AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE JOINT COMMISSION/JOINT COMMISSION RESOURCES

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The Joint Commission (TJC) /Joint Commission Resources (JCR) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and TJC/JCR hereby renew in part the Alliance signed July 27, 2004, and renewed November 8, 2006 and January 14, 2009, with a continued emphasis on reducing and preventing exposures to health and physical hazards. Specifically, both organizations are committed to providing TJC/JCR members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Through the Alliance, the organizations will work together to address reducing and preventing exposure to physical, chemical, biological and airborne hazards in healthcare and addressing emergency preparedness issues. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and TJC/JCR 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 through the publication of three Environment of Care News articles per year.
• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on health care worker safety related issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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 TJC's/JCR's web sites) to employers and workers in the healthcare industry.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TJC/JCR best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by TJC/JCR through OSHA or TJC/JCR developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or TJC/JCR conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the JCR Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference.

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, the Directorate of Standards and Guidance, the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, the Directorate of Enforcement 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 five 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 all signatories.

Signed this 21st day of August, 2013.