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Region II > #602 Partnership Agreement |
 Printing Instructions |
INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Puerto Rico Area Office,
AND
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
US VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Coral Reef National Monument |
Article I. Purpose/Scope
The OSHA Puerto Rico Area Office and the US Virgin Islands National Park - Coral Reef National
Monument (the Park) agree to work in partnership to improve the safety and health throughout the
Park by raising the employees' awareness of hazards inherent to the tasks they perform.
As a result, the Park and the OSHA Puerto Rico Area Office enter into the agreement pursuant to the
authority of Section 19 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and Executive Order 12196
that allows OSHA to provide assistance to other Federal Agencies.
Article II. Goals/Strategies:
Goal 1:
Establish a safe and healthful environment within the Park by building a safety and health culture,
which will move the park toward the goal of zero loss to human and material resources
Strategies:
- Develop and implement an effective comprehensive safety and health management system in
accordance with 29 CFR Part 1960 – Basic Program Elements for Federal Employee Occupational Safety
and Health Programs and OSHA's 1989 Safety and Health Management Guidelines. Areas common to
environmental compliance will also be included.
- Reduce the total case rate (TCIR) and DART by 15% per year, while at the same time increasing the
timeliness of reporting new injuries and illnesses to ESA/OWCP for this park by 5% per year.
- At the term of this partnership, become qualified and eligible to participate in OSHA's Voluntary
Protection Programs (VPP).
- Improve employee productivity and quality of life by providing safe and healthful occupational
environments.
- Establish a system of delegation, empowerment and accountability; motivate employees to achieve
mission objectives through reward system at all organizational levels.
Goal 2: Improve our ability to identify and abate unsafe practices and conditions
Strategies:
- Based on the result of the OSHA on-site comprehensive verification inspection, OSHA will help the
Park identify the four primary causal factors in employee injuries and illnesses, which the Park
commits to correct.
- Conduct monthly self-inspections to monitor areas with potential hazards and to abate them.
- Place primary emphasis on prevention of unsafe acts, focusing on practices and performance.
- Utilize state of the art processes for gathering, analyzing, and communicating accident and
injury information.
- Improve communications with the public regarding hazardous conditions and risks associated with
the park's public facilities and lands, and promote safe recreation practices in their use.
Goal 3: Utilize available resources in the implementation of the Park's safety/health
program
Strategies:
- Identify opportunities for locating and sharing safety and health resources among the partners
and other stakeholders that could contribute to the goals of this partnership.
- Increase the level of safety and health expertise through ongoing professional development.
Article III. Measures:
- Track and trend injuries using the OSHA 300 and OSHA 301 forms
- Track the number of OWCP claims
- Track the number of training, seminars and outreach sessions conducted
- Track the number of employees in attendance at these sessions
- Track the TCIR and DART rate annually
- Track the number of self-inspections, the number of deficiencies found and how each of them was
abated.
The data for the calendar year 2006 (TCIR and DART) will be used as the baseline
for this partnership agreement.
Article IV. Annual Evaluation:
The partnership's implementation team members, using the standardized OSHA Strategic Partnership
Program (OSPP) Annual Partnership Evaluation Report, as listed in Appendix C of the OSHA Strategic
Partnership Program for Worker Safety and Health Directive, CSP {03-02-002}, will conduct an annual
evaluation of the Park's safety and health program and their progress toward the goals of this
partnership. The annual evaluation will be conducted within 30 days of the signing date for each
year of the partnership.
Article V. Benefits:
OSHA Non-Enforcement Benefits:
The Park will be recognized for its participation in OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP)
through:
- The OSHA Cooperative Programs web page (www.osha.gov)
- OSHA will provide assistance in reviewing the occupational safety and health policies,
procedures, and programs of the Park
- OSHA will provide training for Park employees and managers in the Park's four primary causes of
employees injures and illnesses. Other topics may be selected throughout the term of the
partnership.
- OSHA will provide assistance through phone, facsimile, email, brochures, newsletters, bulletins,
and any other type of printed information available at the time of request.
- OSHA will provide assistance necessary to accomplish the goals of this partnership, as resources
allow.
- OSHA personnel will be made available for workshops, training sessions, speaking events, document
reviews, and other Park requests, as resources allow.
OSHA Enforcement Benefits:
- Federal agencies are exempt from OSHA monetary fines in the event that a Notice of Unsafe and
Unhealthful Working Conditions is issued.
- Non Formal Investigations will be handled via the phone and fax as outlined in the FIRM (Field
Inspection Reference Manual).
OSHA will inspect all formal complaints, serious accidents, catastrophes, and
fatalities according to standard agency procedures.
Article VI. OSHA Verification:
To assist in measuring the success of this partnership, an onsite enforcement verification
inspection will be conducted within 90 days of the signing of this agreement and annually
thereafter. A Notice of Unsafe and Unhealthful Working Conditions may be issued if violations to
safety and or health standards are identified during the verification inspection.
Article VII. OSP Management and Operation:
The Park's management will strive to accomplished all aspects and goals of this partnership within
its 3-year term. To ensure the progress of this agreement, a partnership implementation team (PIT)
will be formed comprised of representatives from management, to include the Park's safety and health
manager, Safety Office regional safety officer, OSHA and employees.
OSHA Puerto Rico Area Office will:
- Provide assistance in the development of the 5-year occupational safety and health strategic plan
for the park.
- Conduct the following training sessions, for employees, supervisors and/or managers, as resources
allow:
- Executive Order 12196 Rights and Responsibilities
- Hazard Communication Standard
- Job Hazard Analysis
- Inspections
Other training may be offered based on the needs and requests received by OSHA.
- Mentor Park's safety and health representatives by arranging an Agency Technical Assistance
Request (ATAR) for training purposes. The ATAR may include abatement assistance, use of technical
equipment, among other areas.
US Virgin Islands National Park - Coral Reef National Moment will:
- Develop and implement a 5-year occupational safety and health strategic action plan to meet the
goals of this agreement, and assess the progress towards them through a quarterly self-evaluation.
- Coordinate and schedule, with OSHA and Park personnel, quarterly outreach and training sessions.
- Commit to having the Park personnel attend safety and health awareness training provided by OSHA.
- Abate all hazards identified during the verification inspection and any other self-inspections
conducted within the time agreed upon during the inspection.
- Encourage employee participation in the verification and self-inspections.
The PIT members will oversee the progress of this partnership through e-mails,
phone calls, faxes, and occasional in-person meetings.
Article VIII. Employee and Employer Rights and Responsibilities:
This partnership does not preclude employees and/or employers from exercising any right provided
under 29 CFR 1960 nor does it abrogates any responsibility to comply with rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to the Act.
Article IX. Term of OSP:
This agreement will terminate three years from the date of signing. If either signatory of this
agreement wishes to withdraw their participation prior to the established termination date, written
notice of the intent to withdraw must be provided to all other signatories.
If OSHA chooses to withdraw its participation in the partnership, the entire agreement is
terminated. Any signatory may also propose modification or amendment of the agreement.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
Form Approved
OMB# 1218-0244 Expires 01-31-2009
Public reporting burden for the time needed to develop
the Partnership requirements, craft agreement language,
and conduct an internal review process is estimated to
be an average of 11 burden hours per respondent
Signatures
__________________
Date |
| For OSHA: |
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Patricia K. Clark
Regional Administrator
US DOL-OSHA |
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Jose A. Carpena
Area Director
Puerto Rico Office
US DOL-OSHA |
|
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For NPS: |
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Mark Hardgrove
Superintendent,
US Virgin Islands National Park
- Coral Reef Monument |
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