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OSHA News Release
2005 - 03/24/2005 - American Apparel & Footwear Association Renews Alliance with OSHA

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OSHA Trade Release
March 24, 2005
Contact: Frank Meilinger
Phone: (202) 693-1999


American Apparel & Footwear Association Renews Alliance with OSHA

WASHINGTON -- An Alliance between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) was renewed today that aims to continue building on successes to help reduce workplace injuries and illnesses in the apparel and footwear industry, with a particular focus on ergonomics. The Alliance was first signed in February 2003.

"We're pleased that AAFA wants to continue working with us to make information on ergonomics best practices more widely available and to further strengthen safety and health in their industry," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jonathan L. Snare. "Together, we will continue to use our collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention, especially for ergonomic related injuries."

AAFA President & CEO Kevin M. Burke said, "We are pleased to renew and extend this important relationship, and look forward to further collaboration with OSHA in the years to come." Burke continued, "This Alliance is proof that cooperation and teamwork can and does generate valuable results for all parties."

Encouraging safe and healthful working conditions for the apparel and footwear industry is the ongoing goal of the Alliance. Over the past two years, the OSHA and AAFA Alliance implementation team has produced an ergonomics manual for the apparel and footwear industry, Ergonomics for Supervisors: Volume 1, An Industry Manual for the Apparel and Footwear Industries and developed a training program based on the manual's information. As a result, OSHA and AAFA have scheduled six ergonomics training seminars to educate AAFA members and others in the industry about ergonomic issues and the new manual. In addition, AAFA members serve as editorial board members of OSHA's Apparel and Footwear Safety and Health Topics page, and have spoken and exhibited about the Alliance at industry conferences and meetings.

OSHA and AAFA will continue to develop and disseminate information through various print and electronic media. Outreach and communication goals will also be met through speeches, exhibits or appearances at conferences or other events, as well as sharing AAFA best practices information with others in the industry. Cross-training OSHA personnel and industry safety and health practitioners in AAFA ergonomics programs rounds out the goals of the Alliance.

AAFA is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. AAFA's mission is to promote and enhance its members' competitiveness, productivity and profitability in the global market by minimizing regulatory, commercial, political, and trade restraints.

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 process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.


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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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