The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and APTA hereby form an Alliance to provide APTA 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 risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and addressing ergonomic issues. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and APTA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on the epidemiology, recognition, care, and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in rehabilitation services for physical therapists and other healthcare providers.
  
  
• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to identify and develop tools for physical therapists and other healthcare professionals working in various healthcare settings to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders and promote safe patient handling.

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

• Develop and disseminate information on topics specific to the Alliance goals and objectives (i.e. success stories, best practices, research updates, products, and other relevant material) through diverse communications media including: APTA and OSHA Web sites, APTA publications, and other professional association media outlets.
  
  
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding APTA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by APTA and through OSHA or APTA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or APTA conferences, state and local meetings, and similar events.
  
  
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues or projects related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and healthcare providers that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
  
  
• Encourage APTA worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Region V Area offices to address health and safety issues, including injuries in healthcare workers.

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

• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value that physical therapy practitioners can bring to the workplace and publicize their results.
  
  
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on musculoskeletal 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. Team members will include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs 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. 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.