News Release
US Department of Labor, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, OSHA Onsite Consultation Program align to promote safer, healthier workplaces
Who: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Department of Labor’s OSHA Onsite Consultation Division
Northern Marianas Technical Institute
What: OSHA Safety and Health Alliance
Background: OSHA, OSHA’s Onsite Consultation Division and the Northern Marianas Technical Institute have established a two-year alliance to provide the institute’s students and the public with information, guidance and training resources to help prevent and reduce worker exposure to safety and health hazards in industries throughout the commonwealth. On Aug. 20, 2023, OSHA Acting Area Director Pologa Setu, OSHA Onsite Consultation Program Manager Timothy Asaivao, and the Northern Marianas Technical Institute’s Executive Officer Jodina Attao met to formalize the program.
The alliance provides a framework for information sharing between OSHA and NM Tech on workplace safety and health initiatives, campaigns and emphasis programs. The alliance will facilitate opportunities to participate in forums, roundtable discussions and stakeholder meetings on safety and health priorities.
In the next two years, participants will work together to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the OSHA complaint process, employer responsibilities and training needs and trends. The partnership will also support OSHA education programs in a variety of areas including construction, general industry, maritime, agriculture, and disaster mitigation and recovery.
The Northern Marianas Technical Institute fosters the professional growth and development of individuals interested in the technical and trades fields. The institute offers courses in construction, automotive, culinary and hospitality industries. In continued partnerships, NM Tech will expand offering courses for the maritime, cosmetology, solar, and aviation industries. The institute will also be offering OSHA’s 10-hour and 30-hour general industry training and its Hard Hat Heroes program.
The OSHA Alliance Program enables organizations to enter voluntarily into a cooperative relationship to raise awareness of OSHA’s initiatives, outreach, communications, training and education.
CNMI-OSHA Onsite Consultation Division offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high hazard worksites.
Quote: “Through this alliance, OSHA and the Northern Marianas Technical Institute will jointly provide resources and promote the delivery of safety and health training for the benefit of all workers and employers throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and beyond,” said OSHA Acting Area Director Pologa Setu in Honolulu, Hawaii.
