The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc. ("the Company") and its employee representatives recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and healthier American workplaces. OSHA, the Company, and its employee representatives hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge.

OSHA, represented by the area offices in Jackson, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, agrees to establish an Alliance to enhance workplace safety and health for the Company's employees at the Ingalls, Gulfport, and Avondale Operations, including locations in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Mississippi, as well as Avondale and Tallulah, Louisiana. This agreement is supported and endorsed by the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO, the New Orleans Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 733, which represent employees at these sites.

OSHA, the Company and its unions will also work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Effective safety and health training focusing on maritime concerns such as electrical hazards, fall protection, and crane safety will be provided to labor and management representatives serving on established Safety Action Teams, by the company.
• The company will provide enhanced safety and health training to Supervisors and employees based on trends and areas of concerns identified by the Safety Action Teams.
• The company will develop and deliver 8-hours workplace safety and health training to all employees, which includes training on VPP, PPE and accident investigation annually.

OSHA, the Company, and its unions will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Promote and encourage the Company's participating sites to take full advantage of OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance and to participate in the Voluntary Protection Program. In addition, Newport News Shipyard will act as a mentor to the Company's sites in Mississippi and Louisiana as they seek to enhance the Company's safety and health program.

OSHA, the Company, and its unions will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting a dialogue n workplace safety and health:

• Demonstrated a management commitment to workplace safety and health by implementing accountability programs, such as injury and illness goals, and addressing safety and health in the management performance evaluations for specific members of management based on their area of responsibility.
• Raising others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever the company leaders address groups.
• Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA, the Company and its unions, with other worksites in the industry through outreach methods including the OSHA website.

An implementation team will be established that consists of appropriate members of management, labor, and the participation OSHA offices. A representative from the Newport News Shipyard will also serve on the implementation team as a mentor. The implementation team will meet quarterly, in person or by conference call, to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. OSHA will encourage Sate Plan States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing and will be automatically renewed thereafter. Any party many terminate it for any reason at any time, provided it gives 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all the parties signatory to the agreement.

Paul M. Robinson
Vice President, Ingalls Operations
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc.

George Yount
Vice President Avondale Operations
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc.

Jay Foley
Vice President, Gulfport Operations
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc.

Bruce Williams, President
The New Orleans Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO

Mike Crawley, President
The Pascagoula Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO

William D. "Chico" McGill
Business Manger/Financial Secretary,
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 733; Chairman of Safety
Committee for the New Orleans Metal
Trades Council, AFL-CIO

Clyde Payne
For OSHA, Jackson Area Office

David Doucet
For OSHA, Baton Rouge Area Office



Signed: 15 May, 2003