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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2004 - 10/08/2004 - OSHA Allies with Mass. Nurses Association to Protect Health Care Workers |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 1 News Release: 04-2019-BOS / BOS 2004-243 Friday, October 08, 2004 Contact: John M. Chavez Phone: (617) 565-2075 OSHA Allies with Mass. Nurses Association to Protect Health Care Workers
BOSTON, Mass. -- Improving workplace safety and health for nurses and other health care workers throughout the Bay State is the goal of a newly signed alliance among the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) and the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety, Consultation Program (MDOS-CP). OSHA health and safety alliances are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative partnerships with trade associations, labor organizations and employers. "This alliance is an example of OSHA's commitment to foster compliance assistance for workers and employers to improve health and safety for health care workers," said Marthe Kent, OSHA''s New England regional administrator. "It focuses on how to prevent worker exposures to hazardous drugs and chemicals, workplace violence, as well as ergonomic injuries in health care settings." Under the statewide alliance, the three agencies will arrange for or conduct training sessions on hazardous drugs, chemicals and materials (including exposure to anesthetic gases, sharps, bloodborne pathogens and natural rubber latex), workplace violence and ergonomic hazards. They will share and publicize information on effective approaches to dealing with hazards; participate in forums, roundtables, stakeholder meetings; and they will encourage MNA members to take part in OSHA's cooperative programs, including the Voluntary Protection Program, compliance assistance and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. MNA, with more than 22,000 members working in 85 health care facilities, is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses and health professionals in Massachusetts and is recognized as a leader in improving workplace safety and health conditions in the health care industry. The MNA is only the second state nurses association in the nation to establish an OSHA alliance, the other being the New York State Nurses Association. The alliance was signed Oct. 8 at the MNA's annual convention in Boston. In addition to Kent, OSHA signatories were Brenda Gordon, area director in Braintree; Richard Fazzio, area director in Methuen; and Ronald E. Morin, area director in Springfield. Karen Higgins, president; and Julie Pinkham, executive director, signed for the MNA. Signing for the MCP was Robert Prezioso, commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has created more than 230 alliances with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace. 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. ###
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The U.S. Department of Labor 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 www.dol.gov/compliance. |
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