Question: What Alliance information should the Regions submit to the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances?

Answer:

The Regions should submit the following to the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances:

• Agreements and renewals. Initial Alliance agreements and renewals should be submitted as soon as possible after they are signed, but no later than one month after signing. The agreements and renewals should be in Microsoft Word format. Please ensure the Word document you send is identical to the signed agreement, but does not display actual signatures. If available, please include signing photos (with suggested captions) and provide links to Regional news releases on the signing.
• Draft Region-wide Alliance agreements and renewals. (See Region-wide Alliances)
• Draft consulate Alliance agreements and renewals. (See Region-wide Alliances)
• Annual reports. These should be submitted as soon as possible after the annual report period, but no later than 60 days after the end of the annual report period.
• Success stories. Regions are encouraged to submit brief summaries of successful Alliance activities. These may be highlighted in Related OSHA QuickTakes and on the Alliance Program page.

Question: Can participants from concluded Alliances use the logo?

Answer:

Former Alliance participants should not use the Alliance logo to imply that they still have an active Alliance with OSHA or that OSHA has endorsed or reviewed any of the participant’s activities after the Alliance concluded. However, a former Alliance participant can use the logo to promote the Alliance Program or highlight its past accomplishments, as long as it is clear that the Alliance has concluded. Former Alliance participants can also keep the Alliance logo on Alliance-developed products in accordance with the Guidelines for Developing Alliance Products.

Question: What are the guidelines for use of the Alliance logo?

Answer:

See the Alliance Logo web page for guidance.

Question: What Alliances are considered Region-wide?

Answer:

An Alliance signed by the Regional Administrator and that applies throughout the Region is considered Region-wide. Alliances signed by multiple Area Offices (for example, all the Area Offices in a state) are generally not considered Region-wide.

Question: My Alliance is developing products. Are there any guidelines we should follow?

Answer:

Many National Alliance participants develop products such as fact sheets, toolbox talks, and videos. The National Office has established Guidelines for Developing Alliance Products for products developed by national Alliances. These guidelines may be helpful for Regional and Area Office Alliances that are developing Alliance products. For example, products developed by Regional and Area Office Alliances should generally include the Alliance logo, the Alliance participant’s logo, and the standard disclaimer. Alliance products should not include the official OSHA logo.

Question: Does the national Solicitor’s Office need to approve Region-wide Alliances?

Answer:

Yes, the national Solicitor’s Office must approve Region-wide Alliances. Regions should submit draft Region-wide agreements and renewals to the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, which will send them to the national Solicitor’s Office for clearance. Area Office Alliances do not require approval from the national Solicitor’s Office.

Question: If Alliance signatories are not able to sign an agreement in person, can they sign by mail? For signings by mail, should OSHA sign first or last? What is the official signing date?

Answer:

Alliance signings and renewals can be done by mail. The non-OSHA Alliance participants should sign first, followed by the OSHA official(s). The date the OSHA official(s) signs should be considered the signing date. It is also permissible to have some participants sign in person and others sign by mail.

Question: If the renewal date is delayed past the renewal due date (or "expiration date"), what time period should be covered then?

Answer:

Annual reports should continue to be prepared based on the original signing date. For example, if an Alliance is signed on April 10, 2012, but is not renewed until June 15, 2014, the annual reports should continue to cover the periods from April 10 to April 9.

Question: What time period should the annual report cover?

Answer:

The annual report should cover one year from the signing date. For example, if the Alliance was signed on September 9, 2015, the annual report would cover the period between September 9, 2015 and September 8, 2016.

Question: Should we send a conclusion letter when concluding an Alliance?

Answer:

While a formal conclusion letter is not required, the directive requires an Alliance signatory to provide 30 days written notice to terminate its participation in an Alliance. Even if an Alliance is being mutually concluded, it’s good practice for the OSHA office to send a written communication (conclusion letter or email) to document the decision. A conclusion letter or email can also help set the stage for the participants to continue working together outside a formal Alliance by noting that OSHA looks forward to continuing to work with the other signatories to address workplace safety and health issues.