AGREEMENT RENEWING THE ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE SHIPBUILDERS COUNCIL OF AMERICA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) hereby renew the Alliance agreement signed January 31, 2003 and renewed June 16, 2005 and February 8, 2007. OSHA and SCA will continue to provide SCA members and others in the shipbuilding industry, including non-English or limited English speaking employees, with information and guidance that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to shipyard safety and health hazards such as electrical, welding/hotwork, and ergonomics, and in promoting hearing conservation. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and SCA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and SCA 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 and OSHA's and SCA’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s and SCA’s conferences and events, such as SCA’s bi-annual Safety Seminar.

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

• Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects including shipyard employment safety issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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

OSHA and SCA 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 shipyard safety and health hazards, including ergonomics, 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 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 Directorates of Cooperative and State Programs, Enforcement Programs, Standards and Guidance, and Science, Technology and Medicine 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 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.