New Alliance Looks to Improve New England Worker Safety

Enhancing safe and healthful working conditions for workers throughout northern New England is the goal of a newly-signed alliance among the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Safety and Health Council of Northern New England (SHCNNE) and the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Under the alliance, OSHA, Vermont OSHA, SHCNNE and the safety consultation offices for the three states will work together to provide northern New England employers and workers with information, guidance and access to training resources to help protect employees’ safety and health. The alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to construction and general industry hazards, including falls, electrical, struck-by and caught-between hazards as well as lead and silica exposures.

Alliance participants will conduct outreach and training activities to improve awareness among employers and workers throughout the region of OSHA regulations and available technical and training assistance.

They will also share information with safety and health professionals on best practices and the benefits of establishing a comprehensive workplace safety and health program; work jointly to encourage Safety and Health Council of Northern New England members and worksites to build relationships with OSHA and Vermont OSHA offices; and assist council members or worksites interested in recognition through OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program and Federal Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

“This alliance offers us an exciting opportunity to jointly reach out to employers, employees and worksites in all three states and provide them with knowledge and information to help them identify and prevent occupational hazards,” said Marthe Kent, OSHA’s regional administrator for New England.