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
AND
THE NATIONAL WOODEN PALLET & CONTAINER ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA hereby form an Alliance to provide NWPCA's members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with use of pallet assembly and disassembly equipment and powered industrial trucks, and addressing occupational health issues, including ergonomics. In developing this Alliance, OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Develop and implement training and education programs on equipment safety with a focus on accident prevention, including amputations.

OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA's, NIOSH's and NWPCA's Web sites.

• Prepare NWPCA job safety analysis modules with OSHA and NIOSH input for the safe use of pallet dismantling equipment commonly used in the wooden pallet and container industry.

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's, NIOSH's or NWPCA's conferences, local meetings, or other educational events, such as NWPCA's annual leadership conference and recyclers' conference.

• Cross-train OSHA and NIOSH personnel and industry safety and health professionals in NWPCA's best practices or effective approaches, as jointly determined by OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA.

• Promote and encourage NWPCA members' or 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.

• Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA, of NWPCA members' worksites with others in the industry and publicize the results through outreach by NWPCA and through OSHA-, NIOSH- or NWPCA-developed training programs and materials.

• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on equipment safety, occupational health and ergonomics that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

• Encourage NWPCA members' worksites to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including stationary and mobile equipment safety, occupational health, and ergonomics.

OSHA, NIOSH and NWPCA 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 NWPCA 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 industry meetings on pallet/container industry 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, 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 all 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 Cooperative and State Programs, NIOSH, NWPCA staff and consultants, and volunteer members. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years, and may be renewed thereafter by mutual consent. 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.