The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Staffing Association renewed their alliance to improve the workplace safety and health of temporary workers, the Department of Labor announced Tuesday. The ASA first joined OSHA’s Ambassador Alliance in 2014 and renewed its commitment in 2016.
The goal of an ambassador is to continue the longstanding relationships between OSHA and Alliance participants through ongoing outreach, information-sharing and training.
The collaboration between the ASA and OSHA has resulted in several successful initiatives and activities, according to the department, including:
- An ASA safety committee that works with companies to ensure temporary workers’ voices are heard and to identify workers interested in safety and health careers.
- Promotion of OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative to raise awareness among host and staffing employers of safety and health issues that impact immigrant and vulnerable worker populations across multiple industry sectors (general industry, shipyards and construction).
- Free webinars that discuss a series of OSHA Temporary Worker Initiative Bulletins, such as outdoor/indoor heat prevention, respiratory protection, noise exposure and hearing conservation, and communicating with workers about hazardous materials.
“Temporary workers are, by law, afforded the same workplace protections as permanent employees,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “We are grateful for ASA’s continued dedication to helping OSHA educate temporary workers about their rights and train host employers and staffing agencies on their responsibilities to protect the safety and health of this vital part of the workforce.”
Founded in 1966, the ASA represents recruiting and workforce solutions firms within the US.
Through the Alliance Program, OSHA works with organizations such as trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies to share information about OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.
Original Article: (https://www2.staffingindustry.com/Editorial/Daily-News/Department-of-Labor-American-Staffing-Association-extend-alliance-to-protect-temporary-workers-safety-health-62599)
