US Department of Labor's OSHA announces safety stand-down at Georgia highway work zone sites April 7-11, 2014

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is partnering with construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations to sponsor a one-hour safety stand-down at construction sites around Georgia during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week from April 7-11.

Workers will voluntarily stop work at construction sites from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT to conduct work zone safety training focused on the prevention of worker fatalities and injuries from traffic objects and vehicles. Objects and vehicles striking workers are a leading cause of construction-related deaths. Approximately 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment, such as trucks or cranes.

The stand-down is being organized by the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes representatives from OSHA; the Associated General Contractors of Georgia; 3M Visibility & Insulation Solutions; Georgia Department of Transportation; the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division; and the Georgia Highway Contractors Association. It also includes the Georgia Utility Contractors Association; the Association County Commissioners of Georgia; the Georgia Tech Research Institute; Lamar Signs; and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. Additional participants are Georgia Power, Pike Electric, the National Safety Council — Georgia Chapter, Ansco & Associates and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

"Alliance members have demonstrated initiative and leadership organizing this industrywide safety stand-down throughout Georgia, which emphasizes the importance of work zone safety. The stand-down will heighten construction workers' awareness and ability to identify and help eliminate work-related hazards," said Teresa Harrison, OSHA's acting regional administrator for the Southeast.

An informational flier and toolbox, in English and Spanish, are available from the Associated General Contractors of Georgia. For more information, contact Christi Griffin in OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301, Bill Fulcher in the Atlanta-East Area Office at 770-493-6644, or Robert Vazzi in the Savannah Area Office at 912-652-4393.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections.

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.