How can Alliance Programs help improve workplace safety and health?

According to a 2004 OSHA FACTSheet, OSHA created its Alliance Program to help organizations prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. OSHA and Alliance participants work together to reach out, educate and lead the nation’s employers and their employees in improving and advancing workplace safety and health. Groups that can form an Alliance with OSHA include trade or professional organizations, businesses, labor unions, educational institutions and government agencies.

Benefits of an Alliance. There are many benefits to participating in an Alliance with OSHA. This collaboration, which lasts for two years, helps organizations to:

• Build trusting, cooperative relationships with the agency;

• Network with other groups committed to workplace safety and health;

• Leverage resources to maximize worker safety and health protection;

• Gain recognition as a proactive leader in safety and health.

Organizations may be cooperating with OSHA for the first time, or they may be continuing existing relationships with the agency established through other cooperative programs.

Getting Started. The Alliance Program supports OSHA’s Strategic Management Plan by addressing the plan’s occupational trends, emerging issues and agency priorities. There are few formal program requirements for Alliances, and the agreements do not include an enforcement component. However, OSHA and the participating organizations must define, implement and meet a set of short and long-term goals that fall into three categories:

• Training and Education, such as developing training and education programs and seminars aimed at reducing workplace hazards, providing the OSHA Training Institute with educational and training materials on specific safety issues upon request and providing peer review of OSHA training curricula.

• Outreach and Communication, such as sharing the most up-to-date ergonomic information for educational purposes, promoting participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs and providing information in Spanish and other languages.

• Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health, by sharing data on safety and health hazards, participating in various forums and groups to discuss ways of improving workplace safety and health programs, and demonstrating the effectiveness of safety and health programs.

Alliance Implementation. OSHA and Alliance participants form implementation teams. The teams develop strategies and implement programs or processes to meet the defined goals.

Products and Activities. Current Alliances have developed a number of products and undertaken many activities, including:

• Assisting OSHA in developing interactive, web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics;

• Helping develop information for Safety and Health Topics webpages;

• Appearing at trade shows and conferences.

More Information. For national Alliances, contact OSHA’s Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340. Visit OSHA’s website at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/index.html for more information about the Alliance Program and a list of OSHA Regional Offices.