AWEA - Alliance Agreement - August 8, 2011
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and AWEA hereby form an Alliance to provide AWEA's members and others working in wind energy industry maintenance and operations with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to fall, electrical, and crane hazards, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and AWEA 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 fall, electrical, and crane hazards in wind energy industry maintenance and operations to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
Training and Education
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goal:
- To develop effective training and education programs for workers in the wind energy industry regarding fall, electrical, and crane hazards in maintenance and operations, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
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 AWEA's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AWEA's conferences, local meetings, or other events.
- To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AWEA's good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
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 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. 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 written concurrence of both signatories.
Signed this 8th day of August, 2011.
Jordan Barab |
Denise A. Bode |