The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Billings Area Office and the Montana Contractor Compensation Fund (MCCF) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. The MCCF is a self-insured membership group of 36 Montana contractors and associate members. OSHA and MCCF hereby form an Alliance to provide the Montana Contractor Compensation Fund, their members, and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with the movement, set-up, and operation of mobile cranes. In establishing this second alliance between OSHA and MCCF both parties recognize the importance of employee safety and training in the elimination of equipment damage related to improper mobile crane operations.

OSHA and the Montana Contractor Compensation Fund will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for MCCF members regarding specific hazard recognition and prevention associated with mobile cranes and their operations. The programs will aim toward improving relationships, education, and training for MCCF members, employees, managers, and supervisors.
   
• Deliver, arrange for, or assist in the delivery of, the OSHA 10 Hour Construction course for MCCF members and their employees. Furthering their education will aid in decreasing the amount and types of injuries and workers claims by MCCF members and employees

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

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at either OSHA's or MCCF's conferences or other events.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding MCCF's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results using MCCF's web site, newsletters, and bulletins and through OSHA's Montana Compliance Assistance Quarterly Newsletter and outreach forums and presentations.
   
• Promote and encourage MCCF's members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Montana Consultation services, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
   
• Encourage MCCF's members and worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

OSHA and MCCF 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 workplace safety and health whenever MCCF's leaders address groups.
   
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
   
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on construction safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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 three times per year 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. Either signatory may terminate this agreement 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.