News Release
US Department of Labor, Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas enter alliance to promote workplace safety, health in the construction industry
LAS VEGAS – In their ongoing efforts to protect the safety and health of construction workers, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Consulate General of Mexico in Las Vegas today signed an alliance to provide hazard prevention training to Mexican nationals working in Nevada, and help them understand U.S. laws governing workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities.
For the next two years, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the consulate will provide Spanish-language training resources on topics related to whistleblower protections, falls from elevated work surfaces, electrocution, heat illness and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
“OSHA and the Consulate General of Mexico established this alliance to address hazards that cause injuries and fatalities among a large population of the construction workforce,” said OSHA Area Office Director Eric Brooks in Las Vegas. “This alliance signals a commitment to making safety a priority in the lives of Mexican nationals working in Nevada’s construction industry.”
An implementation team made up of representatives of OSHA and the Mexican Consulate will work to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, the participants intend to meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the alliance.
OSHA’s Alliance Program works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups 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.
