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OSHA News Release
2005 - 11/04/2005 - OSHA, Society of the Plastics Industry Continue Alliance |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Trade News Release Nov. 4, 2005 Contact: Bill Wright Phone: (202) 693-1999 OSHA, Society of the Plastics Industry Continue Alliance
Second Renewal focuses on machine safety, hazard communication WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., (SPI) have agreed to extend their agreement for two additional years to continue working together in a cooperative relationship to further workplace safety and health in the plastics industry. Steven Witt, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, and SPI President William R. Carteaux, signed a two-year renewal yesterday continuing the Alliance originally launched in September 2002 and renewed for the first time in March 2004. Key to the agreement is providing employers and workers with information, guidance and access to training resources to promote machine safety and help identify and eliminate machinery hazards that can cause amputations, burns and lacerations. The renewal will also focus on raising awareness of hazard communication issues in the workplace. "Our Alliance with SPI was one of the first signed and it has proven to be a successful work in progress," Witt said. "We're particularly pleased that SPI wants to continue that valuable working relationship with us as we add even more successes to those already recorded." Added Carteaux: "By renewing our relationship with OSHA, SPI can continue to provide our members from throughout the plastics industry with the tools they need to ensure a safe working environment for their employees. It is great to see SPI and OSHA working together to promote safer workplaces." Thus far, the Alliance has afforded OSHA and SPI the opportunity to develop training courses that address lock-out/tag-out and machine guarding issues for injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming machinery. Utilizing Alliance-developed training materials, courses have been held for plastics industry employers and staff from OSHA's National, Regional and Area Offices, and State Plan State and Consultation Programs. OSHA and SPI have also developed a Plastics Industry Safety and Health Topics Page on OSHA's website featuring information on specific standards that apply to the industry and identifying hazards and solutions unique to the industry. A new module on horizontal injection molding machines was developed for the agency's Machine Guarding eTool (a web-based, interactive training tool). Work is progressing on a thermoforming machinery module for the eTool, using the Roll-Fed and Inline Thermoforming Machine Safety Training Course as the basis for the module. The renewal outlines specific training and education goals that address machine safety and reducing injuries, plus various communication and outreach goals, including the continual development of electronic assistance tools and links from both organizations' websites. SPI is a trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. The plastics industry employs 1.4 million workers. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. # # # This news release text is on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov. Information on this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999. |
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