MBI - Alliance Agreement - July 28, 2004


AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
MODULAR BUILDING INSTITUTE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Modular Building Institute (MBI) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and MBI hereby form an Alliance to provide MBI members and others in the commercial modular building industry, especially small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to building training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, by reducing and preventing exposure to industry hazards. OSHA and MBI will focus on safety and health issues including, material handling, fall protection and trenching and excavation. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and MBI recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

  • Work with OSHA to deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA's 10-hour Small Contractor course and 10-hour Construction course.

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

  • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or MBI's conferences and events such as the annual MBI Convention and Trade Show.
  • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding MBI's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by MBI and through OSHA- or MBI-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or other applicable forum).
  • Promote and encourage MBI members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on commercial modular building industry hazards such as material handling, fall protection and trenching and excavation that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
  • Encourage MBI's Regional Regulatory Councils to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Projects to address health and safety issues including material handling, fall protection and trenching and excavation.

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

  • Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever MBI leaders address groups.
  • 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 commercial modular building industry hazards such as material handling, fall protection and trenching and excavation to 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 Construction, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs 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.



 
John Henshaw
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration


 
Date
 

 
Tom Hardiman, C.A.E.
Executive Director
Modular Building Institute


 
Date