Trade News Release
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000
Contact: Lydia Kleiner
PHONE: (202) 693-1999

OSHA AND INSURANCE INDUSTRY LAUNCH NATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

OSHA and the insurance industry are collaborating to provide training for small businesses to help them create a safe work environment, encourage high productivity and lower workers' compensation costs.

A series of free pilot workshops, "Safety at Work: Risk Management Techniques for Small Businesses" will launch the joint venture. The first workshop will be offered Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000, in Erie, Pa. The workshops will be geared toward small business owners or managers with fewer than 100 employees or companies that do not have a full-time safety professional or risk manager on staff.

"OSHA is pleased to launch this joint effort with insurance companies to reach out to small business owners interested in information and guidance to help them reduce workplace injuries and decrease workers' compensation costs," said OSHA Administrator Charles N. Jeffress. "These workshops will help answer small business owners' questions and offer the extensive resources of OSHA and the insurance industry to help manage workplace safety and health."

Sponsors include the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) and other industry trade groups. Insurance companies currently participating in this first workshop include: Erie Insurance Group, American Contractors Insurance Group, CNA Insurance, Harleysville Group and Clarendon Insurance.

Future workshops may focus on ergonomics, recordkeeping, and slip-and-fall protection. Additional topics will be added to meet the needs of participating small business owners.

The pilot workshop will be offered on Thursday, October 26 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Bel Aire Hotel, 2800 W. Eighth Street, Erie, Pa. For details about the workshop, contact John Stranahan at (814) 833-5758.

The text of this news release is on the World Wide Web at www.osha.gov. Information on this news release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Phone: (202) 693-1999.