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AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
FORT WORTH AREA OFFICE
DALLAS AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION DE TEJAS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Fort Worth and Dallas Area Offices and the Hispanic Contractors Association de Tejas (HCAT) continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and the HCAT hereby renew the Alliance signed April 28, 2017, with a continued emphasis on the focus four hazards in the construction industry. Specifically, HCAT and OSHA are committed to providing members and others with information, guidance, 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 the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address the focus four and other hazards observed in the construction industry.

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 this Alliance, OSHA and HCAT recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project 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 convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on the “Focus Four” hazards in the construction industry to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by internet pages and resource links.

Training and Education

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

• To develop effective training and education programs for construction workers regarding falls, struck by, caught between, and electrical hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• To develop effective training and education programs for construction contractors to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• To deliver or arrange for the delivery of construction safety courses.

Outreach and Communication

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

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the HCAT’s Web sites) to employers and workers in the industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or HCAT’s conferences, local meetings, or other Safety Fair events.
• To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding HCAT members good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the participants.
• To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on construction focused written safety and health programs that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

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 that party’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to develop a work plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least 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 Fort Worth and Dallas Area Offices and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for 2 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 21^st day of August, 2019.

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1. Alliance Background
   
   Date Signed:
   
   7-15-12
   
   Alliance Overview
   
   To provide outreach to immigrant workers, provide training on OSHA regulations, policies and procedures to Worker’s Defense Project (WDP) employees and volunteers to foster cooperation and to further the dialogue on safety and health.
   
   Implementation Team Members
   
   R. Casey Perkins, Area Director, OSHA
   
   Cristina Tzintun, Workers Defense Project
   
   Joann Natarajan, OSHA CAS
   
   Construction Safety and Health Inc. was a signatory on the alliance, but did not participate in the alliance due to conflicts with when WDP wanted to schedule the worker OSHA 10 hour training sessions.
2. Implementation Team Meetings
   
   In person meetings were held 7-19-11, 4-24-12, and 5-6-12.



 
3. Activities and Products
   
   Evaluation Period
   
   This report covers the period between July 15, 2011 to July 15, 2012.
   
   Alliance Activity
    
   • Training and Education: An OSHA office bilingual industrial hygienist did two observations of Spanish language training offered by WDP to Hispanic workers. OSHA has also provided WDP with OSHA pamphlets for their training program, and for distribution at their office throughout the year. OSHA has provided WDP with over 2000 copies of OSHA publications for distribution in their construction safety orientation classes. OSHA had an exhibit table at the WDP Cinco de Mayo event on May 6, 2012 where Hispanic workers could ask questions about workplace safety and pick up Spanish OSHA pamphlets, and learn how to file an OSHA complaint.
   • Outreach and Communication: OSHA participated in WDP six in-take nights to provide Hispanic workers the opportunity to ask questions and file complaints with OSHA. WDP conducts intake nights to allow workers to make complaints about workplace safety issues and nonpayment of wages complaints. WDP has filed 10 complaints and made the local OSHA office aware of two work related accidents on behalf of Hispanic workers during this alliance evaluation period.
   • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health: OSHA and WDP have worked to promote knowledge about worker rights in Central Texas through a wide range of events targeted to reach immigrant Spanish speaking workers.
   
   Alliance Products
    
   • Training and Education: OSHA participated in auditing WDP construction safety orientations, intake nights, and exhibited at a WDP event. WDP has developed an OSHA 10 hour and safety orientation training that covers fall protection and focus four hazards
   • Outreach and Communication: OSHA communicates with WDP staff monthly to make referrals, and to file complaints on behalf of Hispanic workers. OSHA has also received complaints during the intake nights.
   • Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health: The alliance has opened the door of communication with immigrant Spanish workers in the Austin area, so that they can exercise their right to a safe and healthy workplace.
4. Results
   
   The alliance has raised the Agency’s profile with hard to reach immigrant Spanish speaking workers in the Austin area through a multi-pronged approach.
    

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   Spanish OSHA publications provided	2000
   Exhibit table visitors	200
   In-take nights-workers contacted	<100
   OSHA 10 hour attendees	60
   OSHA Complaints/referrals generated as a result of the alliance	12
   TOTAL	2372

5. Upcoming Milestones The alliance has impacted Hispanic construction workers by offering free OSHA 10 hour classes, fall protection, and focus four hazard training and through the development of targeted training materials in Spanish offered by WDP. OSHA and WDP plan to renew the alliance. The Texas OSHA Consultation group is planning on joining the alliance as a new member of the alliance team. The Texas OSHCON program will seek to reach small Hispanic construction employers with their safety consultation programs.
   
   Report Prepared by: __Joann Natarajan____________

This document is available in PDF.

This document is available in PDF.