JULY 29, 2003, WASHINGTON, DC--The official signing of the Alliance between the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) occurred today in the Headquarters Building of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Hon. John L. Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health; Jerry R. Weathers, Chair of ACIL; Joan Walsh Cassedy, CAE, Executive Director of ACIL; and other OSHA officials and ACIL representatives, Leonard Frier and Milton Bush, were present to finalize the agreement.

Following the signing, Mr. Weathers said, "The OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory program is an indispensable component in ensuring the health and safety of employees in the workplace. ACIL is pleased to work with OSHA to improve understanding of this program by all sectors and enhance its effectiveness."

Now that the Alliance is signed, the real work between ACIL and OSHA begins. The Alliance will promote a national dialogue on workplace safety and health by:

• Providing stakeholders with information and guidance on the purpose and requirements of the NRTL program.
• Raising awareness and understanding of the value of the NRTL’s marks on safety products and equipment.

Among its goals, the Alliance details training and education, outreach and communication. An implementation team composed of representatives of both organizations will develop a plan of action, determine working procedures and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. The initial term of the Alliance is two years.

Founded in 1937, ACIL is the trade association representing independent, commercial scientific and engineering firms. Its members are professional services firms engaged in testing, product certification, consulting, and research and development. Affiliated membership is available to manufacturers’ laboratories, consultants, and suppliers to the industry and related trade associations.