December 7, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor, Missouri Association of Manufacturers
Establish Alliance to Address Machine and Other Manufacturing Hazards

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Kansas City and St. Louis area offices have signed a two-year alliance with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers to address safety and health hazards at Missouri manufacturing facilities.

The alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to machine safety and electrical hazards, falls, heat stress and struck-by hazards. Alliance members will share information on OSHA's machine safety standards, including the implementation of lockout/tagout procedures and adequate machine guarding. Employees will be trained on recognizing common manufacturing hazards and the required steps to minimize exposure during the manufacturing process.

"This alliance will increase worker training and implement best practices to ensure safer working conditions in Missouri manufacturing facilities," said OSHA Area Director Karena Lorek, in Kansas City, Missouri. "OSHA looks forward to partnering with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses."

The OSHA Alliance Program fosters collaborative relationships with groups committed to worker safety and health. Alliance partners help OSHA reach targeted audiences, such as employers and workers in high-hazard industries, giving them better access to workplace safety and health tools and information.

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 help 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 https://www.osha.gov/.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-4727, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-4807, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 20-2075-KAN

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).