Alliance -- An OSHA Cooperative Program<< Back to Concluded Regional Alliances - Region VII


The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Region VII, Des Moines Area Office, the United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Des Moines District Office, the Iowa Division of Labor (IDL) and the Consulate of Mexico in Omaha, Nebraska, hereinafter referred to collectively as "the Parties",

Recognizing the joint commitment to workplace safety and health protections acknowledged in the 2004 Letter of Agreement between the Department of Labor of the United States of America and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States; and

Recognizing that OSHA's Alliance Program provide 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

Intend to reestablish this Alliance to achieve the following:

Overall Objective

The Parties intend to reestablish their collaborative relationship to provide the Parties and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that is expected to help protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing falls and exposure to harmful noise and other safety hazards, and address working conditions and labor rights issues.

Training and Education

The Parties intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

  • To provide expertise to develop training and education programs for Mexican citizens working in the State of Iowa regarding safety and health hazards, working conditions and labor rights issues, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
     
  • To deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA 10 hour training and other courses.
     
  • To provide expertise to develop workplace safety and health curricula on hazards faced by Mexican citizens working in the State of Iowa.

Outreach and Communication

The Parties 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 the Parties' Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

  • To speak, exhibit, or appear at the Parties' conferences, local meetings or other events.

  • To share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding the Parties' best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through the Parties' developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

  • To promote and encourage the Parties' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation Program, and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

  • To work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on safety and health hazards, working conditions and labor rights throughout various industries for Mexican citizens that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

  • To encourage the Parties and Mexican citizens working in the State of Iowa to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including issues arising specifically in meatpacking, agriculture, and maritime.

National Dialogue

The Parties intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

  • To raise others' awareness of, and demonstrate their own commitment to, workplace safety and health whenever the Parties' leaders address groups.

  • To develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and to publicize these results.

  • To convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on workplace safety and health, working conditions, and labor rights issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

An implementation team made up of the Parties' representatives intends to meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the Parties. In addition, the Parties intend to meet at least three 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. Any signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 (thirty) days written notice. This Arrangement may be modified in writing at any time with the concurrence of all signatories.

Signed at Des Moines, Iowa, in quadruplicate on the 20th day of April 2009.



FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
REGION VII
DES MOINES AREA OFFICE:


_____________________
Bonita Winingham,
Area Director

 
FOR THE CONSULATE OF MEXICO
IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA:





_________________________
Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes,
Consul of Mexico in Omaha

 
FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S
WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION
DES MOINES DISTRICT OFFICE:


______________________
Percella Maupins,
District Director
FOR THE IOWA DIVISION OF LABOR:




____________________
Steven Slater
Deputy Commissioner of Labor/IOSH
Administrator