The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Foundry Society (AFS)
hereby renew the Alliance agreement signed on March 22, 2004. OSHA and AFS continue to recognize the
value of collaborative efforts to achieve workplace safety. Both groups will encourage AFS members
and others, including small businesses, in the metalcasting industry to increase employee access to
safety and health information and training resources on workplace issues, including personal
protective equipment (PPE), ventilation and reducing and preventing exposure to silica. In renewing
this Alliance OSHA and AFS recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an
integral part of the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and AFS will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for the
metalcasting industry regarding PPE, ventilation and silica, and to provide expertise in
communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on the
foundry workplace issues including, PPE, ventilation and silica.
OSHA and AFS will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- Work with OSHA to provide 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 AFS's Web sites) to
employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, and/or appear at OSHA and AFS conferences, local meetings, and other events such
as the annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) conference and the Washington Conference.
- Share information among OSHA personnel, including Compliance Safety and Health Officers, and
industry safety and health professionals regarding AFS's best practices or effective approaches and
publicize results through outreach by AFS and through OSHA- or AFS-developed materials, training
programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
- Promote and encourage AFS chapters or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such
as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects regarding PPE, ventilation
and silica issues that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
- Encourage AFS chapters' or worksites' to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices
to address health and safety issues, including PPE, ventilation and silica.
OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative
relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and
promoting the 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. OSHA will encourage
State Plan States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team. 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 OSHA Consultation Projects'
participation on the team.
This renewal will remain in effect for two years. The signatories 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 J. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration |
Date |
Albert T. Lucchetti
President
American Foundry Society |
Date |
|