AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR – OSHA REGION V
AND
THE GREATER COLUMBUS DAMAGE PREVENTION COUNCIL

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Greater Columbus Damage Prevention Council (GCDPC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and GCDPC hereby form an Alliance to provide GCDPC members and others in the utilities industries with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing deaths and serious injuries from cave-in, electrocution, fire, road work-zones, and other hazards related to utilities work. This Alliance will also have a special focus on emergency preparedness and response activities related to restoring utility services quickly and safely following a major disaster.

OSHA and GCDPC will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for employees involved in utilities work, including trenching and excavation work and road work-zone safety with an emphasis on worker safety in emergency preparedness and response, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

OSHA and GCDPC 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 to employers and employees in the utilities industries (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA’s and GCDPC’s websites).
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s and GCDPC’s conferences or local meetings such as OSHA’s Annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Conference.
  
  
• Provide representative(s) to participate on OSHA’s 3rd Annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Conference Planning Committee to help incorporate utility worker safety and health into the agenda.
  
  
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding utilities industries’ best practices and publicize results through OSHA- and/or GCDPC- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other appropriate forum or medium).
  
  
• Promote and encourage the utilities industries’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation, and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Encourage the utilities industry to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Ohio Area Offices to address health and safety issues

OSHA and GCDPC will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

• Raise industry awareness of and demonstrate GCDPC’s and OSHA’s commitment to workplace safety and health whenever GCDPC’s and OSHA’s leaders address groups.
  
  
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the purpose and business value of a company’s commitment to employee safety and health.
  
  
• Convene or participate in forums, round-table discussions, or industry meetings on utility safety issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input and guidance on employee safety and health issues.

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.

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.