OSHA renews Alliance with Scaffold Industry Association

"The materials developed through our Alliance are valuable resources for training and educating workers on the hazards they can face in their jobs and how they can be prevented," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Four of the 10 most frequently cited OSHA construction standards involve scaffolding, so renewing this Alliance is a great opportunity to build on our work to better protect the men and women who work on scaffolds."

Since the nationwide Alliance was first signed in 2008, OSHA and the SIA have developed transport platform and mast climbing work platform safety materials related to scaffold and fall hazards, as well as applicable American National Safety Institute (ANSI) consensus standards. Several of these products have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.

Goals of the renewed Alliance include: increasing awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, developing new effective training and education programs, and conducting outreach and communication activities on workers' rights and employers' responsibilities. The organizations will continue to emphasize scaffold safety, including issues related to mast climbing scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, and aerial lift equipment.

Through the Alliance, OSHA 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, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses 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.