AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MADISON AREA OFFICE
AND
WISCONSIN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wisconsin Occupational Therapists Association (WOTA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and WOTA hereby form an Alliance to provide WOTA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and WOTA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Develop training and education programs on injury prevention and injury rehabilitation targeted to occupational therapists and employers throughout Wisconsin.
  
  
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of Occupational Therapy career development/continuing education workshops and/or seminars.
  
  
• Develop workplace safety and health curricula on injury prevention and injury rehabilitation.

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

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or WOTA’s conferences, local meetings, and similar events.
  
  
• Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in occupational therapy’s best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and WOTA.
  
  
• Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA and WOTA of WOTA members’ work with employers in Wisconsin industries and publicize the results through outreach by WOTA and OSHA.
  
  
• Encourage WOTA districts to develop workgroups for Occupational Therapists’ participation in this alliance where health and safety issues applicable to WOTA customers can be served.

OSHA and WOTA 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 changing the healthcare/care giving professions’ cultures regarding transferring and repositioning patients and residents.
  
  
• Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to changing Wisconsin employers’ use of return to work protocols in their workplaces.
  
  
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of occupational therapy in workplaces and publicize the results.

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.

This agreement will remain in effect for three 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.