1. Alliance Background
   
   Date Signed: June 9, 2003
   
   Overview: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association (NDGDA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge. 
   
   OSHA and NDGDA agree to establish an Alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions for grain elevator and feed mill employees by:
   • Providing NDGDA members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to hazards associated with railcar operations, fire and explosion hazard’s, grain bin entry, and confined space hazards. 
     
     
   • Increasing access to safety and health information and training resources.

   OSHA and the NDGDA will also work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

   • Develop training and education programs on the hazards of the grain industry targeted for facility managers, supervisors, and workers.
     
     
   • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of training and education courses addressing the hazards in the grain industry.

   OSHA and the NDGDA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

   • Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including links from OSHA’s and NDGDA’s Web sites. 
     
     
   • Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events.
     
     
   • Promote and encourage NDGDA members’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and SHARP(Safety and Health Recognition Program, a cooperative program that encourages employers to operate exemplary safety and health management systems). In addition, the NDGDA will act as mentors to member’s worksites that aspire to excellence in safety and health.

   OSHA and the NDGDA will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

   • Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever the NDGDA leaders address appropriate groups. 
     
     
   • Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA and the NDGDA of their member’s worksites with others in the industry through outreach by the NDGDA and through OSHA - or the NDGDA - developed training programs and materials. Promote their implementation through print or electronic media, at conferences, or by other means of outreach.
     
     
   • Perform case studies and publicize their results through print or electronic media, promotion at conferences, or other means of outreach.

Implementation Team Members Participating:

Bruce Beelman	Area Director, OSHA
Tom Deutscher	Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA
Steve Strege	Executive Director NDGDA
Larry Philips	Safety Director (no longer employed)
Stu Lecher	Safety Director NDGDA

Evaluation Period: June 9, 2003 to June 9, 2004

2. Implementation Team Meetings
   
   October 20, 2003: Kick-off meeting
   May 24, 2004: Quarterly implementation team meeting
   
   
3. Events and Products
   
   Outreach and Communication:
   • March 16, 2004: NDGDA Regulatory Conference
   • May 25, 2004: Anhydrous Ammonia Regulatory Seminar
   • May 26, 2004: Anhydrous Ammonia Regulatory Seminar
   • May 27, 2004: Anhydrous Ammonia Regulatory Seminar
   • May 28, 2004: Anhydrous Ammonia Regulatory Seminar
     
     
   • October 1, 2003: e-newsletter
   • January 2, 2004: e-newsletter
   • April 1, 2004: e-newsletter
     
     
4. Results
   
   The value to OSHA of sharing workplace safety practices, training and technical knowledge with the grain industry facility managers, supervisors, and employees is immeasurable. The culture that is fostered results in a higher level of awareness and understanding of the value of safety. Through the alliance, we are able to influence many more employers/employees than through traditional methods. Through the alliance, we are also able to leverage resources within the grain industry community.

Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print, and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
Regulatory Conference	75
Ammonia Regulatory Conference	200
e-newsletter	690
TOTAL	965

This alliance has been somewhat hindered by the dismissal of the NDGDA Safety Director and the securing of a new Safety Director as noted by the lag time between meetings.

5. Upcoming Milestones
   
   Annual review of the Alliance with implementation team (2-year alliance)