AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
Between
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AND
THE NATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, NIOSH, and NHCA hereby form an Alliance to provide NHCA members and others, including young workers and small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to noise and chemical ototoxic agents. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, NIOSH, and NHCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, NIOSH, and NHCA 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 hearing loss caused by 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, NIOSH's and NHCA's Web sites) to employers and employees in affected industries.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, NIOSH, or NHCA sponsored conferences, local meetings, or other events such as the annual NHCA conference.
   
• Share information among OSHA and NIOSH personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NHCA recommended best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by OSHA, NIOSH, and NHCA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
   
• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace hearing loss prevention issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

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, neither OSHA nor NIOSH is endorsing any of that party's products or services; nor do the Agencies enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of all three 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 the Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine 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 two years. Any 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 all signatories.