Jean Kulp, OSHA's area director in Allentown, Pa., represented the agency at a recent signing ceremony. Northampton Community College, established 40 years ago, serves more than 32,000 students annually at its main campus in Bethlehem. Nearly 20,000 students are involved in workforce training and related classes.

OSHA and the community college will work together to provide students, local businesses, emergency responders and others with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them protect themselves and their employees' health and safety. Course titles include: Emergency Response Programs, Safe Means of Egress, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Programs and Respiratory Protection.

"Through this alliance, OSHA and Northampton Community College will be able to provide important training and education programs for the protection of the local workforce," said Kulp. "Establishing a collaborative relationship is vital to connecting employees with safety and health information they need."

For more information, contact OSHA's Allentown Area Office (telephone 610-776-0592).

OSHA health and safety alliances are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative programs. OSHA currently has more than 450 alliances throughout the nation with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit