AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE PRECISION METALFORMING ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and PMA hereby form an Alliance to provide PMA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety in the metalforming industry, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards and addressing press safety issues such as machine guarding and lockout/tagout to prevent amputations and other injuries. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and PMA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

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

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the metalforming industry regarding press safety issues such as machine guarding and lockout/tagout and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

OSHA and PMA 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 (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools for effective press guarding and OSHA's and PMA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or PMA's conferences, local meetings or other events such as PMA's Annual Meeting and METALFORM conferences.

• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding issues such as ergonomic hazards and press safety issues and publicize results through outreach by PMA and through OSHA- or PMA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

• Promote and encourage PMA 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.

• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to metalforming industry safety and health, such as ergonomic hazards and press safety issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on metalforming industry issues, such as ergonomic hazards and press safety 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 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 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 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 in writing at any time with the concurrence of both signatories.