Region 3 News Release: 10-1743-PHI (osha 10-229)
Dec. 20, 2010
Contact: Joanna Hawkins Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5101 215-861-5102
E-mail: hawkins.joanna@dol.gov uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA renews alliance with Steel Erectors
Association and Iron Workers Union to protect workers

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced a renewed alliance with the Steel Erectors Association of Metropolitan Philadelphia and Vicinity Inc. and the Iron Workers Local Union No. 401. OSHA and its alliance partners will continue to promote workplace safety and health, and provide guidance and training resources for steel erection workers.

"The first two years of our alliance have been a tremendous success," said Al D'Imperio, director of OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office, who represented the agency at the recent signing ceremony at 401 Union Hall in Philadelphia. "With fall hazards a leading cause of death in the construction industry, we will keep working closely with our alliance partners to identify methods for reducing falls and other hazards."

Since its inception in November of 2008, the alliance has provided safety and health cross-training sessions to more than 1000 steel erection workers and safety and health professionals in the Philadelphia area. For more information about this alliance, call OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office at 215-597-4955.

Through the Alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections. For more information please 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 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.

###

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.