OSHA Strategic Partnership Program<< Back to Region VI

  1. AGREEMENT PARTNERS
     
    The partners to this Partnership Agreement are the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Baton Rouge Area Office (BRAO) and the following participating groups listed below:

    • Louisiana Forestry Association
    • Louisiana Logging Council

  2. DEFINITIONS

    CSHO - Compliance Safety and Health Officer
    FIRM - OSHA Field Inspection Reference Manual CPL 2.103

  3. PURPOSE / SCOPE

    In 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, The Louisiana Forestry Association, and The Louisiana Logging Council recognized the importance of providing a safe and healthy workplace for the Louisiana employees engaged in logging activities. Even with increased efforts (the development of new policies and processes) continued concerns in improving logging safety and health among the employees of these groups exist. OSHA believes that the continuation of this partnership, which encourages training and education coupled with self inspection, will reduce the most common hazards associated with the logging site while leveraging OSHA resources. This partnership will better utilize the resources of the Baton Rouge Area Office ("BRAO") by reducing the need for onsite visits by compliance officers while achieving a higher level of worker safety and health. It will promote more active employer action and responsibility in safety and health management and promote a cooperative relationship among the Louisiana Forestry Association, the Louisiana Logging Council, OSHA, and the Louisiana logging contractors.

  4. GOALS

    The goal of this partnership is to reduce injuries and illnesses in the Louisiana logging industry through effective partnership commitments by identifying possible trends in accident data obtained from partnership members. OSHA BRAO will conduct onsite visits and provide outreach training to the Louisiana logging contractors. The State Consultation members will be invited to perform onsite consultation activities and participate in the outreach training if resources are available. Louisiana Forestry Association and Louisiana Logging Council members will participate in the outreach training and in the collection of accident data obtained from partnership members. The Logging members will submit their accident and injury data for the year.


    5. Goal

    Strategy

    Measure

    Reduce fatalities, injuries, and illnesses within the logging industry.

    a)      Collect and analyze accident data to determine trends.
    • Number of workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.

    Improve safety and health programs.

    a)      Train logging employees and loggers.
    • Number of attendees at training sessions.

  5. PARTNER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    OSHA will:

    • Provide outreach training to Louisiana logging contractors, as resources allow
    • Provide technical assistance and outreach information as resources allow
    • Promote partnership and recognize successful accomplishments.
    • Share knowledge and information of best safety practices to educate this partnership’s members in the safest performance of job tasks.
    OSHA state consultation will be invited to:

    • Provide onsite consultation activities as resources allow upon request by participating members.
    • Participate in outreach training as resources allow.
    Louisiana Forestry Association and Louisiana Logging Council will:

    • Participate in outreach training for Louisiana logging contractors.
    • Collect accident data from partners for analysis in determining problem areas. This will provide the basis upon which future training will emphasize.
    • Encourage members to participate in the partnership.
    • Share knowledge and information of best safety practices to educate this partnership’s members in the safest performance of job tasks.
    Participating Logging Contractors will:

    • Submit annual accident and injury date to the Louisiana Forestry Association every January for analysis of trends.
    • Develop, implement, review and revise a Safety and health Management System.
    • Involve employees in every aspect of the site safety inspection.
  6. BENEFITS

    1. Agreement Partners Non-Enforcement Benefits
       
      1. Outreach, technical assistance and training (when resources are available).
         
        1. Seminars, workshops, and other speaking events provided to the partnership sites.
        2. Informational materials such as safety and health brochures, pamphlets and electronic tools.
        3. Technical assistance, for example, the OSHA Safety and Health Inspector and Compliance Assistance Specialist.
      2. Recognition
         
        1. OSHA will formally recognize partnership sites for their partnering contributions including but not limited to certificates and letters of agreement.
        2. OSHA will recognize and highlight the achievements of partnership sites with exemplary or novel approaches to safety and health.
    2. OSHA Enforcement Benefits

      1. OSHA will maximize the resolution of complaints received against partnership sites through the use of phone and fax as set forth in OSHA CPL 02-00-115, Complaint Policies and Procedures.

      2. Citation Issuance
         
        1. Citations will be issued as determined by the FIRM.

  7. PARTNERSHIP VERIFICATION

    1. OSHA will conduct onsite enforcement verification visits of two percent (2%) of the participating partnership sites, to asses the progress of the site, in alignment with the goals of the agreement.
    2. The verification will be tailored to address the resources of the BRAO as well as the activities at the participating site.
    3. In addition to the verification of the progress made towards goals, the visit will also verify whether the site is operating an effective safety and health program that adequately protects its employees.
    4. Participants will correct any serious hazards identified during the visit.

  8. PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTRATION

    1. The cooperative Partnership between Louisiana Forestry Association and Louisiana Logging Council and the OSHA-Baton Rouge Area Office manages the partnership by determining procedures. This is done in addition to tracking, analyzing, and sharing information on partnership activities and results. The partners will evaluate the effectiveness of the Partnership Agreement on an annual basis and will meet as needed to discuss agenda items such as:

      1. Sharing information on current violations and statistics applicable to the logging industry groups.
      2. Clarifying the meaning and application of OSHA standards and policy through relevant interpretations and compliance directives on standards, proposed standards, and violations.
      3. Evaluating data and partnership impact.
  9. ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP EVALUATION

    This Strategic Partnership will be evaluated and an evaluation report prepared annually. The member contractors will submit their accident and injury data for the previous calendar year to the Louisiana Forestry Association during the month of January. This data will be analyzed to hopefully show a reduction in the types of injuries sustained during the previous data collection period.

    The verification audits of member contractors will be compared to the inspection of non-member contractors under the Local Emphasis Program. Comments will be solicited from the individual partnering members, the Louisiana Forestry Association, and Louisiana Logging Council and the board of directors.

  10. EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

    This partnership does not preclude employees and/or employers from exercising any right provided under the OSHA Act, nor does it abrogate any responsibility to comply with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the Act.

  11. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TERMS

    Modifications and amendments of the Partnership Agreement can be proposed by any signatory and they shall be implemented only upon consensus between by all signatories of this partnership. The Partnership Agreement can be renewed at the end of the three-year term.

  12. FUNDS

    It is not anticipated that any funding will be transferred between OSHA and the Logging Industry.

  13. TERMINATION

    This agreement will terminate three years from the signing date. If any signatory of this agreement wishes to terminate their participation prior to the established termination date, written notice of the intent to withdraw must be provided to all other signatories.

    For non-signatory participants of the strategic partnership, OSHA may terminate the participant’s involvement at any time with written notice. Additionally, the participant may withdraw their participation from the strategic partnership at any time with a written notice of the intent to withdraw to OSHA.

    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.

    Signature Page




    Dorinda Folse                                           Date
    Area Director
    Baton Rouge Area Office
    U.S. Department of Labor OSHA



    Charles A. Vandersteen                             Date
    Executive Director
    Louisiana Forestry Association



    Lowell Hubbard                                         Date
    President
    Louisiana Logging Council