AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
NATIONAL UTILITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and NUCA hereby form an Alliance to provide NUCA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to underground utility construction hazards associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and NUCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and NUCA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of NUCA training programs (e.g. Excavation Safety, Competent Person and Confined Space) to OSHA staff, including those offered in Spanish.

  Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on utility construction such as a 10-hour outreach program with emphasis on trench and excavation safety. NUCA will provide instructors as needed.

OSHA and NUCA 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 and NUCA's conferences and events such as NUCA's EXPO, Safety Directors Forum and Institute for Leadership Development training sessions.

  Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding NUCA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by NUCA and through OSHA- or NUCA- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

  Work with OSHA to provide expertise to create a trenching and excavations and a confined spaces compliance assistance information card and fact sheet in both English and Spanish.

  Encourage NUCA's members to act as mentors to utility contractors who need guidance and assistance with safety and health issues to improve safety performance within the underground utility industry.

  Encourage NUCA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Projects to address health and safety issues associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry.

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

• Raise underground utility construction safety awareness of industry hazards such as trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry and commitment to workplace safety and health whenever NUCA's leaders address groups such as local chapter meetings.

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on underground utility construction hazards associated with trenching and excavation, tunneling, and confined space entry 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.