AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recognize the value of continuing a collaborative relationship to foster safer, drug-free and more healthful American workplaces and, therefore, renew the Alliance signed on June 14, 2004. Through the Alliance, OSHA and NFIB will continue to provide NFIB's members and others with health and safety information and compliance assistance resources that are 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. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and NFIB recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and NFIB 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 (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the NFIB's Web sites) to employers and employees, especially in small and independent businesses.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NFIB's conferences, seminars, local meetings or other events that address small business issues such as the NFIB National Small-Business Summit.
• Promote and encourage NFIB's members' or their worksites' 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.
• Encourage NFIB State Offices to build relationships and establish links with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices where feasible, and promote the availability of OSHA's Compliance Assistance Specialists and Consultation Projects to address issues that impact small and independent businesses.
• Work with other Alliance participants on safety and health issues and projects that impact small and independent businesses, especially safety and health management system programs, which are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on small and independent business issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues, including drug-free workplace programs.

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 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 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.