Step 1: Become familiar with OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program
Step 2: Identify clear goal(s), strategy(ies), and meaningful
impact measure(s).
- What do the partners want to accomplish, how will it be done, how will it be measured
and who will do it. It’s as easy as that.
- Review the following chart:
Goal |
Strategy |
Measures |
1) Identify and communicate an effective process to develop and implement
successful ergonomic programs and guidelines |
A) Develop a written process to address
ergonomic hazards in the workplace. |
a) Number of sites where ergonomic process has
been effectively implemented
b) Number of training courses/people trained in process
c) Awareness survey of employees |
2) Identify at least three Partner ergonomic best practices and related training
materials in the pharmaceutical, medical, devices, and consumer goods
divisions. |
B) Review
Partner data to identify at least three best
practices in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer goods
divisions; develop/share related training techniques and materials. |
a) Identification of three best practices |
3) Reduce the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD's) at participating facilities |
C) Develop an ergonomic protocol for use by
OSHA during on-site ergonomics inspections to assess employers' compliance
under the General Duty Clause. |
a) Baseline of MSD cases
b) MSD cases involving day(s) of restricted work activity
c) MSD cases involving day(s) away from work
d) the number of MSD-related surgeries,
e) an annual comparison of these incidence and severity criteria to the
baseline numbers. |
4) Share Partner best practices in ergonomics with other Partner facilities, like
industries, and the public |
D) Communicate the best practices through
Compliance Assistance tools (e.g., eTools), training (e.g., OTI and
Education Center courses), and programs (e.g., Consultation and mentoring);
use safety conferences, trade journals, and any other effective means. |
a) Log or summary of outreach activity |
|
Step 3: Identify Partners
- Besides OSHA, who will be a signatory to the Partnership? Who has
similar issues or problems? Who can be impacted?
- Examples include: trade and/or professional associations, unions,
councils, insurance firms, universities, state and local government,
companies, corporations, industries with successful programs, etc. The more
participants, the greater the impact and the greater leveraging of
resources.
Step 4: Draft Partnership
Agreement
The most difficult part of the process. Use the following
tools for assistance:
- Review core elements and use as a guide to draft agreement
- With assistance as needed from your OSHA contact, develop a draft agreement.
- Try to maintain all pieces (cover, signature pages, enclosures,
appendices)
within the same document as the final document will become a part of OSHA’s
Partnership website.
Step 5: Submit the final proposal to OSHA for acceptance
- Once a draft has been completed, contact OSHA to move forward. The document will be routed through OSHA’s Regional or
National office and solicitor and may be approved as is or returned
for comment/changes. Once the document clears, a signing ceremony is held.
Step 6: Begin new relationship with OSHA – talk about ongoing Partnership
activity, measurement, annual evaluation, and open communication. End result –
positive, measurable impact on workplace safety and health.
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