The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and South Central Wisconsin Association of Occupational Health Nurses (SCWAOHN) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and SCWAOHN hereby form an Alliance to provide SCWAOHN members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety in all types of work places, particularly in the area of ergonomics and safe patient handling, and bloodborne pathogens. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and SCWAOHN recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Develop training and education programs targeted to occupational health in the areas of ergonomics, safe patient handling, and bloodborne pathogens.

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

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's Web site.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SCWAOHN conferences, local meetings, or other occupational and environmental health and safety events.
  
  
• Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in grain handling best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and SCWAOHN.
  
  
• Promote and encourage the participation of members' of the occupational health community in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA and SCWAOHN, of the occupational health community with others in the industry and publicize the results through outreach by SCWAOHN and through OSHA- or SCWAOHN -developed training programs and materials.
  
  
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects for the occupational health community that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
  
  
• Encourage members of the occupational health community to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

OSHA and SCWAOHN will 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 addressing groups of employers or employees.
  
  
• Develop, disseminate and publicize case studies that demonstrate the value to business of effective safety and health programs.
  
  
• Convene and participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on safety and health issues impacting the occupational health community to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace and 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 quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA will encourage OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for three (3) years. The agreement will be reviewed annually in writing and at the end of the 3 year term by the implementation team. The agreement may be renewed at the end of 3 years with the concurrence of the implementation team. The Alliance agreement may be terminated when:

• The project does not coincide with the stated goals of the Alliance.
  
  
• The primary parties withdraw from the Alliance.
  
  
• The goals of the program have been met.

The program is expected to be in effect for three years. The Alliance Agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatory parties. Signed this date of March 7, 2008.