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Region 4 News Release: 12-706-ATL (140)
April 19, 2012
Contact: Michael D'Aquino    Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076    404-562-2078
Email: d'aquino.michael@dol.gov     wald.michael@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA announces safety stand-down at
Georgia construction sites April 23-27 to focus on struck-by hazards

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is partnering with construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations to sponsor a safety stand-down hour at construction sites around Georgia during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week, which will be April 23-27.

Workers voluntarily will stop work at construction sites from 7 to 8 a.m. EDT to conduct work zone safety training focused on the prevention of distracted driving, such as texting while driving, and worker injuries from traffic objects and vehicles. Objects and vehicles striking workers are the leading cause of construction-related deaths. Approximately 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment such as trucks or cranes.

The stand-down is being organized by the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes representation by OSHA, the Associated General Contractors of America Georgia Branch, 3M Visibility & Insulations Solutions, Georgia's Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division, the Georgia Highways Contractors Association, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Lamar Signs, the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, Georgia Power, Pike Electric and the National Safety Council – Georgia Chapter.

"The members of this alliance have demonstrated initiative and leadership organizing this safety stand-down industry-wide throughout Georgia to emphasize the importance of work zone safety. The stand-down will heighten construction workers' awareness of and ability to identify and eliminate work-related hazards," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator for the Southeast.

An informational flyer and toolbox, in English and Spanish, are available on the Associated General Contractors of America Inc. Georgia Branch website at http://www.agcga.org/cs/safety_stand_down_program/2012_georgia_struckby_alliance_stand_down. For more information, contact Marilyn Velez in OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301, Steve Simmons in the Atlanta-East Area Office at 770-493-6644 or Phillip Moncrief in the Savannah Area Office at 912-652-4393.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections. For more information on this and other cooperative programs, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/index_programs.html.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.