OSHA alliance promotes workplace health, safety
October 17, 2005

Contributed to Crusader

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Seward County Community College have joined forces in two alliances --one to promote workplace safety and health for workers in the oil and gas industry and another for warehousing industry workers.

OSHA alliances are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of workers. OSHA has created more than 350 alliances with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.

Through one alliance, OSHA will provide SCCC with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety, particularly reducing and preventing exposure to work-related injuries for oil and gas industry workers in the southwest region of Kansas.

The second alliance will provide SCCC and Springhouse Frozen Foods, a local supplier of food to distributors, with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help them reduce and prevent work-related injuries for warehousing industry workers in Kansas.

"This cooperative effort is designed to achieve three goals - better training and education, more outreach and communication, and increased public awareness of workplace safety and health," said OSHA Regional Administrator Charles E. Adkins, CIH.

During these two-year alliances, OSHA and SCCC will work jointly to develop oil and gas industry training and education programs that emphasize recognition and prevention of workplace hazards. Workplace safety and health curricula will be designed and made available through the university covering such topics as hazard awareness and recognition, benefits of effective safety and health programs, and OSHA recordkeeping.

OSHA, SCCC and Springhouse Frozen Foods also will work jointly to develop general warehousing training programs that emphasize recognition and prevention of workplace hazards. A workplace safety and health curriculum will cover such topics as plant sanitation, general warehousing, forklift operation and plant mechanical maintenance. SCCC and Springhouse Frozen Foods will deliver or arrange for the delivery of these courses.

Outreach efforts to employees and employers will include safety and health conferences, seminars, workshops, and Web site information for the local community.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov .