US Labor Departments OSHA reaches out to prevent distracted driving

WASHINGTON – In conjunction with Drive Safely Work Week, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced an education campaign calling on employers to prevent work-related distracted driving, with a special focus on prohibiting texting while driving.

"Year after year, the leading cause of worker fatalities is motor vehicle crashes," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "There's no question that new communications technologies are helping businesses work smarter and faster. But getting work done faster does not justify the dramatically increased risk of injury and death that comes with texting while driving."

Part of OSHA's education outreach is a new Web page aimed at those whose workplaces are the cars, vans and trucks that deliver the goods and services on which the nation's economy depends, and their employers. This online resource will inform workers of their rights, and employers of their responsibility to provide safe workplaces, and offer best practices and policies on achieving safe workplaces in motor vehicles. Information and continual updates is available at http://www.osha.gov/distracted-driving.

An open letter to employers, also posted online, requests that companies examine their policies and practices, informs them that they have a legal obligation to prohibit workplace hazards such as texting while driving, and asks them to immediately remove any incentives that may motivate employees to text while behind the wheel.

"OSHA's message to all companies whose employees drive on the job is straightforward: It is your responsibility and legal obligation to have a clear, unequivocal and enforced policy against texting while driving," said Michaels. "Companies are in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act if, by policy or practice, they require texting while driving, or create incentives that encourage or condone it, or they structure work so that texting is a practical necessity for workers to carry out their jobs. OSHA will investigate worker complaints, and employers who violate the law will be subject to citations and penalties."

Last month, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat distracted driving. Prohibiting texting while driving is also the subject of an executive order signed by President Barack Obama last year for federal employees and the subject of rulemaking by the Department of Transportation.

The Transportation Department reports that in 2009 more than 5,400 people died in crashes linked to distraction and thousands more were injured. In particular, texting while driving has become such a prominent hazard that 30 states now ban text messaging for all drivers. Learn more about combating texting while driving and other distracted driver hazards at the Transportation Department website http://www.distraction.gov.

This year, distracted driving is the theme of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety's annual campaign. During "Drive Safely Work Week" this Oct. 4 through 8 and throughout the year, OSHA, the Transportation Department and other partners invite employers to help prevent their workers from being injured and killed on the road.

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 assure 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.