Shipbuilding Group - Alliance Agreement

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Shipbuilding Association, the National Shipbuilding Research Program, and the Shipbuilders Council of America (collectively, “the Shipbuilding Group”) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the Shipbuilding Group hereby form an Alliance to provide Shipbuilding Group members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them (1) protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to electrical, ergonomic, struck-by, and slip, trip, and fall hazards in shipyard employment, and by addressing issues of non-English-speaking or limited-English-speaking workers; and (2) 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 the Shipbuilding Group recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

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 occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on shipyard safety and health issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

Outreach and Communication

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

To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the Shipbuilding Group’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Shipbuilding Group’s conferences, local meetings, or other events such as SCA’s Bi-Annual Safety Seminar.
To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the Shipbuilding Group’s good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on shipyard employment issues 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, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that 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 Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, the Directorate of Enforcement Programs, 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 14th day of September, 2010.

David Michaels, PhD, MPH Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health	Date		Pete Halvordson Chair, Executive Control Board National Shipbuilding Research Program	Date
Cynthia L. Brown President American Shipbuilding Association	Date		Ian Bennitt Manager, Government Affairs Shipbuilders Council of America	Date


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