The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recognize the value of continuing a collaborative
relationship to foster safer, drug-free and more healthful American workplaces and, therefore,
renew the Alliance signed on June 14, 2004. Through the Alliance, OSHA and NFIB will continue to
provide NFIB's members and others with health and safety information and compliance assistance
resources that are available to all employers, especially small and independent businesses, and
communicate the need for the implementation of safety and health management system programs in
the workplace. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and NFIB recognize that OSHA's State Plan and
Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and NFIB 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 the NFIB's Web sites)
to employers and employees, especially in small and independent businesses.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or NFIB's conferences, seminars, local meetings or other
events that address small business issues such as the NFIB National Small-Business Summit.
- Promote and encourage NFIB's members' or their worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative
programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation
Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- Encourage NFIB State Offices to build relationships and establish links with OSHA's Regional and
Area Offices where feasible, and promote the availability of OSHA's Compliance Assistance
Specialists and Consultation Projects to address issues that impact small and independent
businesses.
- Work with other Alliance participants on safety and health issues and projects that impact small
and independent businesses, especially safety and health management system programs, which are
addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
OSHA and NFIB 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 small and
independent business issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input
on safety and health issues, including drug-free workplace programs.
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 Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other
appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA 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.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Date |
Todd Stottlemyer
President and CEO
National Federation of Independent Business |
Date |
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