Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Regional Alliances - Region VII

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    1/13/2006 – original signed
    1/13/2008 – expiration date of original

    Overview

    The parties intend, through this Arrangement, to establish a collaborative relationship to provide information, guidance and access to training resources in an effort to help Mexican citizens working in Nebraska to protect their working conditions and labor rights, including their health and safety. The agreement also focuses on a number of goals including:

    Training and education:
     
    • Develop and deliver training and education programs for Mexican Nationals regarding workers rights to proper minimum wage and overtime compensation, fall hazards, hazards related to construction, meat processing and migrant farming, and to communicate such information to employers and employees in these industries.
       
    • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of training concerning fall protection, personal protective equipment, ergonomics, minimum wage overtime, and hazard recognition courses.
    Outreach and communication:
     
    • Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to communicate such information (e.g., print and electronic media, including electronic tools and links to OSHA's web site from the Consulate's web site) to employers and employees in the construction, meat processing and migrant farm industries, in English and Spanish.

      Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other mutually agreed upon events, such as the Mobile Consulate meetings scheduled by the Consulate of Mexico in Omaha.

      Share information on personnel issues and industry safety and health.

      Communicate best practices and/or effective approaches.

      Publicize results.

      Make available developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      Work with other participants on specific issues and projects in order to best provide safety and health, workers compensation, minimum wage, and overtime compensation information in English and Spanish.
    Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
     
    • Raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health and workers' rights whenever leaders from the Parties address groups.

      Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on issues affecting Mexican Nationals to help forge innovative solutions to issues concerning workplace safety and health and proper wage compensation.
    Implementation Team Members

    Mexican Consulate of Omaha
     
    • Edgar Rebollar Saenz, Department of Protection
    OSHA:
     
    • Doug Fletcher, CAS
    Nebraska Workers Compensation Court
     
    • Su Perk Davis, Public Information Manager
    Nebraska Workforce Development, Safety and Labor Law
     
    • William Hetzler, Executive Director
    USDOL – Wage & Hour
     
    • Richard Tesarek, District Director
    Evaluation Period

    01/13/08 – 01/13/09

  2. Implementation Team Meetings and Significant Dates
    • 02/11/2008 Alliance team meeting
    • 03/17/2008 Submitted new alliance for review
    • 08/11/2008 Received approval for new alliance
    • 10/23/2008 Signed new alliance; alliance team meeting
       
  3. Events and Products

    Training and Education

    Events:
     
    • Due to the termination of the alliance arrangement and the subsequent delay in renewal, no activities were planned.
    Outreach and Communication

    Events:
     
    • The Omaha Area Office, with the assistance of the Kansas City Regional Office, developed and provided DVDs containing OSHA's Spanish-language Public Service Announcements, to the Mexican Consulate. On a regular basis, these DVDs are shown in the Consulate waiting room.
       
    • During the investigation of a workplace fatality involving a Mexican National working in Nebraska, the Mexican Consulate was contacted for assistance in the translation and delivery of correspondence to "next-of-kin" living in Mexico.
       
    • New outreach materials have been provided to the Consulate by all agencies for display in their waiting room and for dissemination during "Mobile Consulate" activities around the State of Nebraska.
    Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

    Events:     Nothing to report

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    A new alliance arrangement was signed on 10/23/08. All original signatories have agreed to continue their participation. A planning meeting of participants has been scheduled for early January 2009.