AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
ILLINOIS OSHA AREA OFFICES
AND

ILLINOIS MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION (IMA)
AND

ILLINOIS ON-SITE CONSULTATION PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Chicago North, Chicago South, Fairview Heights, Naperville, and Peoria Area Offices and the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) and the Illinois On-Site Consultation Program recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safety and health practices and programs to improve American workplaces. To that end, OSHA, IMA, and Illinois On-Site Consultation hereby form an Alliance to provide IMA members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect workers by reducing and preventing hazards associated with operating food production machinery and performing service, maintenance, cleaning and sanitation, inspection, and quality assurance tasks on food processing and ancillary equipment. The Alliance will promote effective guarding systems, hazardous energy control methods, and comprehensive hazard communication training, while also fostering an understanding of workers' rights and employers' responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), as outlined in the attached Alliance work plan.

This agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants also agree to meet the "Fundamental Requirements for OSHA Alliance Program Participants" and the "Guidelines for OSHA's Alliance Program Participants: Alliance Products and Other Alliance Projects."

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use available injury, illness, and hazard exposure data, when appropriate, to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options, including but not limited to member surveys, to evaluate the Alliance and measure the impact on improving workplace safety and health. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and IMA recognize that the Illinois On-Site Consultation Program is an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with this partner for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Share information on OSHA's National/Regional/Local Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and IMA meetings or other outreach events.
• Ensure Alliance activities are informed by the perspectives of non-managerial workers and local collective bargaining agents in the industry.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives:

• Develop effective training and education programs for participants on workplace hazards and communicate information to constituent employers and workers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to equitably meet the needs of their target audiences.
• Develop effective training and education programs for participants to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.

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, communications, 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.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization 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. OSHA team members will include representatives from the OSHA Chicago Region Area Offices and any other appropriate member representative. OSHA will encourage Illinois On-site Consultation Program participation in team activities.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either signatory may terminate their organization's participation in 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 written concurrence of both signatories.

Signed this 29, day of April 2026.

---

Mark Denzler, President & CEO
Illinois Manufacturers' Association

---

Sukhvir Kaur, Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Chicago North Area Office

---

James A. Martineck, Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Chicago South Area Office

---

Aaron Priddy, Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Fairview Heights Area Office

---

Jacob Scott, Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Naperville Area Office

---

Edward Marshall, Area Director
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Peoria Area Office