Reg 5 - Alliance Renewal Agreement - April 11, 2017


AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE CHICAGO NORTH AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE GREAT LAKES CONTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
FORMERLY KNOWN AS:
THE LAKE COUNTY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION


The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Chicago North Area Office and the Great Lakes Construction Association (GLCA), formerly known as the Lake County Contractors Association (LCCA) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces within the County of Lake, State of Illinois. To that end, OSHA and GLCA hereby renew the Alliance, signed April 16, 2004, and renewed on April 12, 2006, September 16, 2008, April 16, 2010, April 17, 2012, and September 3, 2014, with a continued emphasis on advancing a culture of accident prevention. In addition, Lake County Building and Construction Trades Council (LCBTC) has been included as a participant to this alliance in order to provide employees an opportunity to participate in the planning and implementation of the Alliance. Specifically, OSHA, GLCA and LCBTC are committed to providing GLCA members and others with information, guidance, best practices, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Through this Alliance, OSHA, GLCA and LCBTC will address hazards in construction including falls, electrocutions, struck by objects, and caught-in/between.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.

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 to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving workplace safety for employers and workers. In renewing the Alliance, OSHA, GLCA, and LCBTC recognize that OSHA's State Plan and 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 of OSHA's Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

  • To share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.
  • To share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
  • To participate in various forums and groups to discuss ways of improving workplace safety and health programs and issues.
  • To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health.

Training and Education

The participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives:

  • To organize and provide the necessary resources for the presentations of OSHA's construction course for the organization's members when OSHA and the organization identify the need.
  • The GLCA will consult with OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals in the effective construction safety management practices as jointly determined by OSHA and the GLCA.
  • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA 10-hr and/or OSHA 30-hr classes as needed.

Outreach and Communication

The participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:

  • OSHA, GLCA and LCBTC plan to host a united Safety Day that will be held in October each year to educate employers and workers on new or updated OSHA regulations and current safety and health issues.
  • OSHA, GLCA and LCBTC will collaborate together to develop a seminar highlighting hazards in construction. The seminar will be presented jointly by GLCA and LCBTC.
  • To open the lines of communication between OSHA, GLCA and LCBTC to assist each other in ensuring a safe work environment.
  • To provide a forum for OSHA personnel to speak, exhibit or appear at conferences sponsored by the GLCA.
  • To develop and disseminate GLCA information through print and electronic media, including electronic tools and links from OSHA's and the GLCA's web sites, along with applicable articles in their print media.
  • To use the GLCA's newsletters, websites, workshops, meetings and other resources as vehicles to disseminate OSHA or GLCA developed information and guidance on the workplace safety issues.
  • To raise awareness through speeches and appearances by the GLCA's leaders of safe worksite programs and their commitment to workplace safety and health.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. 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 or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of the party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization 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 quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of this Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Chicago North Area Office. OSHA will encourage 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 11th day of April, 2017.


 

Angeline Loftus, Area Director

Chicago North Area Office

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


 

Bill Vignocchi, President

Great Lakes Construction Association

 


 

Fred Rodheim, Chairman

Great Lakes Construction Association Safety Committee

 


 

Tim Marabella,

Executive Vice President

Great Lakes Construction Association

 


 

Pete Olson,

President, Lake County Building and Construction

Trades Council Affiliated with Building and

Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO