AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND THE
ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN HEALTHCARE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and AOHP hereby form an Alliance to provide AOHP members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases and bioterrorism, and addressing implementation issues in healthcare facilities. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and AOHP recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Develop workplace safety and health curricula for training and education programs on patient handling and bloodborne pathogens for healthcare institutions and workers.

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

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's and AOHP's Web sites.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences such as AOHP's national and chapter events.
   
• Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in AOHP's best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA and AOHP.
   
• Promote and encourage AOHP members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation, and SHARP.
   
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to the healthcare setting that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
   
• Encourage AOHP chapters and AOHP worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including patient handling hazards, bloodborne pathogen hazards and bioterrorism.

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

• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
   
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on healthcare workplace safety and health issues to provide input and help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

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, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine, 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.