The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Texas Offices and Texas Association of Builders (TAB) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and TAB hereby form an Alliance to provide TAB members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to hazards present in residential construction addressing hazards including falls, struck by, caught in, and electrical hazards, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and TAB recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process to include information on the OSHA Directive for Residential Construction.  
• To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards such as electrical, fall hazards, struck by, and caught in hazards including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, training sessions, or stakeholder meetings on hazards that are commonly found in residential construction to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by providing safety information to Hispanic and teen workers through providing informational materials and training sessions to contractors, subcontractors and workers

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• To develop effective training and education programs for contractors, subcontractors, and workers regarding hazards in residential construction, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for contractors, subcontractors, and workers to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of residential construction safety courses.

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of residential construction hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the TAB’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or TAB conferences, local Home Builders Association meetings, or other events.
• To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on residential construction hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, neither TAB nor OSHA endorses or promotes, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, the other party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization 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 three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Austin OSHA Office, TAB, and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

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 written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 9th day of May, 2011.