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AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Houston North and South Area Office
AND
The Texas Chemical Council
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Texas Chemical Council (TCC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to cultivate healthy and safe American workplaces. OSHA and the TCC therefore agree to form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of illness and injury prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge. The agreement focuses on general injury and illness prevention programs specifically focused on those hazards that are unique to the Chemical and Refining Industries.

Texas Chemical Council (TCC) is a statewide trade association of chemical manufacturing facilities in Texas. Currently, 85 member companies produce vital products for our way of life, fulfill educational and quality-of-life needs, and provide employment and career opportunities for some 70,000 Texans at more than 200 separate facilities across the state. Their combined economic activity sustains about 400,000 jobs for Texans. Organized in 1953, TCC was the country’s first state trade association that represented the chemical industry's common interests at the state level.

The Chemical and Refining Industry has hazards and constraints that are unique and special to the industry. TCC members are already addressing these issues and the methods used are of special interest to OSHA, not to mention, the Industry as a whole. TCC emphasizes sharing this information throughout their membership organization.

OSHA and the TCC agree to establish an Alliance to promote healthy and safe working conditions for all workers through the TCC – Environmental Health and Safety Seminar Committee:
  • Providing TCC members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees' health and safety by reducing and preventing employee exposure to the hazards related to the chemical and related industries.
TCC and OSHA will work together to effect the following outreach and communication goals:
  • Seeking opportunities to jointly develop and disseminate information at conferences, events, or through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA's and the TCC web sites.

  • Promoting and encouraging TCC members' worksite participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation, and SHARP. In addition, they will act as facilitators to members that aspire to excellence in health and safety for their worksites.

  • Developing, promoting and sharing information on best worksite practices of TCC members with others in the safety and health profession through outreach by the TCC and OSHA's various programs.
OSHA and the TCC will also work together to achieve the following training and education goal:
  • Assisting TCC members with developing and delivering training and education programs designed to educate its members on the hazards associated with working in the chemical and refining industry.
An implementation team made up of representatives of OSHA and the TCC Environmental Health and Safety Seminar Committee 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 also afford the opportunity for representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association and the association of state Consultation Projects to participate as well.

This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing and will be automatically renewed thereafter unless terminated by either of the signatories. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of the signatories and may be terminated for any reason with 30 days written notice from either of the signatories.
 


 
Joe Reina
Deputy Regional Administrator
OSHA Region 6

 
Date

 
Larry Hensley
Texas Chemical Council
Vice Chairman
Occupational Safety Committee

 
Date


 
Chuck Williams
Area Director
OSHA Houston South Office

 
Date

 
Stephen Greco
Texas Chemical Council
2005 Chairman
Environmental Health and Safety Committee

 
Date


 
John Lawson
Area Director
OSHA Houston North Office

 
Date

 
Sheryl Kuhfeldt
Texas Chemical Council
2006 Chairman
Environmental Health and Safety Seminar Planning Committee

 
Date