OSHA Renews Two Safety Alliances

Includes strategic partnership with electric transmission, distribution industry

OSHA has renewed its alliance with the Scaffold and Access Industry Association to provide information and training to protect the safety and health of workers who use scaffolds and lift equipment. Through the alliance, OSHA and SAIA will work to reduce and prevent fall and caught-in-between hazards and issues related to frame, mast climbing, suspended scaffolds, and aerial lift equipment. In addition, alliance members will emphasize the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and use injury and illness data in selected industries to help identify areas of emphasis for alliance awareness and outreach activities.

“Worker injuries and deaths from scaffolding hazards can be prevented when employers provide training on safe setup and use of equipment,” said Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “By renewing our alliance with SAIA, we will expand our outreach to employers and workers and provide important training to protect workers in the scaffold and access industry.”

The agreement will remain in effect for five years.For more information, click here.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.

Strategic Partnership Renewal

The second partnership renewal was one with employers, workers, and professional associations in the electrical transmission and distribution industry to reduce injuries, illnesses, and deaths among linesman and other electrical workers. The partnership includes ten of the nation’s largest electrical transmission and distribution contractors, an electrical industry labor union, and two trade associations, representing about 80% of the industry.

Since its establishment in 2004, there has been a noticeable reduction in the injury, illness, and fatality rates among the partners’ employees, which include close to 26,000 workers. Fatalities among these workers have dropped from 11 in 2004 to 1 in 2013.

“By working on common goals through the partnership, partner injury, illness and fatality rates have been reduced,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “Through this national partnership, the partner companies and associations looked at factors causing fatal incidents and other serious injuries and implemented changes to reduce and prevent the number of fatalities not only within their own companies but in the industry as a whole. We look forward to seeing even greater outcomes of this partnership in the future.”

The partnership has developed and implemented best practices that directly correspond to key hazards and operations associated with injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the industry. These practices include fall protection, the use of specific insulating protective equipment, and the implementation of safety checks. The partnership also has trained more than 33,000 workers and supervisors through industry-specific courses developed by the partners. OSHA and industry partners are in the process of expanding these courses to provide industry-wide training.

More information

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program helps encourage, assist and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker safety and health. Most strategic partnerships seek to have a broad impact by building cooperative relationships with groups of employers and workers. These partnerships are voluntary relations among OSHA, employers, worker representatives, and others including trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities, and other government agencies.