HIOSH Alliance Program enables the agency to develop voluntary, collaborative working relationships with organizations that are committed to workplace safety and health to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Through the Alliance Program, HIOSH works with organizations from various groups to share information about HIOSH and OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources with workers and employers, educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.
1
Define S&H Goals
Objectives that align with HIOSH’s mission, such as reducing hazards or developing training materials.
2
Submit a Proposal
Submit a proposal outlining: 1. Alliance objectives, 2. Specific hazards/issues to address, 3. Resources/expertise organizations can devote, and 4. How organizations would provide Worker Participation in Alliance activities.
3
Develop and Sign Agreement
Work with HIOSH to draft and finalize an agreement that details the scope, responsibilities, and expected outcomes of the alliance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Alliance Program provides a vehicle for regular, proactive interaction between HIOSH and Alliance Participants. Through the Alliance Program, HIOSH establishes a formal relationship with Alliance participants committed to worker safety and health, and collaborates with them to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses
increasing worker access to effective workplace safety and health tools and information about worker rights,
leveraging participant resources to maximize worker safety and health protections, and
establishing important dialogue between Alliance participants
HIOSH and the participating organization must define, implement, and meet a set of short and long-term goals and projects that fall into three categories:
Training and Education. Such as developing training and education programs, and seminars aimed at reducing workplace hazards.
Outreach and Communication. Such as sharing the most up-to-date information for educational purposes and promoting participation in HIOSH’s cooperative programs.
Promoting the State Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health. By participating in various forums, groups, trades shows and conferences to discuss ways of improving workplace safety and health.
Alliances are open to all groups , including:
trade associations,
businesses,
labor unions and other labor groups,
professional associations,
educational institutions,
community and faith-based organizations,
consulates,
local, state, and federal government agencies, and
other organizations or institutions.
Alliance participants agree to certain Fundamental Requirements as a condition of their participation in the Program. These include:
Commitment of time and resources. Committing reasonable time and resources to achieve outreach and communication goals and complete any other mutually agreed-upon projects.
Communication with HIOSH Staff. Providing HIOSH/OSHA with information pertaining to Alliance-related dissemination efforts, events, speeches/presentations, and other activities, as appropriate.
Outreach and Dissemination. Disseminating information to their members and/or stakeholders on HIOSH and OSHA rulemakings, enforcement initiatives, outreach campaigns, and compliance assistance resources.
Alliance Projects. Alliance participants must follow HIOSH’s process for developing projects, including sharing proposals upfront, being open to reasonable feedback, making all materials freely available to the public, and keeping products updated to reflect current policies and practices.
Worker Representation. Making a reasonable effort to secure meaningful worker participation in the Alliance, which may be accomplished by, for example, having a union signatory to the Alliance, securing union participation, or ensuring other worker involvement in Alliance activities.
Avoid conflict of Interest. Alliance participants cannot use their partnership with HIOSH to advertise or suggest that HIOSH supports their policies, products, or services. Being part of the Alliance does not mean you get special treatment from HIOSH when it comes to inspections, rules, or enforcement.
When Alliance participants are employers and/or employer groups (e.g., trade associations), they must make a reasonable effort to secure meaningful worker participation in the Alliance. ATS should contact the Administrator if they have any difficulties in fulfilling this requirement. Worker representation may be accomplished by several means, including but not limited to:
Having a union signatory to the Alliance (e.g., from a union with a presence and/or experience in the industry);
Having union participation or other worker involvement in Alliance development and implementation;
Having participation in the Alliance of community-based labor groups or similar organizations knowledgeable and involved in the issued addressed by the Alliance;
Inviting union representatives or community-based labor groups to implementation meetings;
Requesting union or community-based labor group representatives to review products in development;
Surveying the target audience (e.g., students, workers, union representatives) to identify gaps in existing training or educational resources that could be addressed by the Alliance, and/or to ascertain the effectiveness of the Alliances activities (e.g., outreach campaigns, trainings, products); or
Including HIOSH compliance assistance staff in Alliance Implementation Team meetings.
No. Alliance participants do not receive exemptions from HIOSH inspections or any other compliance benefits.
HIOSH will not resolve an industry’s enforcement disputes or policy concerns through an Alliance.
However, Alliance participants are encouraged to share feedback with the agency about these issues and work collaboratively with the agency to develop compliance assistance resources and conduct outreach activities to raise awareness about relevant issues and compliant practices within an industry sector.
Initial Alliance agreements: two (2) years duration.
Renewal Alliance agreements: two (2) to five (5) years duration.
Ambassador status reflects HIOSH’s recognition that an Alliance participant has built and will continue to maintain a productive cooperative relationship with the agency. HIOSH expects that Alliance Program Ambassadors will continue to share timely and relevant safety and health information with members, and work collaboratively on issues that emerge among its membership.
However, Ambassador participants do not have the data reporting and other requirements that come with a formal Alliance. Ambassador relationships remain in effect for the duration of an ongoing cooperative relationship and a good faith effort by both parties to meet the intent of the arrangement.
Alliances that have successfully completed at least one two-year initial Alliance and one renewal term may be eligible for Ambassador status.
This form is for inquiries only and is not an application. Submission of this form does not constitute a guarantee of acceptance or agreement; it is merely an initial step to express your interest.
