AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DENVER AND ENGLEWOOD AREA OFFICES
AND
COLORADO HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
AND
RTW, INC.
AND
ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and CHCA hereby form an Alliance to provide CHCA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic, bloodborne pathogen and slip, trip and fall hazards as well as other safety and health issues in long term care nursing facilities. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and CHCA recognize that OSHA's Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and CHCA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

• Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for manufacturing employers and workers regarding effective safety and health management systems and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

OSHA and CHCA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

• Provide expertise to develop training and education programs for nursing home employees and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry. Training topics may include preventing infection from bloodborne pathogens, slip, trip and fall prevention, workplace violence or other safety and health issues common to the long term care nursing industry,
   
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of two webinar courses per year.

OSHA and CHCA 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 CHCA's website) to employers and employees in the industry. OSHA will provide assistance and advice in the development of the "safety" portion of the CHCA website.
   
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or CHCA's conferences, local meetings, or other events. OSHA CAS's will participate in CHCA safety and health committee meetings on a quarterly basis via the internet.
   
• Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding CHCA member best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by CHCA and through OSHA- or CHCA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
   
• Promote and encourage CHCA's members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

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

• Raise others' awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever CHCA leaders address groups.

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. Team members will include representatives from CHCA, RTW, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services and the Compliance Assistance Specialists from the Denver and Englewood Area OSHA offices. 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. 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 concurrence of all signatories.

Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA)

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   September 16, 2015

   Overview

   To provide Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA) members and others in the long term care industry with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, especially hazards related to ergonomics, bloodborne pathogens, slips, trips and falls, workplace violence and other hazards common to the long term care industry.

   Implementation Team Members

   Doug Farmer – President & CEO

   Bonita Jones – CHCA Vice President of Operations

   Shay Winfrey – Office Assistant - Education CHCA

   Herb Gibson – OSHA Denver Area Office Area Director

   Brian Oberbeck – Industrial Hygienist Denver Area Office

   Mallory Neyens – Industrial Hygienist Denver Area Office

   Brenda Yamen – Industrial Hygienist Englewood Area Office

   Chris Lawver – Safety CSHO Denver Area Office (no longer at DAO)

   Dan Holland – Safety CSHO Englewood Area Office

   Contributors

   CHCA Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee

   Members of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities covered by CHCA

   Evaluation Period

   September 16, 2016- September 16, 2017

   Implementation Team Meetings

   10/21/16 – implementation team meeting held

   1/6/17 – implementation team meeting held

   3/22/17 – implementation team meeting held - in person

   8/11/17 – discussion on the alliance

   9/6/17 – implementation team meeting held to discuss new alliance and signing date

2. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   Events

   11/4/17 – Survival Skills for Nurses presentation to CHCA members Denver

   3/22/17 – Safety and Health for Environmental Services for Residential Care Facilities presentation Denver

   4/11/17 – “Essentials of Safety and Health for Nursing Home Administrators” presentation Denver

   Products

   • N/A

   • Outreach and Communication

     Events

     Attendance at the CHCA Annual Conference in Denver where OSHA had a booth and distributed safety and health materials specifically developed for the Long Term Care Industry.

     The CHCA informs members of OSHA related initiatives through the weekly newsletter. Additionally they include OSHA on email distribution list.

     Products

     N/A

     Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health

     • Events
       Multiple training events focused on communicating enforcement issues related to OSHA’s emphasis for the Long Term Care Industry. Specifically the CHCA assisted in distributing information about OSHA’s increased emphasis on healthcare. Members were provided copies of the June 25, 2015 memorandum titled Inspection Guidelines for Inpatient Healthcare Settings that focuses on placing emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders, bloodborne pathogens, workplace violence, tuberculosis and slips, trips and falls in healthcare facilities.

     • The DAO provided information on the Regional Emphasis Program (REP) covering Workplace Violence at Residential Intellectual and Development Disability Facilities. Additionally, OSHA has provided training and access to copies of the OSHA Directive: Enforcement Procedures and Scheduling for Occupational Exposure to Workplace Violence CPL 02-01-058. Appendix A of the document provides abatement assistance to enhance a healthcare facility workplace violence program. Specific sections of the directive were covered with the CHCA.

     • The CHCA supported OSHA’s Safe and Sound Week by encouraging members of the CHCA to enhance and focus on safety and health program management during the Safe and Sound Week.

     • OSHA information regarding the Zika virus was provided to the CHA which created a resource on their website.

     • As a result of working on safety and health in healthcare through the alliance the DAO was requested in April to provide a speaker to the national meeting of the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare. The topic that will be covered is OSHA’s experience in healthcare as a result of the June 15, 2105 healthcare memo.

     • This organization also represents the assisted living industry and is members of the national associations American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

     • Products
       N/A

3. Results

   The alliance raises the awareness level of CHCA members throughout the state of Colorado about OSHA enforcement activity and major hazards in the long term health care industry, as well as compliance assistance resources available at the OSHA area offices. Particular emphasis this year has been placed on communicating information about enforcement and expectations related to OSHA’s emphasis for the Long Term Care industry. Additionally, during enforcement inspections in the nursing home industry in Colorado, OSHA has observed a consistent level of compliance with the standards.

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached, Effected or Trained
   9/21/16-9/22/16- OSHA booth CHCA annual meeting Colorado Springs	1000
   11/4/16 – Survival Skills presentation	40
   3/22/17 – S&H for Environmental Services	75
   4/11/17 – Safety and health for Nursing Home Administrators presentation	45
   TOTAL	1160

    

4. Upcoming Milestones

   OSHA and the CHCA have numerous joint events already planned for the remainder of 2017 and 2018. The CHCA invited OSHA to participate in the annual meeting in September 2017 which is an excellent opportunity to provide focused safety and health information to the nursing home industry in Colorado. Because healthcare is a focus of OSHA enhanced outreach will be conducted. Additionally, the parties will focus outside the metro area for future outreach. The alliance expires in September 2017 and the parties agree and intend to renew the agreement.