AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) recognize the value of working together to foster quality American workplaces that value and promote safe and healthful working conditions. OSHA and ALCA hereby form an Alliance to provide large and small landscape industry businesses and their employees, including but not limited to youth workers, “hard-to reach” and non-English speaking workers, with information and guidance that will help them reduce strains caused by manual material handling; amputations; motor vehicle crashes; as well as slip and trip injuries. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and ALCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and ALCA will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Develop and deliver safety training programs designed to meet the needs of the diverse workforce, using appropriate language, media, and delivery methods. Identify and mentor potential trainers who are bilingual and have knowledge of the industry to teach the courses.

OSHA and ALCA 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 and ALCA's Web sites.

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at ALCA and OSHA conferences such as local meeting, the Landscape Industry Conference & GIE, Student Career Days, ALCA Forum, Specialty Symposiums and other events.

• Promote and encourage ALCA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

• Work with other Alliance Program participants on specific issues and projects in the landscape industry that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

OSHA and ALCA will also work together to achieve the following goals relating to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• In speeches and other public appearances ALCA leaders/mentors will demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health and raise the awareness of effective safety and health management in the industry.

• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues, especially those relating to “hard-to reach” and non-English speaking workers.

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 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.