OSHA Urges Federal Employees to Buckle Up

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a motor vehicle safety symposium to drive the message to the federal workforce that wearing seat belts while traveling on business delivers safe employees. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 a.m., during the National Safety Council Congress & Expo in New Orleans.

“Motor vehicle accidents place the health and safety of federal employees at risk daily,” said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. “As part of our responsibility to health and safety in the federal workforce, DOL is committed to promoting successful seat belt programs to all federal agencies.” Henshaw noted that a 1996 Executive Order requires federal employees to use seat belts while traveling on federal business.

Public and private workplace safety representatives will participate on two panels to discuss the benefits and impact of a motor vehicle safety program, as well as share best practices. Chuck Hurley, vice president of the Transportation Safety Group, National Safety Council, will serve as moderator.

“Car and truck crashes are the leading cause of Americans being killed on the job,” said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge, MD. “We are happy to team up with OSHA to save lives by getting every federal employee buckled up.”

Now in its 92nd year, the National Safety Council Congress & Expo will reportedly be attended by more than 17,000 safety and health representatives including presidents and chief executive officers, safety directors and managers, engineers, federal and local government, health care professionals, human resource professionals, fleet and safety personnel, risk managers and loss control experts from a variety of industries.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov .