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OSHA and Pennsylvania Organizations Unite To Keep Workers Safe
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- The safety of workers in Northeast Pennsylvania is the ultimate goal of several partnerships. Andrew Hedesh, OSHA area director in Wilkes-Barre and John Engler, project manager of OSHA's consultation service will sign the partnership agreements with John Pardue, president and Jolene Sobeck, executive director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Contractors Association; Robert Aulisio, chapter president of the American Society of Safety Engineers and Kenneth Walker, president of the Northern Tier Safety Association. "These partnerships symbolize OSHA's commitment to working with industry to improve safety and health conditions for workers in Northeast Pennsylvania," says Hedesh, "Mutual trust and respect are key to this effort."
Under the terms of the partnerships, each association will create three tiers of safety and health performance - Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Gold status, the highest level, will require the company to meet stringent safety and health standards, including: an effective and comprehensive safety and health program for employees; safety and health training for employees; maintaining an Occupational Injury and Illness rate at 25 percent below their industry average.
In return, OSHA will: not target the company for a programmed inspection after an OSHA verification inspection; only conduct inspections in response to reports of imminent danger, a fatality, catastrophic accident or a signed employee complaint; not issue citations for other-than-serious violations that are promptly abated; reduce any citation penalty by the maximum amount for good faith and history. Additionally, OSHA and the organizations will work cooperatively to provide members with training and materials. OSHA's "Strategic Partnerships for Worker Safety and Health" are available for all industries. The partnerships aim to have a measurable, positive impact on workplace safety and health that goes beyond traditional enforcement methods.
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