AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) recognize the value of enhancing public safety through quality testing. OSHA and ACIL hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help increase awareness of OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program that is a part of OSHA's Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine. For purposes of this Alliance, reference to the NRTL Program incorporates OSHA's requirements for product approvals by NRTLs and compliance with those requirements.

Through the program, OSHA recognizes private sector testing laboratories as NRTLs if they meet the necessary legal requirements as specified by 29 CFR 1910.7. NRTLs must have the necessary capability both as a product safety testing laboratory and as a product certification body.

The OSHA recognized laboratories determine if equipment and products that are specified in the Agency's regulations meet consensus-based safety standards and can be used safely in the workplace. A NRTL puts its nationally registered mark on the products it tests, which certifies that they meet OSHA-endorsed standards.

OSHA and ACIL agree to establish an Alliance to promote, communicate, educate and train stakeholders about the NRTL program, as well as promote a national dialogue on workplace safety and health by:

• Providing stakeholders with information and guidance on the purpose and requirements of the NRTL program.
   
• Raising awareness and understanding of the value of the NRTLs marks on safety products and equipment.

OSHA and ACIL will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Review existing OSHA training programs and determine where information on the NRTL program can be incorporated into the curriculum.

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

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA's and ACIL's Web sites.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events to raise awareness of the NRTL program, such as the ACIL Mid-Winter Meeting and meetings of the American Council on Electrical Safety.
   
• Develop informational materials and cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals on the NRTL program and the products and equipment that are required to have a mark.

OSHA and ACIL will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Raise awareness of the NRTL program when ACIL's leaders address groups.
   
• Participate together in forums to promote the value of workplace safety.
   
• Encourage ACIL's members to act as liaisons and resources for OSHA's cooperative programs.

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 quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either 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 concurrence of both signatories.