U.S. Department of Labor | ||||||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
OSHA Strategic Partnerships Program > Region 7 > #512 Partnership Agreement | ||||||
Printing Instructions | ||||||
A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CONTRACT CLEANING INDUSTRY AND THE OSHA OMAHA AREA OFFICE |
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A. Purpose: Due to the extremely hazardous working conditions encountered by employees of the Contract Cleaning Industry, involved in the cleaning and sanitation of meat processing facilities, representatives of the "Industry" and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have agreed to partner in an effort to reduce workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. While industry-wide injury and illness rates are masked by inclusion in a generic Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 7349, Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified, cleaning company employees who work in meat packing and processing facilities are confronted with numerous hazardous conditions. Common injuries to Nebraska cleaning contractors include strains, lacerations, contusions, burns, fractures, amputations, dermatitis, and crushing injuries. It is the primary purpose of this partnership that the participants work cooperatively and collaboratively to reduce fatalities, injuries and illnesses such as those described herein. It is also the purpose of this partnership to facilitate dialogue between contract cleaning companies and host facilities regarding the relationship between "creating" and "exposing" employers. OSHA will survey facilities in the meat products industries throughout Nebraska in order to identify cleaning companies whose services are currently being contracted throughout the State. Subsequently, OSHA will send a letter and a copy of this partnership agreement to those cleaning companies notifying them of the partnership opportunity. Cleaning companies that wish to partner will have thirty (30) days from the date of receipt to sign and return the partnership agreement. B. Definitions: "Cleaning companies" in this context refers to organizations specifically engaged in providing on-site cleaning services to meat packing/processing facilities. C. Goals and Objectives: By entering into this partnership, the cleaning company operators agree to adhere to requirements intended to ensure continuous awareness of the organization’s safety and health program with the intent to minimize fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. OSHA hereby agrees to verify that partnership requirements are met and program goals are being attained by reviewing evidence of regular and effective safety audits and inspections, accident investigations, and injury/illness data during programmed inspections. The project goals are:
The partnership is a collaboration under which the participating cleaning companies make a commitment that they will create and maintain a written safety and health program and that the program will outline elements of management commitment and leadership, employee involvement, hazard analysis, hazard evaluation and control, and safety and health training. In addition, participating cleaning companies hereby agree to the following:
In addition to focused inspection activities for partnering companies, the OSHA Omaha Area Office, in collaboration with the Meat Processing Program participants will offer various outreach activities to assist contract cleaning companies with the development and implementation of effective safety and health programs, including information on the hazards associated with the industry, corrective action alternatives, and other pertinent topics. In general, these activities will include bi-monthly meetings of meat processing facility representatives, contract cleaning company representatives, and representatives of other interested stakeholders such as the National Safety Council, the Nebraska Safety Council, Nebraska Workforce Development, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. G. Disqualifications: If a partner cleaning company is not operating in good faith and the program is deemed to be ineffective during its operational time period, a specific partnership may be discontinued. In the event of this determination, the affected cleaning company operator will be formally notified. This determination is based on the finding that the requirements of the partnership (Section D) are not being met and attempts by all parties to rectify the situation haven proven ineffective. H. Evaluation of the Project: One year from the effective date of the partnership an evaluation shall be conducted by the Omaha Area Office and submitted to the Director of Federal-State Operations (FSO), OSHA Region VII. The evaluation will address the following:
The partnership agreement between OSHA’s Omaha Area Office and Contract Cleaning Companies will remain in effect for two years. Individual partnership agreements will terminate two years from the effective date of the partnership, or may be terminated by either signatory at any time with a 30 day written notice. The Omaha Area Office may elect to renew the partnership for two additional years at which time individual signatories may choose to continue participation.
We have reviewed and evaluated the information sent with the Contract Cleaning Company Partnership. We agree to participate in the program as a partner (as defined above) and are committed to the implementation of an effective workplace safety and health program that provides for management leadership and employee involvement, hazard analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, evaluation, and compliance with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Act requirements. _____________________________________________________________ Printed Name of Signatory (Administrator or Senior Official)
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Page last updated: 08/04/2006 |