Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Regional Alliances - Region V




Occupational Safety and Health Administration Marble Institute of America
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The Marble Institute of America (MIA) have recognized the value of continuing the collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces since the signing of the initial Alliance in March 2006. OSHA and MIA formed this Alliance to provide MIA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that have helped them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to silica hazards and addressing safety related hazards in natural stone fabricating businesses, including, but not limited to material handling, particularly slab handling issues. In continuing this Alliance, OSHA and MIA recognized that OSHA's Ohio State Consultation Project partner has also been an integral part of the OSHA national effort. All entities want to continue the progress made over the past two years and renew these efforts by continuing the Alliance for a two year period.

OSHA and MIA will continue to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for MIA member employers and employees regarding safety and health related hazards, including, but not limited to, silica exposure, material handling for slabs of stone, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of educational sessions for MIA member employers and employees in the industry.

  • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on the prevention of silicosis in the stone industry.

OSHA and MIA will continue to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
  • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and MIA's websites) to employers and employees in the industry.

  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or MIA's conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as national conferences tailored to the natural stone industry.

  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding MIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by MIA and through OSHA or MIA's developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

  • Promote and encourage MIA's members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

OSHA and MIA will continue to 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 MIA's leaders address groups.

  • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on best practices in the industry 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 continue to 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 Ohio On-Site Consultation Program's participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for a two year period. 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.
 


 


Rob Medlock
Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Cleveland Area Office

 


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Garis F. Distelhorst
Executive Vice President
The Marble Institute of America

 


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Wesley S. Hohl
Project Manager
Ohio On-site Consultation Program

 


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