The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Pipeline Contractors
Association (APCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer
and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and APCA hereby form an Alliance to provide APCA
members and others in the pipeline construction industry, including small businesses and non-English
and limited English speaking employees, with information, guidance, and access to training resources
that will help them protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance will particularly focus on
reducing and preventing exposure to equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom),
trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and APCA
recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Onsite Consultation Project partners are an integral part of
the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and APCA will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the pipeline
construction industry, including small businesses and non-English and limited English speaking
employees regarding equipment operation (e.g. bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and
excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards and to provide expertise in communicating such
information in both English and Spanish to employers and employees in the industry.
OSHA and APCA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- Work with OSHA to provide the 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 APCA's Web
sites) to employers and employees in the pipeline construction industry.
- Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA's or APCA's conferences, local meetings or other events such as
the APCA Annual Meeting.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding APCA
best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by APCA and through
OSHA or APCA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures (or any other
applicable forum).
- Promote and encourage APCA's members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs, such as
compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Onsite Consultation Program and
its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
OSHA and APCA will work together to achieve the following goal related to promoting
the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings, for small
businesses and non-English and limited English speaking employees and equipment operation (e.g.
bulldozer, excavator and sideboom), trenching and excavation and hydrostatic testing hazards, to
help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.
OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative
relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training, education, outreach, 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. In addition, 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. Team members will
include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other
appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and Onsite Consultation Program's
participation on the team.
This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either 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 both signatories.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Date |
J.D. Lormand
Executive
Director
American Pipeline Contractors Association |
Date |
|
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