OSHA Alliances & Strategic Partnerships
OSHA doesn't only inspect and cite. It also works with employers, unions, trade groups and schools through cooperative programs that share training, tools and best practices. These programs don't give anyone a pass on the law, but they can help workplaces get safer, and they produce free materials anyone can use.
- Employers
- Trade Associations
- Unions
- Safety Professionals
- Workers
OSHA's cooperative programs
| Program | What it is |
|---|---|
| Alliance Program | Written agreements between OSHA and organizations (such as trade associations, unions, professional groups, businesses and schools) to cooperate on education, outreach and communication about safety and health |
| Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP) | Longer-term, formal cooperation between OSHA and employers, workers and their representatives, and others, to address a specific hazard, industry or worksite, with defined goals and measurable results |
| Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) | Recognition for worksites with outstanding safety and health management. See Voluntary Protection Programs |
| On-Site Consultation Program | Free, confidential help for small and medium businesses to find and fix hazards, separate from enforcement. See OSHA Consultation |
| Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) | Recognition for small businesses with strong programs, after consultation |
| Susan Harwood Training Grants | Funding for nonprofits and others to train workers and employers. See Susan Harwood Training Grants |
| OSHA Education Centers and Outreach Training | Training programs including the 10- and 30-hour cards. See OSHA Training Requirements |
Cooperative programs are voluntary, and the details, such as eligibility and benefits, can change. Check OSHA's website for the current rules.
The Alliance Program
- Who joins: organizations that can reach workers and employers in specific industries, such as construction associations, labor unions, manufacturers' groups, safety professional societies, community colleges and nonprofits.
- What alliances do: develop and share training and educational materials, hold webinars and events, share information on hazards, promote OSHA resources, help outreach to hard-to-reach workers such as small employers, young workers and workers with limited English, and promote safety culture.
- The agreement is a written memorandum with goals and a work plan. It's usually for a set term (often several years) and can be renewed. Alliances produce free resources such as fact sheets, toolbox talks, checklists, videos and guides, which OSHA hosts on its site.
- An alliance doesn't exempt members from inspections, citations or standards. It doesn't mean OSHA endorses a company or its products.
- Examples of alliance topics include falls in construction, silica, heat illness, trenching, workplace violence prevention, young worker safety and small business safety. See Focus Four Hazards.
Strategic Partnerships
- What they are: a partnership focuses on a specific problem, such as reducing falls on a large construction project, a group of employers in an industry, or a region with high injury rates, with measurable goals and a plan.
- Who joins: employers, workers or their representatives (such as a union), contractors on a project, and sometimes insurers and other agencies.
- What partners do: commit to safety and health programs that exceed minimum requirements, such as comprehensive hazard assessments, worker involvement, training, site safety plans and inspections and share data.
- What partners get: technical help, OSHA consultation and training, and, depending on the partnership and compliance history, possible reductions in the likelihood of routine inspection on partnered sites. Serious hazards, complaints, fatalities and imminent dangers can still trigger inspections. Check the terms of the agreement. See OSHA Inspections.
- Partners must report results and meet agreed benchmarks, and OSHA evaluates progress. Partnerships can end if goals aren't met.
How workers and employers can use them
- Search OSHA's site for alliance products and partnership resources by industry or topic, including toolbox talks, safety checklists, training aids and posters. See Toolbox Talks.
- Join a trade association or union that has an alliance to gain access to training and updates.
- Small employers can combine alliances, free consultation and Harwood-funded training to build a program on a limited budget. See Small Contractors.
- Workers can ask whether their employer or union is involved in an alliance or partnership and take part in the safety committees and training they provide.
- Employers with a strong record can explore VPP and SHARP recognition after fixing hazards and building a program. See Safety Programs.
- Contact your OSHA regional or area office to ask about alliances and partnerships for your industry. See OSHA Regional & Area Offices.
Cooperative programs checklist
- I know the difference between alliances, partnerships, VPP and consultation
- I checked OSHA's site for free materials from alliances in my industry
- I understand cooperative programs don't exempt anyone from the law
- My small business knows about free consultation and Harwood training
- I contacted my area office to ask about programs in my area
Standards & references
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