The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Illinois Council of Long Term Care
(ICLTC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more
healthful American workplaces. OSHA and ICLTC hereby form an Alliance to provide ICLTC members with
information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and
safety by reducing and preventing exposure to the numerous health and safety hazards associated with
nursing homes, such as but not limited to: bloodborne pathogens, ergonomic hazards from lifting and
repetitive tasks, hazards associated with electrical equipment, and exposure to chemicals. The most
frequently cited OSHA violations were bloodborne pathogens, uncontrolled electrical hazards,
lockout/tagout, hazardous chemicals information, medical services, recordkeeping, egress and machine
guarding issues.
OSHA and ICLTC will work to achieve the following training and education goals:
- Develop training and education programs for employer and employee members of the ICLTC regarding
bloodborne pathogens, biological hazards, ergonomics, lifting and repetitive tasks, chemical
exposure and electrical hazards, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to
employers and employees members of the ICLTC.
- Deliver or arrange for the delivery of safety and health-related seminars.
- Provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on safety and health issues for
ICLTC members.
OSHA and ICLTC will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- Provide expertise in developing information on recognizing and preventing workplace hazards and to
develop ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic
assistance tools and OSHA’s and the ICLTC Alliance members’ Web sites) to employers and employees in
the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or ICLTC’s local meetings, or other ICLTC events.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
nursing home best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ICLTC
and through OSHA or ICLTC- developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures
(or other applicable forum).
- Promote and encourage ICLTC members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs
such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation and the Safety and
Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- Encourage ICLTC members to build relationships with OSHA to address health and safety issues,
including repetitive motion and lifting hazards.
OSHA and ICLTC will work to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue
on workplace safety and health:
- Raise nursing home safety and health awareness of, and demonstrate a commitment to workplace
safety and health whenever OSHA and ICLTC leaders address groups.
- Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of an effective safety and
health program and publicize their results.
- Convene or participate in forums, seminars, round table discussions or stakeholder meetings on
nursing home issues to 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 and education, outreach and 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 within 60 days
following the signing of this agreement to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures
and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. Team members will include a
representative from OSHA. In addition, the implementation team will meet at least twice a year to
track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.
This agreement will remain in effect for two years starting the day of the signing, and 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.
Diane Turek
Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Date |
Terrence P. Sullivan
Executive Director
Illinois Council on Long Term Care |
Date |
|
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