The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently renewed its alliance with the Scaffold Industry Association, Inc. (SIA), aiming to protect the safety and health of those working on scaffolds from falls and other deadly hazards, according to information provided by the agency.
Since the nationwide alliance was signed in 2008; OSHA and SIA have developed safety materials on transport platforms and mast-climbing work platforms relating to scaffold and fall hazards, as well as applicable American National Safety Institute (ANSI) consensus standards. Several of these products have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.(WCxKit)
Goals of the renewed alliance include increasing awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, developing new effective training and education programs, and conducting outreach and communication activities on workers' rights and employers' responsibilities. The organizations will continue to emphasize scaffold safety, including issues related to mast climbing scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, and aerial lift equipment.
SIA is a national trade organization founded in 1972, which represents the scaffold, aerial lift and access industry. SIA promotes safety in these areas by developing educational and training courses, audiovisual programs, and codes of safe practices. It has more than 1,000 member companies including aerial platform dealers and distributors; scaffold and shoring erectors and renters; plank and platform manufacturers and distributors; safety and engineering consultants; and government officials.
Through the alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations; faith- and community-based organizations; and business and educational institutions.(WCxKit)
OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance-assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: [email protected].
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