The Region IV Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Consulate General of Mexico
in Atlanta (Mexican Consulate) and the Georgia Institute of Technology – Safety, Health and
Environmental Division (Georgia Tech), hereinafter “the parties.”
Recognizing the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more
healthful American workplaces,
Considering the importance of providing Mexican workers throughout the southeast with information,
guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees’ health and safety
and allow them to exercise their rights fully,
Recognizing the usefulness for Mexican workers of other cooperative efforts such as the Alliance
Program, the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, the
Strategic Partnership Program and the Voluntary Protection Programs,
Considering the Mexico-US Joint Declaration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United
Mexican States and the Department of Labor of the United States of America concerning workplace laws
and regulations and the Letter of Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United
Mexican States and the Department of Labor of the United States of America, through its Occupational
Safety and Health Administration concerning workplace safety and health protection for Mexican
Workers in the United States signed in Washington DC, on the 21st of July of 2004.
The parties will work together to achieve the following goals:
- Informational materials
- Develop informational materials in Spanish on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards,
such as public service announcements, videos and posters, brochures, pamphlets and wallet sized
cards.
- Publicize the OSHA toll-free telephone number and the Consulate special line for Mexican workers.
- Develop work related stories based on real worksite accidents and hazards to promote risk
awareness for Mexican workers.
- Develop ways of communicating such information (e.g. print, such as the Mexican Consulate
newsletter and electronic media, such as the OSHA Region IV e-newsletter, as well as electronic
assistance tools and OSHA’s, the Mexican Consulate’s and Georgia Tech’s Web sites) to Mexican
employers and employees.
- Training Programs
- Develop a Construction Hazard Awareness Training Program (CHAT) on worker’s rights related safety
and health issues, as well as the prevalent hazards in industry sectors and work places with a high
concentration of Mexican workers. All training material will be developed in both Spanish and
English for this course.
- Develop training for the Consulate employees to better assist Mexican workers in order to identify
specific violations that may be brought to the attention of OSHA’s authorities.
- Develop and conduct cultural cross training sessions to increase awareness of OSHA’s inspectors,
compliance assistant specialists, consultants and trainers to the cultural sensitivities of Mexican
workers.
- Outreach and communication goals
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at the mobile consulate meetings in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and
Mississippi coordinated by the Mexican Consulate.
- Seek appropriate forums within the consular jurisdiction1 that may include community based
organizations and centers, worksites, the consulate facilities to teach the CHAT Program.
- Promote the availability of OSHA’s resources for employers of Mexican workers in this region to
further reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
- In developing this Alliance, OSHA, the Mexican Consulate and Georgia Tech recognize that OSHA’s
State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.
- Information exchange
- Share information regarding workplace fatalities and accidents involving Mexican citizens with
OSHA, to ensure that all workplace accidents are properly investigated by OSHA and hazards are
abated, to help prevent future accidents.
- Plan of Action
- An implementation team made up of representatives of the parties 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 this letter of agreement.
This agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing and will automatically be
renewed annually thereafter. This Alliance may be terminated by OSHA and the Consulate General of
Mexico in Atlanta for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice.
Additionally, this agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of all the
signatories.
Cindy Coe Laseter
Regional Administrator, Region IV
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration |
Date |
Remedios Gomez-Arnau
Consul General of Mexico in Atlanta |
Date |
Kenneth E. Johnson
Director, Georgia Tech
Research Institute’s, Safety, Health & Environmental Technology Division |
Date |
|
|
1Consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta covers
the States of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
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