OSHA, Nebraska alliance members to train, protect workers in meat-packing, other industries from common workplace hazards

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Nebraska Safety Council
Great Plains Safety and Health Organization
National Safety Council Nebraska

Alliance: OSHA’s Omaha office, the Nebraska Safety Council, Great Plains Safety and Health Organization, and National Safety Council Nebraska have formed an alliance to provide the meat-packing industry – and other industries in Nebraska – with information, guidance and access to training resources to help protect the safety and health of workers.

The alliance focuses on common workplace hazards in the meat-packing industry such as slips/trips/and falls, noise, energy control, machine guarding, electrical, process safety management, back injuries, repetitive motion disorders and other ergonomic-related hazards.

The alliance calls for OSHA and its partners to share best practices and review goals quarterly. Alliance members will convene and participate in forums, roundtable discussions or stakeholder meetings on workplace hazards, and work to forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

Duration: Two years.

Background: OSHA’s Alliance Program connects the agency with groups committed to worker safety and health in an effort to reduce workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations and educational institutions. Alliance members work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Quote: “Workplace safety is achieved when everyone works together to recognize hazards and follow safety protocols and procedures,” said Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in Omaha. “OSHA has found an alliance like this sets the standard for sharing best practices, educating employers and workers and ensuring that safety is not compromised on the job.”