Region 4 News Release: 10-1772-ATL(02)
Jan. 6, 2011
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
E-mail: D'Aquino.Michael@dol.gov Wald.Michael@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA joins employers and workers in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia and Tennessee for 'Electrical Safety Stand-Down' Jan. 11

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is joining employers and employees from the electrical transmission and distribution industry to actively support an "Electrical Safety Stand-Down" in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Employers are being asked to use the first hour of the morning work shift at each of their locations to provide training to their electrical work crews on preventing accidents resulting from slips, trips and falls.

Sponsors for this event include OSHA, the Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Southeastern Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training, and districts 5 and 10 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter is making available a safety presentation for use that morning, as well as suggestions for other training tools that will increase awareness of the hazards and create a safer working environment.

This event marks the second safety stand-down sponsored by these groups. The first event was conducted in July 2010 and focused on the prevention of accidents resulting from common misconceptions regarding tools used for work on outside overhead electrical lines and high-voltage electrical components.

"The collaboration of government, business and labor makes this a truly cooperative event," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator in Atlanta. "We are once again encouraged to see that this segment of the electrical industry is committed to making a cultural shift in its attitude toward safety, as demonstrated by this second safety stand-down."

Participating employers are being asked to register with the stand-down alliance so they may receive the training materials. To register for the event or to learn more about it, employers should contact Steve Gaines of the SLCC/NECA at 770-969-9209.

Members of the public interested in more information from OSHA should contact Christi Griffin, OSHA's assistant regional administrator for cooperative and state programs, 61 Forsyth St. SW, Room 6T50, Atlanta, GA, 30303; telephone 404-562-2300. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

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 assure 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 releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.