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November 01, 2013
ARRANGEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ATLANTA-EAST, GA, AREA OFFICE, ATLANTA-WEST, GA, AREA OFFICE, BIRMINGHAM, AL, AREA OFFICE, MOBILE, AL, AREA OFFICE, SAVANNAH, GA, AREA OFFICE AND CONSULAR SECTION OF THE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES, WASHINGTON, D.C
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Atlanta-East, Atlanta-West, Birmingham, Mobile, and Savannah Area Offices and the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Philippines, Washington, D.C, hereinafter referred to collectively as "the Participants";
Recognizing the joint commitment to protect workers' rights for Filipino workers acknowledged in the Letter of Arrangement between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States of America and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, signed in Washington, D.C, on June 11, 2012; and
Recognizing that OSHA's Alliance Program provides for the establishment of cooperative relationships for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication, and promotion of a national dialogue on workplace safety and health;
Intend to form an Alliance to achieve the following:
Overall Objective
The Participants intend to establish a collaborative relationship to provide Filipino workers and employers, in Alabama and Georgia information, guidance, and access to education and training resources to promote workers' rights in protecting their occupational safety and health, particularly with regards to common workplace safety and health hazards, chemical safety, bloodborne pathogens, electrocutions, falls, struck-by and caught-in/between hazards, and to help them understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
Training and Education
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
- To develop training and education programs for Filipino workers and employers in Alabama and Georgia in chemical safety, bloodborne pathogens, electrocutions, falls, struck-by and caught-in/between hazards or prevalent hazards in both the construction and general industries.
- To develop training and education programs for Filipino workers and employers in Alabama and Georgia to promote understanding of workers' rights and responsibilities of employers under the OSH Act, including the use of the OSHA complaint process.
- To deliver or arrange for the delivery of OSHA 10-hour Construction and General industry Outreach Training Programs or other hazard awareness courses.
- To develop workplace health and safety curricula on common workplace hazards faced by Filipino workers in Alabama and Georgia.
Outreach and Communication
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
- To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and links to OSHA's Web site from the Embassy of the Philippines, Washington, D.C. Web Site) to Filipino workers in Alabama and Georgia and their employers.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at the Participants' conferences, local meetings, Consular Outreach Missions or other events.
- To participate in "Mobile Consulate" activities and events.
- To share information among U.S. Department of Labor- OSHA personnel and safety and health professionals regarding the Embassy of the Philippines', Washington, D.C. good practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by the Embassy of the Philippines, Washington, D.C. and OSHA and through materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum) developed by the Participants.
Promotion of a National Dialogue
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
- To raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health and workers' rights under the OSH Act whenever leaders from the Participants address groups.
- To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on common workplace safety and health hazards, chemical safety, bloodborne pathogens, electrocutions, falls, struck-by and caught-in/between hazards to help forge innovative solutions on issues concerning workplace safety and health and understanding of workers' rights and responsibilities of employers under the OSH Act.
- To share information on applicable U.S. occupational safety and health laws and standards, including those relating to workers' rights and responsibilities of employers under the OSH Act.
An implementation team made up of representatives of each Participant 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 three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance.
Nothing in this Arrangement commits the Participants to the expenditure of any funds.
This Arrangement may commence upon signature by both Participants. This Arrangement is intended to cease two (2) years from the date of signing. A Participant should endeavor to provide thirty (30) days advance written notice of its intent to discontinue its participation in this Arrangement. This Arrangement may be modified in writing at any time by mutual consent of the Participants.
Signed at Tucker, Georgia, in duplicate, this 1st day of November 2013.
For the U.S. Department of Labor's | For the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Philippines Washington, DC: (Sgd.) ARIEL R. PENARANDA Minister and Consul General |