Question: How does OSHA decide whether to renew or conclude an Alliance?

Answer:

In assessing whether to renew or conclude an Alliance, OSHA will consider whether the:

• Participants remain committed to working collaboratively with the agency,
• Participants are successfully meeting the Fundamental Requirements and the goals specified in the agreement,
• Alliance has made sufficient progress on the projects in the work plan, where applicable, and
• Alliance continues to be aligned with OSHA’s strategic priorities.

OSHA may also conclude an Alliance at any time based on its evaluation of these factors, or if it gives 30 days’ written notice.

Question: What is the timeframe covered by an Alliance agreement?

Answer:

Initial Alliance agreements have a duration of two years. Alliances may be renewed or concluded at the end of each agreement cycle at the discretion of OSHA and the Alliance participant. Renewal agreements typically have a duration of five years, but may range from two to five years at the discretion of the originating office.

Question: What are the expectations of Alliance participants?

Answer:

Alliance participants agree to certain fundamental requirements as a condition of their participation in the Program. These include:

• Disseminating information to their members and/or stakeholders on OSHA rulemakings, enforcement initiatives, outreach campaigns, and compliance assistance resources.
• Committing reasonable time and resources to achieve outreach and communication goals and complete any other mutually agreed-upon projects.
• Providing OSHA with information pertaining to Alliance-related dissemination efforts, events, speeches/presentations, and other activities, as appropriate.
• Making a reasonable effort to secure meaningful worker participation in the Alliance, which may be accomplished by, for example, having a union signatory to the Alliance, securing union participation, or ensuring other worker involvement in Alliance activities.
• Following the Guidelines for OSHA's Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects for Alliance activities beyond outreach and dissemination. Any products developed through the Alliance must be made available to the public free of charge.

Question: How does OSHA select Alliances?

Answer:

When assessing potential Alliances to pursue, OSHA will consider factors such as:

• Alignment of proposed goals with OSHA’s strategic priorities.
• Capability of potential participant(s) to achieve goals with sufficient knowledge and expertise.
• Ability of potential participant(s) to address emerging workplace safety and health issues.
• Demonstrated commitment of potential participant(s) to working cooperatively with OSHA.
• Reach of potential participant(s) to high-hazard industries, and at-risk workers.

OSHA may also use agency and other data to identify industry sectors and representative organizations with which to pursue Alliances.

OSHA does not need to enter into a formal Alliance to work with an organization on outreach and dissemination. OSHA and an organization may decide to work together informally on outreach activities, or may do so for a period of time before entering into an Alliance.

Question: Do Alliance participants receive enforcement benefits?

Answer:

No. Alliance participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.

Question: Do State Plans operate Alliance Programs?

Answer:

State plans, or OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories, are not required to operate Alliance programs. However, OSHA encourages states to participate in the implementation of OSHA’s Alliances and to develop their own state programs, patterned after the federal program. Federal OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs maintains a list of State Plan-operated Alliance programs here; you may also contact the state plan directly for details.

Question: Who may sign an Alliance with OSHA?

Answer:

Organizations committed to workplace safety in health, including, but not limited to, trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies, may sign an alliance agreement with federal OSHA at the national, regional, or area office level. State Plans and On-Site Consultation programs may also sign or otherwise participate in Alliances.

OSHA may also sign Alliances with for-profit entities, Native American Tribes, Whistleblower Protection Entities, and Consulates with consideration for additional approval procedures. Please see Section VII of the Alliance Program Directive for additional information.

Question: Can an Alliance participant work with OSHA to address an enforcement issue or policy?

Answer:

OSHA will not resolve an industry’s enforcement disputes or policy concerns through an Alliance. However, Alliance participants are encouraged to share feedback with the agency about these issues and work collaboratively with the agency to develop compliance assistance resources and conduct outreach activities to raise awareness about relevant issues and compliant practices within an industry sector.

Question: Can an Alliance participant work with OSHA through an Alliance to promote a good or service?

Answer:

No. Alliance participants may not use their relationship with OSHA to promote or to imply the agency’s endorsement of their policies, programs, products, or services.

Question: What kinds of activities do Alliances undertake?

Answer:

As a condition of their participation in the program, Alliance participants disseminate information on OSHA initiatives and resources to their stakeholders, and support their stakeholders’ engagement in the agency’s outreach efforts. In this way, Alliance participants serve as important information intermediaries, significantly amplifying and supporting OSHA’s outreach initiatives. As a result, more employers and workers receive information to help them comply with OSHA requirements and improve workplace safety and health in their industries. OSHA supports Alliance participants’ efforts by providing timely information to Alliance participants on agency regulatory activities, enforcement initiatives, and outreach campaigns, and connecting Alliance participants with appropriate OSHA compliance assistance and technical staff who can support exhibits, and participate in meetings and other events to present information about the agency and its initiatives.

Alliance participants may also conduct activities beyond outreach and dissemination, with priority given to projects that fill gaps and support agency initiatives. Examples of these projects include:

• Planning and conducting stand-downs, training sessions, or other outreach events in support of key OSHA initiatives,
• Providing technical briefings for OSHA staff,
• Developing Alliance products, (e.g., to fill gaps where workplace safety and health materials do not exist or to address an emerging hazard), and
• Reviewing OSHA compliance assistance materials.

For Alliance products and other projects that go beyond outreach and dissemination, Alliance participants must follow the Guidelines for OSHA’s Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects.