AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
AMONG
HARTFORD AREA OFFICE
BRIDGEPORT AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
AND
STATE OF CONNECTICUT-DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION TRUST

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hartford Area Office (HAO), Bridgeport Area Office (BAO), State of Connecticut- Department of Labor Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA) and the Workers’ Compensation Trust (WCT) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and WTC hereby renew the Alliance signed 09/20/2018, with a continued emphasis on bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, chemicals in the workplace, emergency planning, infection control, respiratory protection, falls, strains and sprains, walking working surfaces, electrical, and amputations. Specifically, OSHA and CONN-OSHA are committed to providing WCT members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, use of chemicals, emergency planning, infection control, respiratory protection, falls, strains and sprains, walking working surfaces, electrical, and amputations hazards in the workplace.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet the requirements for program participation laid out in 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 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 Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and WCT 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.

The Alliance also recognizes that the WCT consists of over 400 healthcare and social service employers. The WCT has been providing safety awareness, consultations, and OSHA compliance programs to their members for over 38 years.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

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

• 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 websites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and WCT conferences, local meetings, or other training events.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, chemicals in the workplace, emergency planning, infection control, respiratory protection, falls, strains and sprains, walking working surfaces, electrical, workplace violence and amputations 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 hazards to heath care workers to ensure good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by posting information such as safety stand down locations and times on social media and alliance websites www.osha.gov and www.wctrust.com. Collaborate with other Alliance participants on specific issues to the health care industry.
• Encourage WCT to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues in the Health Care Industry.

Training and Education

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

• Develop effective training and education programs for WCT members and workers regarding bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, chemicals in the workplace, emergency planning, infection control, respiratory protection, falls, strains and sprains, walking working surfaces, electrical, workplace violence and amputations. Then communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• Develop effective training and education programs for members and workers 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.

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, communication, training, and education. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and Alliance participants. By entering into 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.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet one to two 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 HAO, BAO, CONN-OSHA and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans’ and OSHA On-Site Consultation programs’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for five years. Any 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 all signatories.

Signed this 21st day of September, 2021.