. OSHA and the IBEW, SELCAT and the SLCC/NECA are committed to providing IBEW, SELCAT and the SLCC/NECA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and IBEW, SELCAT and the SLCC/NECA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goal related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on electrical injury and illnesses and common safety hazards in order to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• To develop effective training and education programs for workers in the electrical utility industry regarding hazard recognition, safety and health management systems (SHMS) and health hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of courses regarding fatal accidents in the electrical utility industry, including improper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), failure to maintain a safe distance, and failure to utilize proper equipotential grounding techniques.  The Alliance participants will ensure that experienced workers, as well as, inexperienced workers, including, but not limited to apprentices lineman will receive training.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the IBEW’s, SELCAT’s and the SLCC/NECA’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or attend the IBEW Fifth and Tenth Districts Annual Progress Meetings, Outside Apprenticeship Conference, IBEW Fifth District Construction Organizing Summit, SELCAT and SLCC/NECA Membership Meetings, local labor meetings, training sessions, or other events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding IBEW’s, SELCAT’s, and SLCC/NECA’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA and through OSHA or IBEW, SELCAT, and SLCC/NECA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or any other applicable forum). 

OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication.  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 or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization 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 shareinformation on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.  OSHA team members will include representatives of the OSHA Atlanta Regional Office and any other appropriate offices.  OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two-years.  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 written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 21st day of July, 2011.

¹ Allied Electrical Contractors, Ca-Par Electric, C & C Powerline, Dillard Smith Construction Company, Lawrence Electric Company, Marable-Pirkle, Inc., Mills Electric Service, Inc., New River Electric Corporation, Olson Utility Construction, Inc., Par Electric Construction Company, Service Electric Company, Standard Electric Company, The L.E. Myers Company, USA Airmobile, Inc., Gayco Electric Company, Heart Utilities of Jacksonville, Richardson-Wayland Electrical Company, Bison Electric, and Midwest Electric Control Specialist

SIGNATURES: