AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN
CHICAGO AND PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL OSHA OFFICE(S)
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AND FABRICATORS ASSOCIATION (ISFA)

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Chicago and Philadelphia Regional Offices and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and ISFA hereby form an Alliance to provide ISFA members and others in the stone manufacturing industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers by reducing and preventing exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and occupational noise, address standards on hazard communication, walking working surfaces, machine guarding and lockout tagout, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), as outlined in the attached alliance work plan.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet the "Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants" and the "Guidelines for OSHA's Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects."

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use available injury, illness, and hazard exposure data, when appropriate, to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options, including but not limited to member surveys, to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving workplace safety and health. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and the ISFA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objective:

• Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and communicate such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA and the ISFA websites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and ISFA conferences, local meetings, or other related events.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on recognizing common hazards associated with the stone manufacturing industry to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding ISFA good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Encourage ISFA and their members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objective:

• Support effective training and education programs for the stone manufacturing industry addressing OSHA's safety and health hazard priorities as well as effective recognized industry controls associated with the industry and communicate such information to constituent employers and workers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to equitably meet the needs of their target audiences.
• Support effective training and education programs for stone manufacturing industry to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to equitably meet the needs of their target audiences.
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by engaging them in joint communication, training, and education efforts.

OSHA's Alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's initiatives, outreach, communications, training, and education. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and Alliance participants. By entering an Alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote any of that organization's products or services.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Any signatory may terminate their organization's participation in the agreement 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 all signatories.

Signed this 25th day of July, 2025.