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AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OKLAHOMA CITY AREA OFFICE,
MID-AMERICA TECHNOLOGY CENTER
DIVISION OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
AND
OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oklahoma City Area Office, Mid-America Technology Center and the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers recognize the importance of promoting and/or enhancing employer and employee awareness of workplace hazards and providing effective assistance to employers in their efforts to provide safe and healthful workplaces. All groups understand the value of building collaborative relationships and using their collective efforts and expertise to eliminate workplace hazards, reduce workplace injuries and illnesses and advance a culture of accident prevention.

OSHA, Mid-America Technology Center, and the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers agree to establish an Alliance to promote safer working conditions for the nursing home industry employees by providing ergonomics training opportunities to help protect nursing home employees from ergonomic-related injuries and prevent employee exposure to ergonomic stressors in the workplace that result in a variety of conditions collectively referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In addition, the groups will work to increase nursing home’s employees’ access to ergonomic safety and health information and educational resources.

OSHA and Mid-America Technology Center agree to work together to achieve the following training and educational goals:
  • Develop ergonomic training programs to enable employees involved in patient care and handling to:

    • Recognize the signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders so that they can report them early and respond to them appropriately.
       
    • Identify those jobs or tasks that have ergonomic stressors capable of causing MSDs.
       
    • Know how to control ergonomic stressors through the use of engineering controls, administrative, and work practice controls.
       
    • Techniques for informing residents about the benefits of lift assists.
  • Develop other training and education programs in response to any “needs” identified by members or the association.
     
  • Survey attendees/participants for information on any benefits realized from provided training and education programs.
OSHA and the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers agree to work together to achieve the following training and educational goals:
  • Endorse, support and promote ergonomic training programs and other training and education programs developed by Mid-America Technology Center in response to “needs” identified by members and/or the association.
     
  • Coordinate the scheduling of training programs with Mid-America Technology Center.
     
  • Assist Mid-American Technology Center in arranging for the delivery of training and education programs.
OSHA will work with Mid-America Technology Center and the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers to achieve the following training and educational goals:
  • Provide informational material of a regulatory and advisory nature, relevant to the nursing home industry, to Mid-America Technology Center and to the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers for dissemination to their members.
     
  • Speak, exhibit or appear at conferences, local meetings or other events, as time and resources allow.
     
  • Assist Mid-America Technology Center in providing training and educational programs when appropriate.
     
  • Coordinate the quarterly meetings of implementation team members of the Alliance.
An implementation team made up of representatives of OSHA, Mid-America Technology Center and the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers will meet within 30 days of the signing of the Alliance Agreement to develop a plan for implementing the agreement. The team 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 two years and may be modified at any time with the concurrence of al signatories. Any of the signatories may terminate this agreement for any reason at any time with a 30 day written notice.
 


 
James E. Brown, III
Area Director
USDOL Occupational Safety and Health Administration

 
April 21, 2003		  

 
Rebecca Moore
Executive Director
Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers

 
April 21, 2003


 
Bruce Bridwell
Industrial Coordinator
Mid-America Technology Center

 
April 21, 2003