OSHA Creates New Safety Program

OSHA and the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Career and Technical Education have renewed their alliance to educate on workplace safety and health for students in career, technical centers, and vocational technical schools throughout the state.

Through the alliance, OSHA area offices in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Erie) and the Bureau of CTE together will offer students preparing to enter the workforce, through their centers and schools, training that will provide them knowledge and skills to identify safety and health hazards. The alliance also will encourage centers and schools within Pennsylvania to build relationships with OSHA's regional and area offices.Employers and employees with questions about this and other OSHA alliances may call the agency's Philadelphia Regional Office at 215-861-4900 or visit OSHA's Web site here (click on "Cooperative Programs").

OSHA safety and health alliances are part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative programs with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and government agencies. OSHA currently has more than 500 alliances throughout the nation with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.

OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 38 years. This success is reflected in the latest data (2007) showing the lowest national injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded. OSHA will continue to work diligently to focus its resources where they will have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home safely every day.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.