Region 5 News Release: 09-100-CHI
Feb 23, 2009
Contact: Brad Mitchell or Scott Allen
Phone: 312-353-6976

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- The Eau Claire Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American Warehouse Systems in Minneapolis, a registered contractor with the federal government, will take steps to reduce and prevent injuries and illnesses in the warehouse industry through an alliance signed today.

"This alliance seeks to reach employees and employers at all levels, and provide them with the knowledge and ability to anticipate, identify and eliminate work-related hazards in warehousing," said Mark Hysell, OSHA's area director in Eau Claire.

The alliance partners will work together to develop and distribute safety and health training materials for warehousing to enable employers and employees to implement and follow best practice standards and guidelines. OSHA and American Warehouse Systems will promote these materials at conferences, meetings and other local events as well as through their individual Web sites and other media.

Alliances are a means for participating organizations to network with others committed to workplace safety and health, and exchange information about hazards. OSHA currently has more than 470 alliances throughout the nation with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.

Employers and employees with questions about this or other OSHA partnerships or alliances may call the agency's Eau Claire Area Office at 715-832-9019.

OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 38 years. This success is reflected in the latest data (2007) showing the lowest national injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded. OSHA continues to work diligently to focus its resources where they will have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home safely every day.

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 the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at 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 www.dol.gov/compliance.