The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health
(DPH), Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health (BEOH) recognize the value of establishing a
collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and DPH/BEOH
hereby state their intent to form an Alliance, the purpose of which is to work collaboratively to
provide information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’
health and safety. We would expect that the area of concentration during this collaboration would be
among those workers who may be exposed to ammonia hazards in certain settings, especially those
workplaces utilizing ammonia as a refrigerant. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and DPH/BEOH
recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA
national effort.
OSHA and DPH/BEOH will work together to achieve the following training, education and
prevention/outreach goals:
- Work with the Madison, WI Area Office to provide expertise and to develop and communicate
training, education and prevention/outreach programs for employers and employees regarding the
hazards of ammonia, especially in workplaces where ammonia is used as a refrigerant.
Within the framework of best-evidence outreach precepts, OSHA and DPH/BEOH will
work together to achieve the following prevention/outreach and communication goals:
- 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, and electronic assistance tools such as the OSHA and the DPH/BEOH Web sites)
to employers and employees in industries using ammonia as a refrigerant.
- Identify and interact with potential “action” outreach partners including private ammonia
associations, professional engineers and especially employer/employee representatives from firms
which use ammonia as a refrigerant.
- Formulate a data-driven prevention/outreach plan based on measurable best-evidence/best practices
precepts, to include current DPH/BEOH data concerning the frequency of ammonia events, victims and
evacuees among Wisconsin firms using ammonia as a refrigerant.
- Identify and resolve issues which constitute barriers to effective outreach initiatives.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at relevant conferences, local meetings, or other events attended by
those persons interested in the safe use of ammonia in the workplace.
- Encourage federal, state and local organizations (including the Agency For Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry at the federal level) to build relationships with OSHA’s cooperative programs such
as Compliance Assistance, Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation, and the Safety and Health
Achievement Recognition Program.
DPH/BEOH will encourage other federal, state and local organizations (including
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Studies, ATSDR at the federal level) to
work with OSHA to promote the nationwide dialogue on workplace safety and health among industries
which use ammonia as a refrigerant, to include:
- Possible ATSDR participation in forums, round table discussions, and stakeholder meetings to help
forge innovative solutions in the workplace and to provide input on safety and health issues
associated with usage of ammonia 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 any party, neither OSHA nor DPH/BEOH endorses any of that 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. It is anticipated that the Team will meet at least three times per year to track and
share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.
It is expected that this agreement will remain in effect for a period of two years. However, 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.
Kimberly Stille
Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Date |
Thomas Sieger, Director
Bureau of Environmental and
Occupational Health |
Date |
|
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