The Chicago North, Aurora, and Calumet City Area Offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Chicago Medical Society (CMS) and the Chicago Dental Society (CDS) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, CMS and CDS hereby form an Alliance to provide CMS and CDS 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 bloodborne pathogen hazards and other hazards related to medical and dental facilities In developing this Alliance, OSHA, CMS and CDS recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, CMS, and CDS will work together to achieve the following training, education, and outreach goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs targeted to medical and dental professionals and their staff. There will be a series of presentations sponsored and promoted by CMS and CDS on OSHA requirements for medical and dental offices. OSHA will assist with these presentations.
  
  
• Work with OSHA to provide outreach materials for the medical and dental community on applicable OSHA standards for their workplace.
  
  
• Work with OSHA to create articles for the newsletters for CMS and CDS on workplace hazards and solutions.
  
  
• Promote and encourage CMS and CDS members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

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 from each 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 confer at least quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA will encourage the Illinois On-Site Consultation Project to participate 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 concurrence of all signatories.