The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Association of Occupational Health
Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) hereby renew the Alliance signed February 19, 2004. OSHA and AOHP
continue to recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and
more healthful American workplaces. Both organizations are committed to protecting employees' health
and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne
diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA and
AOHP recognize that OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the
OSHA national effort.
OSHA and AOHP will work together to achieve the following training and education goal:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing workplace safety and health curricula for
training and education programs on patient handling, bloodborne pathogens and emergency preparedness
for healthcare institutions and workers.
OSHA and AOHP 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 AOHP's Web sites) to
employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AOHP's conferences, local meetings, or other AOHP sponsored
events such as the AOHP Annual National Conference.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
AOHP's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by AOHP and
through OSHA or AOHP's developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or
any other applicable forum).
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to patient-handling
hazards, bloodborne diseases and emergency preparedness that are addressed and developed through the
Alliance Program.
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 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. Team members will
include representatives of OSHA's Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs, Directorate of
Science, Technology and Medicine and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan
States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.
This agreement will remain in effect for two 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 both signatories.
Edward G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Date |
Denise Strode, BSN, COHN
President
Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare |
Date |
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