Focus

On Sept. 9, John Henshaw, administrator for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), announced an alliance with the National Safety Council (NSC). The announcement was made at NSC's 91st Congress and Exposition to symbolize how the two agencies are working together to reduce workplace injuries.

The plan

The agencies will work together to provide employers and workers with guidance, information and access to training resources. The alliance first will address training about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic defibrillators.

The alliance also will cross-train OSHA personnel and industry safety and health practitioners in best practices and effective approaches to safety as jointly defined by OSHA and NSC. Both agencies will participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or meetings related to vehicle safety and first-aid training.

In addition, the groups will work with OSHA's regional and area offices to facilitate joint outreach activities with NSC chapters to address safety and health issues.

"The alliance between NSC and OSHA is building on a longstanding and successful relationship between two organizations that are committed to similar goals," says Alan McMillan, NSC's president and chief executive officer. "Formalizing the relationship allows us to strengthen the link and make even greater progress in achieving workplace safety and health."

OSHA's other efforts

The alliance will build on OSHA's strategic plan, which includes allowing the agency to continue targeting high-hazard workplaces; focus on hard-to-reach workers, such as immigrants and contract workers; and make additional efforts with regard to issues facing teenage workers.

NRCA met with Henshaw Oct. 3 and discussed how the association can formalize its relationship with OSHA.

According to Henshaw, OSHA "will continue to work with safety and health professionals, employers and workers to get results. This strategy can move us forward to our ultimate goal—zero injuries, illnesses and deaths in America's workplaces."

Ambika Puniani is editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's director of communications.