US Department of Labor, Mexican Consulate in Boston enter alliance to promote workplace safety, health among New England’s workers

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Consulate General of Mexico in Boston have signed an alliance to provide hazard prevention training and training on employees’ workplace safety and health rights to Mexican nationals and others working in New England. It will also educate them on how the Occupational Safety and Health Act and other U.S. laws protect their rights and hold employers responsible. The alliance covers workers in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Over the next two years, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the consulate will develop and deliver information on recognizing and preventing workplace hazards to Mexican workers through public exhibits; speaking opportunities and appearances at conferences and local meetings; and participation in “Mobile Consulate” activities and events.

“Knowledge is an essential tool for workers. It protects them from workplace hazards and ensures they understand their rights. Our alliance with the Consulate General of Mexico establishes an ongoing process to provide that information to New England’s workers and employers,” said OSHA Acting Regional Administrator Jeffrey Erskine in Boston. “This effort also signals our commitment to making safety a priority in the lives of Mexican nationals and others working in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.”

A team of OSHA and Mexican Consulate representatives will develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify participants’ roles and responsibilities. They will also meet at least three times per year to track and share information on progress toward achieving the alliance’s goals.

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.

Learn more about OSHA.

Read the release in Español.