Purpose and Scope of Alliance:

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, and the Masonry Institute of Michigan (MIM) recognize the value of establishing a cooperative relationship to promote a safer construction work environment for the state of Michigan. MIOSHA and MIM will form an alliance to provide the construction industry and MIOSHA construction staff with information, guidance, and training resources to help protect employees’ safety, particularly in minimizing exposure to hazards related to improperly braced masonry walls above grade.

Goals and Objectives of Alliance:

• To promote life safety as the principal goal in providing a high level of protection to masonry industry personnel and other construction employees.
• To promote the latest Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction and Masonry Wallbracing Design Handbook published by the Mason Contractors Association of America, as the industry standard and endorses its acceptance as compliance with the MIOSHA standard.
• To train and educate the workforce and MIOSHA on temporarily bracing masonry walls under construction safely above grade.
• Provide assistance and expertise to the MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards Commission, upon request, for developing, updating, or improving Part 2 – Masonry Wall Bracing.
• To promote dialogue between the Alliance and the construction and masonry industry in the state of Michigan through the various masonry state associations.
   
• Outreach and Communication:
  
  MIM will communicate through it’s website (www.mim-online.org), bimonthly magazine The Story Pole, conferences, seminars, Safety Day, etc. to educate and share safety information with the construction industry and MIOSHA construction staff.
  
  • MIM will communicate electronically to its’ members via their "Monthly Communication" an update summary of the Alliance meetings.
  • MIM will communicate electronically via their website an update summary of the Alliance meetings.
  • MIM will publish annually one article, authored by MIOSHA, in The Story Pole for the mason contractor issue pertaining to wall bracing or other masonry related issues.
  • MIOSHA will publish annually one article, authored by MIM, in their newsletter, MIOSHA News, pertaining to wall bracing or other masonry related issues.
  • MIOSHA will create a Construction Fact Sheet that addresses masonry wall bracing and endorses the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction and Masonry Wallbracing Design Handbook published by the Mason Contractors Association of America as the industry standard. The fact sheet will be posted on the MIOSHA website with a link under Part 2, Masonry Wall Bracing on the MIOSHA Standards page.
  MIM will inform the construction industry of changes in MIOSHA standards to keep the construction industry current with interpretation and compliance relative to wall bracing.
   
• Training and Education:
  
  MIM will train and educate the construction industry and MIOSHA on temporarily bracing masonry walls under construction safely above grade in accordance with the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction and Masonry Wallbracing Design Handbook. The success of the Alliance will be measured with the monitoring of wall collapses due to wind, injuries, and citations issued.
  
  • MIM will conduct one training session annually to discuss and demonstrate proper wall bracing procedures for MIOSHA construction staff.
  • MIM will conduct at least one training session annually to discuss and demonstrate proper wall bracing procedures for masonry industry personnel and other construction employees.
• Promoting Dialogue:
  
  MIM and MIOSHA will seek out opportunities to introduce and expose MIOSHA construction safety staff to the masonry industry in a non-adversarial capacity and to promote mutual discussion regarding the safety of employees relative to wall bracing. MIM will keep informed and communicate with the various masonry associations; Michigan Mason Contractors’ Association, Mason Contractors’ Association, International Masonry Institute, and the Michigan Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. MIM and MIOSHA will meet annually to discuss opportunities to promote safety in the masonry industry.

Roles and Responsibilities:

MIM will be leaders in keeping safety relative to wall bracing at the forefront in the construction industry. MIM will identify concerns and recommend changes to the existing Part 2. Wall Bracing Standard to the Construction Safety Standards Commission. MIM will serve as the voice of the masonry industry in keeping all informed.

• MIM, with the support of the Alliance will make presentations to promote proper bracing of masonry walls under construction.
• MIM will hold at least one meeting with the various masonry associations in the state to provide an update on the activities of the Alliance.
• MIOSHA construction staff will address the construction industry on wall bracing and other masonry related safety issues.
• MIOSHA will provide a speaker at an MIM meeting one time per year.

If at any time there is a misunderstanding between MIM and MIOSHA, it will be discussed and remedied through the Alliance.

Outcomes of Alliance Activities:

To educate the construction industry and MIOSHA construction staff to reduce the number of wall blow downs, to minimize the number of injuries, and citations issued.

The alliance agreement is effective on the date of signing and will be in effect for 3 (number of years agreement
will be in effect; 1-3 years). Prior to the expiration of the agreement, the parties will confer and evaluate whether the agreement should be extended. Without regard to the term of the agreement, any of the parties can terminate the agreement with 30 days written notification.