The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), State of Nebraska Department of
Revenue (NDR) and Nebraska Workforce Development's – OSHA Consultation Program (NE/OSHA Consultation) recognize the value of
establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces and provide voluntary
compliance assistance for all federal and state tax regulations. OSHA, IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation form an Alliance to
provide customers doing business with those organizations with information, guidance, and access to training resources that
will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to numerous hazards and
addressing Nebraska's rising number of fatalities. In addition this alliance will provide employers with tax information to
assist them with compliance with federal and state tax laws.
OSHA, IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
- Develop training and education programs focusing on Nebraska fatalities, causes, preventative measures and information
related to these fatalities.
- Develop training information to be presented to Nebraska contractors.
- To inform small businesses of the educational products and services available to them to assist them in complying with
their Federal and State tax obligations and accessing these services through electronic or other means.
OSHA, IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- Develop an informational package about OSHA and services offered to be disseminated by NDR with packages mailed to employers who request tax
withholding information and tax ID numbers.
- Develop and disseminate information through electronic media including electronic tools and links from OSHA IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation
Web sites.
- Promote and encourage employer participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program,
Consultation, and Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
- Develop informational packages and cross-train OSHA, IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation personnel on each of the organizations' missions and the
information that is available to be disseminated to employers.
OSHA, IRS, NDR, and NE/OSHA Consultation Program will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting
the national dialogue on workplace safety and health as well as the education of employers about services and products available to
assist with voluntary compliance of federal and state tax obligations:
- At outreach sessions, particularly those where smaller-sized employers are expected to attend, OSHA will make information available to attendees
regarding voluntary compliance with workplace safety and health. OSHA will also provide pre-prepared tax information from IRS and NDR. IRS and NDR
will do the same whenever they address groups.
- OSHA, IRS, NDR and NE/OSHA Consultation Program will invite each other to attend any planned forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings
to provide information related to safety and health, IRS and/or NDR. This will provide opportunities to educate the participants of these meetings on
the subjects of safety and health and tax obligations.
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 from all 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 quarterly 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. Either signatory may terminate the agreement 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.
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Ben Bare, CIH
Area Director
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration |
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Kathy Spinner
GLD Area 5 Manager
Internal Revenue Service |
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Mary Jane Egr
Nebraska State Tax Commissioner |
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Clinton L. Shafer
Nebraska Territory Manager
Taxpayer Education & Communication
Small Business/Self Employed |
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Fernando Lecuona III,
Commissioner of Labor |
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