The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
Consulate General of Mexico in New York, New York (the Consulate), hereinafter “the Participants”,
Recognizing the joint commitment to workplace safety and health protections acknowledged in the
Letter of Agreement of July 21, 2004 between the Department of Labor of the United States of America
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States;
Recognizing that OSHA’s Alliance Program provides for the establishment of cooperative relationships
for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national
dialogue on workplace safety and health; and
Recognizing the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more
healthful workplaces;
Intend to an agreement to achieve the following:
The Participants intend to work jointly to provide Mexican workers with information, guidance, and
access to training resources that are intended to help them improve their workplace health and
safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to General and Construction Industry
hazards, such as falls, electrical hazards, and amputations.
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
- To provide expertise to develop training and education programs for non-English or limited English
speaking employees and employers on hazards, such as falls, electrical hazards, and amputations, and
to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and Mexican employees in the
industry.
- Deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA’s 10 and 30-hour General and Construction Industry
courses in Spanish. These courses would be provided by OSHA personnel in conjunction with the
Consulate.
Outreach and Communication |
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- 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 the Consulate’s Web sites) to
employers and employees in the Mexican community.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Consulate’s conferences, local meetings, or other
events; such as the mobile consulate to educate the constituents of the Consulate regarding employer
and employee workplace rights and responsibilities.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and safety and health professionals regarding the
Consulate’s best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by the
Consulate and through OSHA or the Consulate’s developed materials, training programs, workshops,
seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
- Promote and encourage the participation of the Consulate’s constituency in OSHA’s cooperative
programs, such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and the
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
- Encourage the constituency of the Consulate to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area
Offices to address health and safety issues, including hazards, such as falls, electrical hazards,
and amputations.
- Encourage bi-lingual individuals to take the OSHA Train-the-Trainer course(s) on the occupational
safety and health standards for the General and Construction Industries, so they qualify to teach
Mexican workers the respective OSHA 10 and 30-hour courses in Spanish.
- Work with the local Mexican community in the New York and New Jersey areas through the Consulate,
as well as other faith-based and community organizations, in an effort to enhance safety and health
awareness within the Mexican community.
Promotion of a National Dialogue |
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related
to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on General and
Construction Industry hazards, such as falls, electrical hazards, and amputations, to help forge
innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
An implementation team made up of representatives of the Participants intends to
meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities
of the Participants. In addition, the Participants intend to meet at least 3 times per year to track and
share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.
This Arrangement is to remain in effect for two years from the date of signing. Either signatory may
terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This Arrangement
may be modified in writing at any time with the concurrence of the signatories.
Signed in the English and Spanish languages at the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, in
quadruple, this 12th day of October, 2005.
For the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, Region II Area Office: |
For the Consulate General of Mexico in New York: |
Patricia K. Clark
Regional Administrator |
Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana
Consul General of Mexico |
|
Witness: |
Diana Cortez
Regional Hispanic Coordinator/
Area Director-Tarrytown Area Office |
Norberto Terrazas
Consul in charge of Legal protection of
Mexican citizens |
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