AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,

THE PRINTING INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA/GRAPHIC ARTS TECHNICAL FOUNDATION, AND
THE SCREENPRINTING & GRAPHIC IMAGING ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) and the Screenprinting & Graphic Imaging Association International (SGIA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to cultivate safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, PIA/GATF, and SGIA therefore agree to form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of injury and illness prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge, especially in the area of ergonomics.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), PIA/GATF and SGIA agree to establish an Alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions for graphic communications employees by:

• Providing PIA/GATF and SGIA members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees? health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards.
• Reach out to members who may benefit from mentoring or guidance in developing, implementing, or improving ergonomic programs.

OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Seek opportunities to jointly develop and disseminate information at conferences, events, or through print and electronic media that serve the graphic communications industry, including links from OSHA's, PIA/GATF's and SGIA's Web sites.
• Seek opportunities to speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events that serve the graphic communications industry to promote the effectiveness of ergonomic programs.
• Cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health practitioners in PIA/GATF and SGIA ergonomic best practices or programs.
• Promote and encourage PIA/GATF and SGIA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, SHARP. In addition, act as facilitators to PIA/GATF's and SGIA's members/worksites that aspire to excellence in safety and health.

OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Encouraging PIA/GATF and SGIA members/worksites to act as industry liaisons and resources for OSHA?s cooperative programs and Compliance Assistance Specialists.
• Develop, promote and share information on best practices of PIA/GATF and SGIA members/worksites with others in the graphic communications industry through outreach by PIA/GATF and SGIA and OSHA's various programs.
• Share data supporting the solutions to ergonomic hazards developed by PIA/GATF and SGIA, as well as examples of hazard recognition strategies and analytical tools with OSHA and others in the graphic communications industry to encourage wide implementation.
• Convene or participate in forums and round table discussions on ergonomic problems to help forge innovative solutions to ergonomic issues in the workplace.

OSHA, PIA/GATF and SGIA will also work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Develop and deliver training and education programs on ergonomic hazard reduction and elimination in the graphic communications industry.

An implementation team made up of representatives of all signatory 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 Directorates of Federal-State Operations, Compliance Programs, Safety Standards, and Technical Support. OSHA will afford the opportunity for representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association and the association of state Consultation Projects to participate as well.

This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing and will automatically be renewed annually thereafter. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all signatories and may be terminated for any reason with 30 days written notice from any of the signatories.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation

Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International