Agreement Establishing an Alliance between OSHA -Tampa, the SafetyFlorida Consultation Program and the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LC) and The University of South Florida SafetyFlorida Consultation Program (USF) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA, LC and USF hereby form an Alliance to provide the LC members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees’ health and safety. OSHA, LC and USF will work collaboratively to protect employees’ health and safety, in particular non-English or limited English speaking employees, addressing construction and general industry hazards, including those found in the service industry, such as falls, electrical, ergonomics, bloodborne, fire safety, egress/exit routes and evacuation plans. Special emphasis will be accorded to small employers, Hispanics and teen workers. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and LC recognize that the SafetyFlorida Consultation Program (USF) is an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA, LC and USF will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

  • Develop training and education programs for small employers, and employees including Hispanics and young workers on falls, electrical, ergonomics, fire safety, exit routes, bloodborne, and other related hazards.
  • Deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA topics on hazards in construction and the OSHA 10-Hour Construction and General Industry courses in English and Spanish. These courses will be provided by OSHA and USF in conjunction with the LC membership.

OSHA, LC and the USF will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

  • Encourage LC members who speak both English and Spanish to take the OSHA Train–the–Trainer course(s) so they can teach the OSHA 10-hour Construction and General Industry courses in both English and Spanish.
  • Promote and encourage LC members to participate in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), Onsite Consultation, and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  • Work with the local Hispanic community in Florida through the LC as well as other faith-based and community organizations in an effort to enhance safety and health awareness within the Hispanic community.
  • Work with OSHA 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, USF’s and LC’s Web sites) to employers and employees in the industries.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or LC’s events such as educational awareness seminars, conferences, networking meetings/sessions, local meetings, Business Expos, etc.

OSHA, LC and the USF will 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, stakeholder meetings, or [1]steering committees on construction and general industry hazards such as falls, electrical, ergonomics, bloodborne, fire safety, exit routes and other related hazards in order to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
  • Raise the awareness of other Hispanic-based groups and the public with respect to workplace safety and health, and demonstrate the Chamber’s commitment to the issues identified in this Alliance Agreement when LC leaders address outside groups, educational conferences and member meetings.

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 of all three 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 three times per year 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 both signatories.

______________________________________ _____________

  1. Leslie L. Grove III Date

Area Director

Tampa Area Office

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

______________________________________ _____________

Carlos Cardenas Date

President

Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce

______________________________________ _____________

Cesar Gomez Date

Executive Director

Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce

______________________________________ _____________

Charlene Vespi Date

Program Director

USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program

[1] OSHA, USF and LC will establish a steering committee on safety and health community leaders to discuss the safety and health concerns of small businesses. The group will promote safe and healthful workplaces and develop mentoring tools and outreach products for small businesses in general industry and construction with special emphasis on Hispanic employers and employees.

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