OSHA and National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
Close-Out Report

On June 14, 2004, OSHA and NFIB formed an Alliance to focus on making health and safety information and compliance assistance resources available to all employers, especially small and independent businesses, and communicate the need for the implementation of safety and health management system programs in the workplace. The Alliance was renewed July 31, 2006.

Because the OSHA and NFIB Alliance has achieved its goals, the organizations agreed to conclude the Alliance as of June 14, 2008. While the current Alliance is concluding, the organizations agree to continue to seek opportunities to work together in the future, including the possibility of establishing a new Alliance. A number of successes resulted from the Alliance including:

• The NFIB and a number of other Alliance Program participants are supporting Drug Free Work Week October 20-26, 2008. The Week is a public awareness campaign that highlights the fact that being drug free is key to protecting workplace safety and health and encourages workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help.
• The NFIB and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week May 4 -10, 2008. The Week is sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers, another Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2008 NAOSH Weeks was "Safety is Good Business."
• On April 24, 2007 Alex Novas, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region VI, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, presented "OSHA and Small Business" at the NFIB Area Workers' Comp and OSHA Meeting, Monroe, Louisiana. The presentation was on OSHA's regulations, safety programs and inspections.
• On August 8, 2006, Lee Anne Jillings, Director, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, USDOL-OSHA; Ron Tom, Manager, Texas Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program and Joann Natarajan, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region VI, Austin, Texas Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, participated in the workshop, "Onsite Consultation: Participating in Alliances" at the OSHA Annual On-site Consultation Conference in Dallas, Texas. The workshop was presented twice.
• Ten Department of Labor-developed articles on workplace safety and health issues were produced and posted on the NFIB's "Tools and Tips" Web page on the NFIB Web site including:
  • "Can You Say "Work Safely" in Español?
  • "Consultation Helps Small Businesses Establish Safety and Health Programs"
  • "Helping Small Businesses Benefit from being Drug-Free"
  • "When Safety Is Your Business"
• Between July 2005 and April 2006, OSHA representatives spoke at 23 NFIB Area Action Council Workers' Compensation Meetings in Texas and Montana reaching over 750 small business owners. The speeches were on OSHA's compliance assistance activities and resources, Hispanic outreach and On-site Consultation Program.

Report Prepared by: Adam Brumbergs, Research Assistant, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, June 23, 2008.