The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and United Building
Centers/Probuild North (UBC) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to
foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and UBC hereby form an Alliance to provide
English and non-English speaking UBC employees, affiliated contractors and others with information,
guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety,
particularly in addressing material handling issues resulting in musculoskeletal disorders; and
slips, trips, and falls. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and UBC recognize that OSHA's State Plan
and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.
OSHA and UBC will work together to achieve the following training and educational goals:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and educational programs for UBC employees
and affiliated contractors regarding safety and health related hazards regarding, material handling
issues resulting in musculoskeletal disorders; slips, trips, and falls; and to provide expertise in
communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
- Deliver or arrange for the delivery of educational sessions to increase hazard recognition and
safety awareness for UBC employees and affiliated contractors in the building trade, which include
the retail, manufacturing, and construction sectors.
OSHA and UBC will work together to achieve the following outreach and
communication goals:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of
workplace hazards and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information
(e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA's and UBC's Web sites) to
employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or UBC conferences, local meetings, or other lumber and related
building material trade events.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
UBC's best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by UBC and
through OSHA or UBC developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or
any other applicable forum).
- Promote and encourage UBC members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs,
such as, compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, On-site Consultation, and its
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on reducing material
handling hazards resulting in musculoskeletal disorders; and reducing slip, trip, and fall hazards
that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
- Encourage the lumber and building material industry and worksites to build relationships with
OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues including material handling
hazards resulting in musculoskeletal disorders; and slip, trip, and fall hazards.
OSHA and UBC will work together to achieve the following goals related to
promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and
publicize their results.
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on material
handling; slips, trips and falls; and other related issues to help forge innovative solutions in the
workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
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 proven 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 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 the Alliance. OSHA and UBC will
encourage the participation of State Plan States and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects.
This agreement will remain in effect for three years. 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 the signatories.
Effective the 20th day of February,
2008
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Gregory J. Baxter
Regional Administrator
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
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Dale Kukowski
President of Operations
United Building Centers/Probuild North |
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Jeffrey Lazarus
Program Manager
Safety and Health Bureau
Montana Department of Labor and Industry |
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James Manning
Program Director
South Dakota OSHA Consultation Works |
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Albert Koch
Program Manager
Bismarck State College
North Dakota Consultation |
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Louis Silva
Division Director
Utah OSH Administrator |
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J. D. Danni
OSHA Program Manager
Wyoming Department of Employment |
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Del Sandfort
Program Manager
Colorado Consultation |
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