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AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN THE WISCONSIN AREA OFFICES OF THE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION,
APPLETON, EAU CLAIRE, MADISON AND MILWAUKEE AREA OFFICES,
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S ON-SITE CONSULTATION PROGRAM (WisCon),
AND THE
WISCONSIN BUILDERS ASSOCIATION™
The Wisconsin Area Offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wisconsin Builders Association® (WBA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and WBA hereby form an Alliance to provide WBA 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 fall, electrical, trenching and excavation, and struck-by hazards associated with the residential construction industry. In addition, special emphasis will be placed on awareness and monitoring of the safety needs of non-English speaking workers. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and WBA recognize that OSHA's Consultation Project partners, WisCon, are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

WBA consists of 25 local associations across the state, representing more than 9,000 member companies involved in residential and light commercial construction and development and remodeling, as well as sub-contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, lenders and others associated with the home-building industry. Businesses that join a local association automatically gain membership to the WBA and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The Wisconsin Builders Association represents the interests of the home building industry in Wisconsin to the state legislature and regulatory agencies, and also offers educational programs, networking events and a variety of recognition and leadership development opportunities.

Our new collaborative relationship with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will help foster safer and more healthful home building and remodeling worksites. WBA will gain access to information, guidance and training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety, especially in reducing and preventing exposure to fall, electrical, trenching and excavation, and struck-by hazards associated with the residential construction industry.

Special emphasis will be placed on awareness and monitoring of the safety needs of non-English speaking workers.

"Dedicated to preserving and promoting the American Dream" is WBA's motto. It's Mission Statement is: "The Wisconsin Builders Association is a non-profit trade organization recognized as the building industry's professional authority, dedicated to the creation and preservation of safe, affordable, quality housing opportunities for the people of Wisconsin."

OSHA, WBA, and WisCon will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for fall, electrical, trenching and excavation, and struck-by hazards associated with the residential construction industry, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of residential construction safety courses.

  • Member-builders and remodelers will encourage their sub-contractors to attend a minimum of one training and educational workshop presented as part of this Alliance.
OSHA, WBA, and WisCon will 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 the WBA's Web sites) to WBA members.

  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or WBA's conferences, local meetings, or other Association events.

  • Encourage WBA local associations to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including construction site hazard protection

  • Create a state-wide construction safety network by designating a safety liaison from each local Home Builder Association.

  • Increase access to information and training of the non-English speaking workforce in the residential construction industry.

  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding residential construction best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by WBA and through OSHA- or WBA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, newsletters or any other applicable forum.
OSHA, WBA, and WisCon 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 WBA leaders address groups.

  • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on residential construction safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

  • The WBA will advertise the Alliance initiative on their website and in other publications.

  • OSHA will make staff available to attend WBA meetings upon request.
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 the three organizations (OSHA, WBA and WisCon) will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Team members will include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, Wisconsin Occupational Safety & Health Consultation Program, and the Wisconsin Builders Association®. 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

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.
 


 
William Wendle
Executive Vice President
Wisconsin Builders Association™

 
Date

 
Kimberly Stille
Area Director
OSHA, Madison Area Office

 
Date


 
George Yoksas
Area Director
OSHA Milwaukee Area Office

 
Date

 
Melvin R. Lischefski
Area Director
OSHA, Appleton Area Office

 
Date


 
Mark Hysell
Area Director
OSHA, Eau Claire Area Office

 
Date

 
John D. Chapin, Acting Project Manager
WI Safety & Health Consultation Program
UW State Laboratory of Hygiene

 
Date