The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), New Jersey Public
Employee's Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) and the Somerset County Business Partnership recognize
the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful workplaces.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership hereby form an Alliance to use their collective
expertise to provide leadership, guidance, and a positive example to employers and employees in both
the private and public sectors. This Alliance will help foster a culture of worker health and safety
and accident prevention through cooperative sharing of technical knowledge and best practices,
including knowledge of specific standards, regulations, guidelines and procedures, and other general
methods of improving workplace safety and health. OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business
Partnership recognize that New Jersey's On-Site Consultation Program may assist in these efforts.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to achieve the following
training and education goals:
- Use collective expertise to develop training and educational programs designed to promote and
improve worker safety and health in Somerset County and facilitate communication between OSHA, PEOSH
and employers, especially smaller employers. These training and educational programs will focus
primarily on enabling employers to better understand OSHA's and PEOSH's requirements in specific
occupational safety and health subject areas. This may include recordkeeping, walking and working
surfaces, means of egress, flammable and combustible materials, personal protective equipment,
machine guarding and lockout/tagout, material handling, electrical safety, bloodborne pathogens and
chemical hazard communication. Training will also enable employers to be aware of emergent issues
impacting worker safety and health within their companies or workplaces such as emergency
preparedness and the incident command system, safety and health programs, motor vehicle safety,
ergonomics, workplace violence and participation in the various cooperative programs.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to
achieve the following outreach and communications goals:
- Work together and share expertise in developing information and outreach materials designed to
enhance employer and employee recognition and prevention of workplace hazards. Develop ways of
communicating this information to employers and employees in the Somerset County area through print
and electronic media (including the OSHA NJ E-Newsletter, compliance assistance tools, and OSHA's,
PEOSH's and Somerset County Business Partnership's web sites).
- Speak, exhibit or appear at Somerset County Business Partnership conferences and special events
such as Incident Command System training seminars
- Promote and encourage Somerset County Business Partnership private and public sector members'
awareness of and participation in OSHA's and PEOSH's cooperative programs such as Alliances,
Partnerships, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), Consultation, and the Safety and Health
Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
- Share information among OSHA personnel, PEOSH personnel, Somerset County Business Partnership
members, and private and public sector safety and health professionals regarding effective
approaches or best safety and health practices. Publicize results through outreach by OSHA, PEOSH
and the Somerset Business Partnership-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars,
lectures or any other applicable forum.
- The Somerset County Business Partnership will make a portion of their publications obtainable, on
a space available basis, for articles regarding safety and health education.
- OSHA will give priority consideration to requests from Somerset County Business Partnership member
companies for speakers and presenters on matters regarding safety and health.
OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business Partnership will work together to
achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- Work together with Somerset County Business Partnership membership organizations to build a safety
and health awareness culture within the Somerset County community.
- Raise awareness of workplace hazards and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health
whenever OSHA, PEOSH or Somerset County Business Partnership leaders meet or address groups at
forums and other periodic events.
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, 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 OSHA, PEOSH and the Somerset County Business
Partnership will conference to develop a plan of action and identify 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.
This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing. Any 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 all signatories.
Signature date: __________________________________
For the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Louis Ricca, Jr.
Acting Regional Administrator
Region II |
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Robert D. Kulick
Area Director
Avenel Area Office |
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For Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health |
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Leonard Katz
Assistant Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Labor Standards and Safety Enforcement |
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For the Somerset County Business Partnership |
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Thomas D. Sharpe
Interim President |
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