AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS
THE COUNCIL ON CERTIFICATION OF HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGISTS
AND
THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) and the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces. OSHA, BCSP, CCHEST and ABIH will provide information, guidance and access to training resources regarding the value of safety and health professionalism and accredited certifications. Through the Alliance, the organizations will use their collective expertise to help enhance safety professionals' and industrial hygienists' education and professional expertise and promote the value of increasing safety and industrial hygiene competency in the workplace. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, BCSP, CCHEST and ABIH recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, BCSP, CCHEST and ABIH will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing materials and programs to promote professionalism and the awareness, value and benefits of achieving safety and health certifications and assist with the dissemination of such information to employers and employees through print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, OSHA's, BCSP's, CCHEST's and ABIH's Web sites and other appropriate media.
   
• Speak, exhibit or appear at conferences, local meetings or other events to disseminate and promote OSHA, BCSP, CCHEST and ABIH developed information on safety and health certification and professionalism.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and safety and health professionals regarding achieving and maintaining professionalism and BCSP, CCHEST and/or ABIH certifications.
   
• Work with other Alliance participants on safety and health certification and professionalism issues and projects.

OSHA, BCSP, CCHEST and ABIH will work together to achieve the following goal related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on safety and health certification and professionalism issues.

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 all 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 three times per year 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 Construction, Directorate of Training and Education, 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. Any 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 all signatories.