PLANET - Alliance Renewal Agreement - November 26, 2013


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND THE PROFESSIONAL LANDCARE NETWORK


The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and PLANET hereby renew the Alliance signed October 10, 2008, to continue to provide PLANET members and others, including youth, low-literacy level, and non-English speaking workers, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them 1) protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to manual material handling and slip, trip and fall hazards; and addressing motor vehicle safety issues, and 2) understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

In addition, OSHA and PLANET will use relevant injury and illness data in selected industries to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving workplace safety for employers and workers. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and PLANET recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

Raising Awareness of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

  • To share information on OSHA's National Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
  • To encourage Landscape Contractors' participation in workplace safety and health education by providing specific OSHA approved safety documentation to employees and employers.
Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goal(s):

  • To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and the PLANET's Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or PLANET's conferences, local meetings, or other events to achieve safety hazard awareness.
  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding PLANET's good practices or effective approaches on safety through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by PLANET.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. 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 or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to develop an Alliance project work plan (including key action steps, expected outcomes and evaluations), 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. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs 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 five 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 written concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this 26th day of November, 2013.


  • David Michaels, PhD, MPH
  • Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
  •  
 

  • Glenn Jacobsen
  • Landscape Industry Certified Manager President
  • Professional Landcare Network