US Department of Labor's OSHA and Habitat for Humanity-Omaha establish
partnership to protect volunteer workers from construction hazards
OMAHA, Neb. –
Habitat for Humanity-Omaha
and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration have established a partnership to provide a safe and
healthful work environment for employees, volunteers and subcontractors
involved in residential construction projects. The partnership will
include a requirement for any person working on a construction site to
receive a site-specific construction safety orientation addressing
hazards and safety procedures.
"This partnership reflects a commitment to the
safety of employees and volunteers who dedicate their time to Habitat
for Humanity projects," said Bonita Winingham, OSHA's area director in
Omaha. "This partnership will develop and implement a comprehensive
safety and health management system for Habitat for Humanity sites,
including a heat illness prevention policy and a fall protection
program."
As part of the voluntary partnership, both OSHA and
Habitat for Humanity-Omaha will work together to develop resources to
help protect workers and volunteers on their projects. The program will
include daily job site inspections, implementation of a
fall protection plan,
employee training, hazard-specific training and quarterly partnership
meetings to discuss goals, training and specific issues that have arisen
during the course of construction work.
Safety and health training will also be provided in
Spanish when the need arises. Weekly safety training of all contractors
and subcontractors will be documented.
Through its Strategic Partnership Program, OSHA
works with employers, employees, professional and trade associations,
labor organizations and other interested stakeholders to establish
specific goals, strategies and performance measures to improve worker
safety and health. For more information, visit
http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/partnerships/index.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
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converts departmental information and documents into alternative
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requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or
(800) 877-8339 (federal relay).
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