CAOHC Joins OSHA Alliance Program

The Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) and The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have signed an Alliance agreement establishing a formal relationship to promote worker safety and health in the area of workplace noise exposure. The agreement was signed on April 17 by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Douglas L. Parker in Washington, D.C.

The Alliance agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance’s activities. Through the Alliance, OSHA and CAOHC will work together to share information on OSHA’s National Initiatives, develop information on the recognition and prevention of occupational hearing loss, and communicate that information to employers and workers. The Alliance will also provide opportunities to share information on best practices and effective approaches for occupational hearing conservation to OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and CAOHC recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-Site Consultation Program partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may beshar ed with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

CAOHC Council Chair John A. Merkley expressed his excitement over the Alliance. “I believe that this alliance goes hand-in-hand with what the organizers of the Council envisioned over 50 years ago. Many of the professional organizations currently represented on the Council participate in the Alliance program and this alliance strengthens CAOHCs ability to work together to meet CAOHCs mission of, “advancing best practices in occupational hearing conservation worldwide” and vision of “a world without occupational hearing loss.”

OSHA’s Alliances provide organizations an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’s initiatives, outreach, communication, training, and education. These Alliances have proven to be valuable tools for both OSHA and Alliance participants. By entering an Alliance with an organization, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that organization’s products or services. For more information about OSHA’s Alliance Program, visit www.osha.gov/alliances.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. After that time, the agreement will be reviewed and evaluated for effectiveness and may be adjusted and renewed at that time.