Region 5 News Release: 12-2117-CHI
Dec. 3, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6876
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA renews partnership with electrical
contractor groups to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities

COLUMBUS, Ohio – As part of continuing efforts to improve safety and health for electrical workers, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed a strategic partnership with the Central Ohio Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 683 of Columbus and Union 1105 of Newark.

"This partnership reflects our mutual recognition of the importance of electrical workers' safety and health, and solidifies our cooperative goal to develop effective safety programs while improving communication," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus. "Together, we will take an aggressive and positive approach to place workplace safety and health at the forefront every day."

The goals of the partnership include researching and implementing safety and health programs, decreasing employees' injury and illness rates, and achieving measureable improvements in electrical worker safety by designing an open and continuous communication channel among OSHA, its partners and participating companies. The partners also will work in conjunction with the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to develop improved, effective and meaningful safety training programs for the electrical trades and construction industries.

The partners have agreed to adopt and require the use of an industry standard checklist designed to exceed OSHA's requirements for performing work on energized circuits, require mandatory OSHA safety courses for all field employees and supervisors as well as site-specific safety training for new hires, and conduct regular third-party safety audits and quarterly meetings to discuss industry best practices. The partnership will be evaluated annually.

Through its Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA works with employers, workers, professional and trade associations, labor organizations and other interested stakeholders to establish specific goals, strategies and performance measures to improve worker safety and health. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.