ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE PROGRAM AMBASSADOR RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE NATIONAL SERVICE, TRANSMISSION, EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION SAFETY (STEPS) NETWORK
AND
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH)

Since entering into an Alliance on December 2, 2014, with a subsequent renewal on November 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety (STEPS) Network, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have worked together to improve workplace safety and health in the U.S. onshore oil and gas extraction industry by sharing information, guidance, and the development of hazard alerts that address occupational hazards, promote understanding of the rights of workers, and the responsibilities of host employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

OSHA, the National STEPS Network, and NIOSH continue to recognize the value of maintaining a collaborative relationship to improve safety and health practices and programs in the U.S. onshore oil and gas extraction industry and commit to continue their work together through an Alliance Program Ambassador relationship.

In recognition of this ongoing commitment, OSHA will continue to foster an active relationship with the National STEPS Network and NIOSH by:

• Providing routine communications on enforcement, regulatory, and outreach initiatives.
• Sharing invitations to and offering opportunities to speak at OSHA Alliance Program Forum and other agency stakeholder meetings or events, such as outreach and training activities through the National, Regional, or Area Office, and the National Alliance Program Construction Roundtable.
• Engaging in information sharing and technical discussions, as appropriate, including completing special projects and hazard alerts that are of mutual interest and align with agency priorities as resources allow.
• Maintaining the organizations’ status as Alliance Program Ambassadors on the agency’s public webpage.
• Supporting the efforts of NIOSH to collect surveillance data and disseminate reports summarizing fatal injuries in the industry.

The National STEPS Network will continue to foster an active relationship with OSHA and NIOSH by:

• Sharing information with members and stakeholders on OSHA’s National Initiatives (Enforcement, Regulatory, and Outreach), and encouraging their participation in OSHA’s outreach initiatives and rulemaking processes.
• Encouraging members and stakeholders to share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Encouraging National STEPS Network members and Regional STEPS Networks to continue to build relationships with NIOSH and OSHA’s National, Regional and Area Offices, and to request assistance through the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program.
• Sharing information with NIOSH and OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding National STEPS Network good practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
• Offering NIOSH and OSHA opportunities to speak, exhibit, or appear at their annual Oil and Gas Industry conferences and other local meetings, or other training and outreach events.
• Adhering to requirements laid out in the Alliance Program Directive regarding the prohibition on promoting or implying either agency’s endorsement of their policies, products, or services, including acknowledging that they will not receive any preferential treatment related to any statutory or regulatory function of either agency.
• Abiding by all terms and conditions for the use of the Alliance Program logo as specified in OSHA’s Guidelines for Use of the Alliance Logo.

NIOSH will continue to foster an active relationship with OSHA and the National STEPS Network by:

• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating industry-specific information for the purpose of identifying and monitoring safety and health issues in the industry.
• Conducting field studies to further characterize and control safety and health issues in the industry.
• Sharing NIOSH research findings and recommendations with OSHA and the National STEPS Network through training programs, workshops, seminars, Regional STEPS Network meetings, and presentations (or any other applicable forum).
• Participating in technical discussions, as appropriate, including completing special projects and hazard alerts that are of mutual interest and align with agency priorities as resources allow.
• Sharing invitations to and offering opportunities to speak at National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Oil and Gas Extraction Council meetings and webinars as appropriate.
• Providing technical review of OSHA materials as requested.
• Abiding by all terms and conditions for the use of the Alliance Program logo as specified in OSHA’s Guidelines for Use of the Alliance Logo.

OSHA’s cooperative programs provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary, collaborative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s initiatives, outreach, communication, training, and education. These programs have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and participants. By entering into this Ambassador relationship, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization’s products or services.

This Ambassador relationship will remain in effect for the duration of an ongoing cooperative association and a good-faith effort by all parties to meet the intent of this document and its underlying policies. Any signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days’ written notice.

Signed this 16^th day of June, 2022.

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
THE KANSAS CITY AND THE WICHITA AREA OFFICES
AND
THE KANSAS CITY JOINT ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING COMMITTEE (KC-JATC)
(INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS’ (IBEW)
Local Union (LU), Number 124, KANSAS CITY CHAPTER
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION (NECA)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Kansas City and Wichita Area Offices, and the Kansas City Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee (KC-JATC), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW), Local Union 124, and the Kansas City Chapter-National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) (herein referred to collectively as the “Participants”) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and KC-JATC hereby form an alliance to provide KC-JATC apprentices with information, guidance, and training to prevent exposures to prevalent health and safety hazards in the construction industry.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the alliance’s activities. Alliance participants agree to meet the requirements for program participation laid out in the “Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants” and the “Guidelines for OSHA’s Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects.” Additionally, alliance participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.

Through this alliance, the organizations will use injury, illness, and hazard exposure data, when appropriate, to identify areas of emphasis for awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The alliance participants 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 developing this alliance the participants, recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Onsite Consultation Program partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and information about the products and activities of the alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Outreach and Communication

• Share information on OSHA’s National/Regional/Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda Outreach), opportunities to participate in initiatives, and rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights of workers and responsibilities of employers to prevent electrical shocks, electrical burns, electrocutions, and health and safety hazards in the construction industry.
• Speak, exhibit, and/ or appear at OSHA and the Kansas City Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee-International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW), Local Union 124, Kansas City Chapter-National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), safety and health conference, local association meetings, Greater Kansas City Federal Field Safety and Health Conference council meetings, and other related events.

Training and Education

• Develop effective training and education programs for KC-JATC regarding electrical hazards, and to communicate such information to constituent employers and workers.
• Deliver or arrange for the delivery of electrical safe work practice courses.
• Develop effective training and education programs for KC-JATC 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.

Nothing in this agreement commits the participants to the expenditure of any funds.

OSHA’s alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s initiatives, outreach, communications, training, and education. These alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and alliance participants. By entering into an alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization’s products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet one to 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 Kansas City Area Office and the Wichita Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plans’ and OSHA On-Site Consultation program’ participation on the team.

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 written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed at Kansas City, Missouri, in duplicate, this 20^th day of May 2022.