|
 Printer-Friendly Version
MSHA News Release: [1/20/2004]
Contact Name: Suzy
Bohnert
Phone Number: (202) 693-9420
MSHA and International Union of Operating Engineers
Sign Alliance Agreement
BAL HARBOUR, Fla. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that it has signed its first
alliance agreement with a labor organization, the International Union of
Operating Engineers (IUOE), to promote a national dialogue on mine safety and
health and homeland security.
"We will use our collective expertise to foster a culture of prevention
and preparedness with each group sharing its best practices and technical
knowledge to promote safe and healthful working conditions for mine workers and
to enhance homeland security," said Dave D. Lauriski, assistant secretary of
labor for mine safety and health. "We need to make safety a value and to work
in harmony with other organizations, with no barriers between us."
The IUOE is a trade union that represents operating engineers, who work
as heavy equipment operators in the mining and construction industries, and
stationary engineers who work in maintenance in building and industrial
complexes. The IUOE has 400,000 members in approximately 170 locals.
"The 20-year partnership between IUOE and MSHA has resulted in
construction workers and miners receiving the highest quality safety and health
and hazardous materials and emergency response training. This alliance will
provide our organizations with an avenue to expand our combined expertise to
address homeland security issues," said IUOE General President Frank Hanley.
"The IUOE and MSHA have demonstrated their ability to respond to disaster at
the World Trade Center and Quecreek, respectively, and this alliance will build
an even stronger, well-prepared work force."
At the underground coal mine known as Quecreek near Somerset, Pa., nine
miners were trapped in July 2002 for three days by in-rushing water.
Under the agreement, MSHA and IUOE will collaborate on mine and disaster
response techniques involving rescues, recoveries and hazardous materials
emergencies. The groups will conduct evaluations of applied engineering to
improve a national response and conduct analyses to identify potentially
hazardous situations or conditions.
MSHA and the IUOE will work on education and training goals using MSHA's
National Mine Health and Safety Academy and the IUOE's International
Environmental Technology and Training Center, which are in Beckley, W. Va. Both
organizations will work to raise awareness about mine safety and health by
expanding outreach efforts and communication through print and electronic
media.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
