Region 2 News Release: 1-1017-NEW / BOS 2011-249
July 8, 2011
Contact: John M. Chavez
Phone: 617-565-2075
Email: chavez.john@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA establishes alliance with Consulate
General of Brazil in New York to provide education and training
Alliance aims to assist Brazilian workers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today signed an alliance with the Consulate General of Brazil in New York to provide vital workplace safety and health information to Brazilian workers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"Every worker has the right to a safe and healthful job, and to know and understand his or her rights in the workplace," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York and acting regional administrator in Philadelphia. "This alliance is a tremendous opportunity to provide a large and varied community of workers in three states with information that will enhance the quality of their workplaces and their work lives."

Through the alliance, OSHA and the consulate will work jointly to develop training and education programs focused on promoting workers' understanding of their rights in the workplace, as well as familiarizing them with safety and health hazards in the construction industry and general industry, particularly fall, electrical, struck-by, caught in/between, air contaminant and chemical hazards. OSHA and the consulate also will communicate such information to employers, and will speak, exhibit and appear at each other's outreach events, including mobile consulate activities.

"This alliance will equip workers with the most valuable tools they can have – the knowledge to identify and eliminate hazards in their workplaces, and the ability to exercise the right to a voice in the workplace regarding their health and well-being," said Diana Cortez, OSHA's regional diverse workforce/limited English proficiency coordinator.

Kulick and Cortez represented OSHA at the signing, where they were joined by Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, the consul general of Brazil in New York.

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 educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/index.html.

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 ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.