AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
CHARLESTON AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY SAFETY AND HEALTH EXTENSION
AND
WEST VIRGINIA STATE CONSULTATION PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Charleston Area Office and the West Virginia University Safety and Health Extension WVUS&HE), recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the WVUS&HE hereby form an Alliance to provide participants of the OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTIEC) education programs and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to prevalent health and safety hazards in the general and construction industries, and enhancing their understanding of workers’ rights and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

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 relevant 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 developing this Alliance, OSHA and the WVUS&HE 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 objectives:

• Share information on OSHA’s National Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives (such as OSHA stand downs, Focus Four Campaigns) and the rulemaking process by speaking at West Virginia University Safety and Health Extension training courses, or other events.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers by conducting speeches and presentations at West Virginia University Safety and Health Extension training courses and events.
• Develop and disseminate brochures/literature on common General Industry and Construction hazards/violations identified specifically in West Virginia and publicize the results.
• Educate stakeholders and encourage the voluntary use of the free, confidential onsite consultation services provided by West Virginia OSHA Consultation.

Training and Education

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

• Support WVUS&HE’s training and education programs for employers, employees, and safety professionals regarding hazards in general industry and construction, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• Support WVUS&HE’s delivery of OSHA training courses by supplementing their training with information on 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 Charleston Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans’ and OSHA On-Site Consultation program’ 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 written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 10^th day of March, 2021.