News Brief
US Department of Labor, Lamar Advertising Co. form alliance to promote workplace safety, prevent exposure to hazards
Who: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division
What: OSHA Safety and Health Alliance
Background: Federal OSHA, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health and Lamar Advertising Co. offices in Oregon, Idaho and Washington have established an alliance to provide workers with information, guidance and access to training resources on workplace safety and health. The two-year alliance includes emphasis on hazards inherent to the outdoor advertising industry such as falls, personal protective equipment, safe use of ladders, electrical hazards and control of hazardous energy, among others.
On Sept. 15, 2023, OSHA Deputy Regional Administrator Jack Rector and Lamar Advertising Co. Vice-President and General Manager Brendon Smith met to formalize the alliance.
Through the alliance, OSHA is committed to jointly provide management and employees of Lamar Advertising with information, guidance and access to training to help protect workers, promote a culture of workplace safety and health, and increase the understanding of workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under the law.
Alliance members will use data to design joint outreach and communication activities, and foster collaboration to enhance workplace safety and health. An implementation team will be created to assess and share information on progress toward the alliance’s goals.
The new alliance recognizes that OSHA State Plans and On-Site Consultation partners are an integral part of OSHA’s efforts, and that information about the products and activities of the alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.
One of the world’s largest outdoor advertising companies, Lamar Advertising Co. has approximately 361,000 displays across the U.S. and Canada. The company offers advertisers a variety of billboard, interstate logo, transit and airport advertising formats to help businesses reach broad audiences.
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. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations and educational institutions.
Quote: “Our alliance with Lamar Advertising offices in Washington, Idaho and Oregon will provide tools and resources that will help prevent common hazards and improve safety of all workers engaged in outdoor advertising activities,” explained OSHA Deputy Regional Administrator Jack Rector in Seattle. “This OSHA alliance will help achieve safer, healthier workplaces for these workers here and elsewhere in the nation.”
